My journey into the Big Finish Doctor Who audio series began with "Land of the Dead". When I first heard of the concept of new Doctor Who adventures on CD, I had to wonder why somebody hadn't thought of this before! All new stories with the original actors voices, complete with theme song, full length episodes, and traditional cliffhangers. It's as close as you can get to having it back on television.
If you have not had the pleasure of listening to "Land of the Dead" yet, let me tell you how to do it. Sit back in a comfortable chair, put on a set of headphones, turn up the volume, and turn off the lights. There are so many sounds and nuances to keep your mind going that to listen casually would decrease your enjoyment of the experience.
The story itself is very different, taking place on a lonely private estate in Alaska, where the owner, Shaun Brett, has financed the construction of a primeval monument beneath his house, designed by Monica Lewis, who is employed by Brett. Also at the house are Tulung, a scientist who's father worked with Brett's father until a tragic accident; and Gaborik, a native who objects spiritually to Brett's project. The Doctor and Nyssa arrive at the house and discover it to be the focus for some kind of primeval energy, and as they begin to uncover the secrets of the house, ancient creatures start to come alive.
The highlight of the story is listening to Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton recreate characters they hadn't played in fifteen years! Both their voices are slightly deeper but by no means is this a distraction. Davison's quips with Monica are rather refreshing in the middle of all the drama, and Sarah Sutton's role in the story is highly significant and well-acted, even better than some of her televised stories. Her best moments occur throughout the story as she tries to teach Tulung the importance of blending science with spiritualism.
The supporting cast is quite good too. Gaborik seems a little wooden although I must admit I've never heard an Alaskan native talk before. Brett is quite dark and obsessive while Monica's character is a lot of fun and has an almost Tegan-like bluntness to her personality that only goes over the top once or twice in the last episode.
I found "Land of the Dead" to be one of the most enjoyable Doctor Who experiences that I have had in a long time. It was so much fun to experience such a long running television series in this new medium. Doctor Who on CD perhaps seemed like a risky idea at the time, but in the case of "Land of the Dead", it worked very well.
