The Doctor’s adventures in time and space are over. The Time Lords have recalled him to Gallifrey – but what he faces on his home planet is worse than any trial. Following the disappearance of President Borusa, the High Council condemned him to the highest office – and he can’t evade his responsibilities a nanosecond longer…
So all hail the Lord High President! All hail President Doctor!
Rassilon save him. This time, there’s really no escape.
TIME IN OFFICE
One of my persistent complaints with the Doctor Who monthly range is about its general lack of imagination: most stories follow the patterns of well-worn Doctor Who stories and are, after 200+ releases, both predictable and forgettable. It’s a rare treat when a monthly story comes along that defies this trend, and “Time in Office” by Eddie Robson certainly does the trick.
The premise is simple: after dropping the Gravis off on a deserted planet, the Doctor and Tegan are hijacked by the Time Lords and brought to Gallifrey. Once there, the Doctor is forced to assume the mantle of Lord President and rule over his people. “Time in Office” presents a few scenes from this presidency but never takes itself wholly seriously, making a refreshing change from the serious overtones of other Gallifrey stories. Robson aims for an honest examination of what the fifth Doctor would be like as Lord President, and I think he nails it. Take the third episode, where the Doctor is confronted with a student protestor advocating for the same reforms the Doctor intends to make. It’s obviously funny, as the student consistently refuses to pay attention, but it also shows the Doctor’s willingness to take input from anyone in his pursuit of better things. It also shows the Doctor’s lack of patience with the pomp and circumstance of Gallifrey: he knows he looks ridiculous in his ceremonial robes, he mocks the endless lists of Things of Rassilon, and so forth. I’ve often found Big Finish’s Gallifrey stories to be caught between two worlds: they don’t want to lampoon it, but they don’t push the boundaries to truly explore the incomprehensible technology at Gallifrey’s heart. Robson ignores this to blaze his own trail and it works remarkably well, especially in his exploration of Gallifreyan diplomacy in episode two.
I’m also a fan of the supporting characters. This is one of the best-ever Tegan stories, as she quickly assimilates into Gallifrey’s culture while bringing her brash, human sensibilities to bear. She’s smart, creative, and resourceful, and she manages to exhibit this determination while maintaining a healthy level of snark. The “mouth on legs” descriptor could not be less apt. And then there’s Leela, captured expertly by Robson. She retains her “savage” instincts despite years in Gallifreyan society, but Robson doesn’t make the mistake of portraying her as a fool. Her ideas may be simple, but they’re incisive – her marriage idea is exactly the right way for a writer to respect the intelligence of a “primitive” character.
The production is great as well, from director Helen Goldwyn to sound designer Andy Hardwick to the excellent performances across the board. Even if the story trips up a bit in the final episode, it’s not enough to prevent the overall success of the release. There’s not much to “Time in Office” – it’s light, it’s breezy, it’s comedic, and even when the stakes are high it doesn’t feel important – but what we have is both refreshing and entertaining. This is the sort of story I once expected from Big Finish as a matter of course. Now, for better or for worse, it’s something rare, to be treasured.
Great stuff.
9/10