‘HUMAN KIND’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

The fifth episode of the ‘Mars’ saga in ‘Star Cops’ called Human Kind is by Helen Goldwyn. She regularly directs the ‘Star Cops’ audios for Big Finish. It’s very nice she pens an episode for a change.

I have come across Helen Goldwyn as a writer before since she wrote ‘The Taste of Death’ in ‘The Tenth Doctor Chronicles’ of ‘Doctor Who’. She also has a general grasp of the ‘Star Cops’ characters.

This is both as a director and as a writer for this episode. Helen also worked with script editor Andrew Smith a lot in crafting the second set of ‘Mars’ audios that interconnect incredibly well here.

In ‘Human Kind’, we go back in time to when Paul and Priya were attempting to escape from the LRI base on Mars in ‘Bodies of Evidence’. Apparently there was a stowaway medic on board the shuttle.

That medic is Jessica Regan as Neve O’Connell. She’s scared and on the run from her colony. When at the Barack Obama base, Neve seeks help and she soon runs into the Star Cops who can assist her.

Neve isn’t quite willing to offer the information the Star Cops need regarding the criminal activity happening at the LRI base on Mars. She wants her safety guaranteed before she can reveal information.

It transpires that Neve happens to be pregnant and is suffering a lot when coughing up blood. Nathan and the Star Cops learn more with what’s going on with the LRI and their unethical activities.

It becomes clear that Mark Elstob (who’s in the Big Finish audio revival of ‘The Prisoner’) as Byron Lachman is up to no good. This is especially when he hides something about his company’s activities.

He’s also determined to stop the Star Cops gaining a foothold on Mars. Lachman calls for a meeting of the colony leaders in an attempt to end the Star Cops’ efforts. Nathan won’t stand for this at all. 😐

It also becomes clear that Issy Van Randwyck as Barbara Holmberg isn’t the willing supporter of the Star Cops as she seems. She’s clearly in cahoots with Lachman and is becoming unhelpful to Nathan.

I wondered why Lachman and Barbara were so determined not to let the Star Cops have their stand and prove that crime prevention by the Star Cops is needed. It’s very shocking what’s been going on.

Oliver Dimsdale returns as Jean Arnaud in the episode. I like how he supports Nathan and the Star Cops in having their place on Mars, following the events that happened in ‘The New World’ episode.

Jean did try to speak for Nathan at the meeting of colony leaders when everyone else was in doubt about the Star Cops’ suitability on Mars. Unfortunately, Barbara prevented Jean to speak out here. 😦

The tension escalates when Priya Basu, who recovers from her coma, is kidnapped. Nathan can only rely on Colin, Pal and Paul to help solve the mystery. There are few people to trust on the red planet.

I liked it when Colin interacted with Neve in the episode as she bumped into him, ruining his cup of coffee. Pal and Paul also work well when they thwart a robot attacking them in a hydroponics bay. 🙂

There’s less bitter rivalry in the ‘Star Cops’ team by this point in the series. The ‘Star Cops’ team do seem to be like a family. This is a contrast compared to the TV series and the ‘Mother Earth’ audios.

Eventually, Colin, Pal and Paul with Neve’s help return to the LRI base and go underground where they rescue Priya from Mark Oosterveen as Lewis Reynolds who’s about to inject her with a syringe.

Priya does come across as a strong woman, even when she’s in a vulnerable position. More depth is given to Reynolds’ character and why he’s doing what he’s doing to experiment on people in the LRI.

There’s a final showdown between Neve and Reynolds whilst Colin, Pal and Paul rescue Priya. Neve and Reynold soon end up killing each other. Priya has to contact Nathan to tell him vital information.

Nathan is relieved to see Priya on the video screen when she makes contact with him. She tells him that the LRI are attempting to change the Mars human population with illegal genetic engineering. 😮

‘Human Kind’ is a very compelling instalment in the ‘Mars’ saga. I’m curious about what will happen next. How will the Star Cops get to thwart Byron Lachman and Barbara Holmberg’s obscene efforts?

The CD extras are as follows. At the end of ‘Human Kind’, there are behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew including David Calder, Trevor Cooper, Linda Newton, Philip Olivier, Rakhee Thakrar, Issy Van Randwyck, Mark Elstob, Oliver Dimsdale, Mark Oosterveen, writer/director Helen Goldwyn, etc.

‘Human Kind’ rating – 9/10

---

The previous episode was ‘Bodies of Evidence’ (Audio)	The next episode is ‘The Highest Ground’ (Audio)
Return to Star Cops
Return to Sci-Fi