"Moonflesh" brings together the best Fifth Doctor companion pairing into an idyllic setting alongside a series of interesting and individual characters. When I first saw the cover of this story appear on the Big Finish website I did have my doubts.
"Moonflesh" however was a brilliant listen for me. Walking home on a sunny spring evening with this compelling audio drama being played in my ears was a total joy.
"Moonflesh" is set in 1911 in a country house owned by the eccentric explorer and big game hunter Nathaniel Whitlock (Tim Bentinck) - a man obsessed with the glory of his foreign explorations, surrounding his house with tokens of his success. His daughter Phoebe (Rosanna Miles) has learned her father’s ways, but longs to experience a “proper” life. They have guests for a hunt: the wealthy, obnoxious Edwin Tremayne (Hugh Fraser) and his clumsy, foppish son Hector (Geoffrey Breton). Tremayne and Whitlock would seem to be very similar characters but due to the brilliant acting and effective script they came across as two very well rounded individual characters. Furthermore we have Whitlock’s servant Silver Crow (John Banks), a Native American, totally loyal to Whitlock but reminisces his old life through continuing his tribal rituals - rituals which would become increasingly important the further into the story we progress.
Despite having a cast of traditional stereotypes and a very simple plot, the superb writing, acting and direction make what could be a monotonous listen into a compelling story which makes me desperate to listen what happens next. I may not be the biggest Fifth Doctor fan, but this story is helping me to warm further to The Fifth Doctor.
8/10