Doctor Who review: Voyage to the New World is an atmospheric trip into history
By James Aggas
Dark and atmospheric, Voyage to the New World is certainly a good Doctor Who story. But is it a decent adventure for Jago & Litefoot?
Following directly on from Voyage to Venus, Doctor Who: Voyage to the New World sees the Sixth Doctor, Jago & Litefoot arrive on Roanoke Island in the year 1590. Tensions are high between the natives of the New World and the English colonists, and the three find themselves caught in the middle. But is there something much worse that they should be frightened of?
Voyage to the New World is a very atmospheric story by Matthew Sweet. It’s also a very dense one. There are a number of twists and turns in this story – so many in fact that it’s taken me a few listens to absorb them all. At times, it feels like the audio equivalent of Ghost Light – high in atmosphere, but not a plot you can completely absorb on the first go.
After several listens and fully understanding the complex plot, I’d definitely say that Voyage to the New World is a very good story. There are nice parallels between the main threat and the colonists, although it’s done in such a way that it goes beyond allegory. There’s a clear reason for everything, and Matthew Sweet has created a great mix of historical, ghost story, and science-fiction. So in those terms, it’s extremely impressive.
Voyage to the New World follows on directly from Voyage to Venus. But is it as strong an adventure for Jago & Litefoot?
Image Courtesy Big Finish Productions
Jago & Litefoot
However, while it’s effective as a Doctor Who story, does it make good use of Jago & Litefoot? This is one key aspect that I have mixed feelings on. On the one hand, there’s a great plotline where Jago finds himself in a rather horrifying situation. Both he and Litefoot are written well and feel true to who they are. (Which is not surprising, as Sweet has previously written for Jago & Litefoot before, specifically the episodes The Man at the End of the Garden and The Lonely Clock.
But while these characters are generally handled well, if I’m honest, I don’t think they’re quite used well enough. One aspect that I really enjoyed about Voyage to Venus – along with the enjoyable mix of classic and modern sci-fi storytelling – was Jago & Litefoot’s reaction to visiting another world. There was a genuine sense of wonder and we got to share in that excitement.
By comparison, the duo doesn’t feel as central to this particular story. With other companions, this wouldn’t be a problem – after all, sometimes, you want to tell a really good story rather than worry about focusing on the companions or look for the emotional element. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just a particular way of storytelling. Especially when you’ve got plenty of stories to explore those companions with.
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Brief companions
But with something like this – one of two specials featuring two greatly loved characters traveling with the Doctor very temporarily – you do want there to be more focus on them. On their reactions to these journeys and seeing both history and the universe. Honestly, that was achieved better with Voyage to Venus than in this story.
Don’t get me wrong: Voyage to the New World is a great Doctor Who story in its own right. It’s atmospheric, complex and an exciting look at history. I just can’t help but feel that a story like this could’ve been served better as a regular monthly adventure, rather than something as special as Jago & Litefoot sharing a trip with the Doctor.
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Do you think Jago & Litefoot should have travelled with the Doctor for a little longer? Or do you think they work much better on their own? Let us know in the comments below.