Last of the Romanovs [AUDIO/2020.3.18]

★★★☆☆

  History can be a terrifying, morally conflicting place, and Last of the Romanovs embodies that notion to a T. This time for the TARDIS crew, it's the Bolshevik execution of the last remaining Tsar bloodline — and it goes as morose and serious as you'd expect.

  It's nice to see Susan's character get a chance to develop here, as she expresses displeasure at her grandfather's policy of non-intervention. Amongst all the political turmoil, she sees a young girl in Anastasia, one who does not deserve to be killed for actions she did not commit. It's an excellent way to fray tempers within the usually steadfast group of regulars, and it also affords a moment of reflection for the Doctor. Last of the Romanovs is much less focused on spectacle and action, and instead on morality (or at least, the Doctor and his friends' interpretation of the word) and how it clashes against established history. I was initially concerned about this story's premise, due to its comparatively contemporary setting and its political implications which stretch out to the foundations of our world today. I was worried that Jonathan Barnes would take an all-too-easy "communism is evil" stance, and for what it's worth, the writer very narrowly avoids being vehemently anti-communist (although the spiel about "your kind" from the Doctor unnerved me to some degree). It's a good idea to tell a story with a small cast of characters when such macropolitical implications are right outside the door, and in the end I commend Barnes' effort. I had quite a bit of fun overall with this pure historical.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ  

  Is it just me, or does David Bradley sound very distant in this adventure? I'm not talking about the sound quality, but rather his performance; it feels very devoid of vigor and charm. I'm not sure if it's what director Ken Bently asked of him, but I found on several occasions that his Doctor's rather detached delivery undermined the drama a bit.