Vienna Series Three

Big Society by Ian Potter: Every season of Vienna seems to up the ante on the previous one and this is no different and as a result it seems to surprise me more and more by being one of the most agreeable spin offs that Big Finish has spun. A huge shout out to Chase Masterson from the off because she has taken hold of a character that was a little sketchy on the page (a glamorous space bitch assassin) and turned her into one of the most layered, and the most fun of Big Finish characters. She's dangerous and funny and has a heart of gold underneath it all and Masterson is pure charisma at this point. Samantha Beart is still playing her sidekick Jexie Reagen with a bizarre accent but the chemistry between the two actresses is so strong at this point that I barely noticed. I mention both of the leads because so much of this second set, and especially this first story are successful because of their really enjoyable interplay and some real effort has gone into making it feel as though they have been working together for some time at this point and that they make one hell of a team. Instead of murdering people for money, Jexie has turned Vienna to protecting people for money and in a wonderfully revealing moment at the end of Big Society, Vienna admits to her partner that sometimes performing a good deed is its own reward. It means she is far more likable than we have previously found, and given the extra dollop of humour in this set, so much funnier too. This is a furiously paced SF tale with some great ideas and creepy moments. Potter includes a chilling notion of algae and waste clone matter amalgamating into a sinister new lifeform and the Good Day drug that essentially powers all three stories this season is not only a wonderful notion in its own right but given some authenticity and considers the consequences of such a drug being available. With Scott Handcock in the driving seat the story sounds amazing and he brings all manner of impressive guest actors with him. I finished this one with a huge smile on my face and raring to go with the last two and you can't ask for much more than that from your opening salvo: 8/10

Big Society by Guy Adams: I'm perfectly convinced that this is one of the best scripts I have heard from Big Finish in quite a few years. This is absolutely bonkers, and brilliant. Not only is it a scathing attack on reality TV shows that put people through the wringer for the entertainment of others but it is also a hilarious action adventure feature some of the  weirdest characters and fights that you will ever experience. I was laughing my head off when Vienna and Jexie meet a sarky, bitchy escalator but by the end of the story entire buildings are coming to life and attacking other buildings with entire musical concertos compressed into a couple of seconds of devastating sound. That is the level of madness we are dealing with here. It would have been a horrible mess too if this was in the hands of a lesser director but Handcock has a delicate handle on how to bring this to life, with absolute seriousness, with superbly timed jokes hitting their mark throughout. By the end of the story where Vienna is cleverly using the logic of the competition against the villain and manipulates the villain into exposing just what an asshole he is, I was cheering. Throughout I was laughing at the smart jokes and biting commentary. And the soundscape on this one is just extraordinary. If Douglas Adams was to write a Big Finish script, it would be very like this one. Devastatingly cruel to corporate greed, hilariously characterising the strangest of people and putting the leads front and centre and allowing them to smart and silly and brilliant. If you are looking for a more realistic sort of audio then you are going to look elsewhere (but then I would question why you are listening to the adventures of a busty space assassin) but if you're here for a great time with some quirky set pieces, unforgettable dialogue and most of all a chance to truly laugh at some of the most absurd television that exists out there then you are in for a treat with this one. Confident as hell, and absolutely insanely enjoyable listening: 10/10 

Impossibly Glamorous by Steve Lyons: A step down from the previous adventure but that was so good that was perhaps inevitable, but this is still a very decent end to the set and climax to the overall narrative. Any story that features Sophie Aldred camping it up as a corporate monster that is exploiting the reverse engineered Good Day drug to make millions from a depressed population cannot be a bad listening experience, and I love how the set makes Vienna and Jexie heroes by exposing the monstrousness of holding back on marketing and producing something that could make such a positive impact on this society. It's doing what the second series did, making Vienna a force for good, but with far less labyrinthine plotting and engineered twists, and thus making it feel like a more fluidic piece of storytelling. Like Big Society there is an attack on big business and how it exploits people when it could help them, and I couldn't agree more with what it is saying. The first half of this story is a little confusing and perhaps a little too comedic for its own good. There was a ton of running about and a quick succession of gags that felt a little too farcical but the whole piece rouses in the second half as Vienna emerges from her deceit to claim the day. I can't say this enough but I had a lot of fun with this and the more I am exploring the spin off ranges of Big Finish, the more I am coming to the conclusion that that is where the most original and enjoyable material is to be found. Doctor Who comes with a wealth of nostalgia and clichés but that is a finite pool of creativity. Brilliant writers like Guy Adams and James Goss are finding their voice elsewhere where they can be truly original. Vienna series three really surprised me at just how very good it is. Not because I wouldn't expect that from these writers but because I wouldn't expect to find this much talent in such a niche range. Bravo: 7/10