Doctor Who: The Ravelli Conspiracy by Robert Khan

Doctor Who: The Ravelli Conspiracy Reviews

• 
  ArwendeLuhtiene

  Review also on Blogger (more quotes there):
  http://aeternalswirlingfight.blogspot...
  
  A story with the First Doctor, Vicki and Steven, who find themselves in early 16th Century Italy embroiled in intrigues featuring Giuliano de Medici, his brother Pope Leo X, and Niccolo Machiavelli. More engaging than I expected - I quite enjoyed this historical adventure :) And while I initially thought Peter Purves (Steven)'s impersonation of the Doctor's voice to be a bit meh at first, it grew up on me as the episode wore on. Also, female director (yay representation!).
  
  +1 Ethics and anti-violence - When blackmailed into poisoning Giuliano de Medici, Steven refuses to kill anyone. The Doctor and Vicki also try to stop the political intrigues and the murderous intent of the Medici ruler, and reach non-violent solutions (with varying degrees of success).
  
  Steven: "You don't care who's hurt as long as you put the right people in charge. What happens when they decide they like power a little too much? Trust me, they'll soon realize the best way to keep it is by slaughtering a few more enemies."
  
  +-1 Social criticism themes (about political intrigues, the religion institution, tyrannical rulers,...). However, the figure of Pope Leo X, while criticized in some ways, is also idealized in others, with the plot choosing to mainly criticize the tyrannical and violence-friendly Giuliano de Medici in comparison to his more 'reasonable and learned' pope brother. Pope Leo's corruption is also highlighted during the plot, but he's mainly shown in a rather sympathetic light :S
  
  Steven: "So there's nothing in this period we need to watch out for?"
  The Doctor: "Oh, there's a little backstabbing, I suppose. Some plots, the odd civil war, torture, religious persecution...And the ever-constant threat of violence and damnation should we be foolish enough to criticize the current religious orthodoxy, huh!"
  Steven: "Right. Then perhaps we should go." (xD)
  
  Some themes which can be discussed from a feminist viewpoint are addressed, such as -
  
  -The way Machiavelli uses servant Carla (who is in love with him and also bears grudges against the Medici) for his own political schemes is criticized. Machiavelli is not seen in a very good light in general, backstabbing the TARDIS team in various ways in 'machiavellian' style - maybe a cliché, but I'm all for viewing historical figures who spent quite a lot of their time getting drunk and using women in a non-positive, non-idealized light. He was also a pretty sexist dude, so hell yeah, go criticize him, Big Finish.
  
  The Doctor clearly has not great liking of Machiavelli:
  Machiavelli: "Have you ever considered that good ends may sometimes justify brutish means?"
  The Doctor: "And does this theory form part of your treaties, huh?"
  
  -The way Popes used to use women as their 'consorts' for physical and emotional companionship is also addressed, with people assuming Vicki became Pope Leo X's 'companion' because of her interactions with him (which is not the case here, Pope Leo X clearly insinuating he's gay - although this being the Church, pederasty is the word :/). But even though Vicki's fortunately not a target of unwanted 'affections', she's still treated in a very entitled way, demanding she entertain him with poetry and companionship (he basically tells her that unless she has something interesting to entertain him with, he will not protect her from her torture-friendly brother :S), and asking her to leave her companions and travel with him in order to offer him advice (at least he acknowledges her intelligence? Still, entitled). And as usual, women have to gain favour and 'power' by complying to this kind of male entitlement behaviour (Carla later also has to use her 'feminine wiles' and declare she's hopelessly in love with him in order to take back the TARDIS key while he's distracted with his inflated ego).
  
  Also, let's note how men - even members of the Catholic Church - come to no harm if they go a-dallying with as many women as they like, while for women their everything depended on their 'reputation' on that respect. Here with a bonus of heteronormativity (although I'm not keen to defend the Church's homosexual pederasty, of course):
  
  Carla: "Every Pope needs a consort. And this Pope especially needs a consort, given the rumours."
  Vicki: "But I'm not his consort!"
  Carla: "Have it your way. And at least you can be sure that he won't, not with you anyway."
  
  (About Pope Leo Xs sexuality - this would be a good historical LGBT+ example in order to get narrow-minded religious people tearing at their hair (xD) if he hadn't taken advantage of young men in the usual pedophilic way the Church has going on :S (cf Wikipedia, "the pope's familiar banter with his chamberlains – handsome young men from noble families – and the advantage he was said to take of them" Not only age gaps, but power imbalances stemming from class differences and servants vs their lords as well - this happens *a lot* with female servants and handmaids). So not super keen to idealize or exalt that issue much, to be honest).
  
  -Other issue that is tackled in a positive way is the patronizing way in which the Medici brothers treat Vicki (who is way smarter than both of them and uses their entitled sexist mindset in her favour more than once). Bonus points for Vicki demanding to be taken seriously and not to be called 'child' (chided, they end up resorting to 'person' a couple of times xD :D).
  
  Pope Leo X: "I will write a letter for this child-"
  Vicki (admonishing voice): "I'm not a child!"
  Pope Leo X: "This...person" (:D xD)
  
  +1 Vicki's plot and actions are proactive throughout the story. She finds herself having to take part in the political intrigues between the Medici brothers and using her favourable relationship with Pope Leo X in order to try to free her companions from prison and get back the TARDIS key (Pope Leo being of an artistic disposition, he thinks the TARDIS is 'Greek art' and wants to take it with him xD). Steven and the Doctor have also good moments (one highlight is the Doctor impersonating a textile merchant and calling the Pope 'my dear chap' and trying to convince him that the TARDIS is not a valuable Greek piece of art xD), but I found Vicki to be the highlight of the audio adventure - Badass, smart, assertive and proactive female companions ftw :D!
  
  Look how smart and capable Vicki is ^^ <3:
  Steven: "Oh, that's just brilliant! Trapped again!"
  The Doctor: "And with Vicki in here with us, we've no possible means of escape!"
  Vicki: "Well...I wouldn't go that far!"
  Steven: "Eh? What are you talking about, Vicki? We're as trapped as we've ever been!"
  Vicki: "We're not! I've got these keys!"
  The Doctor: "Hah! Where did you get those, child?"
  Vicki: "If didn't know if I could trust Carla, so when I saw the guard at the door I said, better safe than sorry - I gave him a big hug and grabbed the keys off his belt. (...) There you go! We're free!"
  Bonus line of Steven being 100% done xD: "Vicki, we're in the subterranean cells of a 16th Century Medieval gangster with no access to the TARDIS! It's not exactly what I'd call 'free'!"
  
  +-1 There are not many female characters in this story - Vicki and Carla are the only ones. They do have some scenes talking together and forming an alliance in order to get the TARDIS key back.
  
  +-1 Carla is initially described as wanting revenge against the Medici and not caring if other people get hurt in the process (which Steven criticizes her for), and backstabs both Steve and later Vicki thoughout the plot. However, she is seen in a more sympathetic light when Machiavelli is described using her by exploiting her grudge against the Medici, as well as the intense crush she has on him (problematic relationship with emotional dependence issues - "I have nothing left"; "I will only be satisfied when he's dead"). She ends up as the Pope's companion, so she definitely deserves better :S
• 
  Ellen Schoener

  Loved this!
  Very intricate plot with betrayal and counter betrayal and very clever thought out and executed.
  There is also some humor among all these assassination attempts and plotting.
  Very fun historical.
  Performances also were quite good.
• 
  Jamie Revell

  The Early Adventures series returns to series three of the TV show, with Peter Purves (Steven) now joining Maureen O'Brien (Vicki) as co-narrator, and also voicing the Doctor.
  
  This is a straight historical, of a form often seen in the TV show at the time, where the Doctor and companions become separated from the TARDIS and then become involved in various other events on their way to regaining access to it. This takes place over a shorter period of time than most of those did, lacking a lengthly sojourn, but in other respects, is quite true to the formula.
  
  Here, the TARDIS arrives in early 16th century Florence, and the main characters soon become separated from one other, giving each of them their own story. As the title indicates, the story is about a conspiracy, the sort of complex plotting that the Italian nobles of the time were notorious for. It's also a celebrity historical, of sorts, featuring three real-life figures (one of whom, admittedly, is fairly obscure). Of these, Pope Leo X is particularly well-written, benevolent in comparison with his contemporaries, but clearly not a 'good guy', either.
  
  And Machiavelli, of course, is suitably... machiavellian.
  
  The story is mostly serious, but there are some light-hearted moments here and there, and, while there are also some darker elements involving threats of torture and the like, it's more an exciting adventure than a grim and gritty tale. The plot is reasonably complex, with plenty of twists and turns - largely courtesy of Machiavelli - although the two-hour length means that it isn't rushed, and they aren't difficult to follow. Vicki also gets some good writing here, being more assertive and independent than she generally was on screen.
• 
  Danny Welch

  I'll be the first to admit I wasn't looking forward to The Ravelli Conspiracy and arguably it was because I wasn't the biggest fan of the cover unlike many people but luckily I needn't have worried because this was something very special indeed!
  
  The 1st Doctor, Steven and Vicki arrive in Florence, Italy 1514 when they are arrested but there's a conspiracy at hand one there about to be a part of one to kill the brother of Pope Leo X. Can The Doctor prevent such a tragedy or has history already decided for him?
  
  This was an incredible pure historical that was a lot of fun and quite intense at times, it also has few moments of comedy which made me chuckle, it sounds like everyone had so much bringing it to life and the cast do a brilliant job as well as the director Lisa Bowerman and of course the magnificent sound design provided as usual by Toby Hrycek-Robinson. Robert Kahan and Tom Salinsky have written an incredible story that I will love to listen to again in the future! 10/10
  
  
• 
  Maj

  Ah, I love pure historicals!
  
  The Italian Renaissance period in general....the Medicis, the Borgias. Not a time I'd like to live in, but sure a great period to immerse oneself in via fiction.
  
  And I love Machiavelli (who didn't seem to be very machiavellian IRL, though he sure loved to drink & shag according to
  Machiavelli: A Man Misunderstood).
  
  Of course, this being Who, things got simplified, humour was added and one definitely needs to suspend belief here and there. But it works! So much fun to listen to and plenty of twists and turns to keep things suitably exciting.
  
  I'd say for most Whovians with love for the Hartnell era this story should rate 4/5, add a bonus point if you love history but are not anal about it. ;)
• 
  Debra Cook

  The Doctor, Vicky and Stephen land in the time of Pope Leo the tenth.
• 
  Peer Lenné

  Ein Historical nach dem üblichen Muster mit gutem Humor, wenn auch nicht ganz so albern wie zum Beispiel The Romans. Trotzdem sehr unterhaltsam und mit interessanten, historischen Figuren. 
• 
  Luiz Santiago

  3
• 
  Steven

  1 of the better Dr. Who historical stories set in time of Machiavelli and the Medicis.