Review by Daniel Mansfield

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Released just in time for Doctor Who’s sixty-first anniversary, Coda – The Final Act serves as the grand finale to Big Finish‘s epic Once and Future series, which began last year. And what better way to mark the occasion than with Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor making her eagerly awaited Big Finish debut?

Let’s get the big question out of the way right off the bat. Jo Martin is fantastic as the Fugitive Doctor here, stepping confidently back into the role and showing that her character has some major potential. Commanding, no-nonsense, sharp, and even gun-toting, but deeply troubled by her ties to the enigmatic Division, this incarnation of the Doctor is unlike any we’ve seen before. Coda gives Martin her most substantial material in the Whoniverse yet, and she absolutely shines. If this is a taste of what’s to come in January’s Fugitive Doctor series, then we should all be very excited indeed. Martin and her character have so much to offer and I cannot wait to hear more very soon.

Lisa Bowerman‘s Bernice Summerfield is paired with the Fugitive Doctor for much of this story, and her presence here really helps to show what makes Martin’s character such a unique incarnation. Surprised by her old friend’s behaviour, but still on her side no matter what, Benny is the perfect way to show the differences and similarities between this very special Doctor and all the others.

Talking of special Doctors, this story also features Jonathon Carley as the young War Doctor, seeing him pitted against his former self by forces unknown. Carley’s impression of the late, great John Hurt remains uncannily brilliant, and his character gets some interesting material as he reconnects with Queen Elizabeth the First. I really enjoyed how differently the War Doctor was portrayed here, a little more reckless and violent than other Doctors (save the Fugitive Doctor, of course!), so it was a shame writer Tim Foley eventually explains that he was made to act this way by outside influences.

While this isn’t the best work in Foley’s incredible oeuvre, it’s hands down the strongest instalment in Once and Future, even if it feels somewhat divorced from the rest of the series. Jo Martin, Jonathon Carley and Lisa Bowerman shine throughout, while appearances by Elizabeth I, the Voord and Vienna Salvatori are tastefully handled, unlike some of the other more out there mashups this range has previously offered us.

With kisses to the past and teases of the future, Coda is the perfect capstone to Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary celebrations while promising more adventures to come. What a wonderful way to celebrate 61 years of the best show in the world universe!

Coda – The Final Act is available on CD or as a download from http://www.bigfinish.com