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| Image (c) Big Finish Productions Ltd |
When the TARDIS crew become separated in wartime France, Polly and the Doctor are forced to join the evaders' trail towards neural Spain. What has become of Ben and Jamie, meanwhile? And what connection does a downed pilot have to Polly?
Part-narrated by John Sackville's 'pilot', Resistance lacks a strict framing narrative, and contains a twist which actually calls into question the nature of Sackville's contributions; whether they are drawn from some secret log or merely Polly's extrapolation.
The first of two main emotional hooks lies in the fact that Polly and Ben, taking over from Dodo Chaplet as the 'contemporary' companions, have vague memories of the war, and in particular that Polly's uncle died in a POW camp. The second lies in Polly's feelings of helplessness, related to her under-use in the original series and lack of a developed skill set. In the latter instance, the play provides some resolution with the suggestion that her abilities are empathy, compassion and a willingness to act that provokes positive action.
Wills manages a passable Doctor, and while her Ben and Jamie verge on caricature, this is more from the presentation of the voices as the affectionate parodies of a good friend, rather than any lack of acting skill. Sackville's pilot is a bit of a cipher, as the plot requires, and terrible proper and reserved, but this too fits the role.
The play changes the usual tune of wartime adventures with its French setting and the use of the local Millice in place of German Gestapo, but retains the sense of claustrophobic fear necessary to such a story. It is an oddly hopeful piece, given the setting, as suits Polly's generally upbeat personality, but manages not to be jarring.
Our next title is The Magician's Oath, with UNIT's Mike Yates.
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