Written By: Matt Fitton, Andrew Smith

Starring: Jemma Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver, Warren Brown, Alice Krige

Originally released : June 2016

Listened to: August 2026

Context: so I am embarking on the UNIT series now, intending to do so last year but only getting through boxset one, hence quite a gap for me between this one and the next, in the mood for catching up and I liked the first one (which I ended up listening to again on a long bike ride), onward.

Episodes:

2.1 Power Cell by Matt Fitton
2.2 Death in Geneva by Andrew Smith
2.3 The Battle of the Tower by Andrew Smith
2.4 Ice Station Alpha by Matt Fitton

THE REVIEW

What I thought:

2.1 Power Cell by Matt Fitton – this is an interesting start to this UNIT boxset, with the story focused on alien tech being used in universities for research (I wish!) and introducing nefarious Felicity Lyme, a ‘friend’ of Kate/UNIT but who clearly has a darker, more materialistic motivation being involved in UNIT. Some good bants between the team, Osgood and Captain Josh Carter, cool stuff and some insights into Osgoods geeky ‘life’ outside of UNIT, which is fun. Clear there is some alien tech going missing, and alien assassin robot ninjas make an appearance. Great start to this set.

2.2 Death in Geneva by Andrew Smith – Ok, so I admit my attention wandered a little on this one. The story starts really well, with a trip to UNIT Geneva HQ, not entirely clear to me though who the bad guys are in this one (maybe thats the point) and we have a Helicopter crash and robot/alien ninjas fighting UNIT troops. It’s great fun, especially the escape and crash by the team. Poor old General Grant gets his arse handed to him as well, not sure I liked his character that much anyway.

2.3 The Battle of the Tower by Andrew Smith – this is a cool episode, with the team locked away in the tower, which we all know is a secret UNIT base, trying to work out what the aliens want, as well as dealing with the treachery in the British government (nothing new there methinks). The Aliens are here as well, looking for their power source, which is what they want and what Lyme is using for her scheme. There are lots of cool Easter eggs and quirky UNIT tech here (surveillance ravens being one of them, how great an idea is that!) and a battle ensues with Kate and the team trying to hold off the space ninjas. Great episode, that ends with an escape via the trators gate and a UNIT submarine, yay!

2.4 Ice Station Alpha by Matt Fitton – turns into an exciting finale, with the team locked away in a UNIT stronghold in the arctic, with Kate working out that Lime has in fact started to produce the alien power source herself, and hence bringing the baddies en masse to destroy them/the Earth. The UNIT arctic base and sub is cool, and we learn more about Dokan, the Kobiashi (no idea about spelling here) and their mysterious alien masters, who do make an appearance at the end of the episode. Kate does a grand job here of orienting the earth, Lyme gets her just desserts and Osgood even gets a sneaky smooch off Josh. Great ending.

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 UNIT coppters: solid ideas acted really well with some nice twists and turns along the way. Possibly not as good as the previous set but still a good listen, and fun adventure for the UNIT team.

What I felt:

A little overwhelmed to be at the start of another long series of distinct WHO-related adventures but also happy to think i have such great company coming over Autumn and Winter commutes to work.

What am I left thinking?

• Josh and Osgood, will this blossom?
• Will we see these clearly Japan inspired space ninjas return?

Memorable bits

• UNIT sub and robot Ravens at the tower!
• Smooch
• Geneva!

Cast

Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart)

Ingrid Oliver (Osgood)

Warren Brown (Lieutenant Sam Bishop)

Alice Krige (Felicity Lyme)

Beth Chalmers (Anna / Radio Announcer / Quizmaster)

Harry Ditson (General Grant Avery)

Nigel Carrington (Sir Peter Latcham)

James Joyce (Captain Josh Carter)

Jot Davies (Sebastien / Major Disanto)

Dan Li (Dokan / Alien Leader)

Asif Khan (Jay Roy)

Tyrone Huggins (Dr Kenton Eastwood)

Akira Koieyama (Chiso / Tengobushi Assassins)

Stephen Billington (Commander Bergam)