{"id":40084,"date":"2023-12-18T00:11:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T00:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/?p=40084"},"modified":"2024-01-26T13:24:04","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T13:24:04","slug":"reviewed-big-finishs-eleventh-doctor-chronicles-broken-hearts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2023\/12\/18\/reviewed-big-finishs-eleventh-doctor-chronicles-broken-hearts\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviewed: Big Finish\u2019s Eleventh Doctor Chronicles \u2013 Broken Hearts"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Released in time for the 60th anniversary celebrations, Broken Hearts<\/a><\/em>, featuring the Eleventh Doctor (voiced by Jacob Dudman), continues the events of Curiosity Shop<\/em>, the third episode in All of Time and Space<\/a><\/em>. The midpoint in the serialised “Series 7V” arc (thank you, Max Kashevsky<\/a>!) which sort of acts as the second half of a two-parter, bringing 14 episodes in total; just like with Series 7 (both parts combined), if you count The Snowmen<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valarie Lockwood (Safiyya Ingar) decides to leave the Doctor, as a result of blaming him for what he did which literally cost her cybernetic body enhancements. It’s an emotional, two-hander character study that neatly weaves into the overarching narrative. As someone who has been through depression and grief within the past few months, I can easily relate to Valarie. She has every right to resent, and so do the listeners, including Lisa McMullin who wrote this outstandingly heartbreaking, hour-long bonus episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Doctor takes Valarie to Iptheus, a planet previously featured in The Famished Lands<\/em> (from The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3<\/em>), similarly written by McMullin. At the same time, two sentient rescue bots, Augustus and Lionel, also voiced by Dudman and Ingar, are on a mission to locate survivors on the devastated planet affected by the Time Lords’ empathetic weather – a weapon which identifies emotions and controls aggressive weather patterns, previously used against the Daleks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Doctor and Valarie having to endure swimming in a thunderstorm, it’s as if they’re on the brink of drowning in sorrows (quite literally). Even later on, when the two are increasingly filled with rage, you can’t help but feel sorry for them both. The Doctor’s actions in the Time War had cost lives when he had a different face, which indeed explains the statue of the Eighth Doctor (as portrayed by Paul McGann, who doesn’t make a vocal appearance) being featured on Caroline Tankersley’s lavishing cover artwork. If you want to hear her go into detail about the statue, check out the bonus interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the references to the Time War, the story perfectly pays tribute to The Day of the Doctor<\/em>, and how it traumatically affects the Eleventh (and “final”) incarnation. (Feels like yesterday when the 50th anniversary special first aired, over a decade ago.) The atmosphere, the affliction, the anguish. Unimaginable concepts packed into a full hour, and spread out quite fluidly. I was so close to breaking down in tears at times, especially when the Doctor suddenly yells at Valarie. Dudman perfectly captures Matt Smith channeling his fury, which you can easily imagine the latter doing so onscreen. And Ingar couldn’t be magnificent enough with their layered performance as Valarie, who has already become one of my favourite Big Finish companions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Lisa McMullin is a devoted fan of Series 7V, we should thank producer Alfie Shaw for giving her the opportunity to bring some closure for Valarie, without leaving key aspects of her character arc unresolved. Despite her script being the very last story to be recorded in the Eleventh Doctor Chronicles<\/em> range, it’s a real dream come true with fascinating results; “a story of healing”, which she describes in Who Review’s preview<\/a>. And let’s give a warm welcome to Borna Matosic, who brilliantly composed the melodramatic score for Broken Hearts<\/em> (with the music suite available as a bonus download). You’ll be hearing his music again in the final two volumes, Everywhere and Anywhere<\/a><\/em> and Victory of the Doctor<\/a><\/em> (yes, the multicoloured New Paradigm Daleks are back!), as well as the Eleventh Doctor’s new theme, Basically, Run<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall, Broken Hearts<\/em> is one of the strongest entries in Series 7V, if not the best thus far – equally magnificent as Curiosity Shop<\/em>. It’s more or less standalone, according to McMullin<\/a>, hence why you don’t necessarily have to listen to this bonus episode to understand how it connects with the overarching narrative. Essentially optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“You don\u2019t need to listen to this release to make sense of the series arc; I don\u2019t want people to feel they must have it for the series to make sense.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And my rating for Broken Hearts<\/em>, by quoting the Eleventh Doctor in Asylum of the Daleks<\/em>: “Out of ten? Eleven.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broken Hearts<\/em> is available now from Big Finish, as a digital download only<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Released in time for the 60th anniversary celebrations, Broken Hearts, featuring the Eleventh Doctor (voiced by Jacob Dudman), continues the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":39515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"Reviewed: Big Finish\u2019s Eleventh #DoctorWho Chronicles \u2013 Broken Hearts","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[4],"tags":[4282,7134,2876,5,5329,7311,519,45,22,7394,7133,584,3942,4293,25,46,6989,7389,274,7138,2310,108,6988,7395],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_4048.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":39513,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2023\/09\/30\/broken-hearts-a-bonus-story-for-big-finishs-eleventh-doctor-chronicles\/","url_meta":{"origin":40084,"position":0},"title":"Broken Hearts: A Bonus Story for Big Finish’s Eleventh Doctor Chronicles","author":"Andrew Hsieh","date":"30 September 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Will new companion, Valarie Lockwood get closure in this additional episode?","rel":"","context":"In "Merchandise"","block_context":{"text":"Merchandise","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/doctor-who-merchandise\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_4048.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_4048.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_4048.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_4048.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_4048.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40851,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2024\/02\/14\/reviewed-big-finishs-eleventh-doctor-chronicles-volume-6-victory-of-the-doctor\/","url_meta":{"origin":40084,"position":1},"title":"Reviewed: Big Finish\u2019s Eleventh Doctor Chronicles Volume 6 \u2013 Victory of the Doctor","author":"Andrew Hsieh","date":"14 February 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"It's Jacob Dudman's last time playing the Eleventh Doctor...","rel":"","context":"In "Big Finish"","block_context":{"text":"Big Finish","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/reviews\/big-finish\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/DWDC11D06_victoryofthedoctor_alt_1417.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/DWDC11D06_victoryofthedoctor_alt_1417.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/DWDC11D06_victoryofthedoctor_alt_1417.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/DWDC11D06_victoryofthedoctor_alt_1417.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/DWDC11D06_victoryofthedoctor_alt_1417.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40303,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2023\/12\/29\/reviewed-big-finishs-eleventh-doctor-chronicles-volume-5-everywhere-and-anywhere\/","url_meta":{"origin":40084,"position":2},"title":"Reviewed: Big Finish\u2019s Eleventh Doctor Chronicles Volume 5 \u2013 Everywhere and Anywhere","author":"Andrew Hsieh","date":"29 December 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"What did we think of Big Finish's last Eleventh Doctor story of 2023?","rel":"","context":"In "Big Finish"","block_context":{"text":"Big Finish","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/reviews\/big-finish\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DWDC11D05_everywhereandanywhere_alt_1417.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DWDC11D05_everywhereandanywhere_alt_1417.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DWDC11D05_everywhereandanywhere_alt_1417.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DWDC11D05_everywhereandanywhere_alt_1417.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DWDC11D05_everywhereandanywhere_alt_1417.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36738,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2022\/10\/28\/reviewed-big-finishs-eleventh-doctor-chronicles-volume-3-geronimo\/","url_meta":{"origin":40084,"position":3},"title":"Reviewed: Big Finish\u2019s Eleventh Doctor Chronicles Volume 3 \u2013 Geronimo!","author":"Andrew Hsieh","date":"28 October 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's celebrate Matt Smith's 40th birthday with this exciting Big Finish adventure!","rel":"","context":"In "Big Finish"","block_context":{"text":"Big Finish","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/reviews\/big-finish\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/19FD4F36-0DA5-4D0B-8B58-52D849A4659D.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/19FD4F36-0DA5-4D0B-8B58-52D849A4659D.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/19FD4F36-0DA5-4D0B-8B58-52D849A4659D.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/19FD4F36-0DA5-4D0B-8B58-52D849A4659D.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/19FD4F36-0DA5-4D0B-8B58-52D849A4659D.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37784,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2023\/03\/24\/reviewed-big-finishs-eleventh-doctor-chronicles-volume-4-all-of-time-and-space\/","url_meta":{"origin":40084,"position":4},"title":"Reviewed: Big Finish\u2019s Eleventh Doctor Chronicles Volume 4 \u2013 All of Time and Space","author":"Andrew Hsieh","date":"24 March 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Things get meta in the latest triumph from audio company, Big Finish!","rel":"","context":"In "Big Finish"","block_context":{"text":"Big Finish","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/reviews\/big-finish\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70D84758-FC50-4AA9-8831-85FC3AAA7603.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70D84758-FC50-4AA9-8831-85FC3AAA7603.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70D84758-FC50-4AA9-8831-85FC3AAA7603.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70D84758-FC50-4AA9-8831-85FC3AAA7603.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/70D84758-FC50-4AA9-8831-85FC3AAA7603.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11742,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2017\/09\/06\/jake-dudman-to-narrate-big-finishs-the-tenth-and-eleventh-doctor-chronicles\/","url_meta":{"origin":40084,"position":5},"title":"Jake Dudman To Narrate Big Finish's The Tenth and Eleventh Doctor Chronicles","author":"Andrew Reynolds","date":"6 September 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Big Finish have announced that actor and impressionist Jacob Dudman will be bringing his impeccable impersonations to the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor Chronicles. Announced at this weekend\u2019s Sci-FI Wales, Dudman, known online for his impressions from the world of Doctor Who amongst others, will be breathing life into the Tenth\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/jake-dudman-1-837x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/jake-dudman-1-837x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/jake-dudman-1-837x1024.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7lD76-aqw","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40084"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40084"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40729,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40084\/revisions\/40729"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}