Power Cell review [Matt Fitton]

Osgood and Captain Josh Carter are sent to investigate the disappearance of a UNIT scientist.

Meanwhile, alien technology has fallen into the hands of Lyme Industries, and Kate Stewart can't persuade the company’s CEO, Felicity Lyme, to give it back.

But UNIT find themselves fighting a third battle when innocent people start to die. Who are the mysterious assassins? And what does Felicity Lyme want with top secret alien technology?

When and Where: Osgood has met the Eleventh Doctor, placing this after The Day of the Doctor. Colonel Shindi is still recuperating from being shot in Armageddon, so not much time has elapsed since then.

The Doctor's Case:

• We didn't learn very much about Kate or Osgood in Extinction and, whilst they were more well-rounded than on TV, they weren't properly humanised. It didn't feel like they had a life outside of what we saw on TV. Here, however, we're treated to some of this. We learn about some of Osgood's past - that she studied at King Henry's University in London and got her job after Kate found her through her relative Tom Osgood as part of her plan of making science lead in UNIT. We also see her outside of her work environment, going to a pub quiz with friends from uni and later seeing her house. She has something of a relationship with Captain Carter, but it's nice to see her with Jay Roy, with whom she has history. With Kate, we get a mention of her two children and learn that Gordon cooks, although apparently not very well.
• Felicity Lyme is a woman not unlike Matron Corfelia, Miss Kizlet or Ms Delphox, with a bit of Yvonne Hartman thrown in. She's a businesswoman with a calm and diplomatic exterior whilst managing to be a threat.

The Valeyard's Case:

• Captain Carter is still a nothing-character. Hopefully there will be time over this box set to explore him a little more. Kate too is still rather one-note and could do with some deeper characterisation. At the moment, she's just... competent. Can't we find out more about why she thinks science should lead or something?

I'll Explain Later:

• How did Osgood get the cloister bell for her ringtone?

This Reminds Me...:

• Lyme is reminiscent of Matron Corfelia (AKA Miss Foster) and Miss Kizlet.
• Osgood is wearing a bow-tie like the Eleventh Doctor.
• We saw the Moon-landing in Day of the Moon.
• Kate mentions her eldest, Gordon, who we met in Downtime.
• Osgood owns a sonic lock-pick.
• Kate mentions that Shindi is recuperating. He was shot in Armageddon.
• Kate mentions the ravens of death, first mentioned in The Power of Three.
• Osgood said that family connections were a part of how she joined UNIT. This is a reference too technical officer Tom Osgood, seen in The Daemons.
• Osgood breaks the rules and takes alien artefacts home, not unlike Owen, Tosh and Suzie in Everything Changes.

The Inquisitor's Judgement: Matt Fitton began Extinction with a bang. His opener to Shutdown isn't explosive; rather, it's a slow-burner that intriguingly sets up the plot whilst finding the time to expand on the geeky cosplayer that is Osgood. The struggle between Kate and Lyme reminds me of UNIT vs ICIS and, after seeing UNIT at full strength in the last box set, it's interesting to see it threatened. This is a very good start to this set and earns itself an A.

UNIT: The New Series - Shutdown

Armageddon (Extinction)  |  Power Cell  |  Death in Geneva