Originally released : February 2026

Listened to: February 2026

Written by Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle

Starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper

Context: I am very late with this review. I listened to this over two months ago (!), in my catch-up BF review/reflection period. I think after a bit of time I get a little intimidated by the time between listening and reflection/review, so these reviews are not as clear cut. I sometimes have to go back and remind myself, this one is pretty fresh in my mind…the overall shape of the story, if not specifics. Anyway, somewhat light review, but I want to keep up, so here it is.

THE REVIEW

What I thought: an interesting take/episode on this run of 9th Doctor stories, with a space station high (high) above a poisoned Earth, so a version of the Powell Estate in space, sort of. Anyway, high high Wycombe is the place in mind here, with the Doctor and Rose turning up to find strange happenings to the inhabitants of this massive space station, with some weird sleep/dream issue occurring. The nice couple and little girl the Doctor and Rose hook up at the start of the story, are our way into the story, a conduit to the ‘doings’, which turn out to be a very futuristic key story point. The system/space station computer uses the inhabitants as cloud storage, which means the station prevents them from dreaming. This is, of course, not very good for the inhabitants, and it takes Elsa, the little girl, to illustrate to everyone what is going on. It’s a satisfying conclusion, and the whole thing feels very 2005 Dr Who. Great stuff and its nice to have a more futuristic story on this lastest season of BF 9th Doctor stories.

Rating: 4 out of 5: Good fun, most sci-fi story in this run so far, and a tightly paced adventure, with Chris E and Bille P showing that chemistry which shines through, like it did on TV. It’s another good addition to this run of adventures.

What am I left thinking?

• What exactly is going on with this series arc?!?

Memorable bits

• High high Wycombe! Such a creative way into this story
• Film star names!
• Nice bad wolf reference