Static [AUDIO/2017.12.12]

★★★★☆

  Now this is a story out to get you. This is a terrifying listen, from the story that manifested from the branch of Jonathan Morris's tree of the mind to the excellent sound design and performances. It's almost like Hide, in the sense that it's much closer to the modern scares we associate with popular films of today than the Gothic horror of old; you can sense even in audio that the color grading's ominously grey and that every technical facet of the production is geared to creep you out. 

  Body swapping and ghosts from the dead may be concepts that feel tried and true by now, not just in Doctor Who but in science fiction in general, but Morris doesn't let us get potentially bored by its familiar steps. No, he spruces up his tale by injecting a healthy amount of interpersonal drama, an undercurrent of entrapment and detachment (in both physical and emotional senses). The currents act roots, the ends of which are adorned with well-defined characters exclusive to this story as well as the TARDIS crew. Colin Baker is fantastic as always, Lisa Greenwood injects a lot of the human emotions and warmth this story desperately needed, and Miranda Raison is given one of the best materials she's ever got as the WREN. Her death and rebirth are both powerful moments, compounded by the genuine grief performed by Baker. Bravo to all.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ  

  Static starts as a befuddling mystery and ends as a tightly-knit time travel narrative with all loose ends taken care for. It's quite remarkable how Morris achieves the impossible of making the story loophole-proof, and it's equally awesome how a trio of leads that are so far apart from one another in concept meld so well and provide much heart and camaraderie. I shall hope for more Sixie, Connie and Flip adventures in the future.