A Journey Of A Thousand Eons...: 36.2.3 Behind The Mask (Domain of the Voord Episode Three, Big Finish, 2014)

Andrew Smith continues to seriously impress with this episode.  It's obvious that one of the main intentions of Smith is to flesh out villains who were visually intriguing--the Tokusatsu feel of their appearance still appeals to me--but were near ciphers save 'we're aquatic and we're Eeeeevil.'  In this episode, we're given insight into the totalitarian, assimilative culture of the Voord.

Suspecting that Barbara and The Doctor are still alive due to something Nebrin says, Susan and Ian surrender themselves to the Voord.  As the Overlord Tarlak arrive to make sure Predora City is in order, Nebrin attempts to persuade Susan to join them by donning the black outfit and literally becoming a Voord--as Pan Vexel does in a rather unnerving public induction ceremony.  Ian, meanwhile, is put to work on the strange construct off the coast of the city only to be saved by the resistance.  Upset that Susan won't don the Voord helmet--it turns out that the artifact bonds with the wearer on a genetic level, melding to his/her flesh and telepathically bonding him to all other Voords--she is thrown into the slave pens...and discovers that her suspicions are partially right.

This is one amazing story.  I feel that the Voord are a legitimate threat in this story, and not some guys in monster suits.  I am intrigued by this race and want to know more about them.  I am really pleased with the cast--I did not realize that Andrews Bone and Dickens play both human and Voord characters until I looked them up.  And the sound design and score by Toby Hrycek-Robinson simply captures the feel of a late first season episode.

I cannot wait to see how this all wraps up!