"Embrace the Darkness"
by Nicholas Briggs

So far, many of the instalments in the ongoing series of Eighth Doctor audio plays have tried to mimic the TV series as much as possible. Sword of Orion, for example, was a typical Cybermen runaround which directly lifted elements of other adventures, and Storm Warning was consciously cinematic in scale and tone. So Embrace the Darkness, by Nicholas Briggs, is something different, because it's a story that simply would not work on any medium other than audio.

The story sees the Doctor and Charley visit the Cimmerian system, to satisfy the Doctor's curiosity about what really happened to its sun. But he just wants to fill a gap in his knowledge, and isn't prepared for automated robots who see Charley as a biological hazard requiring elimination, nor a shadowy race who turn off the lights and steal people's eyes.

One of the scariest parts of Embrace the Darkness is its central ideas and concepts. Where, for example, The Chimes of Midnight was unnerving and creepy, Embrace the Darkness is actually quite horrifying; the cliffhanger to the first episode, for instance, is eerie and tragic and harrowing. Briggs has taken the basic 'fear of the dark' concept, mixed in some body horror and an atmopshere of claustraphobic tension, and created something which is really very chilling.

The storyline is then boosted hugely by the sound design, which is really what makes the story work. There are frightening alien voices whispering in the darkness, the ROSM robots have a harsh metallic voice which is scarily intimidating and inhuman, and a sparingly-used meandering score reinforces the dark mood of the piece. With much of the story set in darkness, sound is more important than ever - and the sound design is perfect, making Embrace the Darkness one of the most evocative and affecting plays yet.

Paul McGann, in the title role, sounds somewhat disinterested and melancholy in this play. The Doctor frequently lacks his usual vitality and energy, which felt unusual at first; however, as the play progresses, his more downbeat performance fits in perfectly with the darker mood of the story. India Fisher as Charley is more confident and independent than in other tales, and the guest cast all make good impressions on the listener. Nicola Boyce was the highlight for me, as the bitterly cynical Orllensa, who gets all the best lines and is loveable for her sheer hostility. Ian Brooker, as the ROSM robots, is also particularly chilling.

An inspired idea for a play, tackled brilliantly; definitely worth a listen. After the excellent Chimes of Midnight and Seasons of Fear, and now Embrace the Darkness, this season of stories is incredibly strong so far.