Doctor Who review: The Enchantress of Numbers is an incredibly strong pseudo-historical
By James Aggas
The third story in this year’s series of Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures features a great mix of history, science-fiction and mystery in The Enchantress of Numbers!
I’ve been quite the fan of Simon Barnard’s and Paul Morris’s work for a while now, ever since they wrote for the brilliant Doctor Who spin-off series Jago & Litefoot. They were a perfect fit for the series, telling stories that were a great balance between the macabre and the humorous. So I always look forward to listening to a new story of theirs.
The Enchantress of Numbers is a perfect fit for them, too. While not quite as horrific as some of their Jago & Litefoot stories, this story still features plenty of spookiness and mystery to it. Even better, this one is set during the Victorian period, which they have plenty of experience writing for, by this point.
What instantly leaps out the most about The Enchantress of Numbers is how it features a real life historical figure. Ada Lovelace may not be too well known, but this story explores her fascinating life and her brilliant intellect. She was clearly a woman that was ahead of her time in many ways, and it’s fantastic how The Enchantress of Numbers explores that.
Finty Williams does an excellent job of portraying Lovelace, too. She portrays not just the woman’s strengths, but also her very clear flaws equally well, and helps to convey how closely linked they really are. Overall, she does a great job of bringing to life this very remarkable woman.
The Doctor and Ann are on the trail of something in 1850. But what?
(Image credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.
Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)
A puzzle box mystery
Something else that makes The Enchantress of Numbers a fantastic listen is that it’s very much a puzzle box mystery. It unfolds at a nice pace, and the audience finds out piece by piece what’s really going on.
Even more interesting is how Barnard and Morris actually begin the story. The opening scenes with the Fourth Doctor and Ann Kelso make it clear that they’re already in the middle of an adventure when they land in 1850. But what are they looking for? And why?
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It’s not often that a Doctor Who story begins this way. After all, the Doctor and the companion are usually our main points of view. So it’s a bold choice to leave the audience wondering what they’re up to. But it works very well, and pays off quite nicely. Particularly during the second episode.
Another thing that I’m impressed with is how well this story uses a key bit of Doctor Who mythology. If you’ve never watched the original stories that the concept first shows up in, you don’t need to worry, as it’s introduced quite nicely into the story. But for long-term fans, it’s a really exciting addition, and fits the story brilliantly.
Overall, The Enchantress of Numbers might be my favorite of series eight’s first half. It features a lot of great characters, plenty of mystery, some very spooky villains, and gives us a great, well-paced story. An absolutely fantastic listen.
Next. Why Doctor Who has the most unskippable intro ever. dark
Which historical figure would you like the Doctor to meet next? Do you enjoy a good puzzle box mystery? Which is your favorite in Doctor Who? Let us know in the comments below.