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| Short Trips: A Universe of Terrors "The Exiles" Written by Lance Parkin Published: 3rd July 2003 Read: 25th February 2016 |
Short Trips: A Universe of Terrors - "The Exiles"
Time for today's second update and another tale detailing the Doctor and Susan's departure from Gallifrey. While this was comprehensively documented in the 2013 audio play, The Beginning, this Short Trip can be made to fit within it if you squint a little.
Lance Parkin has written a rather slight story here which really doesn't have a plot of sorts, but examines the great escape from Susan's perspective, as she looks on at her grandfather deciphering the controls, gently cooing as the old TARDIS wakes up from her long slumber.
Indeed, in the long history of the programme, there are only a few occasions where the TARDIS feels in any way threatening or scary, most notably The Edge of Destruction and "Amy's Choice". Parkin really seizes on this, portraying the TARDIS as a bear waking up from her long hibernation, with the Doctor urging caution in switching on all of the controls, or even probing through the eternal door and seeing what lays beyond. Of course, this gives Susan an absolute reason to disobey her grandfather and she begins wandering the darkened interior, where she soon falls under the impression that someone is following her.
As I said earlier, a slight story, but none the less intriguing for seeing the very first voyage in the TARDIS. Not only that but in relating how terribly lonely and dull Susan's life was on Gallifrey, surrounded by old, grey and wrinkled men, as well as learning of the Doctor's previous ambassadorial work for the Time Lords. This did lead me to smile when the Doctor was forced to admit that he hadn't piloted a TARDIS himself, but had watched to technician's do at once! And to top it all we end with a bit of a mystery, but I'm sure it'll be a while before it is solved. Good stuff.
7/10
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