Museum Peace’ is a Short Trips Rarities from Big Finish and a story that shouldn’t be overlooked.
This story feels so dark that, at first, you could almost forget you were listening to a Doctor Who Short Trips adventure. Dripping with atmosphere, we begin in heavy rain as we are introduced to our protagonist, Kalendorf. He’s visiting a museum that houses many artefacts from the Dalek War, of which Kalendorf is a veteran.
A Grim Picture
Writer James Swallow paints a grim picture through the streaming thoughts of Kalendorf as we make our way through the museum and ponder the consequences of war. The introduction of the eighth Doctor reminds listeners that this is not the first time Kalendorf and The Doctor have met. However, it’s not necessary to have heard ‘Return of the Daleks’ to enjoy this story as it fills you in on everything and is very much a standalone story. ‘Museum Peace’ does everything it needs to do with limited characters and their introspection and some well-recorded voice and effects.
Nicholas Briggs Narrates & Directs
Nicholas Briggs, in role of both Director and Narrator, builds upon Swallow’s story. The narration is softly spoken with Briggs’ velvety bass voice complimenting the script making this war feel quite real.
Adding gravel to the bass Briggs’ creates a strong, intelligent, leader in Kalendorf who is maybe a little tired. The dialog for The Doctor is limited and though there isn’t a great deal of distinction from Narrator to Doctor, the speech pattern tends to work.
Sounds To Calm
The sounds and music in ‘Museum Peace’ are aptly quiet. Calming even. Realistic and familiar, used to ground us in dark reality, and sparingly. Be it rain or simply the hum of vents the sound effects and music never overwhelm or fall out of step and simply complement the trains of thought like highlighting moments from memory.
Things To Come
This is a beautifully told story that asks familiar questions about familiar foes and can be seen as a prologue of things to come for the Eighth Doctor, but truly does a great job of standing on its own with little to know prior knowledge being required.
Blogtor Rating – 9/10
Doctor Who – Short Trips – Museum Peace is available as a download from the Big Finish website
Synopsis
A single old man. One who knows what it is to fight, who understands an enemy few think of any more, who has had to make terrible decisions in his life. And who now, in a museum, with that enemy in front of him reduced to a mere curiosity… Meets Kalendorf.
Producer Nicholas Briggs
Script Editor Nicholas Briggs
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
Written By: James Swallow
Directed By: Nicholas Briggs
Cast
Nicholas Briggs (Narrator)
