The first proper Big Finish audio drama is a solid, if mostly simple, pseudo-historical adventure with great production values.

Story: 7

The story bears some resemblance to The Unquiet Dead (2005), also by Mark Gatiss.

The dialogue rather effectively sets the rime and place and it feels realistic.

The central mystery is set up pretty quickly but the middle part of the story stands still for a while when it barely presents us with new information.

In a way the story is structured much like a modern Doctor Who story, in its brisk pace; in other ways, it seems closer to a classic one, with the companion and the Doctor going on separate adventures.

There are some confusing parts, mainly the ending, which I really couldn't get a hang of.

Acting: 11

I love the actor who portrays Nicholas Valentine. He sounds very sinister. Then he gets a child eagerness in the final episode. He's very memorable.

The Hanna actress becomes very good in the final episode. Her father is lovely throughout, I loved him.

David Walliams and Mark Gatiss play their parts so well that I didn't even recognizer it was them.

The Doctor: 7

The Doctor together with Turlough in this story reminds me of Two and Jamie together. They have that friendly banter going on.

The Companions: 8

Turlough is part Jamie, part Steven, doing some incredibly stupid things but working well with the Doctor.

Hanna is a character who goes from pretty boring to a progressive female heroine.

The Monster/Villain: 10

Valentine is a wonderfully megalomaniac Villain, much of a mystery but also just a simple psychopath on the loose.

Production: 8

The incidental music puts a very atmospheric touch onto the story.

The direction keeps things well together and helps give the story the period feel.

Pacing: 9

This is a very swift story. It drags slightly in the third episode, but other than that it has a good flow to it.

Atmosphere: 7

There's a sinister atmosphere to most f the story, but it's also pretty lighthearted. The climax lack some. If the intensity it could have had.

The music, the dialogue and the soundscape give the story a period feel, so it feels like you're taken back to 1702.

Impact: 10

This story should be seen as the proper introduction to Big Finish's monthly range, featuring just one Doctor and the first returning television companion.

Replay Value: 7

This is a brisk and fun pseudo-historical with sinister elements. Suitable for fans of New Who, and well worth a replay or two.

Random Observations:

There's a line in The Unquiet Dead that directly references this story.

Score: 84/120 ( )

A delightful, fop-filled historical set at the turn of the 18th century. Turlough's side adventure with a local is especially fun. ( )

There was nothing very special about Phantasmagoria, except that it shared a plot twist with The Stones of Blood and I thought got away with it better. The soundscape of London was quite nicely done, though the writers seemed confused about who Queen Anne's father was (making me wonder for a bit if this was supposed to be some parallel universe; but no, it was just a mistake). Since I was never a huge fan of Turlough, his presence here didn't really excite me. ( )