The Bellotron Incident
A Benny Audio Adventure
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Big Finish The Bellotron Incident A Benny Audio Adventure |
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| Author | Mike Tucker |  |
| Released | 2003 | |
| Cover | Adrian Salmon |
| Synopsis: Two aggressive alien races. A war that has raged for centuries. Benny finds herself caught up in the Rutan/Sontaran conflict as it encroaches on the Terran trade routes. |
Seeing double by Joe Ford 23/11/03
A chilling opening scene leads to an interesting if a bit insignificant instalment of the Bernice Summerfield saga. To be frank I wasn't expecting much from this, Mike Tucker's last Benny tale, The Stone's Lament was easily the worst (ie boring and poorly made) of the disappointing season two. Opening season four he has certainly refined his writing talents, managing to come up with a decent twisty-turny plot and some memorable dialogue.
One of things that has displeased me with the series is its reliance on Doctor Who monsters/characters/ideas to draw in punters. It is almost as though Big Finish thinks the series doesn't have its own identity, that only rampant Who fans buy the CDs to expand their knowledge of monsters and such like that appeared in the series. I personally believe the series has done a superb job in setting itself apart from the Who universe and although these nods back to the sister series are cute, they are not essential. Recently we have had Ice Warriors, Draconians, Sea Devils, Rutans... it confirms my suspicion that in the anniversary year Big Finish has gone nostalgia mad. And besides those stories that stand alone from Doctor Who (The Mirror Effect, The Greatest Shop in the Galaxy) are some of the best we've had.
Still the Sontaran/Rutan conflict was always an interesting idea and one that was never really exploited enough on the telly. Had Star Trek taken on the idea we would have endless moralising tales of rogue Rutans and defecting Sontarans, questions of the ethics of cloning, blah, blah, blah. Fortunately Mike Tucker, special FX wizard doesn't want to use his time boring us to death with issues of war but simply tell a good adventure yarn with the conflict looming ominously in the background. Hence when the answers spill as to why the Rutan is searching the relics of a primitive planet they are actually surprising, the threat to the outcome of war quite horrifying.
Every series I have ever watched has had the chance to do a shape-shifter style story. It's the oldest and most effective method of storytelling in the book. The 'can you trust your friends are who they say they are' is always good for shock value and heightening paranoia. Brilliantly, instead of focussing on this idea the double twist in the last ten minutes actually manages to get you! Mike effectively manoeuvres his characters around so they could be where they should be or they could be a Rutan copy... depending on whether you are paying close enough attention. The last twist, subverting the story and demanding that you listen again, is excellent and well concealed.
Lisa Bowerman is as energetic as ever, ready to give her all in this new season. Unusually she takes quite a while to appear, an odd choice considering these plays are only an hour long but to the merit of the rest of the cast her absence wasn't felt thanks to the gripping opening and fresh characterisation of the starship Captain and Commander, for once not growling, butch space types but normal, chatty guys who happen to work in space. Indeed the tense relationship between Benny and Ryan (who has quite a sexy voice I must add) is down to Benny and her trademark cutting remarks. They share some delightful moments, especially her continual shocked reactions to his suicidal plans.
The story that appears quite simple thickens towards the end and finishes on a suitably grand finale. I think it is quite extraordinary the way the writers of these Benny plays keep managing to tell such exciting tales with such a short running time and small cast. It puts me in mind of Doctor Who on the telly, the shoestring budget and lack of recording time forced them to cut corners and make the stories more imaginative because the production most certainly wasn't going to impress. They continually produced magic and the Benny series has captured that same magic and run with it. These hour long adventures are perfect for passing the long walk to work or keeping me entertained when I can't sleep at night. They are much more appealing then the two hour (and sometimes longer) Doctor Who stories that just don't seem to know where to end. They are pocket sized stories full of drama, vest and fun.
This is a rather good audio considering its directed by you know who (psst... Gary Russell!). His work this year has been extremely variable but this is a rather decent attempt at pulling off a paranoia fuelled adventure. It hits the right balance between Indiana Jones style adventuring caves and Doctor Who style exploring scary caves. I enjoyed it a lot despite its irrelevant nature and I suppose that is what counts (if only the Who range could make their filler stories this fun... just look at Nekromentia... sorry folks I'm never going to let that one go am I?). The lines are witty, the acting is strong and the story doesn't run out of steam, it's not first class Benny but it's certainly not bad by any means.
Plus Mike Tucker is right... the Rutan sound effect is very scary!