S01E04 – January 13th 2026
This audio gently introduces the antagonists who will clearly become more important later on… but beyond that, how well does it work? And why does it share a title with the last Bad Boys film? Let us see whether we can answer that. There is no sign of Will Smith or Martin Lawrence tearing across this Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz adventure, but there is a fairly warlike premise of a kind we have actually seen very little of with this Doctor. It vaguely recalls “War of the Sontarans” in concept, though we are still a very long way from the operatic quality of Flux, which—however much that may displease some people—was a genuinely original approach.
This time, we find the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz caught up on a planet where humans pulled from every corner of space and time are fighting a war against an enemy with a devastating voice: the Banshees. We learn a little more about Yaz’s past and get a fuller sense of her emotional life.
On that level, it is a superb episode. Yaz’s character development is handled very well, and I really appreciate the way these audios fill in some of the gaps left by the television series. Another major strength is the Banshees themselves: a fairly familiar concept on paper, perhaps, but handled here with real originality. It was a genuine sonic challenge, and the audio rises to it impressively.
Even so, this audio left me wanting more. I like the characters, but I found the plot rather unengaging. There are interesting ideas here, as well as a real commentary on aggressive capitalism and the way it encourages us to avoid facing our responsibilities. But there is also a moral grey area: yes, it is surely wrong to accept everything in the name of money, but what about people who simply need to survive and have no real means of rebelling against an overwhelmingly powerful system? Beyond that, I have to admit that American soldiers in Doctor Who audios rarely grip me, and I find it hard to become attached to them. That was true here as well. It is entirely subjective, but the accent keeps me from fully losing myself in the story.
The arrival, within this season’s ongoing arc, of antagonists who are clearly going to play a larger role later on is certainly intriguing. But for now it remains only a light touch, nothing that strikes me as truly fascinating just yet. I am curious to see where it goes, though it is far too early to form a firm opinion. I would say this is the audio I liked least of the first four, which is a shame. You can feel how much heart has gone into it, but it kept me at a slight distance for several reasons, from choices in the sound direction to a plot that lacks a little spark.
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