Big Finish Productions Neverland

Written by	Alan Barnes
Format	Compact Disc
Released	2002
Continuity	After The Telemovie.

Starring Paul McGann and India Fisher

Also featuring Dot Smith, Jonathan Rigby, Ian Hallard Lalla Ward, Don Warrington, Anthony Keetch, Peter Trapani, Holly King, Lee Moone, Mark McDonnell, Nicola Boyce.

Synopsis: Why are the Time Lords so keen to track the Doctor down? Exactly what lengths will the Celestial Intervention Agency go to in their efforts to retrieve something important from within his TARDIS? Who is the mythological destroyer Zagreus? And what has caused Imperiatrix Romanadvoratrelundar to declare war on the rest of creation? The Doctor seeks the answers deep within an entirely new universe and must face up to the actions not only of himself but the hundreds and thousands of Time Lords who have gone before.

• A Review by Richard Radcliffe
• The Biggie by Robert Thomas
• A Review by Stuart Gutteridge
• A Review by John Seavey
• Fairytales... by Joe Ford
• Adventures of an Edwardian Adventuress Part Three by Jacob Licklider

A Review by Richard Radcliffe 17/7/02

The wonderful thing about new Doctor Who (and by this I mean 8th Doctor Who) is that you don't know where you will be at the end of the story. What has Big Finish and BBC Books got up its sleeve to astound us? It's this uncertainty - and all credit to Big Finish for keeping us in the dark so long - that drives Neverland.

Alan Barnes started this audio 8th Doctor and Charley off, with the pretty good Storm Warning. Because of the R101, and the fact that Charley should have died, the writers have had something to play with, something to get their teeth into. Consultation between writers provided the ongoing narrative to the 6-story season, but it wasn't a narrative that spoiled the individual segments. Each story could be enjoyed on its own merits, but there were also arc pieces in there for those of us who buy them all. Neverland is the place where things get resolved, and fittingly Alan Barnes is the writer again, he'd started so he'll finish.

Big Finish have chosen to give Neverland a Classic build up. Rather than being in 4 parts, it divides into 2, giving the thing a different feel - and a more expansive one. The length is huge - nearly 2 and a half hours. The subject matter, concerning Gallifreyan legends and other dimensions is Classic Who material - and re-establishes the Doctor's Home Planet's legends. It never lags - there's time for explanation (there's plenty of that), there's also time for action. It balances everything very well. Gallifrey, thanks to its legends, is once again the Mysterious and Interesting Place it once was. There was also a delay in its release, unforeseen but a delay that added immeasurably to the anticipation of fans around the world.

So does Neverland justify this impressive build up? Does it contain all the Classics of a Brilliant DW Story - and provide McGann's 2nd Season with a blockbuster finish? The answer must be a resounding yes, Neverland is a huge success.

Paul McGann is a magnificent Doctor, and in Charley Big Finish have the ideal companion for the 8th Doctor. The quality of the stories has been consistently high over these 10 stories, and the excellence of the 2 stars has never been in question. They are simply amongst the very best Doctor/Companion teams that DW has ever seen. The stories have been varied, but the writing for these 2 has consistently been excellent - it helps when you have 2 actors of the calibre of Paul McGann and India Fisher. The enthusiasm they both show throughout this story, and the preceding ones, is my abiding memory of these stories.

Neverland is a broad-sweeping story. The whole concept of Neverland is amazingly vast. Barnes uses the Audio medium to create marvelous pictures for the imagination. The canvas of the mind has rarely been given such rich colours to explore. The Gallifreyan legends, which I thought had been exhausted, are resurrected to stunning effect - resulting in a surprising offshoot of Gallifreyan morals. A story so much about Gallifrey legends is therefore surprising for its lack of theatre at the Time Lord residence itself. This story's setting is far more interesting - the Neverland of the title.

Whilst characterization is very high Barnes doesn't sacrifice the players at the expense of the story - like all great stories the characters move the story along, resulting in fascination both for the places and the personalities. There are plenty of quieter moments where the characters are built upon, the Doctor explaining what Charley means to him, Charley comparing the Doctor to Peter Pan. There's a stunning scene near the end where the anomaly that is Charley Pollard is faced head on by the Doctor and Charley, it's a triumphant scene - these are the magic moments of DW, and Neverland has them in spades.

The casting is excellent. Paul McGann and India Fisher are always excellent, but the guest cast are almost as good here. Lalla Ward is a more experienced Romana, but still the likeable Time Lady of the later 4th Doctor years. She gives the production a grace that further enhances it. Don Warrington is magnificent as the surprise Legend from the past - Big Finish hide who he is playing on the cover, so I will do the same. He's not in it as much as I would have liked, but what he does he does brilliantly. Vansell returns as well, and is better here than ever before. He gives more depth to the Time Lords, and the dubious character he portrays is one of the more interesting Gallifreyans we have ever seen, especially here.

Neverland is a triumph all round. With its resolution of the "Charley should have died" problem, with its incredible notion of Neverland, with its mythogical feel, it's an epic. There's also a conclusion that simply blows you out of the sky. It's rare in a programme that is so much about Nostalgia, recapturing the feelings of growing up, to find something startling new. The end had me open mouthed, totally in awe of the power of DW story-telling. It amazed me that after all this time DW and the wonderful imagination of its fans could come up with such magnificence.

I adore the Big Finish audios, they are the best kind of Doctor Who we have ever had. Neverland doesn't disappoint one iota - and the question of where we go from here is one of monumental interest. 10/10

The Biggie by Robert Thomas 8/8/02

A 6 month build up, arguably 18 if we're talking Storm Warning preceded this story, so is this any good? In short yes, very good, the mother of them all we were all hoping for. Sadly though this review is going to be bollocks because it brought the fan in me out to the hilt. I'd say this story is going to be impossible for a fan not to like.

Onto the story itself, surprisingly tight and at the same time a little bit epic. A few returning characters (I said before I avoid all spoilers so they wowed me and you didn't get the full affect if you knew they were coming for a few months) and a few original characters that turn out to be very surprising. A very original idea which could perhaps banish the boring image Gallifrey has. There's a few moments in here that will be magic for fans, reason alone to buy this and enjoy it.

The structure is surprising and took the listener by surprise - at one stage I thought we were in Holy Terror territory for the length. So much to be enjoyed and to shock you make this a must have. No faults anywhere and a must have for all.

A Review by Stuart Gutteridge 15/4/04

Neverland manages to deliver on the promise of concluding the Charley paradox arc and still captivates at the same time, largely thanks to strong performances from the cast. Paul McGann strikes the right balance between childlike enthusiasm and almost "parental" concern. Lalla Ward manages to convey the livlier Romana of old coupled with an edgier side in her role as President and India Fisher possibly puts in her best turn as Charley (who the story largely centres around) thus far. The guest cast are equally strong from Don Warrington to Nicola Boyce all putting in grat performances.

Storywise Neverland must have been something of a risk, (spreading a plot over 9 stories) but it pays off, with plenty of plot twists thats builds nicely to a shockingly effective cliffhanger and sets things up for future Eighth Doctor storylines. In short then a winner from Big Finish.

A Review by John Seavey 14/6/04

Alan Barnes has already said this himself, so I don't feel the least bit guilty saying it myself -- Neverland is way way WAY too long. When the run time is so long that you have to cut the credits to get the whole thing to fit on two CDs, that's a sign from God that you should seriously trim it. And loads of it is repetitive, too; too many repetitions of the 'Zagreus' rhyme, too many explanations of Rassilon's presence in the Antiverse that turn out to be red herrings anyway, too many lists (Romana didn't just play with her friends, she played with them in the fields of Mount Vertubulis catching the flutterwings and climbing the frimpletrees of Carabulus; it's not enough to mention the "other time-active powers", Vansell has to list them off by name each and every time they're brought up, et cetera)...just too much wittering about, which really distracts from the plot.

And the performances are all off-model, too. India Fisher milks her every line like she expects an audio spotlight, while Paul McGann rattles his dialogue off like he's hoping he can get through it before he realizes what rubbish he's talking. Lalla Ward talks to the Doctor like he's an ex who slept with the family dog, and in general the whole thing has an odd, bitter tone that really doesn't help any of it. And Rassilon showing up at the end is just plain gratuitous, and there's no getting around it. I have to agree with Alan Barnes, in the end -- just a read-through and a rehearsal, just one, would have resulted in a much tighter script and a much better production.

Fairytales... by Joe Ford 21/1/05

Things that are great about Neverland...

• The Doctor and Charley's relationship is at its all time height. For a relationship that has now degenerated into bland fudgey syrup this is an excellent example of how engaging these characters once were. Scene upon scene shows their devotion to each other, the Doctor trying to push Charley over to some great knees up at the end of time so he can face the Time Lords on her behalf, his desperate reaction to her decision to face the consequences of her survival and take the TARDIS back into the path of the Time Torpedoes, Charley asking the Doctor to kill her when it appears that is the only way to stop the death of time and his dramatic refusal (telling her he loves and he would never kill her no matter what), even the last scene where the Doctor violently slaps her, taken over by the anti-time creatures shows their relationship taking a gripping, unpredictable turn. Sterling work from Paul McGann and India Fisher who make you believe absolutely in their love for each other and produce some of the most emotional scenes for Big Finish yet.
• The climax of the Charley plot, which has been running since the Eighth Doctor audios began. Now this is how to get a companion involved more actively without dismissing the Doctor's role, having the simple idea of Charley's survival causing a breach in anti-time and threatening the continuity of our universe gives her her most important story yet. It is certainly a dramatic idea to play about with, the death of one person (especially someone as likable and sweet as Charley) or the death of the web of time? With those odds can the Doctor execute his companion? For once a season climax feels important, like our American cousins, we have learnt to cap off this year of stories with a real cliff-hanging story.
• Romana. I love Lalla Ward. If I wasn't gay and she was blind I would marry her and have three babies in a fortnight! Not to dismiss her scripts on the series (which were often excellent) this is possibly the best Romana story because it gives her so much to do and so much personality. She's a real bossy boots but very humane with it, her style of Presidency is fair but strict. She won't let anybody walk over her, especially her weasely second Vansell with whom she has several verbal duels with here and has huge respect for the Doctor despite being so embarrassed by his childish prevaricating and improvised plans. Her conversation with Rassilon at the story's close is a perfect climax for her character arc.
• The anti-time creatures. I love it when Gallifrey is portrayed in a poor light because (sorry folks) it's such an arse achingly dull place that this sinister underbelly manages to provoke some genuine interest. The spangly political Gallifrey of the series is the Next Generation. The sinister, corrupt Gallifrey of Neverland is Deep Space Nine. With one swift revelation we understand that the CIA of Gallifrey are executing people (not just executing them but erasing them from existence) for the barest of crimes under the orders of the psychotic Vansell. These souls who have never existed are sucked through into the anti-time universe where they non-exist and plan revenge on the corrupt system that denied them a life. Bitter and twisted and capable of feasting on anything from our universe, they make a terrifying enemy, mostly because you can understand their motives.
• The anti-time creatures' revenge plan. Having tasted life in our universe via Charley and the breach between our two universes her survival has created, they set about hatching an ingenious scheme to lure the Time Lords through into their antiverse thinking that they have the oldest and most revered of the Time Lords captured, Rassilon. They intend for the Time Lords to take the casket of Rassilon back to Gallifrey, knowing that they are desperate enough to seek the return of their founder. What they are really taking is pure anti-time matter which will consume our universe, allowing the creatures access so they can feast on all time... it's bold, brave and brilliant. Some quarters suggest it is confusing but it is all ingeniously woven into the story and exploited for maximum dramatic effect. For once it is possible to really give a shit about Gallifrey! Go figure!
• Possibly the best ever Big Finish production and certainly the best direction from Gary Russell. There is a stunning vista of soundscapes from Alistair Lock, from the attack on the TARDIS by the Time torpedoes, to the Time Station breaking through into the anti-time universe via Charley, to the TARDIS bursting at the seams as it contains the explosion of the anti-time creatures. For an audio-only production it is astonishing how exciting this all is. The decaying TARDIS with anti-time ghosts swirling around is terrifying to listen to, I had it on during a walk home in the dark and it really gave me the willies!
• The cliff-hanger. It has been entered in cliff-hanger history now, the powerful, shivers down the back scene where the Doctor, reeling from the drama of the climax slaps Charley around the face and claims in a gravely, alien voice that he is "Zagreus!" I was slack jawed for hours.

Adventures of an Edwardian Adventuress Part Three by Jacob Licklider 11/2/19

This is the culmination of the entire story arc involving Charley Pollard and the tearing Web of Time. The plot sees the Time Lords catch up to the Doctor, with Romana and the High Council wishing to use Charley to open a breach into anti-time so they can go through it and get the Web of Time stitched up and rescue a certain Lord Rassilon who explored there and died. There isn't just Rassilon in the universe of anti-time, where a conspiracy is uncovered such that every person ever sent to be dispersed on Gallifrey has become a being of anti-time, which goes further when it is revealed that, as they have never really existed, no one remembers that they were dispersed once the dispersal actually takes place.

This allows us to really see into Romana's mind, as she has unwittingly been the cause of over 200 deaths over the course of her Presidency. Romana is brilliantly played by Lalla Ward, who gives every line powerful emotion. She is the only one speaking sensibly to the Doctor, as he was her mentor, even though he has broken many Time Lord Laws. When she realizes that Vansell has gone behind her back to see her Presidency undone and what she did to all those people, she has an almost subdued fit of pure rage and sorrow, as there is nothing she can do to save them. She gets some of her best lines near the end of the play when she gets to talk with Rassilon, who is there to be mysterious but tells her that even though this adventure is over there is something coming in the future that she has to be wary of. Add this to the cliffhanger that anti-time has infected the Doctor, who has become the embodiment of Zagreus, and you get some great set up for the 40th anniversary celebration.

Paul McGann as the Doctor is really at his most emotional and romantic. His reaction to the Time Lords coming to find him is to try and hide Charley away at an eternal party so he can sort it out and get everything to the status quo. His emotion escalates, as everything leads to the idea that he is going to have to shoot Charley in the head to repair the damage. This makes it all the more satisfying when he professes his love to her and actually finds a way to save her by materializing the TARDIS around the breach to close it. He and Lalla Ward share a scene of a possible future, which is just haunting in how foreboding it is, with Romana basically turning into a dictator and bringing about a conquest of the universe, which I could see happening. This is by far McGann's best performance yet as the Doctor, due in no small part to just how well Alan Barnes understands who this Doctor is as the breathless romantic. Barnes' script makes his travelling be so tantalizing to go to, but still makes you almost want Charley to go to this party just to see how good it would have been.

India Fisher as Charley serves as the emotional centerpiece for this story, which allows Fisher to show just how much acting skill she has in her, which works for the best. She loves travelling with the Doctor, and, from the beginning of the story, Charley knows that escaping the R101 in Storm Warning was wrong and is ready to face the piper. She even tells the Doctor to shoot her, as it seems to be the only way to save everything. She also stays upbeat throughout: when she sends the TARDIS into the hands of the Time Lords, she gets tied up but still refuses to be treated like she has lesser intelligence. She still cares about those Time Lords when they get infected with anti-time in Part Two. Fisher also voices the main villain of this story, Sentris, who took Charley's form so she could feed off our universe. Sentris has the character range of being sympathetic one minute but totally evil the next. She is the one who voices everyone's feelings just to toy with them and her eventual defeat

This story also sees the true introduction of Don Warrington's incarnation of Rassilon who really doesn't get much to do except be pretty much the watchful god, which is for the best, as he pretty much is a god. He is the one to point out the fallacy that he never went to the anti-time universe and couldn't be trapped there as he is still in the Death Zone on Gallifrey. Anthony Keetch's Vansell also has his magnum opus here, as he becomes a power-hungry villain who wants to become Rassilon's right hand man. The rest of the supporting cast are all either anti-time beings or infected by anti-time, which is very emotional, as you see people destroyed by the universe.

To summarize, Neverland is another perfect story, which sees the emotional catharsis of the Doctor and Charley in such a good story with a great cliffhanger to lead into Zagreus. 100/100