Doctor Who: The Zygon Who Fell To Earth by Paul Magrs
02/08/2008 . Source: Sue Davies 
CD. pub: Big Finish ISBN: 978-1-84435-309-5. 60 minute CD. Price: £10.99 (UK))cast: Paul McGann, Sheridan Smith, Steven Pacey, Malcolm Stoddard, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Lynsey Hardwick, Katarina Olsson and Barnaby Edwards. Buy Doctor Who: The Zygon Who Fell To Earth in the USA - or Buy Doctor Who: The Zygon Who Fell To Earth in the UK  check out web site www.BigFinish.com
Lucie and the Doctor attempt another holiday. They really should know better, staying at a guesthouse in the Lake District run by Lucie's Aunty Pat, last encountered in the 1970s ('Horror Of Glam Rock'). Lucie drops herself in it as usual, revealing Aunty Pat's mundane existence in her time. It's strange though because in this era, the 80s, she's happy, successful and married to Trevor, a folk singer she met at a festival in 1979. He just happens to be a Zygon. The path of true love never does run smoothly.
All would be well if only his fellow Zygons didn't want to take over the world again. Enter the comedy duo of Malcolm Stoddard and Tim Brooke-Taylor playing Commander Urtak and Mim. They purport to be Trevor's old music industry partners visiting to persuade him to make a comeback. It's not long before we find they are fellow Zygons who need Trevor to take up his role in the Zygon hierarchy.
Of course, Lucie cannot resist investigating and gets herself in deep doo-doo. There's nothing new on the face of this planet. From comedy here and a little singing there, we fall into a dastardly plot to rule the world.
The Zygons didn't feature heavily in the TV series possibly, because their attributes of suckling the Loch Ness Monster did not come over so well. Even on audio, it sounds pretty gross. But they are ripe for a comeback, if the latex fits.
There's a few extras on the disc, featuring the guest stars and the musical genesis of the featured 'pop' tune. Yes, they've pillaged the Universe for the worse pop song ever other than the last one sung by Stephen Gateley. This time 'Trevor' sings 'Falling Star' and despite that does have some redeeming features. There are worse things than being a Zygon. This is very much a companion piece to 'Horror Of Glam Rock' also written by Paul Magrs. It does well to produce a plot that almost makes sense apart from one obvious, large, gaping hole which does depend on whether Auntie Pat ever moved from the Lake District.
I asked for a deep gloomy After-Eight Doctor and in this episode, there is a little hint of the burden he bears. At last, some depth to the Doctor. He's a Time Lord and at least in this we get some idea of his broader role towards the end of the story. From a light comedy start, it becomes decidedly down-beat and possibly signally some dark times ahead. More please.
Sue Davies
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