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Doctor Who: The Mind's Eye by Colin Brake
01/03/2008 . Source: Sue Davies 
CD. pub: Big Finish ISBN: 978-1-84435-182-4. 120 minute CD. Price: £14.99 (UK). Non UK £11.50). Voices: Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, Caroline Morris, Owen Teale, Rebecca Front, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Richard Laing and Nicola Weeks. Buy Doctor Who: The Mind's Eye in the USA - or Buy Doctor Who: The Mind's Eye in the UK  check out web sites www.BigFinish.com
A man, found alone and babbling in a mysterious jungle, thinks he needs a Doctor...but he is one isn't he? Hayton rescues him at great personal risk. He is on the planet studying some very peculiar plants and it looks like the Doctor can help him.
In another place and time, Erimem is ruling an empire among the stars. She has many enemies and can't understand why everybody hates her. She misses the Doctor. He would know what to do.
Peri is happy enough apart from her grumpy and troublesome almost stepson He doesn't think she will last with his father. After all, his Mum didn't. Peri battles on but she, too, misses the Doctor and can't quite remember who left whom.
What can possibly connect the Doctor with their stories, other than then when they arrived on this planet, they were all still together. Before long, the Doctor is on another nail-biting mission to bring them back to the relative safety of the TARDIS.
This multi-scenario plot works well on audio as each character sets up their reality. This three-part adventure has plenty of action and the way things have been going lately for the companions, anything's possible.
The writers are constrained by Peri's continuing presence in the original TV incarnation. This is the only thing that spoils the tension of the piece. They can have much more fun creating stand-alone companions who they use and abuse at their whim.
This time it's the fifth Doctor as played by the superb Peter Davison who gets to run around the studio with his erstwhile companions. Nicola Bryant returns as the silken-voiced Peri and Caroline Morris plays Erimem imperiously. There are some impressive guest stars including Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Peri's annoying charge. He featured in the last series of the TV Doctor Who as the brave schoolboy Tim Latimer in the two parter 'Human Nature' and 'Family of Blood'. He certainly picked the right episodes to feature in and I daresay there wasn't a dry eye in the house after those two. He's not as endearing here and his voice isn't as distinctive as his face but does a good sulky teenager. Owen Teal, always busy, also guests as Hayton. He's appeared in an episode of 'Torchwood'. Rebecca Front as the military-in-charge Major Takol is a well-known comedy actress who recently appeared in 'The Catherine Tate Show' and so there we have another Doctor Who link. It's a plot I tell you.
The one-parter also included is called 'Mission Of The Viyrans' and is linked to the upcoming 2008 episodes. It's mostly Peri in a bizarre story that calls to mind Phil Dick plots. This single episode adventure is curiously not set after this adventure but after the next. This is a great little filler that is suitably succinct for its length and uses the character of Peri well.
'The Mind's Eye' is a good escapade and the package is complemented again by cast interviews and separate music track.
So, when you have finished drawing your Venn diagram of the character links and plot links between all the Doctors, sit back and enjoy some good old-fashioned escapism.
Sue Davies
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