| Counter-Measures / The New Counter-Measures | |
|---|---|
| Big Finish Productions audio drama | |
| Series | The Worlds of Doctor Who |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Ken Bentley |
| Produced by | David Richardson |
| Executive producer(s) | |
| Starring |
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| Music | Nicholas Briggs |
| Release date |
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Counter-Measures and The New Counter-Measures are Big Finish Productions audio play series based on the television series Doctor Who. Continuing the story of several characters from the serial Remembrance of the Daleks (1988), the British government establishes a new organization called Counter-Measures to investigate reports of advanced technology, the supernatural and alien sightings.
Counter-Measures was initially announced in April 2012, and set for release the following July. The series was announced to reunite the cast of Remembrance of the Daleks (1988), including Simon Williams as Captain Gilmore, Pamela Salem as Rachel Jensen and Karen Gledhill as Allison, as well as the inclusion of Hugh Ross as Toby Kinsella. Alastair Mackenzie was also included as Allison's boyfriend Julian.[1] The series was announced to be continuing by Doctor Who Magazine and writer Cavan Scott in December 2012.[2]
The New Counter-Measures was developed after the initial Counter-Measures range concluded, and was planned to be a "transitional period" for the titular group, combining the story of Remembrance of the Daleks with the creation of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. The series was initially released as two specials in July 2016, followed by a full series the following December, with the full cast of the original series returning.[3] The New Counter-Measures was initially announced as concluded in February 2019;[4][5] however, two further specials were announced in August 2019, set for release in April and May 2020.[6]
Games Radar reviewed the first series of Counter-Measures, commenting on the series' "political reality" and the original episode's "lack of rose-tinted nostalgia". The leads were praised on how they were able to reprise their roles from the television series, though the level of unevenness was commented on, on how some episodes featured over-used sound effects and plots of other episodes were "far-fetched"; however, the series overall was rated positively as a promising start.[7] Starburst Magazine awarded the second series 8 out of 10, approving the move from the technology that was focused on in the first series to the character-led development of the second series, especially Sir Toby.[8]
Steve Mollmann of Unreality SF reviewed the third season, and commented on how he was initially disappointed by the finale of the second series and its lead-in to the third series. Mollmann's best reviewed story was Unto the Breach, with compliments to the Cold War storyline and Hugh Ross's acting as Sir Toby. Overall, he reviewed the third series as "not Counter-Measures at its best", but that the ending of the series "promises Series 4 to be a return to form".[9] Doctor Who News reviewed the fourth series of Counter-Measures with a positive review, commenting on the new approaches to the stories in comparison to previous seasons, specifically how the stories were interlinked, as well as the character development. The site's review praised the cast as having settled into their roles by the time of the fourth series, particularly noting Hugh Ross's role.[10] David Herron from Tech Sparx favourably compared the series to Doctor Who's UNIT and Doctor Who itself, stating that contained a lot of what made Doctor Who famous "except for time travel and the alien from a hugely advanced civilization".[11]
We Are Cult's Michael Seely reviewed the first series of The New Counter-Measures, praising Big Finish's confidence with the series and compared the series to "ITC spy series", as well as noting the lack of a series arc during the series. He commented on each episode of the series with positive comments, commenting on how the narrative drove at a "cracking good pace" in the first episode, how the second episode wasn't as "jolly" as the first but still maintained an interesting setup and plot, while the third returned to London and was at first confusing but later became "[a] roller-coaster of an episode" and the best of the series, while the fourth episode closed off the series in a surprising fashion.[12] Jordan Shortman of Blogtor Who favourably compared the second series to the original series in how it created a familiar feeling of taking place closer to home. Shortman commented on the light-hearted episodes and the element of paranoia as a plot point, while also praising how the third episode was "slower paced", but still "works in some nice foreshadowing". The majority of his praise went to director Ken Bentley's direction, who brought forth the tension and best points of the actors, giving the overall series a 9 out of 10.[13]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Threshold" | Ken Bentley | Paul Finch | – | July 2012 | |
| Gilmore and Allison travel to a Bermondsey factory after reports of a missing scientist and a strange event, and it is there that they discover something that should not exist in their time. Rachel Jensen joints the Counter-Measures team to help them. | ||||||
| 2 | "Artificial Intelligence" | Ken Bentley | Matt Fitton | Julian St Stephen, Broderick | July 2012 | |
| As the Sen-Gen Facility, there has been a suicide. The group investigate, and there they find a brand new weapon from the Cold War. Gilmore reunites with an old loved one, and Rachel, still with the team, comes to understand that she cannot trust anyone. | ||||||
| 3 | "The Pelage Project" | Ken Bentley | Ian Potter | – | July 2012 | |
| The Counter-Measures travel to Pelage, a new town based around industry, and they meet with its leader, Ken Temple. But there's more to the town than meets the eye, as the team finds evidence of an alien invasion. | ||||||
| 4 | "State of Emergency" | Ken Bentley | Justin Richards | Julian St Stephen | July 2012 | |
| Beings from another dimension roam around freely, and when the government finds itself in a dire situation, Rachel, Allison and Gilmore defend the government from a seizure of power. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Manhunt" | Ken Bentley | Matt Fitton | Emma, Templeton, West | July 2013 | |
| Gilmore, the captain of the group, is at large for the charge of murder. Toby has to deal with his newest assistant, while the rest of the Counter-Measures team find themselves in the midst of an investigation of strange happenings. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Fifth Citadel" | Ken Bentley | James Goss | Templeton | July 2013 | |
| At Holborn, people are becoming chronically ill, and the Counter-Measures team come to learn that the illness is acute radiation poisoning. Gilmore and Allison take one lead on the case, while Toby and Rachel call for help from an old friend. | ||||||
| 3 | "Peshka" | Ken Bentley | Cavan Scott & Mark Wright | Shurik | July 2013 | |
| An international chess tournament is where the team find themselves in hopes for a relaxing treatment, which is not what they expected. Their situation gets out of hand when violence breaks out. | ||||||
| 4 | "Sins of the Fathers" | Ken Bentley | John Dorney | Emma, Templeton | July 2013 | |
| A cold case comes to light with a recent massacre, and poses major questions to the Counter-Measures team. Gilmore and Rachel have to take on the investigation themselves, while past events catch up with Toby and his refusal to help. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Changing of the Guard" | Ken Bentley | Matt Fitton | Templeton, Heaton | July 2014 | |
| Sir Toby finds himself and his career in danger, and he has to fight for them both, while the rest of the Counter-Measures team find themselves on a different investigation. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Concrete Cage" | Ken Bentley | Justin Richards | – | July 2014 | |
| The Counter-Measures are forced into a new investigation of strange occurrences happening at a construction site, which is putting together a city's newest apartment tower. | ||||||
| 3 | "The Forgotten Village" | Ken Bentley | Ken Bentley | – | July 2014 | |
| Allison finds herself in a serious personal dilemma, which forces the entirety of the Counter-Measures team into the same dilemma, and the whole thing becomes an assignment of extra danger. | ||||||
| 4 | "Unto the Breach" | Ken Bentley | John Dorney | Templeton | July 2014 | |
| Footage of an alien surfaces, around the Eastern Bloc, which could spell disaster when it comes to extraterrestrial contact. The Counter-Measures team go to investigate and find the alien. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "New Horizons" | Ken Bentley | Mark Wright | Templeton, Captain | July 2015 | |
| Gilmore, Allison, Rachel and Sir Toby investigate an explosion that details a monorail. The mysterious company behind the monorail work come into conflict with the government, and the Counter-Measures team begins to doubt whom to trust in the investigation. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Keep" | Ken Bentley | Ken Bentley | Templeton, Heaton, Captain, West, Broderick, Shurik | July 2015 | |
| The Keep has always been used to keep away the country's most dangerous criminals, and is used primarily by Sir Toby. An attempted prison break begins with two of the prisoners, with the rest wanting to follow suit. | ||||||
| 3 | "Rise and Shine" | Ken Bentley | John Dorney | Templeton, Heaton | July 2015 | |
| The friends of Counter-Measures have become their enemies, and the enemies of Counter-Measures have become their friends. With the end of the world looming, the team have to put aside any differences to help the future of Earth. | ||||||
| 4 | "Clean Sweep" | Ken Bentley | Matt Fitton | Heaton | July 2015 | |
| With the future of Earth settled and safe, the Counter-Measures still have to continue on. The team remains in hiding while someone stalks them and their location, they find they need to stick together to face what's coming for them. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Who Killed Toby Kinsella?" | Ken Bentley | John Dorney | Mikhail | July 2016 | |
| On Christmas 1973, the Counter-Measures team, to the public, is still in hiding, but only one of the team members is still alive. When Sir Toby is killed, his friends gather for his funeral, where they find that his life had many secrets. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Dead Don't Rise" | Ken Bentley | Ken Bentley | Mikhail | July 2016 | |
| Continuing on with Toby's death, a killer is loose and looking for revenge, while the New Counter-Measures team is formed to foil an assassination plot and take the place of the original Counter-Measures team. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Nothing to See Here" | Ken Bentley | Guy Adams | – | December 2016 | |
| The Swiss police are confused by a multitude of bank robberies, and they call for the help of the New Counter-Measures team. Issues arise when the crime continues and a member of the team finds themselves with a conflict of interest. | ||||||
| 2 | "Troubled Waters" | Ken Bentley | Ian Potter | – | December 2016 | |
| The team is set to investigate a lost submarine after it is found, to explore the details of its disappearance and its reappearance, and what happened to its crew. | ||||||
| 3 | "The Phoenix Strain" | Ken Bentley | Christopher Hatherall | – | December 2016 | |
| Around Parliament Square, tourists are being attacked by birds. Toby suspects foul play around London, and the team band together to investigate whether this plague can be stopped. | ||||||
| 4 | "A Gamble with Time" | Ken Bentley | John Dorney | Suzanne Clare | December 2016 | |
| In Monte Carlo's casinos, dangerous people are putting together dark schemes, and the team find themselves investigating a formidable foe, Lady Suzanne Clare. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Splintered Man" | Ken Bentley | Roland Moore | – | December 2017 | |
| After a scientist dies after an explosion, the team attempts to see if they can save anyone or anything. They find that they are not the only ones attempting to go through the scene, but someone else is trying to hide something. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Ship of the Sleepwalkers" | Ken Bentley | Christopher Hatherall | – | December 2017 | |
| The Counter-Measures team mysteriously find themselves on a cruise ship, having completely forgotten how or when they got there, and they come to learn that the cruise is the base for an international conspiracy. | ||||||
| 3 | "My Enemy's Enemy" | Ken Bentley | Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky | Suzanne Clare | December 2017 | |
| Lady Suzanne Clare has returned to town and is surrendering herself to the Counter-Measures team for the promise of her own safety. The team doubt her intentions, and deal with the possibility of a traitor in their midst. | ||||||
| 4 | "Time of the Intelligence" | Ken Bentley | Andy Frankham-Allen | Edward Travers, Great Intelligence | December 2017 | |
| Television broadcasts around the country are being interrupted by an unknown voice; the Great Intelligence has returned with his army of Yeti. Toby calls for help with their foe from Edward Travers. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Hollow King" | Ken Bentley | Ian Potter | – | January 2019 | |
| In Swammcombe, there have been reports of flying saucers and straight lights. Allison investigates, while the Counter-Measures team investigates a cult of disciples who are displaying straight psychiatric symptoms. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Movellan Manoeuvre" | Ken Bentley | John Dorney | Suzanne Clare, Movellans | April 2020 | |
| Lady Suzanne Clare has returned, and she's moved on from being an alien tech arms dealer, moving into regular technology that has a sinister feel and possible relations to an alien menace. | ||||||
| 3 | "The Dalek Gambit" | Ken Bentley | Roland Moore | Suzanne Clare, Movellans, Daleks | April 2020 | |
| Directly after the Movellan attack, the team finds that the Movellan's supporting scientists are being murdered. The team find that the Daleks are the murderers, and the team finds themselves in a battle between the two races, a battle where the cost is all life on Earth. | ||||||