Unlike the other sets I’ve made threads for, there’s no ‘Torchwood: Victoria’ boxset. But It’s an era that contains enough stories that I think it warrants it’s own thread.
Torchwood is set up on May 17th, 1879 in Tooth and Claw, which leaves 22 years of Torchwood with Victoria at its helm. Big Finish have taken this and told multiple stories featuring Queen Victoria in the Torchwood Monthly Range. These stories seem to be looked down on a compared to other stories in the range which I think is a real shame.
The Victorian Age
Fortitude
Save our Souls
The Crown
Infidel Places
The Empire Man
Rictus (not yet released and set 6 months after Victoria’s death, but close enough to count)
Have you listened to any of these stories? Which is your favourite?
Do you like the idea of these Victorian era stories?
Are there any aspects of the Victorian era you think they should do a story about?
How do you feel about the idea of this torchwood crossing into other ranges (e.g. Jago and Litefoot, The Paternoster Gang)?
Also didn’t want to mention them in the main post because they’re not from the monthly range (or even not audios), but there are a few other Stories that touch on this era
‘The Time Machination’ from IDW Comics
‘The Wax Princess’ and ‘Jago & Litefoot Forever’ from Jago & Litefoot (not sure if they mention Torchwood, but Victoria makes an appearance)
‘Best Friends’ from the Heroes and Monsters collection (doesn’t mention Torchwood, but at this time Jack is working for them)
‘The Baby Farmers’ from the Torchwood book Consequences
I’ve heard a good few of these stories! Specifically the first three. I think each was substantially better than the last.
The Victorian Age was trying to be a fun romp but I didn’t find it fun at all, just dull.
Fortitude did a great job of establishing just how awful and manipulative Victoria can be in a way the previous story really didn’t. It was great to a more scathing and critical approach to the inherent imperialism bound up in such a character as Victoria.
Save Our Souls was the best one by far. A really good, simple horror story full of tension and character.
I haven’t heard any others. I will probably buy Rictus when it comes out– the reviews of the Zygon Century boxset were mixed enough for me not to splash out on it, but Rictus looks like it could be great and it’s a James Goss script, so it’s bound to at the very least be interesting!
I’ve only listened to The Victorian Age from this era, but I thought it was harmless enough. The era isn’t something I’m particularly interested in returning to, but I’m hoping that I’ll be more impressed with the other Victorian stories when I eventually get round to them.
I’d agree they get better as they go on, I think The Empire Man is probably my favourite, and The Crown is on par with Save Our Souls for me (though I think that’s a more controversial take)
Infidel Places is the exception though, definitely a lower point of the range
I’m definitely interested in The Empire Man and The Crown. Two stories on my almost infinite list of ’Big Finish stories I want to buy when they inevitably go on sale’!
