Class: Volume 2

The second set of three hour-long stories, each featuring two or three of the characters from the TV series is perhaps even better than the first. Class weas partly described at the time as the British answer to the earlier US series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the first two ‘episodes' here are notably in that mode, while the third ties us in more directly to mainstream Doctor Who lore.

• Everybody Loves Reagan – The similarities to Buffy” are most clearly on display here. A new girl starts at Coal Hill and immediately starts making herself popular with... well, everyone except April. It's clear to the listener that something is wrong here right from the start, despite nobody but April being able to notice it, and the depth of the issue becomes more serious as the story progresses. The resemblance to Buffy comes from the obvious focus on teen problems, from concerns about fitting in to worries about exams and so on. Teen angst made literal reality was very much what the US show was about, and this would have fit right in. But it also fits in well here, with some good use of the leads – Ram and Tanya supporting April in this one – and ties in to events that had happened earlier in the series. 4.5 stars.

• Now You Know... – The second story also deals with teen issues, if perhaps less directly than the first one did. This time Tanya and Matteusz are the stars, although it's not really clear in-story why they won't involve any of the others. Something deadly is once again stalking the school corridors, preying on people seemingly at random. (Well, that's the theory; the connection should be obvious from the second victim, but it's fair to say it wouldn't be to the characters in the story). This leads Tanya on a quest to dig into the school's past and, once again, some of the difficulties of school life. This element is well done, and there's a great scene with the two leads trying, badly, to draw the monster out. A good story that will probably resonate with a number of listeners. 4 stars.

• In Remembrance – The only story in the first two collections to have a direct link to the parent show this (as is probably obvious from the cover) involves Charlie and Quill running into a Dalek loose on the school premises... and into the present-day version of Ace. It's a sort of sequel to classic DW episode Remembrance of the Daleks. You don't need to have watched that to follow this, since the basics are explained, but it will likely help, and give it greater resonance. I say that it's a ‘sort of' sequel, since it deals with events of the prior episode, but doesn't directly follow on from them, taking place (from the Dalek's perspective) at the same time. Despite Ace guest-starring, this is largely Quill's episode, digging into some of her personality and stuffed with sarcastic one-liners as she is forced to take desperate measures to protect Charlie. It's great fun, and closer to traditional DW than the other episodes. 4.5 stars.