Doctor Who exacts Vengeance on Varos

The latest Doctor Who Special Edition DVD is Vengeance on Varos. Part of the 22nd season, this two-part serial originally aired in January 1985. The Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) travel to the planet Varos in search of a rare ore they need to properly run the TARDIS. There, they encounter the evil Sil (Nabil Shaban), who is trying to extort the planet for the mineral, not afraid to hurt or kill those who get in his way.

Vengeance on Varos has some very funny parts. In the beginning, when the Doctor is having trouble fixing the TARDIS, his exchange with Peri demonstrates why Doctor Who is so beloved. But mostly, it is a serious tale of darkness and manipulation.

Political machinations and corruption are nothing new. Yet, they remain a basis for many a story, including a number of television shows that have aired this year. Vengeance on Varos is a great example of how this genre can be done correctly, even if the villain is so evil as to be a bit cartoonish at times.

This serial also touches on execution and punishment as entertainment. On the beleaguered Varos, where the population is starving, a rebel leader named Jondar (Jason Connery, Robin of Sherwood is tortured, and this process is broadcast on television. Violence can distract from problems and diffuse tensions, which could be part of why the masses haven't risen up. But it also is a horrendous thing to have as a part of life, something viewers complained about after this episode aired.

There are scenes in Vengeance on Varos featuring two natives named Arak (Stephen Yardley, Howards' Way) and Etta (Sheila Reid, Benidorm). They are memorable because they are the embodiment of the public, and have grown bored with watching the torture. This not only puts a face on those suffering, but it also reveals a desensitization which is almost as disturbing as what Sil is doing.

Etta and Arak are also cool because they never enter into the main story directly, nor interact with the principal characters. There aren't many shows that would present such an isolated, disconnected plot from the whole, and the uniqueness of this device makes the serial all the better for its inclusion.

The only plot hole that seems obvious is why, when Peri's transformation is interrupted, is she restored to her normal self? Shouldn't she be partially turned into something else? The mechanics of this particular machine aren't very clear, and what is shown doesn't really make sense.

Vengeance on Varos is a great example of what could be a rote Doctor Who adventure with enough charm and originality added to it to make it something special. This is what the show does at its best, and it makes for a very enjoyable couple of hours.

Because this is a special edition, the list of rich extras is quite long. The audio commentary provides the uncommon treat of including Baker, Bryant, and Shaban, the three stars of the serial. There are extended and deleted scenes, outtakes, a photo gallery, trailers, and PDF materials. Fans can also listen to an isolated music score in the original mono sound, or in 5.1 surround. Production notes can optionally come up as subtitles.

"The Idiot's Lantern" examines how the narrative of Doctor Who interacts with the medium of television. "Nice or Nasty?" is a thirty minute making of, and there's an additional four minute featurette looking behind the scenes. A BBC News blurb covering Colin Baker's casting as the Doctor is present, as is a thirteen minute look at the Sixth Doctor and a five minute interview with Baker.

As if all of that isn't enough, there's a Saturday Superstore segment featuring Baker, Bryant, and someone else (the packaging says it's a surprise guest, so I won't spoil it). "French & Saunders" is a comedy sketch done on the set of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Vengeance on Varos Special Edition is a prime release featuring a terrific serial and tons of icing on the cake for Doctor Who fans. It is available on DVD now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review Doctor Who Vegeance on Varos Special Edition on Blogcritics.

Robin of Sherwood set 2 concludes series

Robin of Sherwood Set 2, containing all thirteen episodes of the third and final series, is now on Blu-ray and DVD. When Robin of Sherwood Set 1 ends, Robin of Loxsley (Michael Praed, Timewatch. Dynasty) is dead, leaving the characters in disarray. As Set 2 begins, a new Robin, Robert of Huntingdon (Jason Connery, Shanghai Noon), emerges. This Robin is significantly different, coming from a privileged background. But he is soon tapped by Herne the Hunter (John Abineri) to take over the legendary sword, and with it, the role of Robin of the Hood. The new Robin is reluctant, until Marion (Judi Trott) is kidnapped, and he springs into action, rousing the Merry Men back together, and resuming the noble work left undone by his predecessor.

If one is a fan of Set 1, Robin of Sherwood Set 2 has many of those same great characteristics. It is largely shot outdoors, in authentic settings. The budget may not be huge, but what there is is dedicated to the special effects of the magical elements, which are stepped up in this second set. This is a show with a lot of the supernatural, and also, a lot of sword fights, which are usually executed in a seemingly realistic manner. The acting is the same high quality as Set 1, and aside for a handful of cheesy missteps, the story, as a whole, remains among the best of the genre. Robin of Sherwood, which aired in the U.S. as Robin Hood, is worthy of being remembered, and Set 2 carries on the proud traditions of Set 1.

Connery, son of Sean, takes over the mantle well. He is physically and temperamentally very different from Praed's Robin, which is a good thing. Any imitation would have fallen short, and for Robin of Sherwood to keep going with a different lead, a new nature needed to be incorporated. Connery plays the part in a manner that does not resemble the former Robin, but it is not inferior, either. He handles the dramatic and the mystical with ease, and one wonders why his career, while respectable, did not take off further after this.

Of course, many of the other great characters from the first set return. Of particular note are Will Scarlet (Ray Winstone, the fourth Indiana Jones), Nasir (Mark Ryan, the new Transformers films), and the Sheriff of Nottingham (Nickolas Grace, Brideshead Revisited). The latter is a fantastic villain, who still chills and proves a worthy antagonist three seasons in. Another bad guy with an intriguing twist is Sir Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie, Excalibur), who uncovers a startling secret. Unfortunately, Robin of Sherwood is canceled before all of the implications of that twist can be fully explored.

For a series so old, it is remarkable at how well Robin of Sherwood has been restored! The picture quality is quite good, if a bit soft, with clear colors, and images relatively sharp, considering. It isn't the same as today's releases, of course, but it is definitely one of the better touched up series of the past that surely needed a lot of work. That it looks as good as it does deserves high praise. The audio is pretty good, too. The episodes are not available in surround sound, but the stereo mixes are decent, and not distracting. Sound effects and music are blended well with dialogue, and it does not appear that anything gets lost in the output.

Robin of Sherwood Set 2 delivers on the bonus features. Nine of the thirteen episodes have audio commentary tracks, which use some of the principal actors and creative team. There are fun anecdotes, and some rich background information. There are also cast filmographies, a thirteen minute blooper reel, a photo gallery with over 400 images, three episodes with tracks available to listen to the music by itself, and a preview for the U.S. Showtime run.

That's far from all. A 76 minute documentary called "Nothing's Forgotten: The Making of Robin of Sherwood) tells a comprehensive story of the series, with many of the central acting and backstage team involved. The band Clannard, which won awards for scoring the show, gives a twelve minute interview about what they bring to the table. Performer Mark Ryan talks about the swordplay techniques used in an eight minute feature. And Esta Charkham, a producer, presents a four minute retrospective through photographs.
Robin of Sherwood Set 2 is a solid collection, well worth the purchase price. For fans of British television of the fantasy genre, this is a must-have for any comprehensive collection. Buy Robin of Sherwood Set 2 on sale now on Blu-ray and DVD.