Doctor Who's latest Christmas special on Blu-ray and DVD

Christmas specials are an honored tradition in the rebooted Doctor Who franchise, and the holiday season of 2011 was no exception. Now, on Valentine's Day, comes the DVD and Blu-ray debut of that episode, "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe."

The special starts with the good Doctor (Matt Smith) fumbling around in 1938. A kindly woman named Madge (Claire Skinner, Outnumbered) helps him out. Three years later, the Doctor returns to repay that kindness.

In 1941, Madge receives word that her husband, Reg (Alexander Armstrong, The Sarah Jane Adventures), has gone missing in the war. Fearing the worst, she keeps the news from her children, Lily (Holly Earl, Casualty) and Cyril (Maurice Cole), as they travel to a relative's house, outside of threatened London, for Christmas.

The house that they stay in has a strange and very festive caretaker, who is actually, though unrecognized by them, the Doctor. Cyril goes into a glowing Christmas present, and the Doctor and Lily follow him. The trio are in a snow covered world inhabited by wooden creatures. These beings wish to escape their world, but deem the visitors too weak to help them.

In the meantime, Madge goes after her missing kids, and learns that this alien planet is about be pulverized by a mining company. She finds her children and rescues them and the wooden race. But to escape, she must think of memories of home, including the bad news about Reg, which the kids witness through her. Luckily, when they do return home, Reg is there, too, safe and sound! The Doctor leaves them their happy Christmas, and makes a visit to loved ones of his own, Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill).

Honestly, the story in "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" is a little hokey. Many of the performers hired to join this adventure have comedic backgrounds, and while Doctor Who does often incorporate humor, that is not the focus of the show. Also, there are a few things, plot-wise, that don't quite add up, and the villains don't build that much suspense.

However, those things are minor, and pale in comparison to the joy that this special brings. It is stuffed to the gills with Christmas cheer. The Doctor has always exhibited a fondness for the December holiday, and it's readily apparent that this emotion is firmly in place here. His enthusiasm is infectious, and the adventure has a magical quality often associated with this time of year. The spirit and the tone are such that the episode seems to rise above the sum of its parts, and is thoroughly enjoyable.

One reason for this is the childlike wonder present. The Doctor goes off with the kids, not with the mom, and he fits right in, personality-wise. The adventure isn't too dangerous, and safety and happy endings are almost guaranteed right from the beginning, a strength in this kind of story, rather than a weakness. The special effects and sets add to this feel-good tone, and what is left is something that tastes very good going down.
There are references to other works in this special. The most obvious, of course, is C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, from which the episode title takes its name. Both involve children traveling through portals onto winter worlds. However, Doctor Who does not get overly religious, and the focus is certainly not preachy.

There's also the joy fans of Doctor Who will get in seeing Amy and Rory again. For them, it has been two years since the Doctor faked his death and left them, though those episodes aired only a few months ago in reality. Thus, it answers the question of, will their characters ever know the truth about the Doctor's fate? It's a heartwarming reunion many will be glad to see.

The extras are quite nice, actually taking up much more time on the disc than the special itself. A prequel to the special shows just how the Doctor ends up where Madge finds him. It's short and sweet. Plus, included are three "The Best of Doctor Who" specials that aired recently: "The Best of the Doctor," "The Best of the Companions," and "The Best of the Monsters." None are particularly impressive, but will satisfy those just wishing to relive Doctor Who moments. Plus, since each is almost as long as "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" itself, it makes the price a little easier to swallow.

Also cool is a teaser for the online video game, Doctor Who Worlds in Time. It looks like a really neat way to waste some time! There are stickers and a code to unlock a reward inside the packaging, which is a good bonus.

Buying the Blu-ray over the DVD is highly recommended. After all, like any Doctor Who special, there are lots of special effects. Those sorts of things are always more enjoyable with a crystal clear picture and wonderful surround sound. It's well worth the extra couple of bucks.

Buy "The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe," on sale now.

Reggie Perrin Set 1 coming to DVD

     On July 19th, Acorn Media will release Reggie Perrin Set 1 on DVD. From original series and book creator David Nobbs, Reggie Perrin is an update by the author of a story told before both on screen and in print. Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly) assists in this newest version. However, a quick browse of Wikipedia exposes major differences between Reggie Perrin and the earlier incarnations, so whether you enjoyed the original, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, or are discovering the character for the first time, Reggie Perrin offers an enjoyable, unpredictable time.

     Reggin Perrin is a funny sitcom about a man who is dissatisfied with his life, after ten years working as Head of Disposable Razors for a grooming products company. Every day he rides the same train full of the same crowded people, and is always 27 minutes late to work, for various reasons. Once there, he deals with the same droll people and tasks. Reggie determines it is time to attempt to do something about the boredom, but his efforts begin randomly and without a plan, so they fail.

     Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Demob, Kipper) stars as the titular character, and, as usual, he is brilliant. Clunes is a master of comedy, usually achieved by acting grumpily and smarmily towards everyone around him, who he considers less intelligent. They often are, but that doesn't mean they deserve his treatment of them. It's hard to pull off this superior attitude without being unlikeable, but Clunes does it again here. The entire series rises and falls on his performance, as the sole star, and he handles it more than capably. After viewing Reggie Perrin, one may want to see Clunes in anything else he chooses to do.

     The focus of series one is to introduce the characters, and set up the situation. Reggie is tired of the banality of his job, and frustrated by his co-workers. He seeks to shake things up, but doesn't quite know how. He frequently fantasizes about things he'd like to do, and those fantasy moments are shown on screen, but doesn't act on them. He considers having an affair with interested co-worker Jasmine (Lucy Liemann, Moving Wallpaper, The Bourne Ultimatum), but the love Reggie still has for his wife, Nicola (Fay Ripley, Cold Feet, Meg and Meg), proves an obstacle. Reggie soon realizes the only thing he can do is create waves at his job, which, of course, doesn't quite go according to the way he'd like it to.

     Series two kicks things up a notch, as Reggie becomes more and more involved in things he doesn't enjoy. He searches for his passion, and how to make his life better. Unfortunately, his new obsessions lead Nicola to feel lonely, and she considers straying herself with new neighbor, David (Alexander Armstrong, The Sarah Jane Adventures). There are some really interesting, deeply impacting twists, which I will not spoil, but it's a really strong series, and definitely worth watching.

     Besides Clunes, Liemann, and Ripley, the cast is supported by Reggie's employees, Anthony (Jim Howick, The Armstrong and Miller Show) and Steve (Nick Mohammed, Horne & Corden), Reggie's secretary, Vicky (Kerry Howard, Him & Her), boss Chris (Neil Stuke, The Bill), and wellness expert Sue (Susan Earl, Hardware). Although each is dim in a different way, the actors make their characters sympathetic and unique, rather than being interchangeable drones. Nicola's father, William (Geoffrey Whitehead, The Worst Week of My Life), and Reggie's mother, Marion (Wendy Craig, The Royal), assure the main man finds no peace at home, either, with their own antics.

     Set 1 may actually contain the complete run of Reggie Perrin, as no third series has been ordered as of yet, and ratings have not been high. This would be quite a shame, as not only is there some very funny material present, but the second series adds a layer of deep emotional drama to raise the level several notches. Reggie Perrin is finding its stride, and it would be gratifying to see what happens next to the character.

     The DVD release includes two discs, featuring all twelve episodes of Series 1 and Series 2, as well as a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, the lone bonus feature on the set. Reggie Perrin Set 1 will be released on July 19th. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.

     Please click here to buy Reggie Perrin Set 1 now.

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Article first published as DVD Review: Reggie Perrin Set 1 on Blogcritics.