‘NOTRE DAME DU TEMPS’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

Paris 1979 with the Seventh Doctor and in the TARDIS with the Eighth Doctor and Anji

This story is by Nick Clark and it features the Seventh and Eighth Doctors and Anji. I found this an intriguing tale, as it features an older Seventh Doctor towards the end of his life. The story also takes place during ‘City of Death’, one of my favourite ‘Doctor Who’ adventures from the Tom Baker era. 🙂

The companion who features in this story is Anji Kapoor. She’s travelled with the Eighth Doctor and Fitz in the BBC ‘Eighth Doctor Adventures’ in book form. This was my first encounter with Anji in a ‘Doctor Who’ story. I would later encounter Anji again in the Eighth Doctor book story ‘EarthWorld’.

Upon reading the story again, I don’t think it showcases Anji’s character well. Most of the time, she’s in the TARDIS and she discovers Romana’s portrait in a TARDIS library. I do appreciate this little tale has the Seventh Doctor picking up Romana’s portrait from the events of ‘City of Death’ in Paris 1979.

But it doesn’t help me to appreciate what kind of character Anji is like without having read the previous BBC ‘Eighth Doctor Adventures’ that feature her. In some respects, this story echoes Clara exploring the TARDIS in ‘Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS’. This story even predates that episode.

There’s also not much of the Eighth Doctor making an appearance in this adventure, despite him being referred to by Anji and him appearing at the story’s climax. There’s also no dialogue interaction between the Eighth Doctor and Anji in this. Overall, this ended up being overwhelming. 🙁

‘Notre Dame du Temps’ rating – 5/10