Cry of the Vultriss [AUDIO/2020.4.15]

★★★★★

  It makes me so happy that even in its last days, Big Finish's monthly range was still capable of delivering masterpieces like Cry of the Vultriss. When I say the word 'masterpiece', I sincerely mean it; this is an incredibly evocative, fantastical, gripping and unapologetically alien audio drama, filled to the brim with exciting ideas, polished and poetic dialogue, and a beautiful execution; John Ainsworth's magnum opus and it's not even close. Simon Power's work on the music and sound has to be acknowledged as a huge factor of my enjoyment as well, and Tom Webster's cover is a top 10 from Big Finish.

  I love the fact that the script keeps us listeners second guessing over and over until the real truth hits, making sure we're always on our toes waiting for another great revelation. I love that the central drama hinges on an ancient Time Lord device and their lack of management, typing this potentially alienating conflict closer to home with the Doctor, and I also hugely appreciate that Darren Jones was willing to go all out and paint a vivid picture of an alien society, from its cultures to conflicts to political viewpoints. The best audio dramas allow listeners to paint a canvas with the most memorable colours, and the Vultriss planet is brought to life with immaculate detail. You can see the colours of the sky, the castles, the dawn and the shining crystals. The Doctor, Flip and Constance are practically the only humanoids in the story, and yet every Vultriss and Ice Warrior character has such clearly defined personalities, and they're fun to listen to. If you ever need a Dr. Who adventure to use as proof that Russell T Davies's "Dr. Who needs at least one human element/connection to work" remark is utter bull, look no further than Cry of the Vultriss. 

  With its political games, conspiracies, intergalactic war crimes and frozen Ice Warrior ambassadors, this is one audio drama you do not want to miss out on. It's clear that Darren Jones had a fun time writing the script, and that everyone over at Big Finish clearly enjoyed making it just as much. Part Dune, part Avatar, part Curse of Peladon -- all Dr. Who, and it's a glorious production with the most spine-tinglingly beautiful sound design and music (the latter of which is actually used sparingly in the latter portions of the adventure, which I think is a great directorial choice that allows the heavy drama to truly breathe without being swamped by overly dramatic tunes). I would call Cry of the Vultriss a stone-cold classic, but that would be a misnomer; it's a masterpiece with a passionately beating heart full of music, wonder and unshackled imagination. Is Jones a fan of the Dune series or the Elder Scrolls series? Oh well, Skyrim's Thu'um was inspired by Dune's Voice anyway -- I love this audio drama so much, so go check it out.