Review by Daniel Mansfield

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SPOILER ALERT: this is a spoiler-free review of Duty of Care, but there will be spoilers for Wings of Steel, so read on at your risk!

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Last time on Doctor Who, the Doctor and Ash fell foul of a Krillitane plot to use the Refiner to become all-powerful. In a shocking twist at the story’s conclusion, Ash shot the villainous Mundar dead, an act the Doctor solemnly vowed he would soon regret.

Duty of Care picks up shortly after this, with the Doctor dropping Ash off at the home of an old friend, who he hopes will help his troubled companion see the error of his ways. Meanwhile, the Doctor heads to the Shadow Proclamation to investigate reports that someone is killing all of the villains who survived their encounters with the Time Lord.

These two plot threads soon collide as Ash, unable to understand why the Doctor is so angry about him killing Mundar, joins forces with this mysterious murderer, hoping to bring justice to those left unpunished by the Doctor.

Both Jon Culshaw and Gwithian Evans give blistering, emotionally charged performances as their differing worldviews clash. Markham makes both characters’ views seem compelling, making for a challenging, philosophical listen about the virtues and vices of both punishment and rehabilitation that pushes this series into its darkest territory yet.

To say any more would be to spoil things, but it’s safe to say this is a heavy, complicated listen – a Doctor Who story like no other that pushes the Doctor and Ash to their limits. Strong stuff.

Duty of Care is available as a download from http://www.bigfinish.com

The Twelfth Doctor Adventures conclude next week with The Second Death of the Daleks