Why Doctor Who: Redacted Was a Brilliant Addition to the Whoniverse

doctorbrick
Nov 16, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Apr 23

Doctor Who: Redacted was a breath of fresh air that I never knew I needed, what a brilliant addition to the Whoniverse it was and is. I just wanted to give it some loving as Fifteen might say. So here are a few reasons it deserves that loving I just mentioned.

Doctor Who: Redacted Is a Fresh Take on the Whoniverse

If you aren't aware, Doctor Who: Redacted is an audio drama centred around three friends - Cleo, Abby and Shawna - who run a paranormal podcast called Blue Box Files which is unknowingly following the Doctor’s adventures across time and space. What begins as light-hearted speculation quickly spirals into a high-stakes mystery as the world slowly starts to forget the Doctor ever existed.

I had never listened to an audio drama before this - no Big Finish, not a sausage. This was put on BBC Sounds so was easily accessible and more importantly, free. I had some long evening journeys for work, so I thought what the hell, let's have a listen. I was so glad I did.

By focusing on ordinary people caught up in the Doctor’s extraordinary world, Redacted shifts the narrative away from the Doctor, offering a human perspective on things. We can see how the Doctor can effect everyday lives even if they haven't met people directly.

Diverse Characters and Representation

Uh-oh, I said the diverse and representation words!

At the heart of Redacted is it's diverse cast and characters. As well as never having listened to an audio drama I'd never seen, read or heard a story with a trans character in before, certainly not a main character anyway. Here we have Cleo Proctor, a trans woman, whose story is handled with care and authenticity. Her personal struggles and identity are central to her character but are not treated as a mere plot point. Instead, her journey is woven into the story of friendship, mystery, and survival.

This representation goes beyond Cleo though. Redacted embraces LGBTQ+ voices and diverse perspectives, both within its characters and its cast. It isn't just token shit either, every character is more than just a caricature, they have depth, family issues, and lots of heart. All the characters stories are integral to the plot.

I can only assume Redacted opened up Doctor Who to an even wider audience, allowing more fans to see themselves reflected in the Universe.

I never fully understand the hate towards adding characters from different backgrounds, I say this as a straight, white male in his 40's. What difference does it make? As long as they are in a good story it really doesn't bother me. If it is written and performed by people who have lived the experience as well it is all the better for it. I don't have an issue with actors portraying something they aren't by the way, but I can see the point that is helps in the performance if they know what the character is going through.

Brilliant Storytelling and Suspense

This really had me hooked, a whole lot more than I thought I would be if I'm being honest . It was a slow-burner, just how I like it, as the reveal of the Doctor being erased slowly grew. There was humour and suspense, and the three main characters had such a great chemistry. I'll admit I had no idea of some of what some of the things they said meant, but it was a learning curve for me. Having three ordinary humans kept the whole thing grounded even as the plot delves deeper into science fiction and drama.

Expanded Whoniverse Lore

Although the Doctor is not the central figure in Redacted, the audio drama enriches the existing Whoniverse lore. Fans of the show will appreciate the clever nods to classic Doctor Who elements - from UNIT to the Doctor’s many companions. The presence of fan favourite characters like Rani Chandra from The Sarah Jane Adventures ties Redacted to the larger Whoniverse, providing continuity while also introducing new characters and stories.

The gradual erasure of the Doctor makes us ask - what would happen if the Doctor's influence disappeared? I think we'd all be in a whole heap of trouble personally!!

Audio Drama as the Perfect Medium

Audio dramas have always had a special place in Doctor Who history, with Big Finish Productions leading the charge for years. Doctor Who: Redacted continues this tradition but stands out by blending the format with a modern podcast culture. Its audio format allows listeners to imagine the action and immerse themselves in the suspense, while the podcast-within-a-podcast structure is a clever narrative device that feels uniquely contemporary.

Audio dramas can go anywhere they want, and aren't limited by a TV budget, I find that quite thrilling. Having them there talking away also makes it more intimate than watching on TV. I am so pleased with myself for taking a chance with this, I have now had the pleasure of listening to quite a few Big Finish audios and of course the second series of Redacted.

A New Era of Doctor Who Storytelling

As Doctor Who continues to evolve, it's exciting to see stories like Redacted push the boundaries of what the Whoniverse can be. It’s not just about the Doctor traveling through time and space; it’s about the people who are impacted by those journeys, even when they don't realize it.

Redacted introduced us to a whole load of new voices, each with a different story to tell about the Doctor.

In a world where the Doctor might just be a rumour, Redacted reminds us that the impact of their existence can never truly be erased.

On a side not - I would love for Juno Dawson to write an episode or two for the main show, I think that could be very interesting. I am sure it would ruffle a few feathers - but it would be all the right feathers to ruffle!

If you haven't listened to the two series of Redacted on BBC Sounds, I fully recommend it.

UPDATE - Juno is writing for the new series, how exciting!

Welcome Back to the Whoniverse Jodie and Mandip

Did you listen to Doctor Who: Redacted? Was it your first taste of audio dramas? Has it led you to Big Finish? Let me know in the comments below.