| THE SETTLING by Simon Guerrier |
| Story 82 Synopsis: The TARDIS lands in Drogheda, Ireland, 1649, where Oliver Cromwell is leading his men against the revolting natives. Despite the Doctor's orders not to fight, Ace and Hex get involved, knowing of the impending slaughter. Hex is taken before Cromwell, but tries change his attitudes to his mission. When he blasphemes, Cromwell is deeply offended. The Doctor and Ace take the TARDIS to Cromwell's next destination, Wexford, with a pregnant local the Doctor befriended in Drogheda. He sends Ace to find her dead husband's brother in the city, but is too late, and the attack begins. Hex escapes punishment, and leads the Irish in attack, despite Cromwell's hopes for a peaceful settlement. Cromwell orders Hex to be hanged, but having delivered the baby, the Doctor then saves the mother's life when Cromwell shoots her. Moved, Cromwell allows Hex to live. Whilst the Doctor finds a safe new place for mother and baby, Ace and Hex recuperate in the TARDIS, trying to work out where they went wrong... |
| Review:- Hex finds himself on personal historical ground, up against the infamous Oliver Cromwell, at the scenes of his darkest hours in Ireland, in one of the more challenging audios BF have done. The names Drogheda and Wexford are, for some, integral parts of Anglo-Irish history, the scenes of atrocities committed in the name of God and Parliament by a deranged monster. This story examines these events up close and personal, to see whether Cromwell quite deserves the black name he has. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that he isn't quite the brute that history might suggest. As first Hex and then Ace come to know the man behind the myth, they realise he is merely misguided, doing a tough job his way and to some extent, at the mercy of events. With the Doctor mainly on the sidelines, it falls to his companions to see the truth of things. It is tragic, then, that Hex allows his own prejudice to cloud his judgement, and though he tries to quell Cromwell, he ultimately helps to cause the disaster at Wexford. It is probably too easy to pitch someone whose catchphrase is "Oh my God" against someone for whom this casual blasphemy is a highly serious matter. It closes Cromwell's mind to any truth and hope in Hex's pleas, perhaps the most tragic swearing in history. Ultimately, Hex is saved by the kindness of the Doctor, who saves a new mother from death after Cromwell shoots her. Though Cromwell is clearly capricious, the chaotic pace of events would shatter many lesser men, and his decision not to hang Hex is to his credit. Clive Mantle gives a great star turn as Cromwell. Most of the story is told inbetween later recollections in the TARDIS between Hex and Ace, as they come to terms with the events they have witnessed, and try to heal the mental and physical wounds they have taken. I'm not really sure it works to the story's credit, seeming more like cheap padding, in a story that doesn't need it. If it were meant to ensure the seriousness of the story was properly considered, then maybe it would have been better not to write a story like this in the first place. After all, the suggestion that history isn't history if the Doctor hasn't turned up is a rather hollow one. Overall, an eye-opener to those with little or no idea about the events depicted, but perhaps not much more to those who already know. |
| Disclaimer: I own a copy. |