Big Finish – Torchwood Death in Venice Review

Way back in 2010, Russell T Davies added a few lines closing a Sarah Jane Adventure “Death of the Doctor” where Sarah Jane described researching the Doctor’s former companions. Ace was now running a charity raising billions. I can’t help thinking what a clever man he was adding a little acorn like that into a story where there was already so much to savour when the 11th Doctor bounded alongside Jo Grant into Bannermen Road.

Later seeing the trailer which dropped in 2019 for the Season 26 DVD/ Blu-ray with an adult Ace at her A Charitable Earth foundation staring out of a London skyscraper waiting, looking for the Doctor I’ve always wondered who she had become so this Torchwood release intrigued me.

A Postcard from Mr Colchester

Before the main story comes a short monologue from Mr Colchester of Torchwood. He’s been a character in the Big Finish Torchwood range since 2017 but it’s the first time I’ve listened to him and what I like is how Mr Colchester becomes a voice piece from the author James Goss to comment on some of the current malaise of this world. As Colchester explains saving the world from aliens was easy in comparison to “these interesting times”. Although he is very much a world-weary protector of the Earth Colchester gets angry about it. He sees the short-sightedness of his fellow humans. The world is spinning out of control, and it frankly makes me feel more connected to the character.

I could get angry too. Incompetent or corrupt politicians, governments reversing promises to stop climate change, Brexit, pandemics, and people in poverty in a 1^st world country. Yes, the world may be going down the plughole, but Colchester still believes deep down in humanity beyond the doom and gloom. On the other side of the social commentary, I thought his exchange with the alien species the Savash hilarious. In Vibes of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Arthur Dent’s sarcasm came through with their exchanges and I love how confidently Paul Clayton sustains whether playing humour or anger Colchester’s sardonic dry tone. St John Colchester will continue to protect us because he is Torchwood!

Dorothy, it’s no longer Kansas

Spending all their time together on the run allows for some lovely moments of reflection from them on both their lives. Mr Colchester reveals Venice was his honeymoon disaster destination where there were so many things he didn’t get to do with his husband. Ace helps him to realise some of his unfulfilled wishes. For Ace, her journey’s end was to meet her friend and charitable financial benefactor, Albert. Mr Colchester describes her as naïve not realising before her business was in trouble but in reality, deep down, Ace knew it but kept moving.

Although she is far more patient as an adult and level-headed than she used to be when “a child” the Doctor being a philanthropist is hard. Ace reveals the difficulties that her figurehead role endures to get the aid where it needs to be. She always wants to save the world. She shows us through her stories and experiences the practical way that A Charitable Earth has really made a difference to normal people, but it’s been in spite of governments, and you get a sense that being in the charitable sector is an expensive business. However, she has time to reconsider that she needs to keep going.

Partners in crime

You may wonder whether this partnership would work on paper, but it does. It is really the strength of the story pairing these two characters who manage to play off each other. Dorothy still has inside her the rebellious teenager ready for a fight. Sophie Aldred knows her character intimately, so we get little breakouts of her spirited younger self interspersed with the more grown-up somewhat perplexed almost resigned Dorothy at this point. Ultimately this story is a two-hander as Ace is being protected by Mr Colchester and so by necessity, they are constantly together for most of this chase story. I would have loved to have seen this story filmed for tv as the location of Venice adds a splash of James Bond thrills as Ace gets to road-test a variety of vehicles. It’s quite pacy as a chase story and well directed by Steven Kavuma in that respect. It’s really enjoyable as Ace and Colchester keep moving and struggle to leave Venice.

I don’t think your charity wants you out of the way. I think it wants you dead.

Mr Colchester

I’m coming to that conclusion too.

Ace

The writing feels rich for both characters and Paul Clayton and Sophie Aldred rise to the script from James Goss who is also a producer for this story. Mr Colchester is the old-school military type, an immaculately dressed man, with posh impeccable taste ready to protect the Earth by any means. They are far more similar to each other than either imagine, both stubborn but able to use their brains to look out for each other at various times so it feels like an equally protective relationship.

We are really rooting for both characters to get out of every crisis as they avoid the numerous assassins after them. Ace does question what Torchwood do and whether she is really safe with him. There is a point where Mr Colchester has to do something which will upset Ace but he does it to save her life and he is man enough to apologise. I rather like that underneath he cares enough to do it.

 What Alien invasion?

The aliens in this story (spoilers! This is Torchwood after all) are effectively voiced by Safiyya Ingar. I like the sinister way she pronounces “Miss McShane” a few times and as the realisation dawns on Ace that they want to take over I was left wondering how they will be defeated. If there is a weakness to this story it is how quickly the aliens are defeated and also how it occurs. The confrontation and threat of the aliens which will destroy Dorothy’s reputation feels thrilling as a concept but two minutes later Torchwood have leapt into hero action and the aliens are just gone. We are told how they are being defeated by Mr Colchester rather than really experiencing it and that’s it, threat dismantled.

Although it is subtly pre-shadowed in the story of what will happen, I think it’s obvious there was so much enjoyment being had to play with Ace and Mr Colchester as the alien trap closes that the conclusion to the threat wasn’t really given enough development. Personally, I think 76 minutes is a perfect length for a Torchwood story for me. But don’t disappoint me after an enjoyable romp and end it with a climatic equivalent of a damp squib.

Don’t get me wrong though I loveeeed Ace and Mr Colchester in this story. I listened to the story twice. Always a good sign. I’d love to see them team up again. The streetwise Ace who appreciates the relatively simple things and wants to make the Earth a better place, teamed with the cultured yet observant Mr Colchester who enjoys the good things in life. It’s a match of opposites who have rediscovered the thrill of fighting aliens together. Pass me another canape but not the salmon one as they’ve overdone the dill!

This story is available to buy here. Have you listened to Big Finish Death in Venice? Post your thoughts here, on the Big Blue Box Podcast Discord Server or on Twitter. Let’s talk.