Review by Ian McArdell
Star Cops is now, unbelievably, three series into its audio revival – not too shabby for a show which only managed one television run during the summer of 1987.
Winning a small but devoted fanbase, the show sprang from the mind of the late Doctor Who scribe and Blake’s 7 script editor Chris Boucher. He transplanted a police procedural to space, some thirty years in the future, providing clever detective stories with a sci-fi twist. No aliens, just humanity with all its foibles and failings. As the show’s lead Commander Nathan Spring is told in the series’ opener “Spacemen are ten-a-penny. What they need out there is a good copper.”
The High Frontier storyline comes to its conclusion in this box set with a trio from the show’s original television cast, David Calder (Nathan Spring), Trevor Cooper (Colin Devis) and Linda Newton (Pal Kenzy), alongside Phillip Olivier’s Paul Bailey who was created for audio. Together, the team are on the trail of an insidious organised crime gang known as The Collective, but they soon learn that their enemies are prepared to strike very close to home to thwart the investigation.
Old Flame, New Fire
The story begins with a pair of the Star Cops bound for Liverpool. Paul Bailey is heading back home to see his Mum for her birthday, while Colin Devis is on holiday. It’s not his holiday however, with leave allocations swapped – as Pal Kenzy is acting up into a more senior role – Devis is off to a health spa!
While Devis relaxes, Paul encounters an old acquaintance of sorts; Anton (Martin Mednikarov) was wrapped up in one of his undercover investigations, prior to joining the Star Cops, and they had chemistry. Meanwhile, Nathan Spring (David Calder) and Kenzy deal with supply side issues on the Moon, where cutting corners appear to have generated dangerous consequences.
Writer Alison Winter puts the focus on Paul with his previous actions, and the separation between work and personal, coming back to haunt him. She also provides great comic moments for Devis and uses the Liverpool setting to colourful effect. As the two plot strands dovetailing into a heart-breaking conclusion, Phillip Olivier is utterly terrific.
Grandma’s Footsteps
After bashing their heads against various brick firewalls, the investigation into The Collective gets a break via an acquaintance of Pal Kenzy. Anya Selby (Laura Rollins) works as a forensic accountant and has identified an address which seems to act as a front for multiple businesses – potentially a collection point to ensure the criminal organisation’s cash flow.
Meanwhile, Devis is snappy and clearly has something on his mind as he investigates a canteen worker’s suspicious injury which has caused them to return home to Earth…. And it’s only one in a series of recent ‘accidents.’
At Wolfe International, Alice Okoro (Lynsey Murrell) – the company security chief we met in the last box set – grows suspicious of the company’s mysterious accountant.
‘Grandma’s Footsteps’, by Katharine Armitage, provides an entertaining ride as we feel the threads of the investigation pull together before script editor Andrew Smith takes over to conclude the set.
Escape and Evasion
The tense ‘Escape and Evasion’ begins with the leader of The Collective in custody, but their arrest is just the first step in trying to bring them to justice; the investigation culminates in a high-stakes standoff on the Moon as a team of Custodians, led by the exacting Sanchita Varma (Nisha Nayar), arrive to escort the prisoners back to Earth.
I’m keen not to spoil anything but suffice to say that the conclusion is eminently satisfying. Doubtless there’s more enjoyment to be gained from a second listen to the whole series once you know where things are going.
In Summary
As ever, for me, the joy of Star Cops is as much in the strength of the characters as it is in intricacies of the plot. Which isn’t to say that The High Frontier is not well thought through with some clever misdirection, but with limited options in the guest cast the story necessarily leans towards the how and why-dunit as much as it does the who.
With Rakhee Thakrar’s Chief Superintendent Priya Basu temporarily written out, it was great to hear Linda Newton’s Pal Kenzy given more responsibility. Despite her dubious start on the television series, I’ve always had a soft spot for the brash, no-nonsense Aussie. For his part, Trevor Cooper continues to sparkle as Devis who is remains loveable despite his many flaws. We also saw a little of the more compassionate side of David Calder’s Commander Nathan Spring, balancing his additional Moonbase Co-ordinator duties with that of leading the team against a seemingly inexorable threat.
With exemplary production values, including Steve Foxon’s excellent sound design, Star Cops continues to entertain on audio. It’s clever, well-written drama and the director Helen Goldwyn balances the hard-hitting moments with humour and heart. I hope we’ll be hearing more from the team soon.
Star Cops: The High Frontier 2 is out now from Big Finish.
Order on CD/Download from Big Finish.
Order CD from Amazon and Forbidden Planet
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