Review by Daniel Mansfield

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Opening Big Finish‘s inaugural Doctor Who Halloween anthology is the titular Sea Smoke, written by Whoniverse newcomer Jonathan Sims. Taking the First Doctor and Dodo to the Scottish island of Ulfsay, this story sees the time travelling twosome investigate horrific transformations caused by the burning of something that looks like kelp… but which very much isn’t.

The remote setting and central threat lend this story a suitably spooky atmosphere, but the script feels slow and talk-y, with a lot of time spent setting up the sinister goings-on on Ulfsay and very little in the way of scares or action. It’s a shame, because Stephen Noonan and Lauren Cornelius are on top form as the Doctor and Dodo, the former delightfully gruff and the latter as fiery as we’ve ever seen her. Add to that a strong performance from Jeff Rawle as villainous Reverend Drummond, and it’s disappointing the plot doesn’t hit the same heights as the performers.

If Sea Smoke thrives on the presence of its main characters, Georgia Cook‘s Party Favours thrives on their absence. While this story was marketed as a Kate and Osgood adventure, it really focuses on two guest characters, Bev and Annika, whose Halloween party takes a horrifying turn. Their fractious relationship forms the heart of this tale, and while their bickering might seem frustrating at first, they go on quite the journey throughout Cook’s script, and where they end up is sure to both tug at the heartstrings, and leave the listener with a lingering feeling of dread.

Although it’s not kept a secret for long within the story, Big Finish haven’t publicly revealed who the villains of this episode are, so I won’t spoil who they are here. All I’ll say is that Cook takes some of the Whoniverse’s most iconic baddies and shows them at their most terrifying and sadistic, putting all of this story’s characters through the wringer in ways you can’t imagine until you listen. Party Favours is without a doubt the standout of this boxset – a deft balance of human drama and horror.

Bramble King by Noga Flaishon sees the Eighth Doctor and Audacity respond to a distress call from a cargo ship in trouble and become involved in a haunting like no other. This story has some gorgeously Gothic imagery that fits perfectly with the Eighth Doctor and Audacity, as well as some nice twists, which make up for the fact that it’s more atmospheric than scary.

Rounding things off is Merlin’s Trap, written by another Big Finish newcomer Hannah Kennedy. While there’s some great ideas here, and a gloriously dour tone throughout, this story feels a little similar to recent Torchwood release The Hollow Choir, an unfortunately unflattering comparison given this is a slightly weaker script.

The main thing to say about Merlin’s Trap, though, is that it features the debut of Jon Culshaw as the Twelfth Doctor. Although Culshaw doesn’t feature in a major capacity, there’s no denying he does a great job at recreating Peter Capaldi‘s dulcet tones, and I’d definitely be game for another story or two with him in the role based on the strength of his performance here.

With four wildly different but all largely successful stories, Sea Smoke and Other Stories is perfect listening for these darker, colder Autumnal nights, even if it doesn’t set the world on fire. I hope this is the first of many Halloween-themed spooktaculars to come. Trick or treat? Definitely a treat.

Sea Smoke and Other Stories is available from http://www.bigfinish.com