Omega

Still travelling on his own, the Doctor comes to a sector of space in the future where the story of Omega is told to tourists who gather to see the region of space where the last of the Gallifreyan time travel experiments were conducted. Here the followers of Rassilon became Time Lords. And here Omega was destroyed. Celebrated as a hero by his people until his two attempts to return to the physical universe, Omega is still shrouded in mystery with so many questions of what went on that last day still unanswered. Unanswered, that is, until he shows up as well.

Omega is the first of the "Villain Series" that Big Finish produced for their range; four were produced in total and each one pitted the Doctor against a suitable nemesis from his past. Given that he encountered him relatively recently in Arc of Infinity it is fitting that the fifth Doctor come into conflict with Omega once again. At the climax of Arc, the Doctor said he could destroy or expel Omega, and the choice he made was never really known until now; the lingering effects of the attempted bond with the Doctor have allowed Omega a residual presence in the universe; enough to influence people into obeying his will.

It's a distinct pleasure to hear the rumbling tones of Ian Collier as Omega once more; as Omega's second "incarnation" he has a bit more style about him even if he has the head of a bug. There is no ranting, no craziness, just a man who wants to find a place in the universe. Omega might well be one of the few sympathetic villains in series history; not driven to kill from being misunderstood, not just plain evil, but a man who longs for a place either side of the black hole that claimed his life millenia ago. The supporting cast work well with him, even Caroline Morris (who was once rumoured to be the new companion in a big screen film version of the show) as Omega's devoted .. finacee?

Placing the episode in the correct chronology was until recently a challenge as it clearly is set after Arc of Infinity but at a point where the Doctor is alone. No attempt is made to gloss over the lack of companions as was the case in Excelis Dawns, but the events of The Veiled Leopard make it easier to grant the Doctor the opportunity to be flying solo. I know, continuity nerd. But in a series about time travel, it's important.

NEXT EPISODE : SON OF THE DRAGON