The Catalyst (audio story)

The Catalyst
Doctor:	Fourth Doctor
Companion(s):	Leela
Main enemy:	H'mbrackle, Z'nai
Main setting:	England, the 1900s
Key crew
Publisher:	Big Finish Productions
Writer:	Nigel Fairs
Director:	Nigel Fairs
Music:	Nigel Fairs
Sound:	Nigel Fairs
Read by:	Louise Jameson, Timothy Watson
Cover by:	Simon Holub
Release details
Release number:	2.4
Release date:	January 2008
Format:	1 CD
Production code:	BFPDWCC08
ISBN:	ISBN 978-1-84435-293-7
The Companion Chronicles
← Previous	Old Soldiers
Next →	Here There Be Monsters

The Catalyst was the eighth release in the Companion Chronicles audio range. It was the fourth story of season 2. It was written by Nigel Fairs and featured Leela.

Publisher's summary

The pride of the Z'nai matches that of Leela of the Sevateem. Why would the Doctor imprison one in such an unlikely place, and what terrors will be brought about by letting it loose?

Plot

to be added

Cast

• Leela - Louise Jameson
• H'mbrackle / The Z'nai - Timothy Watson

References

• The Tro'faroom, which was built by the ancient founders of the Sevateem on their planet, is a corruption of "Trophy Room."
• Lord Douglas has encouraged his daughter Jessica to read the works of Thomas Hardy. However, she prefers that of Rudyard Kipling.
• Lady Douglas considers the suffragettes to be "an abomination of nature."
• H'mbrackle claims that he and the Doctor shared dinner in the Royal Place of Kremnon shortly before the destruction of the Z'nai civilisation.
• Leela was named after the Sevateem's first and greatest warrior.

Notes

• This story strongly implies that Leela survived the Last Great Time War.
• Chronologically, this is the earliest Big Finish audio drama to feature the Fourth Doctor.
• This audio drama was recorded on 3 June 2007.

Textless cover art

Continuity

• Leela refers to the destruction of Gallifrey in the Last Great Time War. (TV: The End of the World) As such, it is one of the first Big Finish audio dramas to make direct reference to an event in the revival TV series.
• Leela mentions being cast out from the Sevateem for blaspheming against Xoanon. (TV: The Face of Evil)
• Leela recalls growing up with Tomas and Jabel and arguing numerous times with her father Sole during her childhood. (TV: The Face of Evil)
• The Doctor once again observes, "Where there's life, there's hope." (TV: Planet of the Spiders)
• Leela claims that she was named after the greatest warrior in Sevateem history. However, she previously told Boudica that her name had no meaning. (AUDIO: The Wrath of the Iceni)
• The Doctor mentions he once saw a whole world burning. (AUDIO: The Time Vampire)

External links

• Official The Catalyst page at bigfinish.com
• The Catalyst at the Doctor Who Reference Guide