Doctor Aphra - Audio Drama Review

This is the strong female lead you’ve been looking for! Sarah Khun’s Doctor Aphra is an absolute must-listen addition to Star Wars canon. Coming into this audio drama without having read the Star Wars: Darth Vader (2015-2016) or the Doctor Aphra comic series, I was concerned that I would struggle to fully understand and appreciate certain aspects of the characters and overarching story. My fears were quickly abated as both the exhilarating tale and talented voice actors quickly swept me up into the whirlwind adventure.

A lot of recent Star Wars content, especially in regard to novels, has been focused on origin stories and narratives that bridge the gaps between the films. Some fans, including myself, find themselves wary of an oversaturation in the market for this period. Although Kuhn’s work covers a period between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, the story told was anything but redundant. While Kuhn provides allusions to material from both the Original trilogy and even the Prequels, Doctor Aphra remains entirely unique and unforgettable. Kuhn manages to achieve the perfect balance of nostalgia for the films coupled with new adventures and provocative characters. The inclusion of several familiar locations was also a nice homage to the films. As we all know, the Star Wars fandom can be heavily divided when it comes to the different era of trilogies. Doctor Aphra does a beautiful job in bridging the material in a way that is equally respectful to both. Furthermore, the use of John Williams’ musical compositions throughout the drama also provides listeners an immediate emotional connection with beloved film moments.

With much of the conflict that is coming to light in the world concerning diversity, representation and equality, the character of Chelli Lona Aphra is exactly what the doctor ordered. Star Wars usually does an acceptable job when it comes to providing audiences with diverse characters. Doctor Aphra, with her charming personality, quirky commentaries, and knack for danger will undoubtedly find herself as a long-standing fan favourite among all audiences. However, the diversity that Aphra represents to women, especially women who identify as minorities and/or LGBTQ is remarkable. People rally behind characters that they can see themselves in—whether this is on a physical or emotional level. Kuhn does a stellar job in writing an intelligent, complex, and endearing character who will resonate with diverse audiences of the Star Wars fandom.

If the riveting story alone is not enough to get audiences absolutely hooked, the incredible vocal performances will have even the most reluctant listener staying up well past their bedtime to hear this story. I cannot praise Emily Woo Zeller enough for completely bringing Doctor Aphra to life. Despite Aphra’s continual claims that she is not soft and does not express emotions, she experiences a shocking number of emotional confrontations both internal and external over the course of her adventure. Zeller commands the listener’s attention as she conveys an array of emotions that left me deeply invested in the protagonist. As soon as I saw Marc Thompson on the list of vocal performers, I knew my ears were in for a treat. As I listened I had to remind myself that I was not listening to James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. Likewise, the characters of Triple-Zero and BT-1 were as delightful as they are deadly. Sean Kenin’s portrayal of the murderous protocol droid was irresistible. The success of any audiobook, especially an audio drama is every bit as dependent on the voice actors as the actual story being told. The cast of Doctor Aphra delivered performances that elevated the story beyond my expectations—one listen will not be enough.

The writing of Sarah Kuhn and the immensely talented team of actors behind Doctor Aphra all deserve a standing ovation. Star Wars fans, regardless of their level of familiarity with the rogue archaeologist, will be singing the praises of this audio drama in the days to come.