Based on experience, and having listened to the trailer for ‘Death Match’, we began the story with a sense of trepidation.

Across everything from Merlin to Babylon 5, battle competition episodes often come off feeling rather naff and unfulfilling. Of course, this being Doctor Who in the hands of the redoubtable Matt Fitton, we are glad to say our fears were entirely unfounded.

Picking up directly from ‘Requiem for the Rocket Men’, the Doctor and K-9 are on the trial of Leela who, after parting company with the TARDIS, was promptly abducted by the Master. They are alerted to her situation by Marshall, the Rocket Man who rebelled and turned to the good, taking down his masters and catching the eye of the huntress in the process.

Using Leela as his champion, the decaying Master (Geoffrey Beevers) has assumed control of the Death Match, a venue which provides bloodthirsty combat battles for the amusement of the rich and powerful, coupled with military grade security and high end catering. Of course, hosting despots and dictators is only a part of the Master’s plan.

As ever, in the pairing of Tom Baker’s Doctor and Beevers’ Master, we are treated to a terrific battle of voices. Here they discuss each other’s point of view, taking in Freud and making allusions to Gallifrey’s Death zone.

Louise Jameson gives her all as Leela, driven into raw emotional territory that is far beyond anything offered in the character’s time on screen. Despite the gap between these tales being an obviously false departure, the story smartly lays the groundwork and creates some much needed context for Leela’s eventual departure in ‘The Invasion of Time’ as well as K-9’s willingness to follow her.

The dog himself is well served by the script too, getting to employ the upgrades previously applied to him by the Rocket Men.

The guest cast offers amusement with Susan Brown’s Kastrella, a High Abbess and the mistress of the Red Knight, whose personal agenda is full of surprises. The Master seems to enjoy her attention and they are a monstrously well-matched pair.

Although billed as two separate adventures, and they can be listened to as such, ‘Requiem for the Rocket Men’ and ‘Death Match’ work effectively as a smart four-parter with a deft change of location at the mid-way point.

Extras: Just over three minutes of interviews with cast and crew, with an extended version available for download from the Big Finish website.

Released in April 2015 by Big Finish.

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