Susan’s War: Family Ties offers a fresh take on the Time War, exploring the human impact of this dark and mysterious period in Doctor Who history through the eyes of one of the series’ most iconic characters.
Released in August and available exclusively on the Big Finish website until October, this two-story collection brings the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford) back into the limelight. Her new adventures are packed full of political intrigue and espionage, yet imbued with the over-arching theme of the importance of family and empathy.
The Lost Son by Sarah Cassidy sets the tone. Reeling from her last encounter with the Doctor but still supporting the Gallifreyan war effort, perhaps from a sense of duty to her people, Susan is sent on a diplomatic mission to assist Priestess Vesselina in finding her missing son.
It soon becomes apparent not everything on the supposedly neutral planet Materos is as it seems, and as the political situation becomes increasingly fraught, Susan is forced to draw on all her emotional resilience and boundless empathy to survive, though this might just be her downfall…
Whilst Cassidy places much of the story’s focus on Susan, using her experiences to explore a more humanitarian, diplomatic side to Gallifrey’s role in the Time War, the world of Materos is also extremely well developed, with time dedicated to world-building – the vivid physical landscapes of the planet, as well as its politics and people.
The supporting characters are perhaps not particularly memorable (though Beth Chalmers excels in the role of Susan’s friend and acidic wartime strategist Veklin, imbuing her with a caring nature beneath her outward bravado and ‘long-suffering’ façade) but Carole Ann Ford is once again excellent, as Cassidy deftly weaves a narrative that taps into the trauma of Susan’s past, particularly the loss of her own son, Alex.
This connection between the two missing sons makes the narrative deeply personal, and Ford’s performance brilliantly captures Susan’s pain and strength in the face of unimaginable loss as she bonds with Vesselina through their shared trauma of losing a son.
The punchline perhaps doesn’t quite live up to the build-up, particularly given the distinct lack of Daleks after their imminent threat is posited, which may disappoint some listeners going in blind.
Overall, though, Cassidy’s script is an impressive Big Finish debut; it’s a rich, character-driven piece, proving that an older, more introspective Susan, written to match the age of her voice actor, can still kick ass.
In The Golden Child by Peter Anghelides, the stakes are raised even higher. When a key Gallifreyan ally, Maxor, disappears from existence, archivist Andolar soon realises she is the only one to remember him.
With Susan’s help, she attempts to break through the time lock around Gostan to uncover the truth about the politician and strategist’s mysterious erasure from history. Unfortunately, a petulant young Maxor isn’t going to make things easy for them…
To complicate matters further, Susan’s investigation leads her to an unexpected encounter with a future version of her grandfather, voiced excellently by Jonathon Carley. This meeting between Susan and a now-hardened War Doctor is the emotional heart of the story, sticking to the overarching theme of family.
Anghelides beautifully contrasts the War Doctor’s grim pragmatism and reluctance to share too much about the future with Susan’s enduring hope and determination, creating a poignant and powerful dynamic between the two and showing how fascinating a different angle on the Time War can be.
There is a sense of distance between the two as the presence of his granddaughter, who knows him better than anyone, forces the Doctor to confront who he has become, which creates a sense of futility in their attempts to set history back on track. The eventual twist and resolution feel satisfying, if a little rushed.
The production value of both stories is top-notch, with Andy Hardwick’s sound design and music effectively heightening the drama and emotion. Director John Ainsworth ensures that the pacing is tight, and Carole Ann Ford delivers a well-honed performance, embodying Susan as a mature, complex character who has grown far beyond the scared teenager we first met in 1963.
Susan’s War: Family Ties offers a fresh perspective on the Time War while delivering some truly compelling, emotionally charged storytelling. Big Finish certainly honours Susan’s legacy while also expanding it in exciting and meaningful ways.
Susan’s War: Family Ties is now available from the Big Finish website.
