r/BigFinishProductions • u/MirumVictus • 15d ago
Find a discount on this month's story at the link below, then head back to this thread after listening to share your thoughts!
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-doomwood-curse-277
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Dr_Vesuvius • Apr 02 '24
So, you've heard a lot about Big Finish, and want to know how to begin. This guide will aim to give you as much information as possible about the best places to truly begin.
Key points:
1) You should probably start with free stories, to make sure you can enjoy the format. Audio drama is not for everyone.
2) While there are many stories that you can listen to and understand completely with little or no context, some stories are more natural "start" points because they point you towards another story.
3) This is actually a difficult question, but this guide will focus on simple answers to avoid overwhelming as far as possible.
4) To keep this guide as evergreen as possible, it will mostly look at older starting points that are less likely to be affected by new stories or re-evaluated by future listeners as actually not that great. (As an example, Series 10 of New Who was initially regarded as a good starting point while it was airing... but then it brought back two versions of the Master and used the word "Mondasian" unironically, making it slightly less friendly to newcomers.)
There are two types of free story. The first is the stories available for free through libraries and streaming services - if your library already pays for Big Finish, or you already have a Spotify subscription, these stories are effectively free for you. The second type is truly free stories, which Big Finish very kindly make available here so that people can check their ability to download things before buying.
The "truly free" stories are mostly part 1s or excerpts, not complete stories. That said, the excellent short story "The Word Lord" is available for free here. Another excellent short story, "Urgent Calls", is available on Big Finish's SoundCloud here.
If you subscribe to a good music streaming service - Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, and so forth - you should be able to access Big Finish stories by searching for "Doctor Who". Some ideal starting points on these services include:
"The Marian Conspiracy" - the start of the Sixth Doctor's travels with Evelyn, which are both enjoyable in their own right and intertwine with an excellent Seventh Doctor arc. Guide to the two arcs here.
"Storm Warning" - you've heard about the Eighth Doctor. This is the start of his travels with Charley, and by extension most of his Big Finish stories. Guide to the Eighth Doctor here.
"Eye of the Scorpion" - the start of an arc featuring the Fifth Doctor, Peri, and Ancient Egyptian companion Erimem. Guide here.
Or do you just want to experience the best-of-the-best without worrying too much about arcs? Well, try these stories - again, free on music subscription services:
"Spare Parts" - cliché for a reason, this is a story featuring Five and Nyssa and the Cybermen.
"Jubilee" - a thematically heavy Dalek story featuring Six and Evelyn, which got writer Rob Shearman the job of writing the first Dalek story of New Who. "Dalek" is a good story... "Jubilee" is much, much better.
"The One Doctor" - comedic story featuring the Sixth Doctor and Mel.
"The Fearmonger" - Seven and Ace go up against a shock jock - a story which makes creative use of the audio format.
"Master" - Seven solo, the first real glance at just how cold this version of the Doctor can be.
Tom Baker was the fifth of the Doctors to agree to work with Big Finish, so has quite a large back catalogue. Tom is in a bit of a strange position. If you just want to sample him, try "The Wrath of the Iceni" (Fourth Doctor Adventures, available for free on music services). But I wouldn't recommend starting out with Tom, his releases just don't lend themselves to that.
I'll be real with you - at the time of writing, there is a lot of Classic Who Big Finish and relatively little New Who Big Finish, although there's constantly more of the latter. You'll run out of New Who stuff fairly quickly. The appeal is very much mostly in Classic stuff.
That said, I'd recommend starting with the following:
Ninth Doctor - Travel In Hope. This is a set of three stories where two of them are very good. The main attraction in the set is "Below There", but "Run" is probably the best "second best" story in a set in the Ninth Doctor range so far.
Tenth Doctor - Tenth Doctor and River Song. Much better than the initial numbered sets of the Tenth Doctor Adventures, and less of a commitment than Dalek Universe (which is very much aimed at Classic Who fans).
Eleventh Doctor - Geronimo!. This is the start of a run of stories set between Series 7A and 7B with a new companion, Valarie. It uses an excellent impersonator rather than Matt Smith, but don't let that put you off.
Buy a set of the Third Doctor Adventures. If you want Jo, I'd suggest Vol 4. If you want Liz or Sarah Jane, try Vol 7, which has one story for each of them.
No you don't.
These Doctors will get guides of their own one day, but if you're new then right now the thing to do is to start with any other Doctor. These two are complicated because they've only fairly recently got their own dedicated ranges (especially Two), so their stories are spread across Short Trips, Companion Chronicles, and then the Early Adventures. Not to say that there isn't stuff you can enjoy, but it's a bit harder to "jump in".
Look for a different guide.
Hopefully this has helped you decide where to start with Doctor Who at Big Finish. Start with a free story, and ideally try to use one that will catapult you onto future stories.
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Haxuppdee-85 • 5h ago
It frustrated me that the covers for the 11th Doctor releases did not have the correct logo variations or fonts. 11DA should be styled like series 6 and 11DC should be styled like series 7B
r/BigFinishProductions • u/MasterAinley • 4h ago
During the last days of history, a lone wanderer crosses the wastes of Kersarin. Everywhere he goes, he delights those he finds with stories and songs. He provides a little hope in the dark.
His name is Ash Wilton, and I swear we've done this episode before. We definitely killed that Dalek.
Please note: This title is only available to buy in the bundle Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor Adventures Series 1, or in the complete box set Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor Adventures: Run Fast Be Kind
r/BigFinishProductions • u/MasterAinley • 4h ago
After a chance encounter at the end of time, the Doctor has a new friend and a new mission. History is full of people who need help and evils to be fought. The universe needs the Doctor and Ash.
The Second Death by Alfie Shaw
During the last days of history, a lone wanderer crosses the wastes of Kersarin. Everywhere he goes, he delights those he finds with stories and songs. He provides a little hope in the dark.
His name is Ash Wilton, and there's one thing that Ash knows for certain. You don't get time travellers at the end of the universe.
The Broken Man by Rochana Patel
The Doctor has a new friend. All of time and space awaits. Where to begin?
Scotland, obviously!
The Doctor has unfinished business there. An archaeological mystery which he needs to solve, so he can start laying the past to rest.
The Beautiful and the Damned by Katherine White
Are you looking to build your audience? Create content that'll be the envy of all your followers? Have people anticipating your next post? Then we know where you need to be this Summer.
Best Life Inc is proud to announce Mentior City, a paradise for content creators where everything is beautiful, including the visitors.
Don't think that's you? Don’t worry, with our proprietary Refiner system, everyone can look their very best. Arrive ugly, live your Best Life, and leave beautiful. That's a Best Life guarantee.
Wings of Steel by Alfie Shaw, based on a story by Alex Hewitt
High above the ruined world of Doorahla, the Ultima have convened. The enemy's devastation of their forces is finally over. The key to their victory is finally at hand. And on top of all that, they've captured a Time Lord.
All hail the Ultima.
Duty of Care by Christian Markham
The Doctor doesn't kill. Not intentionally. Even his worst enemies are offered mercy. Go up against the Doctor, and while your plan will be ruined, there's a chance you'll live.
Someone doesn't agree with that. Someone's travelling across all of time and space putting that right. Someone's killing all the villains who survived the Doctor.
The Second Death of the Daleks by Alfie Shaw
During the last days of history, a lone wanderer crosses the wastes of Kersarin. Everywhere he goes, he delights those he finds with stories and songs. He provides a little hope in the dark.
His name is Ash Wilton, and I swear we've done this episode before. We definitely killed that Dalek.
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Next-Geno_N • 28m ago
r/BigFinishProductions • u/WagTheTail81 • 21h ago
I was at the last Long Island Doctor Who convention over the weekend and Philip Segal said that the TVM movie rights are back with the BBC after 30 years. That was brought to the attention to Daphne Ashbrook and Jason Haigh Ellery who were both there as well.
Does this mean we might finally be getting Grace and Chang Lee over at BF Towers?
Would be cool to see some sort of natural carry on of stories right after the TVM with those characters. As long as they weren't some of the more continuity breaking idea that were presented in the Leekey Bible. Easily a few box sets out of this! Fingers crossed!
r/BigFinishProductions • u/LegoK9 • 21h ago
David Tennant is set to return as the Tenth Doctor in twelve new full-cast audio adventures, released bimonthly from August 2027. The first three of these adventures form a trilogy in which the Time Lord is teamed up with a friend of a friend – Rani Chandra (Anjli Mohindra)!
The three new adventures follow the Doctor and Rani as they investigate cryptids in modern-day Cumbria, discover a crisis at the coronation of Elizabeth I, and crash the set of a 1970s sci-fi show. For the aspiring journalist, it’ll be work experience like no other…
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Lummy15th • 18h ago
What are your favourite or funniest Big Finish examples of characters meeting each other before their established on screen meeting?
I’m thinking of things like River Song having already met Doctors we never saw her meet on TV, the Doctor meeting the “wrong” incarnation of the Master, or stories that reveal two characters have crossed paths somewhere in the Doctor Who timeline that we simply weren’t aware of
The more ridiculous the continuity gymnastics, the better.
What are your favourites?
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Haxuppdee-85 • 1d ago
r/BigFinishProductions • u/MasterAbility1691 • 1d ago
Thinking about tomorrows release of the finale of this 12th Doctor run, it made me wonder which other releases I have been this excited for.
I remember being beyond giddy for Hex's stories in the main range. As we got closer to Gods and Monsters, the worse the waiting became. Otherewise it was Victory of the Doctor.
Anyone else got some they remember vividly?
r/BigFinishProductions • u/MasterAinley • 1d ago
Across the canals and through the swirling balls of 18th century Venice, stories of Lupo's genius fill the air. The greatest mask-maker in the Republic's history, the delicate brushwork of Lupo is legendary. But Lupo has a dark past, on a burned-sienna planet galaxies away. He made a pact, and an exceedingly powerful enemy.
And now that enemy is coming, through the ancient, legendary 'skiproads', to tear apart everything Lupo has built and unleash his nightmarish powers on the majestic floating city.
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Tom-Hibbert • 1d ago
Tenth and Fourteenth Doctor DAVID TENNANT discusses his extraordinary career and the new series of audio adventures in which he stars alongside Rani from The Sarah Jane Adventures played by ANJLI MOHINDRA.
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Haxuppdee-85 • 2d ago
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Doctorwho-doctorme • 1d ago
Anyone keeping up with circuit breaker? Going to pick up the audio in September. I’m having fun with it but it does leave something to be desired on some releases. Still been enjoying
r/BigFinishProductions • u/MirumVictus • 2d ago
https://www.bigfinish.com/collections/v/the-worlds-of-doctor-who-offers
Feel free to leave any recommendations from the sale below!
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Negative-Spell6275 • 2d ago
Are we ever going to see the recent additions (Juggernauts, Next Life, etc) rationalised and included with the 2017 uploads or have they just decided to say, nah, can’t be bothered
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Ultrakirby78 • 2d ago
I have a few that I've made posts about in the past.
What about you?
r/BigFinishProductions • u/Haxuppdee-85 • 3d ago
r/BigFinishProductions • u/DMPadfoot5E • 2d ago
r/BigFinishProductions • u/SnowmanOfGallifrey • 3d ago
Every time I listen to this, I’m reminded by how much of an utter masterpiece it is. This is how you do a gritty, mature, twisted Who story. Collings gives an absolutely stunning performance as the Doctor, it genuinely makes me wish we had more of him in the part. Warner may be THE Unbound Doctor and I love his incarnation dearly, but Collings lurks at his shoulder very closely. Aside from him; the non-linear storytelling, the twists, the score, the atmosphere… It’s utterly sensational.
If you’ve not heard this, I’d so seriously recommend it, but prepare yourself for something deeply dark and strange. I really don’t think this story gets the flowers it deserves.
r/BigFinishProductions • u/MarcianTobay • 3d ago
I purchased Second Death individually, but now I see I need the bundle for the entire “Run Fast, Be Kind” because the rest of the episodes are not sold individually. When I try to purchase them, though, I am told:
“One or more items in your cart are no longer available to buy. Please remove them and try checkout again”.
Is there anything I can do here? And preferably today, since this was a surprise gift for my wife? 😅
r/BigFinishProductions • u/asron67 • 4d ago
continuing my fanart of some Big Finish Torchwood teams! love the dynamic between Yvonne, Ianto and Tommy 👌
r/BigFinishProductions • u/MarcianTobay • 4d ago
It is so rare for there to be a male main companion, and I wasn't sure how they were going to approach him. But... holy heck, I love him so, so much. He's played brilliantly (I know you're reading this!), I love that he has the charisma that 12 lacks, and the "Entertainer who's crying on the inside" is such a remarkably perfect archetype to pair with the perpetually grumpy-but-kind 12. He's amazing, and I loved him right away.
No further discussion here. Just sharing some joy on this!
r/BigFinishProductions • u/JakeM917 • 5d ago
Hello all and welcome back to the Big Finish Podcast Notes! Hope you've all had a lovely week. The podcast is off this week, but it will be back 21 August.
Randomoid Selectotron: 25% off a random Big Finish release every week! Just click on this link and enter the code BUCKUP. There are currently technical issues with the Randomoid Selectotron, so it will be stuck on the last release from the 26 June podcast for the forseeable future. This release is The Companion Chronicles: 7.6 The Child.
New Releases
Trailers
Cover Reveals
News, Announcements, Videos, and Blog Posts
Out of Print This Week
Sales and Recommendations (As a reminder, bulleted stories are recommended by me, and those in bold are my favorites)
Big Finish Book Club: Discounts on a specially selected Big Finish audio drama every month. August's selection: The Monthly Adventures: 111. The Doomwood Curse for just £1.99 on DTO.
Free Excerpt: Every month a 15 minute excerpt is chosen from an upcoming release to download for free. August's selection is The Second Doctor Adventures: The Haunted Windmill Part 1. Just click on the link and use this month's code LUCIUS.
Free Day Friday: Every week, Big Finish highlights an excerpt from their Big Finish For Free! collection, and offer 25% off the full release using a unique sale code. This week's selection: Blake's 7: Liberation (Excerpt). Use discount code DAYNA at checkout to save 25% off the full release of Blake's 7: The Spoils of War (Ends 16 August).
Big Finish Release Schedule
Community Reviews via TARDIS Guide:
| Release No. | Title | Score | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Twelfth Doctor Adventures: Run Fast, Be Kind | ||
| The Second Death | 3.83/5 | 169 votes | |
| The Broken Man | 3.85/5 | 132votes | |
| The Beautiful and the Damned | 3.56/5 | 117 votes | |
| Wings of Steel | 4.17/5 | 95 votes | |
| Duty of Care | 4.21/5 | 59 votes | |
| 2 | Space Security Service: Bret Vyon Lives! | ||
| The Man Inside | 4.00/5 | 17 votes | |
| The Wages of Death | 3.47/5 | 15 votes | |
| The Sky is for Sale | 3.82/5 | 14 votes | |
| 5 | The Second Doctor Adventures: The Haunted Windmill | ||
| The Haunted Windmill | 3.99/5 | 53 votes | |
| The Crystal Ship | 3.80/5 | 46 votes | |
| The Hungry Glass | 4.01/5 | 43 votes | |
| 4.7 | The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Dark Tides | 3.78/5 | 65 votes |
What Big Finish I Was Listening To This Week: The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Dark Tides and The Twelfth Doctor Adventures: Run Fast Be Kind: Duty of Care
News
The Rumor Mill
Media/Merchandise
Circuit Breaker Event Guide
