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If The Genocide Machine was a damp squib, then Red Dawn is the soggy match that fails to light it. Coming hot on the heels of the delightful The Marian Conspiracy, this eighth installment in Big Finish’s main range is a masterclass in how to squander potential.
The premise is straightforward: the Fifth Doctor and Peri land on Mars and encounter NASA’s first manned mission to the Red Planet. Naturally, they stumble upon a tomb of Ice Warriors who, upon awakening, engage in a series of honor-bound dialogues that make Klingon rituals seem brisk. The Ice Warriors’ code of honor is so overemphasized that it becomes a parody of itself, dragging the narrative into a quagmire of repetitive rhetoric.
The human characters fare no better. Paul Webster, the supposed antagonist, is a caricature of corporate greed, lacking depth or nuance. His plan to exploit the Ice Warriors for genetic experimentation is as uninspired as it is predictable. Tanya Webster, his half-human, half-Ice Warrior sister, is introduced with a hint of intrigue but is ultimately underutilized, her unique heritage serving as little more than a plot footnote.
Peri finds herself in a perilous situation aboard a damaged landing module, but any tension is undermined by the story’s sluggish pacing and lack of stakes. The Doctor, meanwhile, spends much of the runtime as a passive observer, offering commentary rather than action. Even the revelation of the Ice Warriors’ ancestral hero, Izdaal, fails to inject excitement, serving instead as a vehicle for more ponderous exposition.
The production itself is competent, with sound design that effectively conveys the Martian environment. However, the Ice Warriors’ sibilant speech patterns, while faithful to their television portrayals, become grating over extended periods. The score attempts to evoke a sense of grandeur but often feels mismatched with the narrative’s lethargic tempo.
In a range that has shown flashes of brilliance, Red Dawn stands out for its mediocrity. It’s a story that promises much—a return of classic villains, a unique setting, and the exploration of ethical dilemmas—but delivers little beyond a tedious retread of familiar tropes. For those seeking a compelling audio adventure, this one is best left buried beneath the Martian ice.
Final Verdict:
A plodding narrative that fails to capitalize on its intriguing elements, Red Dawn is a forgettable entry in the Big Finish catalog.
0.5 out of 5 Martian snooze buttons.