The Big Finish Lost Stories range has always held a special place in my heart. Aimed at adapting scripts and story ideas that never made it to TV, it was one of these adaptations, Point of Entry, that first got me listening to Doctor Who audios. Now on its ninth series, I was intrigued when they announced the production of a well-known lost serial that was meant to air before Classic Who went on a long hiatus.

Originally set for Doctor Who’s 27^th season, the latest lost serial to be adapted is Alixion by Robin Mukherjee. A 4-part adventure, it sees Ace and the Doctor run into bug troubles while attempting to enjoy some rest and relaxation.  

Checking into a luxury health spa for a little rest and recreation, the Doctor and Ace find themselves at the mercy of a malign entity that craves the conquest of time and space. 

Exploiting their memories and regrets, the queen of the hive, which hides behind the polished walls of the spa, forces them to confront their deepest fears as she steals the Doctor’s life force to spread her powers across the universe.

Big Finish Synopsis

Following on the path laid out by seasons 25 and 26, Alixion’s story is deeply rooted in the continuation of Ace’s troubled youth. Building on Ghost Light’s portrayal of Ace having a penchant for setting fire to things, in this story, she is forced to face a similarly ugly chapter in her life when the Queen’s hive uncovers what seems like a racially motivated attack she made on a corner shop owner, Mr Patel.  

These character-driven moments always hit hard during the Classic series and are no less poignant on audio. Mukherjee’s story shines as it uproots these issues, forcing Ace to deal with inner conflict as she confronts the differences between who she was as a person and how her travels with The Doctor have matured her away from these impulsive acts.

Based on the societal powder keg that underpinned the 1980s race riots, Ace’s lashing out demonstrates Mukherjee’s innate understanding of the tensions that arose during Thatcher’s Britain, adding a personal dimension of weight to the storyline. Fortunately, the truth behind Ace’s actions is not what they seem and is a fiction woven by the Queen’s abilities.  

The Doctor, too, has his own demons to battle during this adventure, albeit to a lesser extent. Equally as interesting, his battle with the hive unveils the shortcomings of his Machiavellian manipulations. Revealed as part of a previous adventure, these segments serve as a reality check, as his attempts at ending an interplanetary war only result in further bloodshed.

While these moments for both Ace and The Doctor provide great emotional depth, their impact is unfortunately lessened by the structural issues that surround them. This story has two big problems that are holding it back from greater things. The first comes from the application of the voices that both Ace and The Doctor hear while under the spell of the hive. During these segments, it is easy to become confused as to who is speaking to whom, especially when The Doctor hears several voices at the same time in both the first and second episodes. The second regards the pacing of the story. Originally slated for three episodes for its TV broadcast, the extra episode added for the audio drama ultimately hurt it. There are only so many times that you can have your main characters explore a set of labyrinthine tunnels before you must move the plot forward.