Review by Daniel Mansfield

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Space Security agents Anya Kingdom (Jane Slavin) and Mark Seven (Joe Sims) return for a second boxset of audio adventures in Space Security Service: Bret Vyon Lives!

As the title suggests, this set sees the return of Bret Vyon, the SSS agent originally played by the iconic Nicholas Courtney in The Daleks’ Master Plan. How fitting, given that two of that story’s missing episodes were recovered earlier this year, and are currently available to watch on iPlayer!

The Man Inside by Simon Guerrier follows on from the last boxset‘s cliffhanger, which saw Anya and Mark captured by the Daleks. While in Dalek custody, they encounter Bret Vyon, who they know to be dead… so how can he be here? Guerrier keeps the listener guessing as to whether this is the real Bret, a decoy, or an imposter, while also giving a fresh take on the Daleks, which almost feels like something from the more high-concept Time War series.

Jon Culshaw – already known for portraying Nicholas Courtney‘s other iconic Whoniverse character, the Brigadier – takes on the role of Vyon here, and shares excellent chemistry with Slavin, as Anya encounters her long-dead uncle once again. Interspersed with their interactions are conversations between a younger Anya (Ada Guerrier) and Bret, which delve deeper into their previously unexplored relationship, creating some effective pathos.

The Wages of Death by David Llewellyn is a more straightforward espionage adventure, seeing Anya and Mark go undercover to retrieve a dangerous piece of Dalek technology. It feels like the script could have done with another draft; there are a few moments where information is repeated, or where Mark and Anya leave the group to have a private conversation, despite having just been alone together in the previous scene. This is a solid story with a couple of good twists, and some great guest performances, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the episodes before and after it.

The Space Security Service series reaches its climax in boxset finale The Sky is For Sale by James Kettle. While Anya ingratiates herself with new SSS boss Kozimek, and becomes involved in a plot to assassinate him, Mark and Sola must fight to save innocent lives on Saturn from a Roboman invasion.

As in the previous episodes, Kettle balances familiar Dalek action with moments of genuine creativity and exciting twists, showing off what this series does best: embracing the spirit of 60s Dalekmania through a modern lens.

While this boxset was recorded quite a few years ago, and a third volume hasn’t yet been announced, I hope this isn’t the last we’ve heard from the Space Security Service. Bret Vyon Lives! shows there’s plenty of mileage in the series and, judging by Anya’s rousing closing speech, the fight against the Daleks is far from being all over.

Bret Vyon Lives! is available as a download from http://www.bigfinish.com