History Recap / DoctorWhoNewAdventuresDamagedGoods

* TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers: The Capper's ([[DisproportionateRetribution pretty rubbish]]) reasons for killing off his schoolmates-turned drug cartel.
--> '''Capper:''' Neil Cotter, you still owe me 50 Quid! ''[Cotter is vaporized]'' Jamie Docherty, remember when we used to bunk off school and go shopping together? ''[Jamie is killed]'' Richie Solomon, I took a ''beating'' for you! ''[Richie is killed]'' Scott Delaney! I've been doing your girlfriend ''behind your back!'' ''[Scott is vaporized]''

* EntitledBastard: When Mrs Jericho discovers that her dying, adopted son is actually one in a pair, she decides to trade off the dying son for the healthy one. Virtually every character points out that they are ''children'', not a faulty cardigan. Unfortunately, her madness prevents her from listening.

* MundaneUtility: Gabriel's CompellingVoice is typically used to hide at a neighbour's house when his mum is angry, or to score a free car ride. His glamour also gives him small gifts from his neighbours, be it sympathy or bits of food when he's hungry.

* TitleDrop: Mrs Jericho constantly refers to her dying son as damaged goods, [[JerkAss comparing him to a faulty shirt that can be replaced at a shop.]]

This story is notable for being Creator/RussellTDavies's first major published ''Doctor Who'' story, a full decade before he re-introduced the TV series to a new audience. He also [[ApprovalOfGod happily had some input]] with a [[https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/damaged-goods-standard-edition-1109 full-cast adaptation]] by Creator/BigFinish, starring Creator/SylvesterMcCoy, Yasmin Bannerman and Travis Oliver.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Easily the darkest story by Russell T. Davies, by far. The Virgin series has pulled no punches with their releases. This story features very strong drug themes and sex, and neither really are recurring elements in the TV series.

* ShoutOut:

** Dr Greico is said to look a bit like [[Music/PetShopBoys Neil Tennant]].
* TitleDrop: Mrs Jericho constantly refers to her dying son as damaged goods, [[JerkAss comparing him to a faulty shirt that can be replaced at a shop.]]

--> '''Capper:''' Neil Cotter, you still owe me 50 Quid! ''[Cotter is vaporized]'' Jamie Docherty, remember when we used to bunk off school and go shopping together? ''[Jamie is killed]'' Richie Solomon, I took a ''beating'' for you! ''[Richie is killed]'' Scott Delaney! I've been doing your girlfriend ''[[YourCheatingHeart behind your back!]]'' ''[Scott is vaporized]''

* LighterAndSofter: The audio version, while still dark and tragic, does soften some things down a bit. The cocaine in the novel is instead renamed "smile", neither of which the Doctor takes to confront the waveform, Bev and Gabriel actually live at the end, Chris and David merely make-out rather than have sex, and Mrs. Jericho is allowed to sacrifice herself to save Gabriel/Steven from her new waveform protocols rather than being torn apart by her unborn child.

* BiTheWay: Chris, who usually has a GirlOfTheWeek, gets a Boy of the Week this time.

* MythologyGag: Near the end of the novel there's a scene where a UNIT investigator tries to figure out what happened. She's implied to be a grown up version of Marcie, the heroine of Davies' earlier SF series ''Series/DarkSeason''.

* Glamour: Gabriel has one, giving him traits of whomever looks at him in order to make them more sympathetic towards him, though it's debatable on whether he's aware of that particular gift.

--> '''Capper''': Neil Cotter, you still owe me 50 Quid! (Cotter is vaporized) Jamie Docherty, remember when we used to bunk off school and go shopping together? (Jamie is killed) Richie Solomon, I took a ''beating'' for you! (Richie is killed) Scott Delaney! I've been doing your girlfriend ''[[YourCheatingHeart behind your back!]]'' (Scott is vaporized)

** Dr. Greico is revealed to be working for Torchwood, a name the Doctor will become all to familiar with in a few incarnations.

* ArcWelding: The Big Finish adaptation is a rare trifecta between the audio, books AND TV series, done by setting a Virgin Novels story in the Big Finish universe, and replacing the plot arc of a time traveling conspiracy with Torchwood. The Last Great Time War is also alluded to, whereas it wasn't in the original book.

** LighterAndSofter: The audio version, while still dark and tragic, does soften some things down a bit. The cocaine in the novel is instead renamed "smile", neither of which the Doctor takes to confront the waveform, Bev and Gabriel actually live at the end, Chris and David merely make-out rather than have sex, and Mrs. Jericho is allowed to sacrifice herself to save Gabriel/Steven from her new waveform protocols rather than being torn apart by her unborn child.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In the audio adaptation, Dr. Greico is revealed to be working for Torchwood, a name the Doctor will become all to familiar with in a few incarnations. The N-Form is also activated from a [[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor Time-Lord based conflict in the near future]].
** It also foreshadows Torchwood's arrival to Big Finish. They were previously not allowed to use concepts from the rebooted TV series or even ''mention'' them, but if Torchwood is mentioned, that means they are now allowed to incorporate the organization into Big Finish releases. A Torchwood series was announced around the same time as the audio release of Damaged Goods.

* PragmaticAdaptation: Since this novel was in the middle of a self-contained arc featuring baddies "The Brotherhood" among other things, they were removed in favour of replacing them with concepts the modern audience would be familiar with, such as Torchwood and The Last Great Time War.