Doctor Who review: Entanglement presents an intriguing mystery for the First Doctor
By James Aggas
The First Doctor, Steven and Vicki investigate Sedgwick College in the 1930s, where very strange things have been happening in last month’s Doctor Who audio adventure, Entanglement.
This season of The Early Adventures has been an incredibly strong one. The Dalek Occupation of Winter gave us a wonderfully dark and gritty Dalek story, while An Ideal World was a great mix of hard sci-fi and horror. And that level of quality continues with Entanglement.
Entanglement definitely stands out as a Doctor Who mystery. For one thing, it’s not set too far into the past. The mid-1930s, to be exact. By Doctor Who‘s standards, that’s relatively recent, as historicals go.
There’s also the world we’re introduced to: Sedgwick College in Cambridge. In some ways, this is a place that feels as strange and alien as another planet. Now, there is certainly something strange going on in this story, but it’s more than that. Due to both the time period, and how this place feels so distinctly different to the rest of society, Sedgwick College in the 1930s comes across as a very strange place indeed.
Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky have written an exceptionally well-crafted story here, too. Not only do they create the world through both detailed historical research as well as fleshed-out characters.
They also tell a very intriguing and well-paced story, a puzzle box that leaves you guessing and gives you just the right amount of answers along the way, while also raising new questions. It’s a very different story they’ve written compared to The Ravelli Conspiracy, a hugely enjoyable First Doctor historical from 2016, but it’s just as strong.
Intriguing mystery and interesting characters
There’s a great mix of characters here, too. The rival professors Lewis and Woolf are fleshed out and feel very believable. You’re usually left wondering what their motivations are, and why something so strange is happening to the college.
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Guy and Kim are also an interesting pair of students. At times, they seem to have an unlikely friendship, and indeed, there’s a lot of tension between the two. Particularly as so many students seem to be randomly attacking each other, and no one’s really sure why. Even the regulars are affected by it, leading to some pretty disturbing moments.
Overall, Entanglement is another well-crafted First Doctor story in The Early Adventures. It’s paced very nicely, it balances the mix of mystery, character focus and history just right, and it has a nice amount of tension throughout. A nice, chilling story to listen to.
Next. The Eighth Doctor – why he’s my favorite. dark
Have you listened to Entanglement? What Doctor Who stories have you enjoyed set in the early half of the twentieth century? What’s your favorite mystery in the series? Let us know in the comments below.