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Big Finish: Monthly Range #25
Doctor Who: Colditz
October 1944: As World War II draws towards its conclusion, a Nazi defeat begins to seem almost inevitable. But that might be about to change...
Two intruders are captured in the grounds of Colditz Castle, the most secure POW camp in Germany. At first, the guards think they're dealing with British spies. But the strangers arrived in an advanced traveling machine, the like of which they've never seen before.
With this TARDIS in their hands, the Third Reich might triumph after all.
Two intruders are captured in the grounds of Colditz Castle, the most secure POW camp in Germany. At first, the guards think they're dealing with British spies. But the strangers arrived in an advanced traveling machine, the like of which they've never seen before.
With this TARDIS in their hands, the Third Reich might triumph after all.
Audio Play
First published October 1, 2001
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About the author
Steve Lyons
186 books104 followersSteve Lyons is a science fiction writer, best known for writing television tie-ins of Doctor Who for BBC Books, and previously, Virgin. The earliest of these was Conundrum in 1994, and his most recent was 2005's The Stealers of Dreams. He has also written material for Star Trek tie-ins, as well as original work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 29, 2020
This early Big Finish audio feels like a direct continuation of the 7th Doctor and Ace era, both in terms of developing the companion (it's not the first time that they've visited this period in history) and the incidental music.
Starting with Doctor Who: The Fearmonger - this arc could be an alternative Season 27.
One of the initial draws to this adventure is the casting of little know actor David Tennant who has an amusing German accent as a Nazi Officer - whatever happened to him?!?
But it's the introduction of Elizabeth Klein who's brilliantly played by Tracey Childs that ends up making this story memorable.
They way that she is introduced knowing both The Doctor and The TARDIS really pushes what is initially an intresting set up into a great Sci-Fi twist, the various hints surrounding her mysterious character are brilliantly plotted throughout.
Some really strong performances as the complex plot is delived at ease, whilst the historical aspects of the castle are nice additions - including the lavish scheme of building a glider (factly true) are nice informative details that helps add to the story.
Starting with Doctor Who: The Fearmonger - this arc could be an alternative Season 27.
One of the initial draws to this adventure is the casting of little know actor David Tennant who has an amusing German accent as a Nazi Officer - whatever happened to him?!?
But it's the introduction of Elizabeth Klein who's brilliantly played by Tracey Childs that ends up making this story memorable.
They way that she is introduced knowing both The Doctor and The TARDIS really pushes what is initially an intresting set up into a great Sci-Fi twist, the various hints surrounding her mysterious character are brilliantly plotted throughout.
Some really strong performances as the complex plot is delived at ease, whilst the historical aspects of the castle are nice additions - including the lavish scheme of building a glider (factly true) are nice informative details that helps add to the story.
January 25, 2024
This one was a little bit of a challenge to enjoy completely but I think I enjoyed it on average! I'll start with the good stuff today.
The timey-wimey paradox is great fun and not wholly revealed in one go, so the reader has some time to try to figure it out... good luck though, it's a doozy that I think was reverse engineered in the first place.
Ace and the Doctor are absolutely firing on all cylinders, both were completely unrelenting forces of personality during several scenes. However, this came with a little bit of what another reviewer called overacting. I think I'd put it down to an overly melodramatic script, but the result is a bit the same either way.
Probably the highest hurdle for me was visiting this particular historical era yet-a-fkn-gain. Early in the development of my passion for scifi I would often avoid time travel stories simply because so many stories would visit the past instead of the future and a significant portion of those stories would end up in some way having to deal with letting the nazis go about their business, (so as to not interfere with history.) It wasn't so much the philosophical content as it was the frequency of seeing this type of story and although I've long since fallen into a deep love of time travel stories, the old feeling of returning to World War II was niggling at me a lot.
I liked the story overall and I think the whole cast were given very strong convictions and that they all played their parts superbly.
The timey-wimey paradox is great fun and not wholly revealed in one go, so the reader has some time to try to figure it out... good luck though, it's a doozy that I think was reverse engineered in the first place.
Ace and the Doctor are absolutely firing on all cylinders, both were completely unrelenting forces of personality during several scenes. However, this came with a little bit of what another reviewer called overacting. I think I'd put it down to an overly melodramatic script, but the result is a bit the same either way.
Probably the highest hurdle for me was visiting this particular historical era yet-a-fkn-gain. Early in the development of my passion for scifi I would often avoid time travel stories simply because so many stories would visit the past instead of the future and a significant portion of those stories would end up in some way having to deal with letting the nazis go about their business, (so as to not interfere with history.) It wasn't so much the philosophical content as it was the frequency of seeing this type of story and although I've long since fallen into a deep love of time travel stories, the old feeling of returning to World War II was niggling at me a lot.
I liked the story overall and I think the whole cast were given very strong convictions and that they all played their parts superbly.
December 30, 2013
Oh, lord.
The story - a tense tale of escape, espionage, time twists and alternate histories set around the Colditz prison camp during World War 2 - is actually excellent, the best and smartest in a while. But Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred overact so badly that all I wanted was to stuff hankies down their throats so that the competent supporting cast (Including David Tennant!) could take over.
The story - a tense tale of escape, espionage, time twists and alternate histories set around the Colditz prison camp during World War 2 - is actually excellent, the best and smartest in a while. But Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred overact so badly that all I wanted was to stuff hankies down their throats so that the competent supporting cast (Including David Tennant!) could take over.
July 5, 2019
One of my favourite moments in Big Finish- Doctor Who: Colditz is when the Doctor and Ace are being searched by the damn awful Nazi’s and their captures are sure the Doctor had a torch on them and the Doctor cheerily searches his pockets and brings out his spoons and proceeds to play his instruments in front of the baffled nazi’s, annoying them.
Iconic.
Iconic.
September 23, 2019
Amazing story and best part for me was the cameo of David Tennant :D
December 17, 2023
“Fascists like you make my skin crawl…”
More Nazis, eh? Featuring a pre-Tenth Doctor David Tennant as a zealous Nazi who threatens Ace with rape. Yikes.
More Nazis, eh? Featuring a pre-Tenth Doctor David Tennant as a zealous Nazi who threatens Ace with rape. Yikes.
September 17, 2017
Episodio a sfondo storico per il settimo Dottore e Ace, imprigionati nel castello di Colditz durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale.
Ambientazione e storia noiose, se non si ama il periodo storico e i riferimenti di cui l'episodio e cosparso. Solo nell'ultima parte c'è una velocizzazione della situazione, con spiegazione del solito paradosso... ma non aiuta a rivalutare l'episodio nel suo insieme.
Godibile per gli interpreti, ma nulla di più.
Ambientazione e storia noiose, se non si ama il periodo storico e i riferimenti di cui l'episodio e cosparso. Solo nell'ultima parte c'è una velocizzazione della situazione, con spiegazione del solito paradosso... ma non aiuta a rivalutare l'episodio nel suo insieme.
Godibile per gli interpreti, ma nulla di più.
June 13, 2018
I haven't listened to too many Seventh Doctor audio adventures, but I liked this one. Ace is always good, and it was interesting to hear David Tennant as the baddie, since this was made before the show came back. Decent story, side good characters.
October 15, 2017
Another great 7/Ace adventure. Sylvester and Sophie were once again phenomenal, but the best part for me was David Tennant and his German accent.
August 16, 2022
One of my favourite of the Monthly Range so far. Seven and Ace (or Dorothy I guess now) are always reliable in the fact that the TARDIS team is fantastic and can carry even dull and bad stories through their chemistry together alone, its so clear how much Sylvester and Sophie enjoy working together. Saying this, Colditz actually separates the Doctor and Ace for quite literally the entire run time, except only for the beginning and ending, and usually I’d say that the story suffers because of this, but definitely not. Both the A and B storylines held my attention throughout, and I didn’t mind cutting back and forth. All the soldiers in Colditz castle were really enjoyable characters, the only thing really distracting me is David Tennant’s appearance (I try to put my mind back to the early 2000s when his voice wasn’t completely synonymous with the show). I especially liked the relationship between Schafer and Gower, and their reconcilement at the end I found to be quite touching – a testament to the stories quality in establishing characters. The real, real standout is definitely Klein, I have literally no idea where her story goes, all I know that it becomes even more complicated from here, so I’m glad I’ve at least started what could be a long voyage. After this, I really need to make more forays into Steve Lyons’ work, hopefully it will maintain this calibre.
February 20, 2024
Picking my way through David Tennant's film- and audiography to find this, his first foray into Doctor Who, prior to being cast as the Tenth Doctor! (Tennant's absolute unabashed fandom of Doctor Who as a kid is well-known, and I just know how thrilled he must have been to land a role alongside Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred in a production like this.)
Tennant was stellar and excitingly creepy as an awful Nazi officer. His threat to assault Ace added to the darkness of this story, which fit with the Seventh Doctor's later era. Ace working with the prisoners to hatch an escape plan reminded me a lot of one of my first fandoms Hogan's Heroes, so this was a cool little mix for me. I was surprised by the timey-wimey inventiveness of the plot itself (time travelers and bootstrap paradoxes, oh my!), and duly impressed by the accusation that the Doctor could have done so much more to prevent immoral regimes from guiding history as much as they have, especially pointing out the British Empire and its evils on the world. Good on Big Finish. We need more of that kind of calling out on Doctor Who.
Overall, a great and thrilling story that left me on the edge of my seat more than most audio adventures. And on that ending, even with all the noise and chaos, I could tell when it was David screaming. *sobs*
Tennant was stellar and excitingly creepy as an awful Nazi officer. His threat to assault Ace added to the darkness of this story, which fit with the Seventh Doctor's later era. Ace working with the prisoners to hatch an escape plan reminded me a lot of one of my first fandoms Hogan's Heroes, so this was a cool little mix for me. I was surprised by the timey-wimey inventiveness of the plot itself (time travelers and bootstrap paradoxes, oh my!), and duly impressed by the accusation that the Doctor could have done so much more to prevent immoral regimes from guiding history as much as they have, especially pointing out the British Empire and its evils on the world. Good on Big Finish. We need more of that kind of calling out on Doctor Who.
Overall, a great and thrilling story that left me on the edge of my seat more than most audio adventures. And on that ending, even with all the noise and chaos, I could tell when it was David screaming. *sobs*
January 8, 2024
Possibly slightly under rating it, but is a strong story this one, quite bleak and dark as well. A couple of good twists in there, though at least one that felt a bit obvious in the end, and I don't know how I feel about the story making me feel sympathetic towards what really is quite an evil character as such, who likely doesn't deserve any sympathy, but it was triggered nonetheless.
Given the setting, it actually has a surprisingly low death count, given other stories in the Seventh Doctor era, but still maintains quite a lot of tension.
A good mix of characters here, albeit a couple not as well fleshed out as I'd like, introducing Klein who is quite an interesting character, and David Tennant does a good job acting his character as well.
I thought the Seventh Doctor and Ace were good in this story, and keeps progressing the character growth as such, albeit I can't recall it being carried forward that well into the future, but we shall see :)
All round a good listen.
Given the setting, it actually has a surprisingly low death count, given other stories in the Seventh Doctor era, but still maintains quite a lot of tension.
A good mix of characters here, albeit a couple not as well fleshed out as I'd like, introducing Klein who is quite an interesting character, and David Tennant does a good job acting his character as well.
I thought the Seventh Doctor and Ace were good in this story, and keeps progressing the character growth as such, albeit I can't recall it being carried forward that well into the future, but we shall see :)
All round a good listen.
November 18, 2022
A personal favorite from the Classic Big Finish era, as the Seventh Doctor and Ace find themselves prisoners in Colditz castle in the last lingering days of WW2, which becomes even more complicated when a mysterious woman appears, from an alternate timeline where the Nazi's won WW2. Now the Doctor must save himself and Ace from Colditz and prevent this timeline from ever occurring. Structured as a standalone tale, Colditz would go on to introduce several recurring themes to the Audios, such as recurring character Elizabeth Klein. Ace also gets quite the spotlight, with this story having a massive effect on her personally and her actions going forward. Colditz is also known for also featuring David Tenant, in his pre Tenth Doctor days, playing a Nazi guard at Colditz. All in all, a great Seventh Doctor story, and a mandatory listen for hardcore Who fans.
July 24, 2023
I found it very difficult to get through this audio. The sound mix sounded like it was recorded in an echo chamber. Maybe they did it like this to simulate what it might have sounded like in Colditz Castle? I don't know.... It took me about 3 to 4 listens to get through it. In the end it was a very interesting story. It is most noted because it features David Tennant in his very first appearance in a Doctor Who property literally just months before he was tapped to be the tenth Doctor. The story is good. The sound mix is horrible.
October 6, 2024
Overall a pretty good audio. This was only my third 7th doctor story, (including the show,) so I'm still pretty new to the duo. It was fun hearing David Tennant in this before he came the Doctor. And the Doctor was unknowingly up to some shenanigans :)
I will say that I had a little more trouble following along with this than previous audios. I'm not sure if it was something specific with this audio, or if it was because I had to listen to it in a different environment/situation than normal.
Despite that, I would be willing to listen to this again.
I will say that I had a little more trouble following along with this than previous audios. I'm not sure if it was something specific with this audio, or if it was because I had to listen to it in a different environment/situation than normal.
Despite that, I would be willing to listen to this again.
July 27, 2022
I love Ace (or should I say McShane) and the 7th Doctor they are a great team. On the other hand, I am leery of Nazi stories they can be kind of awful to read and so I usually give them a wide berth. However, it sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a try. Overall, it was a good story. I liked the side characters and how they interacted with the Doctor and Ace. Although well done, I am glad it was only a short story rather than a full-length one.
April 19, 2022
A really good story. Also includes David Tennant's first contribution to a Big Finish audio, playing German soldier Kurtz, whose fate is pretty surprising and bold. I do wish we could've somehow gotten the alternate timeline from the POV of Eight, or an alternate version of him played by a different actor, perhaps.
April 19, 2025
I've never really understood why this story gets so much praise. All that Seven does in this story is travel from one place to another and back again. Ace has some good moments and Klein is a good villain, but she won't be in her element until her return years later.
Oh, and David Tennant plays a villain here as well. How nice.
Oh, and David Tennant plays a villain here as well. How nice.
April 3, 2018
This story is absolutely awesome! Ace grows up, the Seventh Doctor is is natural demented self. Plus David Tennant as a Natzi :)
Furthermore, the plot is well thought out and one of the rare ones that deal with the problems of the Doctor’s time travel and shows the Time Lord as fallible.
Furthermore, the plot is well thought out and one of the rare ones that deal with the problems of the Doctor’s time travel and shows the Time Lord as fallible.
March 24, 2024
Such a good story. I love the pacing and atmosphere and it develops a really strong cast of characters. David Tennant performance is a particular highlight. The twist was also great. Even if it was kind of unguessable.
June 3, 2024
This was on another level! Honestly absolutely outstanding, it was so tense, I've said it a million times but the 7th doctor works so perfectly in these kind of stories and im blown away each time! Doctor who works best when it goes dark!
May 17, 2017
An exciting Second World War story with Ace in top form.
March 10, 2018
This was great! Seventh and Ace in a really interesting story featuring David Tennant as a very nasty nazi.
August 26, 2022
World war II alternative history, love Doc Who!!!
September 7, 2022
No don’t change your name Ace! No need to grow up that way. It’s such a cool and unique name!
Read
August 11, 2023not dt with the shouting bad german accent !!!!!!
March 7, 2024
Tennant does villain so very well, and I do like this Doctor/companion combo. The acting of certain performers seemed to be of the "trying too hard" variety though.
December 22, 2025
Possible 4.5 Stars - one of the best of the early 7th Doctor stories.
July 21, 2024
On the brink of defeat, a group of remote Nazi soldiers struggle to make sense of their actions as they guard the high value prisoners of Colditz Castle; prison for those who have escaped elsewhere. But circumstances change when two suspected spies arrive with strange, foreign technology. With the Doctor and Ace in their hands, the Third Reich’s inevitable defeat no longer appears so inevitable. Especially when a time traveller from the future arrives to interrogate the Doctor. A future where the Nazis remain in power.
The stakes rocket upwards from the beginning, because as the Doctor and Ace arrive they are captured from inside Colditz Castle. The subsequent hostility, violence and various interrogation conducted are chilling and deeply uncomfortable. As is quickly becoming a trend with Big Finish, you don’t really expect the audio dramas to ‘go there’. Three key, supporting Nazi characters harass and debate the Doctor and Ace throughout their stay. Each of them process the ongoing atmosphere of defeat on the Nazi frontlines in distinct and disturbingly realistic ways.
Read my full review here:
https://sonicreviewwho.wordpress.com/...
The stakes rocket upwards from the beginning, because as the Doctor and Ace arrive they are captured from inside Colditz Castle. The subsequent hostility, violence and various interrogation conducted are chilling and deeply uncomfortable. As is quickly becoming a trend with Big Finish, you don’t really expect the audio dramas to ‘go there’. Three key, supporting Nazi characters harass and debate the Doctor and Ace throughout their stay. Each of them process the ongoing atmosphere of defeat on the Nazi frontlines in distinct and disturbingly realistic ways.
Read my full review here:
https://sonicreviewwho.wordpress.com/...
July 29, 2024
David Tennant guest stars in this rather predictable take on WWII history, another timey-wimey adventure in the style of The Fires of Vulcan (2000) for the Seventh Doctor-.
Story:
An alternate timeline for WWII is hardly a new idea, but it's not surprising to find Doctor Who does that. The first episode is a pretty typical one for a historical story, but the second puts more of a twist to things and makes the plot immediately more interesting.
The story revolves around the mysterious Klein, who knows too much and isn't who she claims to be. The Doctor quickly gets the upper hand, forcing her tom to reveal her true self. The Part Three cliffhanger continues to make things more interesting.
I like the way this story revolves around time travel and basic paradoxes.
Acting:
David Tennant appears in a supporting role and it's both weird and funny at the same time. His German accent is interesting and at times you forget it's him, but I just expect him to reveal himself to be the Doctor in disguise all the time. Tennant is energetic and enjoys himself, His performance is one of the best in Big Finish audios so far.
The Doctor:
We return to a more manipulative and mysterious Seventh Doctor here. It's a joy to hear him use a trick or two to gain the upper hand.
The Companions:
Ace isn't particularly interesting here, mostly hanging out with the other prisoners while the Doctor carries the plot forward.
The Monster/Villain:
Klein is a perfectly mysterious villain, a woman from the future sent back to change history.
Production:
The production is simple, almost too simple. The soundscapes don't help to create an atmosphere of mid-1940s Germany.
The music is pretty nice though and used in a great way.
Pacing:
There isn't much action here and the pace is quite typical for this type of story. The central mystery keeps it going forward.
Atmosphere:
This doesn't feel like a wartime story, it doesn't have that atmosphere over it. Some german accents aren't enough to create such an atmosphere.
The atmosphere and tension are slowly built up over the four episodes, but only true the Doctors part if the story. Aces story doesn't carry much weight in the overall plot.
Impact:
Big Finish had already released timey-wimey historicals before this one, and alternate war history wasn't a new thing within the genre even back then, so this story is mostly remembered for David Tennant's performance.
Replay Value:
For David Tennant and some timey-wimey action, sure!
Score: 63/120 = 2,6 stars
Story:
An alternate timeline for WWII is hardly a new idea, but it's not surprising to find Doctor Who does that. The first episode is a pretty typical one for a historical story, but the second puts more of a twist to things and makes the plot immediately more interesting.
The story revolves around the mysterious Klein, who knows too much and isn't who she claims to be. The Doctor quickly gets the upper hand, forcing her tom to reveal her true self. The Part Three cliffhanger continues to make things more interesting.
I like the way this story revolves around time travel and basic paradoxes.
Acting:
David Tennant appears in a supporting role and it's both weird and funny at the same time. His German accent is interesting and at times you forget it's him, but I just expect him to reveal himself to be the Doctor in disguise all the time. Tennant is energetic and enjoys himself, His performance is one of the best in Big Finish audios so far.
The Doctor:
We return to a more manipulative and mysterious Seventh Doctor here. It's a joy to hear him use a trick or two to gain the upper hand.
The Companions:
Ace isn't particularly interesting here, mostly hanging out with the other prisoners while the Doctor carries the plot forward.
The Monster/Villain:
Klein is a perfectly mysterious villain, a woman from the future sent back to change history.
Production:
The production is simple, almost too simple. The soundscapes don't help to create an atmosphere of mid-1940s Germany.
The music is pretty nice though and used in a great way.
Pacing:
There isn't much action here and the pace is quite typical for this type of story. The central mystery keeps it going forward.
Atmosphere:
This doesn't feel like a wartime story, it doesn't have that atmosphere over it. Some german accents aren't enough to create such an atmosphere.
The atmosphere and tension are slowly built up over the four episodes, but only true the Doctors part if the story. Aces story doesn't carry much weight in the overall plot.
Impact:
Big Finish had already released timey-wimey historicals before this one, and alternate war history wasn't a new thing within the genre even back then, so this story is mostly remembered for David Tennant's performance.
Replay Value:
For David Tennant and some timey-wimey action, sure!
Score: 63/120 = 2,6 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews