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Doctor Who: Grand Theft Cosmos by Eddie Robson
02/08/2008 . Source: Sue Davies 
CD. pub: Big Finish ISBN: 978-1-84435-306-4. 60 minute CD. Price: £10.99 (UK). Non UK £11.50). cast: Paul McGann, Sheridan Smith, Michael Maloney, Christiger Benjamin, Colin Spaull, Sebastian Armesto, Katarina Olsson and Louise Fullerton. Buy Doctor Who: Grand Theft Cosmos in the USA - or Buy Doctor Who: Grand Theft Cosmos in the UK  check out web site www.BigFinish.com
Lucie is still travelling with the Doctor. Someone has to. She's getting to like him but plays it cool and sarky. He's such a dandy and she doesn't want her street cred ruined by association. Still they get some good holidays, this time in the nineteenth century. They think they might enjoy the scenic tour offered by the Swedish electric railway but just as mud always sticks to your wellies, Lucie will always be trying to scrape off the unexpected.
A familiar face stops Lucie in her train tracks and before you can say, 'Great Train Robbery', the hunt is on for the thieves. The Headhunter and Karen are on the loose in time and space. Karen had previously singled out by the Time Lords as a potential scary dictator so it's interesting to hear her character developing as being thick as two burning matchsticks.
It's lucky that Lucie lives up to a challenge and soon there is a little light drinking, flirting and a whoppingly large galactic mystery to solve. Again. Well, holidays are for people who don't enjoy their work.
This tongue-in-cheek homage to the heist movie works well with plenty of quick exits and a satisfying mystery to be unfolded. Dialogue between all the protagonists is always witty and light. Between Lucie and the Doctor, it reflects the acerbic and very modern character of Lucie and the slightly old-fashioned the Eighth Doctor. Now after listening to so may of these adventures it is easy to highlight the differences between them and the re-worked TV show.
One of the main differences is that this feels very lightweight compared to the new version. Having watched the finale of the latest TV series, I may be slightly biased at this point. It's not easy having your heart ripped out at the end of your favourite show.
The Eighth Doctor works well with Lucie as comic relief but even introducing the Daleks doesn't seem to crack this frothy veneer one of the problems is building up the character in the short episodes. I think it is time for something darker again, give us some major angst. I haven't had my guts wrenched out by one of these stories yet but I would be willing to go down that route.
The CD extras are very revealing including the fact that Lucie and the Doctor recorded this on different days! The interviews with the writer Eddie Robson and script editor Alan Barnes are a good insight into how the stories are pitched, put together and wrestled with. You'll also find out why the setting is Sweden. Eddie Robson did 'Human Resources' for Season One so he has brought in the Headhunter to mix it with the Doctor again. There is a good rundown of the previous season including some excellent sound bites with the marvellous Bernard Cribbins. There is also a look ahead to what's coming in this season.
Overall, this is a light piece of fluff with no deep, dark brooding Doctor to get in the way. I would like to hear a more broody McGann though. Sometimes I think this incarnation needs some depth. I seem to recall there was more soul-searching when Charley Pollard was his assistant.
Comedy episodes are fun but it works better when it underlines the tragedy of the lonely traveller. Sometimes this one feels too triumphalist and perhaps we need to dig down into the depths for some gut-wrenching drama.
Sue Davies
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