Customer Reviews

Doctor Who : The Fires of Vulcan (Dr Who Big Finish)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was pleased to spot this Big Finish Doctor Who audio adventure on Amazon's site - I don't recall having seen the previous eleven.

Set during the first year of the seventh Doctor's stories, it features Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor and Bonnie Langford as companion Mel Bush. Now, Mel has never been the most popular of the Doctor's travelling companions, which I suspect is partially because of her overly exuberant personality and partially because none of the stories she appeared in really suited her.

In her first appearance in a Big finish audio play, I was happy to see that situation reversed. Mel firmly takes centre stage in this adventure set in the last days of Pompeii, with Vesuvius about to erupt. We learn that the Doctor was aware that his TARDIS had been found buried in Pompeii, and had avoided going there. But, having arrived by accident, he feels that he has no choice but to stay and let events proceed, even if it means his death.

Mel refuses to accept that there is no choice but to accept that the future is set. Her attempts to save the Doctor, herself and others from the eruption of Vesuvius shows her character's strong points at their best.

The Doctor's late conversion from a fatalist to someone willing to her try to change the future seems out of character.

Not the best of the Big Finish productions to date (but please note that the general quality is high), this one is certainly worth listening to.

The Doctor in Pompeii, what's not to love? Granted some of the secondary characters are very one dimensional, but I think the overall flavor of Pompeii is captured nicely. The best part of this CD is that Mel, perhaps one of the most irritating companions on the televison, is redeemed. We see a vibrant, hopeful companion worthy of the Doctor who thankfully does not scream once! Moreover we see a multisided performance from Sylvestor McCoy ranging from morose to hopeful. It is nice to see more than the clown or the manipulator that McCoy's Doctor has become known for. One of the best Big Finish CD's to date!

"The Fires of Vulcan" is one of the most popular Big Finish audios, but I consider it a little overrated. It is a solid, well-written and well-acted historical tale with excellent production values and an interesting time paradox for the Doctor to handle -- but there are many similar tales in the "Doctor Who" canon, especially among the original novels. Perhaps this story is so popular because it "rehabilitates" the era in which it is set -- the unloved Season 24 -- and its companion -- the controversial Melanie Bush, excellently played here by Bonnie Langford. I always liked Mel better than most "Who" fans anyway, so I don't see a vast difference in her likeability here. In any case, this is an excellent story, but so are the vast majority of Big Finish's "Who" productions; I just don't see "The Fires of Vulcan" as something very special, but maybe I'm missing something.

The Doctor and Mel arrive in Pompeii one day before Vesuvius erupts. The Doctor is plunged into despair because he knows this is the end of the line. Years ago he was shown a strange artefact unearthed in the ruins of this doomed city--a certain Police Box that he would recognize anywhere.

Melanie Bush doesn't exactly top the list of favourite companions. I think this apathy has nothing to do with Bonnie Langford's acting abilities and personal charm and everything to do with the poor material she was given in the television series. The character of Mel wasn't given a proper introduction and was never developed. The only thing the average fan remembers is that Mel was obsessed with carrot juice and that Ms Langford has the ability to scream in the key of the Doctor Who theme music.

While this story doesn't fully rehabilitate Mel, it does go a long way toward making her a likable and sympathetic character. Scriptwriter Steve Lyons gives her lots to do--exploring the Roman world, bolstering the Doctor's flagging spiriting, escaping from jail, and racing through the ash-shrouded streets.

Unlike the Pompeii episode in the new series, this one is a straight-forward historical featuring characters based on real people who lived in the city at the times of its destruction.

While the storyline isn't terribly fast paced, I defiantly wouldn't call it plodding. Rather, it unfolds with intelligence and elegance, culminating in a rather good depiction of the volcano's eruption.

4 stars.

Dr Who the fires of Vulcan is one of the best 7th Doctor Adventures I have had the pleasure of listening to.

It combines a very strong story with first rate acting, particularly from Bonnie Langford in her first appearance as Mel in the Audios.

The range the story gives Mel shows how wasted she was in the series, when using her as a character rather than a prop Mel shines.

The story begins in 1980 with the Tardis being uncovered in a dig of Pompeii and Unit being called in.

Exit to the year 64 AD were a very subdued 7th Doctor realizes that the future he knew was coming has finally caught up with him.

As the Doctor deals with his resignation to the will of the web of time Mel decides to take action to try to save them both. It really works well and interestingly doesn't conflict with the 10th Doctor's later visit and explains some elements of it. The final resolution in fact seems to foreshadow his tactics in later audios such as Colditz (Doctor Who).

As for Bonnie Langford this began a streak of winning episodes for her in the series. It's been a bad break that development of newer characters have kept her out for the last couple of years but hopefully we will see more of her soon.

Either way this one is definitely a buyer and a keeper.