In the second instalment of Rutans vs Sontarans, the Second Doctor and his companions are drawn into the action – but he’s not the only Doctor in the mix.
The first part of Rutans vs Sontarans took place at the beginning of the enduring conflict between the two Doctor Who foes, where the Fugitive Doctor played an unwilling part in its instigation. Now, centuries on, the Second Doctor becomes involved too….
Rendition
Tim Foley’s tale brings the Doctor, Jamie (Fraser Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbuty) to the edge of the Sontaran/Rutan war. Materialising on a hospital ship in desperate need of help, the trio find themselves assisting the vessel’s sole remaining nurse. Her patients? A group of ailing Rutans.
While we initially imagined the story’s title might refer to rendition in a legal context, perhaps in relation to a prisoner exchange, it’s actually the term’s other meaning that applies here. With these Rutans split off from the species’ gestalt, they’ve begun to express their individuality through poetry!
Tim Foley’s script is a terrific spin on a base-under-siege (in space) and entirely suited to this TARDIS team. While Zoe’s quite at home and is promptly tasked with restoring the ship’s systems, Jamie is less so and there’s good comedy mined from this disparity.
Meanwhile, the Doctor concerns himself with the ailing Rutans themselves, as well as the stern, no-nonsense Nurse Marva. This allows Michael Troughton to bring out the bumbling side of the Second Doctor’s character and it’s a delight. The story also adds a little to Jamie’s backstory as we hear of his wee brother, which Fraser Hines brings out touchingly, and it was fun to hear how disconcerted Jamie was when a Rutan copied his appearance.
Guest Cast
Of course, while Zoe is nominally the hero of the hour, an enigmatic traveller (Paul McGann) not only comes to her aid but also persuades her keep his actions secret.
In the wider cast, Lucy Scott is a delight as the stern, no-nonsense Marva who channels a certain famous nanny, while Jonathan Carley populates a cast of frustrated but deadly Sontarans. As the Rutans, Tom Alexander brings a surprising level of melancholy which put a new spin on the shapeshifters.
In Summary
‘Rendition’ is a tight little adventure concerned which wraps itself up neatly and feels authentic to the Troughton era (McGann notwithstanding). However, throwing a link back to the previous story, it also hints at the wider plot line too.
The appearance of the Eighth Doctor, who is also set to pop up in the series’ final two tales, fascinates. Is that really him, or someone using his appearance? To be fair, it’s not the first time we’ve heard the Eighth dabbling in his own past and trying to ensure his earlier self doesn’t find out.
Doctor Who – Rutans vs Sontarans: Rendition is available to download from Big Finish now.
Next Time: Grave Moon
The series continues in June 2026 with ‘Grave Moon’ by Lizzie Hopley.
The Doctor and Peri track a criminal imposter to a moon sanctuary of healing ponds, only to discover the lone Rutan the Doctor has previously met trapped in a self-made web of lies.
Experiments to rejoin the Host have forged a bond with grieving pond farmer, Ooland. As their mutual obsession tightens, so Ooland’s ponds grow more polluted and their farm cut off from what is really happening on the moon: a full-on Rutan invasion.
As the Doctor and Peri strive to free Melmoth and Ooland from each other, another Doctor is at work close by – with far-reaching plans of his own for the lone Rutan.
‘Grave Moon’ stars Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, John Banks and Paul McGann.
Doctor Who: Rutans vs Sontarans: Grave Moon is available to pre order from Big Finish now.
Catch up with our review of the first story in the series: ‘Betrayal at the House of Sontar’.