Review: Something Inside

The Eighth Doctor has lost his memory - something he seems to have made a habit of, what with the television movie, a handful of other audio adventures, and an ongoing arc of novels. This time, however, it's a much briefer problem. He's under interrogation in the mysterious Cube, with no memory of his absent companions Charley and C'rizz, following an attack by something referred to as the Brain Worm. At the same time, we see his arrival in the Cube with his two companions, and find out why they were separated. However, it's not the Doctor's absence which is causing Charley and C'rizz their biggest concerns, because they're under pursuit from the Brain Worm themselves, with a group of people who have some rather unusual psychic abilities.

Despite having written a number of books featuring this incarnation of the Doctor, Something Inside is Trevor Baxendale's first audio play to star Paul McGann, and it's quite an impressive release. Right from the beginning, this is a very mysterious and enticing story. Even if the Doctor's memory loss is annoyingly familiar (which, in fairness, is something Baxendale seems to acknowledge in the script), the circumstances surrounding it are presented in such a way that the puzzle of what's happened is immediately engaging. By switching between the Doctor's interrogations in the present, and his arrival in the Cube in the past, the pieces fall into place relatively slowly, allowing the plot to unfold at a rate which keeps the listener entirely engrossed. The storyline itself is impressively original, but the way that Baxendale tells it makes Something Inside particularly special.

Thanks to the Doctor's missing memories, we get a slightly different take on the character from Paul McGann. Whilst he still retains some recognisable characteristics (he intervenes when C'rizz's life is at stake, for example), some of the layers have been peeled away; this is a more diluted, and perhaps even sullen, performance. It's not quite the Doctor we know and love, but it's absolutely fantastic to listen to.

Co-stars India Fisher and Conrad Westmaas are also good. Fisher feels a little underused in some scenes, but she attacks every line with her traditional energy and bubbliness. Westmaas, on the other hand, is treated to a few meatier moments, and he shines throughout the play. The hints at the darker side of his character are written and played to perfection, and this is a story arc I desperately want to hear more of.

If this story has weaknesses, they're only minor. For example, a couple of the end-of-episode cliffhangers are a bit weak, not making enough of an impact to leave the listener on the edge of their seat, but this is a story which is successful without relying on big moments of punchy drama, so this never becomes too much of an issue. Additionally, the play's musical score sometimes feels as if it doesn't fit the story which it's accompanying, and it seems to dominate on a number of occasions. However, considered as a separate entity, the music and sound design are superb, and pleasingly different from the standard Doctor Who fare.

I also felt that the final episode became a bit talky towards the end. The concept of the Brain Worm hiding inside someone's head without their knowledge, and killing anyone who discovers its location, is fantastic, and it leads to some quite horrific moments, but the limitations of the audio medium mean it's mostly dialogue-driven, and perhaps it goes on for a little too long.

However, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives, and Something Inside is a very, very effective audio. It's a strong story told in an intelligent way, full of darkness and body horror, with some enjoyable performances. Good stuff.