REVIEW: Doctor Who: Lionesses in Winter

Lionesses in Winter proves a cool title in search of a story worth telling in a largely directionless episode

Between them, the alternating Ninth and Thirteenth Doctor Adventures have essentially formed a new regeneration of Big Finish’s monthly range. The result is a highlight of Blogtor Who’s calendar, and has already become a cosily dependable home for high quality Doctor Who episodes. Lionesses in Winter is the fifth in this quasi range of monthly drama for the 21st century Doctors. So perhaps it shouldn’t be too surprising that we’ve finally hit a weaker installment. After all, how often did the classic monthly range hit it out of the park five stories in a row?

Extended subplots like a journey back in time for the Doctor and Yaz seem only to exist to pad the thin story out a little

The main issue with this latest release is that there’s really not enough story there to sustain its 45 minute run time. Indeed, structurally, a lot of what happens in Lionesses seems to simply attempt to disguise that nothing much is happening.

There’s a lengthy sequence of the Doctor and Yaz travelling back in time, hopping through the decades, to personally witness events like skipping Blu-ray chapters to the ‘good bits.’ However, everything they see, they either already knew or guessed, or could simply have asked about in the present. There’s also a last minute twist in the tale, that’s both pointless and rather incoherent. It seems to exist only to link in to the overall series arc, and buy an extra couple of minutes to pad out what little action there is.

The cause of this may be the play’s other significant problem. It’s hit on the enticing idea of retelling the classic story The Lion in Winter from the women’s point of view. Yet, ultimately Lionesses finds it doesn’t have much to say. The classic 1968 film starring Peter O’Toole and Katherine Hepburn played a little fast and loose with the history of King Henry II and his estranged queen Eleanor. But it packed one Christmas in 1183 with royal drama and emotion as they battle over the line of succession. And it drew on the historical conflicts that eventually really did put their son Richard the Lionheart on the throne.

Attempts to humanise one of the most powerful families in medieval Europe merely makes them bland and characterless

In contrast, only a shadow of that history survives here, with a very mild version of Richard and adopted sister Alys’ engagement of convenience playing out more like the plot of a high school movie. Meanwhile, some of the more unpleasant aspects of the historical family dynamic, particularly relating to Alys, are airbrushed from the script.

Similarly, Henry and Eleanor’s relationship lacks that fiery combination of deep love and even deeper rivalry. Eleanor’s attempt to overthrow Henry, and his imprisonment of her, are debated all the heat of a couple arguing over whether Waitrose or Sainsburys have the best lasagna ready meals.

It’s all rather… domestic and ordinary. Although the Doctor herself references EastEnders, there’s little her that would be worthy of a doof doof cliffhanger. Indeed, that a story inserting mirror universes and alien body snatchers into events manages to be much more dull than the real history is actually impressive.

Whittaker and Gill turn their performances up to 13 to inject some life into the material

Giving Kevin Mathurin double duty as both Henry and his son Richard (taking over the latter role from The Crusade’s Julian Glover) is arguably another misstep. In order to distinguish them, his Henry is so regal and restrained, it strangles all the other aspects of the performance.

Even the normally reliable Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill are having an off day this month. Perhaps in an attempt to lift the script, they’re loud and enthusiastic throughout, but it often feels cartoonish compared to their usual takes on the characters.

Had Lionesses in Winter been part of a boxset, it would have been the weak link in that set. As a standalone episode, it would be a poor introduction to the range. Fortunately, with two much better episodes preceding it, the future still looks bright for the range as a whole and January’s Ride or Die.

Doctor Who: Lionesses in Winter

England, 1183 – The court of Henry II. The Doctor and Yaz gatecrash a right royal – if terrifyingly dysfunctional – family Christmas as Henry’s estranged wife Eleanor returns to spend Yuletide with the fam. The Doctor and Yaz uncover an imposter amongst them, but who are they really? And what do they want?

Doctor Who – The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: Lionesses in Winter is now available to purchase for just £9.99 (as a digital download to own) or £13.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be repressed.