Resistance (audio story)

Resistance was the ninth story of the third series in the Companion Chronicles range. It was produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Steve Lyons, narrated by Anneke Wills and featured the Second Doctor, Ben Jackson, Polly Wright and Jamie McCrimmon.

Though it was not the first Big Finish release to feature the vocal talents of Anneke Wills, it was the first time that she had played the character of Polly Wright since the television story The Faceless Ones in 1967. It was further notable for being a so-called "pure historical" — a story that occurred in Earth's past and involved no alien but the Doctor.

Because of its setting in 1944, one year after Polly's birth, it explored details about Polly's personal past. Amongst other things, it was the first piece of performed Doctor Who in which Polly's last name was definitively confirmed to be "Wright".

Publisher's summary
February, 1944: France is occupied by the Third Reich, the French Gestapo has an iron grip and the native resistance attempts to overthrow the invaders. On one quiet winter's night, a British plane crashes to the ground, leaving a flying officer desperate to escape via the evasion lines.

Separated from the TARDIS, Ben and Jamie, the Doctor and Polly find themselves with enemies on all sides. Trapped in one of the darkest times in history, Polly discovers that humanity can be just as dangerous as any threat from outer space. She resolves to make a difference — even if it means leaving the Doctor forever...

Part one
to be added

Part two
to be added

Cast

 * Polly Wright - Anneke Wills
 * The Pilot - John Sackville

Worldbuilding

 * Polly would almost rather face the Daleks and the Cybermen than confront the evils on her own planet — in particular, the Nazis and their allies.
 * She was only one year old when her Uncle Randolph Wright, her father's brother, was thought to be lost to a German POW camp. He was a Pilot Officer.
 * The Doctor claims there are safeguards to prevent the TARDIS landing on train tracks, implying a train would smash it to bits.
 * The Milice are essentially the French Gestapo.
 * Spain is neutral during the war.
 * The Doctor says history has a way of protecting itself.

Continuity

 * The Doctor refers to the events surrounding his recent regeneration and acknowledges Polly's faithfulness during that period, saying, "Without your help, I wouldn't be the man I am." (TV: The Power of the Daleks)
 * The Eighth Doctor would later visit Vichy France in the company of Lucie Miller. (AUDIO: The Scapegoat)
 * Polly mentions the Cybermen, whom she encountered in the Snowcap in Antarctica in December 1986, shortly before the Doctor's regeneration, (TV: The Tenth Planet) and the Daleks, whom she encountered immediately after. (TV: The Power of the Daleks)
 * The Doctor saves Polly after taking a quick peek at the time scanner. (TV: The Moonbase)