Doctor Who: The Cloisters of Terror

Doctor Who: The Cloisters of Terror

2015

Ratings1

Average rating4

15
JKRevell
Jamie RevellSupporter

The Doctor and Leela investigate ghostly goings-on at a fictional Oxford college in the 1970s. It's a well-done story, fitting neatly within its one-hour time slot. The setting, much of it in a former medieval nunnery, evokes the Gothic feel of the Hinchcliffe era (as has also been done successfully in other releases of this particular “season” of 4th Doctor audios). Bringing back Emily Shaw from the earlier audio The Last Post is also a nice plus, and some might appreciate the fact that, aside from the Doctor himself, it's an all-female cast.

The opening segments are a sort of creepy ghost story with sinister nuns, which morphs into more traditional science-fiction as the details are uncovered. While the details don't have the complexity that a two-hour story would allow, they aren't needed here, and there are still unexpected reversals as things go on, leading to a dramatic finale. The interplay between Baker and Jameson is as good as ever, with both characters getting to use their strengths. There are also some great lines in the sparkling script, and not all from the Doctor. All of this really brings back the atmosphere of season 14, when the classic show was arguably at its height.

March 4, 2019