Big Finish Audio drama, June 2003
We discover right away that the Doctor is stranded on Earth by the Time Lords over 20 years later than he was in the TV series. So he is there two days before the Chinese take over Hong Kong and he manages to find the Brigadiere (retired) and the Master, who’s been stranded on Earth a lot longer than the Doctor, that’s for sure. An invisible jet lands on a hillside and the Doctor, Brigadiere, Ling, and Marcus are all there to “rescue” the pilot and his passenger, Ke Le. A.K.A. the Master, apparently, who’s been creating brainwashed troops for the Chinese for years using a mental parasite. And there’s one left in the world and it’s in Hong Kong so the Master comes for it.
There is a lot of arguing between the Doctor and the Master, the Brigadiere, sensibly, says he doesn’t know the Doctor to Colonel Wood (David Tennant, when he’s at home), and the monks all succumb to the power of the parasite. The Doctor is, apparently, a much more human and considerate fellow in the TV series than this Doctor, who roams the universe helping people but isn’t nearly so good at it. He frequently defends himself due to going place, saving/helping people, then leaving before the cleanup can begin. Defending himself from the Master saying this is a bit odd, to be sure, but he does a better job of defending himself in the “regular” audios…
Hmmm. So they team up? Seems against the Master’s normal modus oparandi, to be honest. And the Doctor is wise to not trust him. The Colonel certainly gets in over his head! The Doctor and the Brigadiere start a whole new relationship of traveling together, which is a very cool idea. But the Colonel and Earth are in for a long, hard ride since the Chinese have invisible helicopters and the zombie troops go mad so the firing begins… Someone sure did choose the wrong team to support.
Overall, I’d say this one is good but eh, not fantastic. The Colonel is a stereotype though Tennant plays it off well. The Brigadiere is a crotchety version of himself, which is really fun to listen to. The whole situation seems contrived, though. The converging of people into one space around an invisible jet that is the purpose of the Master, Ke Li when he’s in China. I like that the background is there and occasionally mentioned though it doesn’t have to be delved into. Plus the title is kind of mysterious. Who has sympathy for what devil? How does it relate? Metaphorically, I assume. So it’s just a three jelloid adventure, though it’s certainly a four jelloid to some listeners.
David Warner, Nicholas Courtney, David Tennant, and Mark Gatiss
writer: Jonathan Clements
director: Gary Russell