The Seventh Doctor and Ace’s adventures post Survival, their final TV story, have been well catered for on Big Finish. Whether through the Lost Stories range, meant to give a glimpse at what could have been, or their newly imagined Monthly Adventures with companions such as Hex, Mags or Mel, there’s no shortage of material that uncovers what happened with their Doctor-Companion dynamic next. However, one part of their timeline that has never been thoroughly explored is the start of their journey together.  

Wicked, the latest boxset in the Seventh Doctor range, aims to fix this oversight with three stories set directly after the events on Iceworld. Backwards and in Heels, written by Alison Winter, is the first of these three stories and details Ace’s first TARDIS trip back to 1920s Soho.

The Doctor has offered young Ace a lift home from Iceworld, promising the scenic route home to Perivale.

But when they are diverted to 1920s Soho on what appears to be shady business, Ace wonders if she’s making the right choices, let alone in the right order.

Big Finish Synopsis

Introductions to travels in time and space are a tradition in Doctor Who. Every companion since 1963, when the series aired its very first episode, has had their own unique first trip to the boundless expanse of the universe. So, when Big Finish announced that they were finally going to create one for Ace, one of Classic Who’s most beloved companions, they had a high bar to clear. As a result, most of Backwards and in Heel’s focus is directed at her introduction.

Faithful to Ace’s early characterisation, her first adventure with The Doctor shows plenty of her curiosity and spunk. Although rather brash, her problem-solving and quick thinking when faced with danger throughout the story reveal her potential as a companion—despite The Doctor’s constant chastising of her overuse of Nitro 9 explosions.

Moreover, from the outset of this story, there are already clear signs of the deep bond that Seven and Ace will eventually share. From the moment Ace enters the TARDIS, her student-teacher relationship with The Doctor begins in earnest, as he’s quick to teach her the rules that come with travelling with him, and Ace returns the favour by lovingly calling him Professor.  

Unfortunately, the story’s strong character introductions don’t extend to the plot’s alien threats. The adventure finds Ace and The Doctor embroiled in an alien treasure hunt set in 1920s Soho. While this may sound exciting, it ends up being a rather forgettable affair. The treasure hunt is used mostly as a device to show Ace the ropes. Consequently, both the antagonist and side characters alike get little in the way of development beyond their introductory scenes, all of which leads to a climax without any pull or emotional weight.