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Doctor WhoMusic/Audio

Doctor Who – The Companion Chronicles: Second Chances by John Dorney (CD review).

This is how it ends and there are no ‘Second Chances’ for Zoe. The story that began in ‘Fear Of The Daleks (Companion Chronicles 1.2)’ comes to its conclusion in this last of the ‘Companion Chronicles’ to feature Zoe Heriot (Wendy Padbury). Zoe was first seen in the original ‘Doctor Who’ when the Second Doctor and Jamie go to the great Space Wheel. It is there she is returned after the Doctor is taken prisoner by the Time Lords. Zoe is known for being a child prodigy with amazing mathematical skills and an eidetic memory. She remembers everything. All the worse for her then that she has a Doctor-shaped hole in her mind created by the Time Lords after they sent her back to her life and him into exile in a new incarnation.

DWCSecondChancesCD

Zoe has been the focus of attention of The Company, a mysterious organisation that knows about her travels in time and space. She has been learning to relive and remember her previous existence with the Doctor. There have been several stunning episodes that cover her adventures and always with the underlying thread of her life as it is now.

‘Second Chances’ sees Zoe remember her time aboard another space station where something terrible happens and she is unable to prevent it. What would she give if she could have the chance to do it all again?

This two-part episode was written by the naughty John Dorney, who plays and flays your emotions (see also 5.02 ‘Echoes Of Grey’) sees Zoe and her interrogator Kym (Emily Pithon) exploring what Zoe might do to save the station but who is Kym and what does she really want? ‘Second Chances’ does bring us neatly round to the end of Zoë’s adventures and rips your heart out very slowly and deftly.

I admit I had a little moisture around the eyes at the end of this and that is no mean feat using mere words in your ear. I would urge you to resist no longer and dive into the world of the Companions.

As this also marks the end of the ‘Companion Chronicles’, it is a bittersweet moment. The good news is that if you are a new listener you have the opportunity to jump in and listen to the entire series or pick out your favourite companions without having to wait months for them to be released.

Sue Davies

July 2013

(pub: Big Finish. 1 CD 60 minute story. Price: CD: £ 8.99 (UK), Download: £ 7.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-78178-094-7)

cast: Wendy Padbury and Emily Pithon

check out website: www.bigfinish.com

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