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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image = The Five Companions.jpg | |image = The Five Companions.jpg | ||
|range = Bonus Releases | |range = Bonus Releases | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
|doctor = Fifth Doctor | |doctor = Fifth Doctor | ||
|companions = [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Steven Taylor|Steven]], [[Sara Kingdom|Sara]], [[Polly Wright|Polly]], [[Nyssa]] | |companions = [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Steven Taylor|Steven]], [[Sara Kingdom|Sara]], [[Polly Wright|Polly]], [[Nyssa]] | ||
|enemy = [[Dalek]]s, [[ | |enemy = [[Silver Dalek]]s, [[Grex]] | ||
|setting = Disused alternate section of [[Death Zone]], [[Gallifrey]] | |setting = Disused alternate section of [[Death Zone]], [[Gallifrey]] | ||
|writer = | |writer = Eddie Robson | ||
|director = [[Ken Bentley]] | |director = [[Ken Bentley]] | ||
|producer = [[David Richardson]] | |producer = [[David Richardson]] | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
|cover = [[Alex Mallinson]] | |cover = [[Alex Mallinson]] | ||
|publisher = Big Finish Productions | |publisher = Big Finish Productions | ||
|release date = | |release date = 11 December 2011 | ||
|format = 1 CD | |format = 1 CD | ||
|production code = 6K/A | |production code = 6K/A | ||
|isbn = ISBN | |isbn = ISBN 978-1-78178-691-8 (physical)<br>ISBN 978-1-78178-692-5 (digital)<br>ISBN 978-1-80240-682-5 (Promo digital) | ||
|prev = The Four Doctors (audio story) | |prev = The Four Doctors (audio story) | ||
|next = Night of the Stormcrow (audio story) | |next = Night of the Stormcrow (audio story) | ||
|soundcloudtrailer = https://soundcloud.com/howardcarter-1/the-five-companions-trailer | |soundcloudtrailer = https://soundcloud.com/howardcarter-1/the-five-companions-trailer | ||
|epcount = 1 | |epcount = 1 | ||
|series2 = Classic Series - Special Releases | |||
'''''The Five Companions''''' was the ninth ''[[Doctor Who]]'' bonus story released on [[11 December (releases)|11 December]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]] by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Eddie Robson]] and featured [[Peter Davison]] as the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Sarah Sutton]] as [[Nyssa]], [[William Russell]] as [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Peter Purves]] as [[Steven Taylor]], [[Jean Marsh]] as [[Sara Kingdom]] and [[Anneke Wills]] as [[Polly Wright]]. | |prev2 = The Four Doctors (audio story) | ||
|next2 = The Light at the End (audio story) | |||
}} | |||
'''''The Five Companions''''' was the ninth ''[[Doctor Who]]'' bonus story released on [[11 December (releases)|11 December]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111228065248/http://bigfinish.com:80/whatsnew.aspx Latest and Upcoming releases] (Archived 28 December 2011 on the Wayback Machine)</ref> by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Eddie Robson]] and featured [[Peter Davison]] as the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Sarah Sutton]] as [[Nyssa]], [[William Russell]] as [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Peter Purves]] as [[Steven Taylor]], [[Jean Marsh]] as [[Sara Kingdom]] and [[Anneke Wills]] as [[Polly Wright]]. | |||
It was one of only two bonus releases which | It was one of only two bonus releases which weren't available for general purchase and could only be obtained by a subscription including a main range release - in this case, ''[[Army of Death (audio story)|Army of Death]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> -'' the other being ''[[The Four Doctors (audio story)|The Four Doctors]]''. However, on [[23 November (releases)|23 November]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]], the story was made available as a free download in celebration of the the [[List of anniversaries|61st anniversary]] of ''Doctor Who''.<ref name="Free" /><ref name=":2">[https://x.com/bigfinish/status/1860262039555293685 ✨ Happy #DoctorWhoDay! Here's a FREE audio adventure for you! Click https://bgfn.sh/dwfreebie to find out how to download The Five Companions starring Peter Davison. ✨] [https://x.com/bigfinish Big Finish Insider] on [https://twitter.com Twitter], posted 23 November 2024.</ref><ref name=":3">[https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/special-deals-for-doctor-who-day FREE Doctor Who Day gifts and offers] at [https://www.doctorwho.tv/ doctorwho.tv], 23 November 2024.</ref> | ||
Essentially, this audio acts as an extension of the events of ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', with the Fifth Doctor encountering more past [[ | Essentially, this audio acts as an extension of the events of ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', with the Fifth Doctor encountering more past [[companion]]s and [[Dalek]]s, as well as the [[Sontaran]]s, in the [[Death Zone]]. | ||
== Publisher's summary == | == Publisher's summary == | ||
| Line 39: | Line 42: | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
A long time after leaving the [[First Doctor]], [[Steven Taylor|Steven]] finds that he has been transported to a place made of fused [[spacecraft]] and is taken prisoner by a [[Dalek]], but he is saved when the Dalek falls down a shaft disguised with a sheet of [[metal]] by a similarly perplexed [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]]. They flee when the Dalek flies back upwards and take refuge in an [[airlock]], utilising the system's magnetic force against the Dalek when it breaks in and leaving it vulnerable. | |||
== Cast == | [[Polly Wright|Polly]], transported away whilst on her way to a [[restaurant]], hides in a hatch from a [[dinosaur]] and pulls [[Sara Kingdom|Sara]] inside to save her. The dinosaur is attacked by Daleks and both sides seemingly kill one another, after which Polly and Sara emerge and find that one Dalek is still alive. Sara soon kills it with a [[pipe]], takes its [[gunstick|gun]] and leads Polly away in search of a way to escape; she destroys a group of Daleks and rescues [[Nyssa]], whom the Daleks have been forcing to assist them in their mission to get away from the [[pocket dimension]] they have all arrived in. | ||
Instead of being transported from the [[Death Zone]] to [[the Capitol]] as he had intended, the [[Fifth Doctor]] finds himself with [[Skarl]] of the [[Sontaran Sixth Column]] and is taken prisoner. A Dalek argues with Skarl over the Doctor and Steven knocks the [[Sontaran]] out by hitting his [[probic vent]], after which the Dalek reveals himself to be Ian inside a travel machine. They are joined by Nyssa, Polly and Sara, the last of whom brushes away her survival as "a long story", and the Doctor realises that they have all been dragged into an inescapable alternative environment of the Death Zone. | |||
Nyssa adapts a [[ground radar]] and she and Ian use it as a weapon to herd the dinosaurs away and prevent the Daleks from retreating. Steven and Sara are captured by [[Grex|Marshal Grex]], Skarl and [[Varsh (The Five Companions)|Varsh]] as they make their way to steal the Daleks' equipment and tell them about the gateway that Nyssa has been helping the Daleks develop, a device which the Sontarans intend to use and destroy. Although Skarl is ordered to guard Steven and Sara, he leaves them to hunt down the Doctor to restore his [[honour]]. He chases the Doctor and is killed when Polly pierces him in the [[probic vent]] with her [[stiletto]]. | |||
The Sontarans fight the Daleks and capture the gateway, which does not function, but the Daleks reveal that they knew of their objective and have sealed them inside their base. When Grex proposes that the two forces work together to boost the power of the gateway and destroy the dimension that they are in to kill the Doctor, the Daleks agree, only for an argument to break out and Grex to begin a fight in which he is killed. Ian and Nyssa disconnect the [[power cable]]s attached to the gateway too late and the dimension begins to collapse, so the Doctor has Steven fly Skarl's ship, made of [[dwarf star alloy]], to open a path to the gateway. | |||
Using the Sontaran ship's [[tractor beam]], Steven and Nyssa protect the Doctor with a bulkhead, but Nyssa refuses to let him work alone and takes over from him. Ian, Steven, Sara and Polly link arms to reach the Doctor and prevent him from falling when the floor breaks apart and Nyssa succeeds in shutting the gateway down. The Doctor is then able to make contact with the Capitol and says goodbye to his [[companion]]s, promising to visit them and warning that their [[memory|memories]] might be affected before transmatting away. His former companions doubt that he will ever visit them, however, as he has better things to do. | |||
== Cast== | |||
* [[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]] | * [[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]] | ||
* [[Ian Chesterton]] - [[William Russell]] | * [[Ian Chesterton]] - [[William Russell]] | ||
| Line 48: | Line 61: | ||
* [[Polly Wright]] - [[Anneke Wills]] | * [[Polly Wright]] - [[Anneke Wills]] | ||
* [[Nyssa]] - [[Sarah Sutton]] | * [[Nyssa]] - [[Sarah Sutton]] | ||
* | * [[Dalek|The Daleks]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]] | ||
* | * [[Sontaran|The Sontarans]] - [[Dan Starkey]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
=== Culture === | === Culture === | ||
* The Doctor mentions to Polly that he is attempting to get into contact with the [[Capitol]]. | * The Doctor mentions to Polly that he is attempting to get into contact with the [[Capitol]]. | ||
| Line 63: | Line 76: | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* | * The [[Fifth Doctor]] is the only character to appear in both this story and the television story ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]''. | ||
* This marks the first time that [[Peter Purves]] and [[Anneke Wills]] have reprised their roles as [[Steven Taylor]] and [[Polly Wright]] respectively for Big Finish outside of | * This marks the first time that [[Peter Purves]] and [[Anneke Wills]] have reprised their roles as [[Steven Taylor]] and [[Polly Wright]] respectively for Big Finish outside of [[The Companion Chronicles|''The'' ''Companion Chronicles'']] range. Similarly, it is the first time that [[William Russell]] has reprised his role as [[Ian Chesterton]] in a full cast [[Big Finish]] audio drama. | ||
* The | * This was a special release given away to Big Finish subscribers who have the audio story ''[[Army of Death (audio story)|Army of Death]]'' as part of their subscription.<ref name=":1">'About' tab of [https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-five-companions-subscription-exclusive-684 the official ''The Five Companions'' page] at [https://www.bigfinish.com bigfinish.com].</ref><ref name=":0">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110514125806/http://bigfinish.com/news/The-Five-Companions-In-the-Studio The Latest Big Finish News - The Five Companions - In the Studio] (Archived 14 May 2011 on the Wayback Machine)</ref> On [[23 November (releases)|23 November]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]], it was made available as a free download in celebration of the [[List of anniversaries|61st anniversary]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.<ref name="Free">[https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/a-free-audio-story-for-doctor-who-day A free audio story for Doctor Who Day!] </ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> | ||
* The cover for this story was revealed on 9 May 2011.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110512110251/http://www.bigfinish.com/news/The-Five-Companions-Cover-revealed The Latest Big Finish News - The Five Companions - Cover revealed] (Archived 12 May 2011 on the Wayback Machine)</ref> | |||
* This story was recorded at [[the Moat Studios]],<ref>'Backstage' tab of [https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-five-companions-subscription-exclusive-684 the official ''The Five Companions'' (subscription exclusive) page] at [https://www.bigfinish.com bigfinish.com].</ref><ref>'Backstage' tab of [https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-five-companions-promo-3187 the official ''The Five Companions'' (promo) page] at [https://www.bigfinish.com/ bigfinish.com].</ref> and at least partly recorded on [[12 May (production)|12 May]] [[2011 (production)|2011]].<ref name=":0" /> | |||
* This audio takes place during the events of ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]''. The [[Fifth Doctor]] is diverted to an alternate section of the [[Death Zone]] that is disused after using {{Ainley}}'s transmat recall device, and discovers that some of his other companions have ended up there as well. | * This audio takes place during the events of ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]''. The [[Fifth Doctor]] is diverted to an alternate section of the [[Death Zone]] that is disused after using {{Ainley}}'s transmat recall device, and discovers that some of his other companions have ended up there as well. | ||
* The Doctor tells Ian that he had intended to visit him several months earlier. This is a reference to the original plans for ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'', which had envisaged Ian taking the part ultimately allocated to [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]. | * The Doctor tells Ian that he had intended to visit him several months earlier. This is a reference to the original plans for ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'', which had envisaged Ian taking the part ultimately allocated to [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]. | ||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* Ian and Steven previously met in the [[Mechonoid City]] on [[Mechanus]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'') | * [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Steven Taylor|Steven]] previously met in the [[Mechonoid City]] on [[Mechanus]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'') | ||
* Ian sets a trap for a Dalek by placing a sheet of metal on the floor in the hopes of disrupting the static electricity supply by which they are powered and subsequently disguises himself as a Dalek. He did both of these in his first encounter with them on [[Skaro]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'') | * Ian sets a trap for a [[Dalek]] by placing a sheet of metal on the floor in the hopes of disrupting the [[static electricity]] supply by which they are powered and subsequently disguises himself as a Dalek. He did both of these in his first encounter with them on [[Skaro]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'') | ||
* Ian, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'', ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)|The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'', ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'') Steven, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Across the Darkened City (audio story)|Across the Darkened City]]'', ''[[The Dalek Occupation of Winter (audio story)|The Dalek Occupation of Winter]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'') Sara, ([[AUDIO|AUDIO:]] ''[[The Destroyers (audio story)|The Destroyers]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'') Polly ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') and Nyssa ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Mutant Phase (audio story)|The Mutant Phase]]'', ''[[Renaissance of the Daleks (audio story)|Renaissance of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Plague of the Daleks (audio story)|Plague of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Dalek Soul (audio story)|Dalek Soul]]'', ''[[The Elite (audio story)|The Elite]]'') have all previously encountered the Daleks. | * Ian, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'', ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)|The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'', ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'') Steven, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Across the Darkened City (audio story)|Across the Darkened City]]'', ''[[The Dalek Occupation of Winter (audio story)|The Dalek Occupation of Winter]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'') [[Sara Kingdom|Sara]], ([[AUDIO|AUDIO:]] ''[[The Destroyers (audio story)|The Destroyers]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'') [[Polly Wright|Polly]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') and [[Nyssa]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Mutant Phase (audio story)|The Mutant Phase]]'', ''[[Renaissance of the Daleks (audio story)|Renaissance of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Plague of the Daleks (audio story)|Plague of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Dalek Soul (audio story)|Dalek Soul]]'', ''[[The Elite (audio story)|The Elite]]'') have all previously encountered the Daleks. | ||
* The Sontarans have records of all the Doctor's incarnations. They recognise the Fifth Doctor from their encounter with him on [[Samur]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Heroes of Sontar (audio story)|Heroes of Sontar]]'') | * The [[Sontarans]] have records of all [[The Doctor|the Doctor's]] incarnations. They recognise the Fifth Doctor from their encounter with him on [[Samur]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Heroes of Sontar (audio story)|Heroes of Sontar]]'') | ||
* The Doctor initially believes that he and his former companions are trapped in an artificial construct which has been created by the Master. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'') | * The Doctor initially believes that he and his former [[Companion|companions]] are trapped in an artificial construct which has been created by [[Tremas Master|the Master]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'') | ||
* Nyssa would later encounter the Fifth Doctor in her mind shortly before his regeneration into the [[Sixth Doctor]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Winter (audio story)|Winter]]'') Later still in her personal timeline, she would meet the [[Fourth Doctor]] in [[3488]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Asylum (novel)|Asylum]]'') and subsequently rejoin the Fifth Doctor as one of his companions. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Cobwebs (audio story)|Cobwebs]]'') From the Doctor's perspective, the latter two events have already happened. | * Nyssa would later encounter the Fifth Doctor in her mind shortly before his regeneration into the [[Sixth Doctor]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Winter (audio story)|Winter]]'') Later still in her personal timeline, she would meet the [[Fourth Doctor]] in [[3488]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Asylum (novel)|Asylum]]'') and subsequently rejoin the Fifth Doctor as one of his companions. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Cobwebs (audio story)|Cobwebs]]'') From the Doctor's perspective, the latter two events have already happened. | ||
* This is the Doctor's first encounter with each of his first incarnation's companions since they left the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'', ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'', ''[[The Savages (TV story)|The Savages]]'', ''[[The Faceless Ones (TV story)|The Faceless Ones]]'') None of them know that the Doctor is a [[Time Lord]] nor are they familiar with the concept of [[regeneration]]. Even Polly, who witnessed the Doctor's regeneration into [[Second Doctor|his second incarnation]], remains uncertain of the process. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') With reference to Ian Chesterton, this will be contradicted in [[COMIC]]: ''[[Hunters of the Burning Stone]]'', where the [[Eleventh Doctor]] meets a younger version of the science teacher and attends his wedding. | * This is the Doctor's first encounter with each of his first incarnation's companions since they left [[the TARDIS]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'', ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'', ''[[The Savages (TV story)|The Savages]]'', ''[[The Faceless Ones (TV story)|The Faceless Ones]]'') None of them know that the Doctor is a [[Time Lord]] nor are they familiar with the concept of [[regeneration]]. Even Polly, who witnessed the Doctor's regeneration into [[Second Doctor|his second incarnation]], remains uncertain of the process. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') With reference to Ian Chesterton, this will be contradicted in [[COMIC]]: ''[[Hunters of the Burning Stone]]'', where the [[Eleventh Doctor]] meets a younger version of the science teacher and attends his wedding. | ||
* Polly claims sarcastically that making [[coffee]] was usually her main contribution to the proceedings. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'', ''[[The Moonbase (TV story)|The Moonbase]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Selachian Gambit (audio story)|The Selachian Gambit]]'') | * Polly claims sarcastically that making [[coffee]] was usually her main contribution to the proceedings. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'', ''[[The Moonbase (TV story)|The Moonbase]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Selachian Gambit (audio story)|The Selachian Gambit]]'') | ||
* The Doctor refers to Polly challenging the [[CyberMondan|Mondasian]] [[Cyber-Leader (Mondas)|Cyber-Leader]] [[Krail]] in the [[Snowcap]] in [[December]] [[1986]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') and destroying a squadron of [[CyberTelosian|Cybermen]] on the [[Moonbase (The Moonbase)|Moonbase]] in [[2070]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Moonbase (TV story)|The Moonbase]]'') | * The Doctor refers to Polly challenging the [[CyberMondan|Mondasian]] [[Cyber-Leader (Mondas)|Cyber-Leader]] [[Krail]] in the [[Snowcap]] in [[December]] [[1986]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') and destroying a squadron of [[CyberTelosian|Cybermen]] on the [[Moonbase (The Moonbase)|Moonbase]] in [[2070]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Moonbase (TV story)|The Moonbase]]'') | ||
| Line 84: | Line 97: | ||
* The fact that Ian is an elderly man would seem to disprove the rumour (as related by Sarah Jane to her friends [[Clyde Langer]] and [[Rani Chandra]] in [[2010]]) that he and Barbara have not aged since the [[1960s]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'') | * The fact that Ian is an elderly man would seem to disprove the rumour (as related by Sarah Jane to her friends [[Clyde Langer]] and [[Rani Chandra]] in [[2010]]) that he and Barbara have not aged since the [[1960s]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'') | ||
* Martha would later refer to how pompous the name "Time Lord" sounds quite, ([[TV]] ''[[Smith and Jones (TV story)|Smith and Jones]]'') as would a future version of the Master. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]'') The [[Twelfth Doctor]] would soon get unwarranted treatment when he revealed to [[Danny Pink]] that he's a Time Lord. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'') | * Martha would later refer to how pompous the name "Time Lord" sounds quite, ([[TV]] ''[[Smith and Jones (TV story)|Smith and Jones]]'') as would a future version of the Master. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]'') The [[Twelfth Doctor]] would soon get unwarranted treatment when he revealed to [[Danny Pink]] that he's a Time Lord. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'') | ||
== External links == | |||
{{bigfinish|releases/v/the-five-companions-subscription-exclusive-684|The Five Companions (subscription exclusive)}} | |||
{{Bigfinish|https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-five-companions-promo-3187|The Five Companions (promo)}} | |||
== Footnotes == | == Footnotes == | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}}{{BFA monthly}} | ||
{{BFA monthly}} | |||
{{Dalek audio stories}} | {{Dalek audio stories}} | ||
{{Sontaran stories}} | {{Sontaran stories}} | ||
| Line 102: | Line 115: | ||
[[Category:Audio stories set on Gallifrey]] | [[Category:Audio stories set on Gallifrey]] | ||
[[Category:Audio stories that use the Peter Howell theme]] | [[Category:Audio stories that use the Peter Howell theme]] | ||
[[Category:One part audio stories]] | |||
Latest revision as of 22:11, 23 November 2024
The Five Companions was the ninth Doctor Who bonus story released on 11 December 2011[1] by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Eddie Robson and featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Peter Purves as Steven Taylor, Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdom and Anneke Wills as Polly Wright.
It was one of only two bonus releases which weren't available for general purchase and could only be obtained by a subscription including a main range release - in this case, Army of Death[2][3] - the other being The Four Doctors. However, on 23 November 2024, the story was made available as a free download in celebration of the the 61st anniversary of Doctor Who.[4][5][6]
Essentially, this audio acts as an extension of the events of The Five Doctors, with the Fifth Doctor encountering more past companions and Daleks, as well as the Sontarans, in the Death Zone.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
Inside a cluster of fused-together derelict spaceships, four of the Doctor's oldest friends — and one of his newest ones — are lost and confused. They don't know how they got there or what they're meant to be doing — but as the place is infested with Daleks, Sontarans and dinosaurs, their first priority is staying alive.
To their collective relief, the Doctor turns up and has a reasonable idea of what's going on. If the six of them work together, they can escape this place and get home. But, unexpectedly, others may be working together to ensure they all die here...
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
A long time after leaving the First Doctor, Steven finds that he has been transported to a place made of fused spacecraft and is taken prisoner by a Dalek, but he is saved when the Dalek falls down a shaft disguised with a sheet of metal by a similarly perplexed Ian. They flee when the Dalek flies back upwards and take refuge in an airlock, utilising the system's magnetic force against the Dalek when it breaks in and leaving it vulnerable.
Polly, transported away whilst on her way to a restaurant, hides in a hatch from a dinosaur and pulls Sara inside to save her. The dinosaur is attacked by Daleks and both sides seemingly kill one another, after which Polly and Sara emerge and find that one Dalek is still alive. Sara soon kills it with a pipe, takes its gun and leads Polly away in search of a way to escape; she destroys a group of Daleks and rescues Nyssa, whom the Daleks have been forcing to assist them in their mission to get away from the pocket dimension they have all arrived in.
Instead of being transported from the Death Zone to the Capitol as he had intended, the Fifth Doctor finds himself with Skarl of the Sontaran Sixth Column and is taken prisoner. A Dalek argues with Skarl over the Doctor and Steven knocks the Sontaran out by hitting his probic vent, after which the Dalek reveals himself to be Ian inside a travel machine. They are joined by Nyssa, Polly and Sara, the last of whom brushes away her survival as "a long story", and the Doctor realises that they have all been dragged into an inescapable alternative environment of the Death Zone.
Nyssa adapts a ground radar and she and Ian use it as a weapon to herd the dinosaurs away and prevent the Daleks from retreating. Steven and Sara are captured by Marshal Grex, Skarl and Varsh as they make their way to steal the Daleks' equipment and tell them about the gateway that Nyssa has been helping the Daleks develop, a device which the Sontarans intend to use and destroy. Although Skarl is ordered to guard Steven and Sara, he leaves them to hunt down the Doctor to restore his honour. He chases the Doctor and is killed when Polly pierces him in the probic vent with her stiletto.
The Sontarans fight the Daleks and capture the gateway, which does not function, but the Daleks reveal that they knew of their objective and have sealed them inside their base. When Grex proposes that the two forces work together to boost the power of the gateway and destroy the dimension that they are in to kill the Doctor, the Daleks agree, only for an argument to break out and Grex to begin a fight in which he is killed. Ian and Nyssa disconnect the power cables attached to the gateway too late and the dimension begins to collapse, so the Doctor has Steven fly Skarl's ship, made of dwarf star alloy, to open a path to the gateway.
Using the Sontaran ship's tractor beam, Steven and Nyssa protect the Doctor with a bulkhead, but Nyssa refuses to let him work alone and takes over from him. Ian, Steven, Sara and Polly link arms to reach the Doctor and prevent him from falling when the floor breaks apart and Nyssa succeeds in shutting the gateway down. The Doctor is then able to make contact with the Capitol and says goodbye to his companions, promising to visit them and warning that their memories might be affected before transmatting away. His former companions doubt that he will ever visit them, however, as he has better things to do.
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor - Peter Davison
- Ian Chesterton - William Russell
- Steven Taylor - Peter Purves
- Sara Kingdom - Jean Marsh
- Polly Wright - Anneke Wills
- Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
- The Daleks - Nicholas Briggs
- The Sontarans - Dan Starkey
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor mentions to Polly that he is attempting to get into contact with the Capitol.
Species[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Steven encountered the Sontarans when one of their scout ships crashed on the Elders' planet several years earlier in his personal timeline. This experience taught him that a Sontaran could be incapacitated by striking their probic vent.
- A Tyrannosaurus rex is transported to the alternative Death Zone, where it kills several Daleks before it is exterminated.
Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Sontaran ship is provided with dwarf star alloy and a tractor beam.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Fifth Doctor is the only character to appear in both this story and the television story The Five Doctors.
- This marks the first time that Peter Purves and Anneke Wills have reprised their roles as Steven Taylor and Polly Wright respectively for Big Finish outside of The Companion Chronicles range. Similarly, it is the first time that William Russell has reprised his role as Ian Chesterton in a full cast Big Finish audio drama.
- This was a special release given away to Big Finish subscribers who have the audio story Army of Death as part of their subscription.[2][3] On 23 November 2024, it was made available as a free download in celebration of the 61st anniversary of Doctor Who.[4][5][6]
- The cover for this story was revealed on 9 May 2011.[7]
- This story was recorded at the Moat Studios,[8][9] and at least partly recorded on 12 May 2011.[3]
- This audio takes place during the events of The Five Doctors. The Fifth Doctor is diverted to an alternate section of the Death Zone that is disused after using the Tremas Master's transmat recall device, and discovers that some of his other companions have ended up there as well.
- The Doctor tells Ian that he had intended to visit him several months earlier. This is a reference to the original plans for Mawdryn Undead, which had envisaged Ian taking the part ultimately allocated to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Ian and Steven previously met in the Mechonoid City on Mechanus. (TV: The Chase)
- Ian sets a trap for a Dalek by placing a sheet of metal on the floor in the hopes of disrupting the static electricity supply by which they are powered and subsequently disguises himself as a Dalek. He did both of these in his first encounter with them on Skaro. (TV: The Daleks)
- Ian, (TV: The Daleks, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Chase) Steven, (AUDIO: Across the Darkened City, The Dalek Occupation of Winter, TV: The Daleks' Master Plan) Sara, (AUDIO: The Destroyers, TV: The Daleks' Master Plan) Polly (TV: The Power of the Daleks) and Nyssa (AUDIO: The Mutant Phase, Renaissance of the Daleks, Plague of the Daleks, Dalek Soul, The Elite) have all previously encountered the Daleks.
- The Sontarans have records of all the Doctor's incarnations. They recognise the Fifth Doctor from their encounter with him on Samur. (AUDIO: Heroes of Sontar)
- The Doctor initially believes that he and his former companions are trapped in an artificial construct which has been created by the Master. (TV: The Five Doctors)
- Nyssa would later encounter the Fifth Doctor in her mind shortly before his regeneration into the Sixth Doctor. (AUDIO: Winter) Later still in her personal timeline, she would meet the Fourth Doctor in 3488 (PROSE: Asylum) and subsequently rejoin the Fifth Doctor as one of his companions. (AUDIO: Cobwebs) From the Doctor's perspective, the latter two events have already happened.
- This is the Doctor's first encounter with each of his first incarnation's companions since they left the TARDIS. (TV: The Chase, The Daleks' Master Plan, The Savages, The Faceless Ones) None of them know that the Doctor is a Time Lord nor are they familiar with the concept of regeneration. Even Polly, who witnessed the Doctor's regeneration into his second incarnation, remains uncertain of the process. (TV: The Tenth Planet) With reference to Ian Chesterton, this will be contradicted in COMIC: Hunters of the Burning Stone, where the Eleventh Doctor meets a younger version of the science teacher and attends his wedding.
- Polly claims sarcastically that making coffee was usually her main contribution to the proceedings. (TV: The Tenth Planet, The Moonbase, AUDIO: The Selachian Gambit)
- The Doctor refers to Polly challenging the Mondasian Cyber-Leader Krail in the Snowcap in December 1986 (TV: The Tenth Planet) and destroying a squadron of Cybermen on the Moonbase in 2070. (TV: The Moonbase)
- Marshal Grecks refers to the Sontaran invasion of Gallifrey. (TV: The Invasion of Time)
- The fact that Ian is an elderly man would seem to disprove the rumour (as related by Sarah Jane to her friends Clyde Langer and Rani Chandra in 2010) that he and Barbara have not aged since the 1960s. (TV: Death of the Doctor)
- Martha would later refer to how pompous the name "Time Lord" sounds quite, (TV Smith and Jones) as would a future version of the Master. (TV: The Timeless Children) The Twelfth Doctor would soon get unwarranted treatment when he revealed to Danny Pink that he's a Time Lord. (TV: The Caretaker)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Official The Five Companions (subscription exclusive) page at bigfinish.com
- Official The Five Companions (promo) page at bigfinish.com
Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- ↑ Latest and Upcoming releases (Archived 28 December 2011 on the Wayback Machine)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 'About' tab of the official The Five Companions page at bigfinish.com.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Latest Big Finish News - The Five Companions - In the Studio (Archived 14 May 2011 on the Wayback Machine)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A free audio story for Doctor Who Day!
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 ✨ Happy #DoctorWhoDay! Here's a FREE audio adventure for you! Click https://bgfn.sh/dwfreebie to find out how to download The Five Companions starring Peter Davison. ✨ Big Finish Insider on Twitter, posted 23 November 2024.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 FREE Doctor Who Day gifts and offers at doctorwho.tv, 23 November 2024.
- ↑ The Latest Big Finish News - The Five Companions - Cover revealed (Archived 12 May 2011 on the Wayback Machine)
- ↑ 'Backstage' tab of the official The Five Companions (subscription exclusive) page at bigfinish.com.
- ↑ 'Backstage' tab of the official The Five Companions (promo) page at bigfinish.com.
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