| WINTER FOR THE ADEPT by Andrew Cartmel |
| Story 10 Synopsis: During an experiment in the TARDIS, Nyssa is teleported away, arriving in the Alps near an exclusive ladies school, in December 1963. She is rescued from freezing by Lieutenant Sandoz, who takes her to the school. He also finds the only two schoolgirls still there, Alison and Peril, who were trying to flee. But there seems to be a poltergeist in the school, and the TARDIS soon arrives. The Doctor apologises to Nyssa, but believes the poltergeist might be genuine. He fails to convince Sandoz, who thinks he is behind it. The Doctor conducts experiments to discern the truth, but gets more physical evidence from a piano that plays itself. The poltergeist seems to turn nasty. But the Doctor discerns the trouble is linked to Alison and particularly Peril. By part-hypnotising them, he thinks he can prevent any further attacks. But when they are both unconscious, the problem continues. The Doctor decides to hold a seance, where the ghost, Harding Wellman, introduces himself. He is prone to epileptic fits, which he is unaware of. Alison and Peril are triggers for him. The Doctor also realises that their fates are bound by a long-term plan by a race called the Spillagers, who have manipulated Alison, Peril and Harding to create a portal through which they can come to Earth. Sandoz is one of their advance party. During an avalanche, Sandoz is buried, and the Doctor uses Nyssa as a replacement for Peril in the ceremony to close the Spillager portal. Harding opts to move in with Peril. |
| Review:- A strange tale set among the Swiss snows, on the eve of Christmas, with a haunting dilemma for the Doctor and Nyssa... The most anyone recalls about this story is that it marked the debut of India Fisher, who would later be cast as Charley Pollard alongside the 8th Doctor. That's a bit of a shame, because it's not that terrible an adventure. Yes, the stagey "oh, look, I shall describe something happening" is a failing for an audio's credibility, and the fact that Sally Faulkner is forced to deliver the grimmest attempt at a Scottish accent in a drama ever heard doesn't help much, either. When she gets shot, it's hard not to cheer. But there's some charm here, with India shining, and the other guest actor, Peter Jurasik, bringing a depth to Sandoz that makes his continual scepticism and rationalising more bearable than it might otherwise have been. Harding Wellman turns out to be quite good, too, which makes it a shame that the story takes so long to talk to him. Sadly, the very frenetic final episode also has to give us some drama with the Spillager attack. This doesn't work all that well. Cartmel's admitted fondness for using younger girls as characters (needs better phrasing than that, I know) perhaps reaches an apex with the setting of a girls' school, but since only two girls appear, it's not so bad as it might have been. Indeed, it's a predominantly female cast, with only the Doctor, Sandoz and Wellman as male characters (and the Spillager leader sounds to be a woman, too). So, perhaps there is method in the madness. Whilst the central idea of ghosts, and psychic powers is borderline for the rationale of a show like Doctor Who, the story's quite pleasant and swift to listen too, so any complaints about that feel like pettiness. Apart from the rushed denouement, this is an entertaining and warm adventure. |
| Disclaimer: I own a copy. |