The Sontarans celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first appearance in Doctor Who in 2024, so what better way to celebrate than to finally, properly explore their war with the Rutans?

As the first chapter in a four part mini-series, The Battle of Giant’s Causeway tells what feels a satisfying story all on its own, albeit one where numerous threads are left tantalisingly dangling.

The Doctor (in his Eighth incarnation here, played as ever by Paul McGann), Charley (India Fisher) and chameleonic alien companion C’rizz (Conrad Westmaas) are caught in a temporal wave that drains the TARDIS and leaves them stranded in 55BC.

Discovering that they’re in Ireland, at the Giant’s Causeway, they also soon discover that they aren’t the only visitors from afar.

In fact, there’s a Legion of amnesiac Sontarans there too, who don’t seem to be simply playing at being Roman soldiers; they truly believe that they are.

And, as the title reveals, their old enemies, the shapeshifting Rutans, may also be hiding in plain sight too.

Though, as I’ve mentioned, this story does feel like a truly epic, large scale and standalone episode all on its own, it plants a great many seeds for more to be explored about what’s truly going on with this current Sontaran/Rutan conflict.

McGann proves once again why he’s one of the very best Doctors there has ever been (albeit one who was denied there chance to properly shine onscreen, having been criminally robbed of more episodes after the ‘failure’ of his TV movie), with a fantastic central performance here.

Long term Eighth Doctor companion Charley Pollard, coining the term ‘Sonturians’, is also another welcome component of the story; not that this should be surprising, seeing as India Fisher has been brilliantly portraying the courageous Edwardian adventurer for over 20 years.

We haven’t had the pleasure of having C’rizz on board the TARDIS since 2007; spoilers forbid me from telling you why, but his part in the story is perfect in logical terms, given the changes he can make to his physical appearance.

Even though this is less drastic than the overall changes the Rutans can make to their physical forms, it’s clear to see why he’s here:  to see things from the point of view of the devious, tentacled, jellyfish-esque extraterrestrials.

The setting, as well as its Sonturion and Celtic armies, provide a vivid backdrop for the central mystery, leading to an epic showdown that justifies the Sontarans vs Rutans moniker.

The sound design, as is to be expected from Big Finish, really excels in this story; as does Joe Kraemer’s score.

It’s a really strong, epic story, getting the four part mini-series off to a fantastic start; it’s definitely one I’ll be sticking with.

Especially as the second chapter sees us adventuring alongside some of my favourite characters ever in Doctor Who: the Third Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and the Brigadier.

You can buy Sontarans vs Rutans 1: The Battle of Giant’s Causeway directly from Big Finish here.