Brief Summary
The review covers "Operation Werewolf," a lost Doctor Who story revived by Big Finish, focusing on the Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria in Nazi-occupied France. The story involves Nazis developing teleportation technology and a brainwashing project called Operation Werewolf, which aims to spread fascist ideology. The reviewer appreciates the story's political intrigue, character interactions, and focus on human evil rather than alien intervention, giving it an 8/10 rating.
- The story was originally planned for season 5 of the second Doctor era.
- It features the Nazis developing teleportation technology and a brainwashing project called Operation Werewolf.
- The reviewer praises the story's political intrigue, character interactions, and focus on human evil.
Historical Context and Production
"Operation Werewolf" was initially conceived for season 5 of Doctor Who, featuring the Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria in Normandy, France, just before D-Day. The plot involves the Nazis developing teleportation technology and a sinister project called Operation Werewolf. The idea of a Nazi-focused historical story dates back to season 4, but it was cancelled due to poor viewing figures for pure historical narratives. Douglas Camfield revived the concept in season 5, but the story was ultimately dropped. Big Finish later brought it back as part of their Lost Stories series.
Initial Impressions and Story Setup
The reviewer appreciates the story's setup, music, setting, and atmosphere, which evoke a 1960s feel. The story reminds the reviewer of a BBC past Doctor Adventure, with the Doctor forced to play a role, similar to "The Daleks' Master Plan." The initial episode effectively sets up the story, with supporting characters being untrusting of Jamie and Zoe, who must earn the resistance's trust. The Doctor, meanwhile, tries to uncover the dates and is unnerved to find that D-Day is imminent.
Plot Development and Nazi Schemes
Jamie and Zoe team up with the resistance to investigate top-secret experiments that could give the German High Command a significant advantage. The Nazis are developing teleportation technology and have plans for Nazi brainwashing. Operation Werewolf is revealed to involve spreading fascist ideology through unconventional means, capitalizing on the full moon's association with werewolves. Some characters have ulterior motives, seeking to replace Hitler and perpetuate Nazism even after his death.
Character Interactions and Twists
Jamie encounters the actual English scientist and agent, Fergus McCrimon. The Nazis reveal Operation Werewolf, aiming to spread fascism through brainwashing, which affects characters like Victoria and Zoe. Professor RoR seeks to understand the fourth dimension, or time, through teleportation technology, despite the Doctor's warnings. The story explores the complexities of characters motivated by their own supremacy rather than pure allegiance to Hitler.
Climax and Resolution
The reviewer notes that episode 4 is more of a runaround, but episode 6 is refreshing because there is no alien intervention. The conflict arises from human evil and characters driven by their own supremacy. The story's premise is simple, but the charm lies in the characters. The reviewer appreciates the focus on the evil within human beings and their motivations, which provides a breath of fresh air.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation
The audio drama is recommended for those who enjoy political stories focusing on human evil rather than alien intervention. It fits well within the BBC past Doctor Adventures style. The reviewer praises the rich set of characters, their motivations, and the steady pace of the story. Big Finish has expanded on elements such as the Nazis spreading fascism through unconventional means. The reviewer rates "Operation Werewolf" an 8 out of 10.
