‘APOCRYPHA BIPEDIUM’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

Cressida/Vicki and William Shakespeare with the Eighth Doctor and Charley

This story is by Ian Potter and it features the Eighth Doctor and Charley. It also features William Shakespeare and Vicki. Vicki was a companion of the First Doctor at one time and she’s now called Cressida. This story follows on from the events of ‘The Myth Makers’ and I greatly enjoyed reading it.

I like how Ian Potter structures this story in being told through five narratives compiled together by a historiographic speculator. There are diary accounts by Vicki as Cressida; a diary by the Doctor; a diary by Charley; a play by Mr. Shakespeare and a report by the Time Lords themselves to Time Tots.

I enjoyed how Vicki initially assumed that she was dealing with a young version of her Doctor when meeting the Eighth Doctor. She soon suspects the Doctor is a robot created by the Daleks in ‘The Chase’ and attempts to apprehend him. The Eighth Doctor soon explains himself to Vicki in the story.

I’m assuming the William Shakespeare in this adventure is more like the one seen in ‘The Chase’ and less like the one in ‘The Kingmaker’ and ‘The Shakespeare Code’. It’s interesting to note Shakespeare has yet to write the play ‘Troilus and Cressida’ once he meets Vicki as Cressida in ancient Asia Minor.

The story’s conclusion is slightly weak, despite Shakespeare advising Vicki as Cressida for her, Troilus and their people to settle in ancient Britain. I wish the story had more time devoted to the Eighth Doctor and Vicki reuniting with each other as opposed to Shakespeare having inspiration for his play.

‘Apocrypha Bipedium’ rating – 8/10