Random Doctor Who Facts You Might Not Know, Part 52
Sorry for the long wait! I got a bit distracted with the new series...
The biofields on Gallifrey are so active that they can keep non-Gallifreyans young. For example, Leela had not aged even after 25 years on Gallifrey. (Audio: Spirit)
The Tenth Doctor recalled that Jamie McCrimmon used to hide the Second Doctor's recorder from him. (Comic: The Forgotten)
The TARDIS chose a name for herself but never told anyone (including the Doctor) what it was. (Short story: Toy Story)
By some accounts, the First Doctor was unaware of Sol prior to running away from Gallifrey. On the other hand, Susan had learned about the solar system and the planet Earth in the classes she took on spatial cartography. (Audio: The Beginning)
The Forge salvaged a Gallifreyan sarcophagus, which is a type of hibernation unit. When the Seventh Doctor, Ace, and Hex opened it, they found an older version of the Doctor inside. (Audio: A Death in the Family)
The Seventh Doctor kept a calendar keeping track of when his friends would die, which is how he knew about Evelyn. (Audio: A Death in the Family)
The Third Doctor possessed an obedience spray. When he used it, he could make people follow his orders. (Comic: Undercover)
The First Doctor used to skip class at the Academy to practice juggling and yo-yoing. (Novel: Match of the Day)
John Smith - an amnesiac Decayed Master - once treated the Seventh Doctor, removing his clothes after they had been charred by a lightning strike and wrapping him in wet towels to ease the pain. Feeling that the Doctor could help restore his memories, John Smith fell into a reverie next to the Doctor and forgot about his other guests at the time. He gave the Doctor water when he woke up and warned him not to move because of the physical trauma he had gone through. (Audio: Master)
When a Time Lord truly goes mad, a part of their mind becomes lost, referred to as Dark Design. This unleashes the dark part of their minds. Those affected by Dark Design are hidden away in institutions. (Novel: Falls the Shadow)
This Dark Design is a true evil within the very DNA of Time Lords. While unaffected Time Lords effectively stabilize space-time, a Time Lord suffering from Dark Design might have the effect of changing the future and the past like a virus. (Novel: The Infinity Doctors)
Dark Design is a lot more intense than Time Lord Insanity and enters mental spaces unfathomable to other species. (Novel: SLEEPY)
Omega was affected by Dark Design and as a result was able to summon an embodiment of his dark side. (Short story: A History of the Universe; TV: The Three Doctors)
The Seventh Doctor had met no sufferers of Dark Design native to his time. However, he knew of possible futures where he would become affected. (Novel: Falls the Shadow)
The above points are particularly interesting when you take into account several incidents in DW Canon. For one, the Master said, "There is some evil in all of us, Doctor, even you. The Valeyard is an amalgamation of the darker sides of your nature, somewhere between your twelfth and final incarnation, and I may say you do not improve with age." Furthermore, the Doctor’s dark side was once again manifested later on as the Dream Lord. There was an additional manifestation of the Doctor’s darkness (or, the weak, insecure, lonely aspect) somewhat dormant in the Sixth's subconsciousness. (TV: The Ultimate Foe, Amy's Choice; Audio: The Widow's Assassin)
Somebody on Twitter pointed out that the Big Finish companion Hex is canonically from the year 2021, so when he occasionally abbreviates the word "suspicious" to "sus," it's probably an Among Us reference.
The punchline is that this character was actually introduced back in 2004. It was made-up future slang that they happened to get right.
Great! I know how intimidating it can be to try and start listening, so I’ve tried to compile a guide to the main story arcs. More under the cut (minor spoiler warning)!
Also known as the Monthly Adventures, it’s a great way to get into the DWEU and definitely one I would recommend. It is also accessible, with the first 50 stories available on Spotify, or available to buy from Big Finish or second-hand fairly easily (or, you know, via less-legitimate means).
Main Range involves stories from the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors, and various TV and original companions. If you are a fan of eighties and nineties Who, then Main Range might be for you! My general recommendations for people are to pick a specific doctor AND companion(s) to listen to and go from there. Although, if you’re looking for a first story to try, why not start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) with the Sirens of Time.
While many Main Range stories are stand-alone, there are also some overarching plots, which are actually very companion-focussed. Trying to understand these arcs and listen to them in order can be intimidating for people looking to get into listening, however its probably simpler than you’d think.
To help you out with all of this, I have done my best to write down the stories that are probably best listened to in order, with a bit of an explanation about how it fits into TV continuity if relevant. The order is pretty easy to follow as it is pretty much just in release order. No, Big Finish did not intentionally try to confuse their audience by releasing stories out of order (okay maybe they did just a little). However I have provided the story number in brackets [like so] for clarity.
Also, to be clear, all of the arcs are self-contained, so seperate arcs don't have to be listened to in the order I've written them down in, unless I've specified otherwise (like with the Evelyn and Hex storyline).
Again, it is not super important to listen to things in order. If you are getting bored with a story or with listening in order then feel free to skip things. Maybe you could just skim the Tardis Wiki page for the plot if you like. To help, I’ve also marked any of the super plot-heavy stories with an asterix. Most other stories, especially ones that I don’t mention here are standalone and can be listened to however you like.
Also feel free to let me know if I miss anything! Happy listening :)
Fifth Doctor:
The Erimem Arc
This takes place after Planet of Fire and before Caves of Androzani, and features the Fifth Doctor, Peri and an original character called Erimem - an ancient Egyptian princess. This is a pretty good arc and one I would definitely recommend. Please feel free to skip Nekromanteia though it’s genuinely terrible.
[24] The Eye of the Scorpion*
[38] The Church and the Crown
[41] Nekromanteia
[56] The Axis of Insanity
[59] The Roof of The World
[69] Three’s a Crowd
[71] The Council of Nicaea
[81] The Kingmaker
[99] Son of the Dragon
[102a] The Mind’s Eye
[104] The Bride of Peladon*
The Key 2 Time
A trilogy featuring the Fifth Doctor and an original companion called Amy which acts as a sequel to the Key to Time. It is set between Planet of Fire and Caves of Androzani. The Fifth Doctor meets Amy again in the boxset Wicked Sisters.
[117] The Judgement of Isskar
[118] The Destroyer of Delights
[119] The Chaos Pool
The Stockbridge trilogy
Featuring The Doctor and Nyssa and set in the fictional town of Stockbridge which was first introduced in the Fifth Doctor’s DWM comics. Knowledge of that is not at all essential however. Set between Time Flight and Arc of Infinity.
[127] Castle of Fear
[128] The Eternal Summer
[129] Plague of the Daleks
The Older Nyssa Arc
This is set between Enlightenment and the King’s Demons and features Tegan, Turlough and an older Nyssa - some years after the events of Terminus.
[136] Cobwebs*
[137] The Whispering Forest
[138] The Cradle of the Snake
[146] Heroes of Sontar
[147] Kiss of Death
[148] Rat Trap
[159] The Emerald Tiger
[160] The Jupiter Conjunction
[161] The Butcher of Brisbane
[172] Eldrad Must Die!
[173] The Lady of Mercia
[174] Prisoners of Fate
[195] Mistfall
[196] Equilibrium
[197] The Entropy Plague*
The Hannah Arc
A very short trilogy featuring the Doctor, Nyssa and another original companion - Hannah - an Edwardian woman. Set sometime between Time Flight and Arc of Infinity.
[185] Moonflesh
[186] Tomb Ship
[187] Masquerade
The Season 19 Gang Arc
Set during the events of Season 19, these stories feature the original gang of the Doctor, Adric, Tegan and Nyssa.
[221] The Star Men
[222] The Contingency Club
[223] Zaltys
[234] Kingdom of Lies
[235] Ghost Walk
[236] Serpent in the Silver Mask
The Kamelion Arc
There’s not much to say about this apart from that these three are probably best listened to in this order? Set between the King's Demons and the Five Doctors (i think) and featuring Tegan, Turlough and Kamelion.
[247] Devil in the Mist
[248] Black Thursday/Power Game
[249] The Kamelion Empire
The Marc Arc
These stories follow the Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa, and an original companion Marc - a man from ancient Greece. It is set sometime between the end of Arc of Infinity and Mawdryn Undead.
[256] Tartarus*
[257] Interstitial/Feast of Fear
[258] Warzone/Conversion*
[266]Ghost Station/The Bridge Master/What Lurks Down Under/The Dancing Plague
[267]Thin Time/Madquake*
Sixth Doctor:
The Evelyn Arc
One of my favourite arcs with some great stories, and maybe where things get a little confusing. This arc features the Sixth Doctor and an original companion, Evelyn - an historian from modern-day England. Set sometime before the Sixth Doctor meets Mel I think.
This arc set up some story aspects which are explored further with the Seventh Doctor’s stories - specifically, the Forge trilogy. There are a few ways you could listen to these but to keep it simple I would also recommend listening to the Seventh Doctor story the Harvest before you listen to Thicker Than Water, and then A Death in the Family once you’ve listened to all the Evelyn stories AND the Forty-Five anthology. This could also be listened to concurrently in release order with the Hex storyline which I’ll outline a bit later.
[6] The Marian Conspiracy*
[9] The Spectre of Lanyan Moor
[11] The Apocalypse Element
[22] Bloodtide
[23] Project: Twilight*
[37] The Sandman
[40] Jubilee
[43] Doctor Who and the Pirates
[45] Project: Lazarus*
[57] Arrangements for War*
[58] The Harvest (7th Doctor)*
[60] Medicinal Purposes
[73] Thicker Than Water*
[100] 100 BC/My Own Private Wolfgang/Bedtime Story/The 100 Days of the Doctor*
[143] The Crimes of Thomas Brewster
[144] The Feast of Axos
[145] Industrial Evolution
[115] Forty-Five anthology (7th Doctor)*
[140] A Death in the Family (7th Doctor)*
You can theoretically listen to the following before or after Thicker Than Water if you want - they are sort of standalone stories with the Doctor and Evelyn:
[78] Pier Pressure
[84] The Nowhere Place
[108] Assassin in the Limelight
The Charley Arc 2.0
This is best listened to once you’ve listened to the Charley Arc with the Eighth Doctor. Featuring the Sixth Doctor and Charley.
[105] The Condemned*
[111] The Doomwood Curse
[114] Brotherhood of the Daleks
[116] The Raincloud Man
[124] Patient Zero
[125] Paper Cuts
[126] Blue Forgotten Planet*
The Flip and Constance Arc
Featuring the Sixth Doctor and two original companions, Flip - a girl from modern-day England - and Constance - a woman from World War II. Set sometime before the Doctor meets Mel.
[143] The Crimes of Thomas Brewster*
[156] The Curse of Davros
[157] The Fourth Wall
[158] Wirrn Isle
[182] Antidote to Oblivion
[183] The Brood of Erys
[225] Vortex Ice/Cortex Fire
[184] Scavenger*
[204] Criss-Cross*
[205] Planet of the Rani
[206] Shield of the Jotunn
[218] Order of the Daleks
[219] Absolute Power
[273] Colony of Fear
[220] Quicksilver*
[231] The Behemoth
[232] The Middle
[233] Static
[263] Cry of the Vultriss
[264] Scorched Earth
[265] The Lovecraft Invasion
The Older Peri trilogy
Featuring the Doctor and Peri from after she marries King Yrcanos.
[192] The Widow’s Assassin*
[193] Masters of Earth
[194] The Rani Elite
Seventh Doctor:
The Hex Arc
A great arc that sort of starts with Evelyn’s arc. I would not recommend starting this until after you’ve listened to Project: Lazarus, but maybe at least listen to The Harvest before Thicker Than Water (no stress if you don’t want to juggle listening to arcs concurrently). Features the Seventh Doctor, Ace, and an original companion from 2020s London - Hex. Set after the end of Classic Who.
[58] The Harvest*
[67] Dreamtime
[74] LIVE 34
[79] Night Thoughts
[82] The Settling
[89] No Man’s Land
[92] Nocturne
[106] The Dark Husband
[115] False Gods/Order of Simplicity/Casualties of War/The Word Lord*
[120] The Magic Mousetrap
[121] Enemy of the Daleks
[122] The Angel of Scutari*
[139] Project: Destiny*
[140] A Death in the Family*
[141] Lurkers at Sunlight’s Edge
[149] Robophobia (side note: this is our introduction to Liv Chenka who is one of the Eighth Doctor’s main companions from Dark Eyes onwards).
[151] The Doomsday Quatrain
[152] House of Blue Fire*
[162] Protect and Survive*
[163] Black and White*
[164] Gods and Monsters*
[181] Afterlife*
[189] Revenge of the Swarm
[190] Mask of Tragedy
[191] Signs and Wonders
Also at some point before or after the Angel of Scutari you can listen to the following as they are standalone stories:
[226] Shadow Planet/World Apart
[245] Muse of Fire
[268] The Flying Dutchman/Displaced
The Klein Arc
An Arc featuring The Seventh Doctor and an original character, Klein - a woman from 1940s Germany. Set after the end of Classic Who.
[25] Colditz*
[130] A Thousand Tiny Wings
[131] Klein’s Story/Survival of the Fittest
[132] The Architects of History
[175] Persuasion
[176] Starlight Robbery
[177] Daleks Among Us
Klein is also involved in the final story of the Daniel trilogy which spans the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors.
Eighth Doctor:
The Charley Arc 1.0
The best Main Range arc in my opinion. If you listen to anything, listen to this. Featuring the Eighth Doctor and original companion Charley, with another original companion C’rizz in Part 2 of the arc.
Part 1:
[16] Storm Warning*
[17] Sword of Orion
[18] The Stones of Venice
[19] Minuet in Hell
[28] Invaders from Mars
[29] The Chimes of Midnight
[30] Seasons of Fear
[31] Embrace the Darkness
[32] The Time of the Daleks
[33] Neverland*
[50] Zagreus*
Part 2:
[52] Scherzo*
[53] The Creed of the Kromon* (TW for sexual assault in the Creed of the Kromon. Feel free to stop listening after episode one or just read the Tardis Wiki page for relevant plot info)
[54] The Natural History of Fear
[55] The Twilight Kingdom
[61] Faith Stealer
[62] The Last
[63] Caerdroia
[64] The Next Life*
[72] Terror Firma
[75] Scaredy Cat
[77] Other Lives
[80] Time Works
[83] Something Inside
[88] Memory Lane
[101] Absolution*
[103] The Girl Who Never Was*
The Mary Shelley arc
A short arc featuring the Eighth Doctor and Mary Shelley! Yes, that Mary Shelley.
[123d] Mary’s Story*
[153] The Silver Turk
[154] The Witch from the Well
[155] Army of Death
Multi-doctor arcs:
These are mostly trilogies featuring stories which Big Finish probably mostly intended to be listened to together.
The Forge trilogy
Relevant to the Evelyn and Hex arcs - best listened to in conjunction with the rest of their stories.
^^^ I’m naming it that because the other name I’d give it would be a big spoiler lol (if you saw me forget the Harvest out of this no you didn’t)
[58] The Harvest (Seventh Doctor)
[86] The Reaping (Sixth Doctor)
[87] The Gathering (Fifth Doctor)
The Brewster Arc
Thomas Brewster is also vaguely relevant to the events of Stranded with the Eighth Doctor but it’s not really important.
[107] The Haunting of Thomas Brewster (Fifth Doctor)
[113] Time Reef/A Perfect World (Fifth Doctor)
[143] The Crimes of Thomas Brewster (Sixth Doctor)
[144] The Feast of Axos (Sixth Doctor)
[145] Industrial Evolution (Sixth Doctor)
The Sorsha trilogy
[165] The Burning Prince (Fifth Doctor)
[166] The Acheron Pulse (Sixth Doctor)
[167] The Shadow Heart (Seventh Doctor)
The 1963 trilogy
These don’t really have an overarching plot as far as I can remember, they were just released as part of the 50th anniversary.
[178] 1963: Fanfare for the Common Men (Fifth Doctor)
[179] 1963: The Space Race (Sixth Doctor)
[180] 1963: The Assassination Games (Seventh Doctor)
The Companions Trilogy
[198] The Defectors (Seventh Doctor)
[199] Last of the Cybermen (Sixth Doctor)
[200] The Secret History (Fifth Doctor)
The Master trilogy
[211] And You Will Obey Me (Fifth Doctor)
[212] Vampire of the Mind (Sixth Doctor)
[213] The Two Masters (Seventh Doctor)
The Daniel trilogy
[237] The Helliax Rift (Fifth Doctor)
[240] Hour of the Cybermen (Sixth Doctor)
[244] Warlock’s Cross (Seventh Doctor) (Klein is in this one if you want to listen to her arc beforehand)
Edit/addendum:
If you’re like me, you’ve maybe been intrigued by Main Range from seeing/hearing other fans talk about some of the excellent stories there are. Personally, when I am struggling getting through a series, it helps to have a specific story or episode to look forward to. As such, here are a few of my personal favourites from the above list that are definitely worth waiting for (at least in my humble opinion):
In spite of being so short, this took me a long time TwT I hope you enjoy it! There's a lot - A LOT - to say about Doctor and Companion dynamics, but I decided to do this comic with my favorite teams and to limit myself to one topic, because otherwise I'd never finish it XD
