Blu-ray Review: An Adventure in Space and Time

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Doctor Who’ – ‘An Adventure in Space and Time’ on Blogcritics.

As part of Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary celebration, BBC America aired a made-for-TV movie called An Adventure in Space and Time. This two-hour film gives us a piece of the story of the early days at the BBC when Doctor Who was first being made, with a focus on the show’s first titular star, William Hartnell (David Bradley, Harry Potter, Broadchurch), and producer Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine, Call the Midwife).

This project is a huge one to tackle. Not only does An Adventure in Space and Time reveal the origins of a legendary show, which is one of the longest-running series ever, but it also represents a bold, brave era for the network, an important tale to tell. Talk about groundbreaking, Doctor Who was the BBC’s first real attempt at science fiction and Lambert was the youngest producer at the network, the only female producer at the time. An important tale of this magnitude deserves better than this TV movie, unfortunately.

Now, let me preface my opinion by saying An Adventure in Space and Time is pretty good, definitely enjoyable. I think the acting is terrific, and I am excited to learn new things about this show and era. It is well-paced and the production looks good.

But it feels like a TV movie, rather than an epic film, not a good choice for such an iconic moment in history. Much of the story is told in small vignettes, stand-alone occurrences, rather than a cohesive narrative. Either Verity or Hartnell could easily rate their own full movie, but instead, each part is cut down so that there’s room for them both in one production. By combining them, both are under-served, without much exploration as to what Verity herself did to help the show along. Hartnell’s plot is bit more complete, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, but still, I would like a few more details, including a slower descent at the end. Not to mention, the film starts at the end then flashes back to the beginning, a tired trope that comes across as quite cheesy.

Bradley and Raine could pull off more complex versions of the roles, I’m sure. They both manage to get a lot into their parts, conveying beyond what’s on the page. We see Hartnell’s rise and fall, and what it costs him. We see Verity coming into her own. Were they given more time, or if this were made into a miniseries rather than confined to two hours, these actors could have absolutely risen to an award-bait level.

They are joined by Sacha Dhawan (Outsourced, Chuggington) as director Waris Hussein, another part that feels like it didn’t get is due. While playing a smaller role in the history, and thus confined to only a portion of the movie, Dhawan makes an impact. Sadly, he is not developed much beyond filling a vital, but small, position.

Other than those three, most of the rest of the cast are merely on the sidelines, with only a couple that sort of stand out a bit. Brian Cox’s (Bob Servant Independent, Deadwood) Sydney Newman is overblown and cartoonish, in a good way, fitting for someone of his temperament in his position. Claudia Grant seems to capture Carole Ann Ford perfectly. Lesley Manville, Jeff Rawle, Jemma Powell, and Jamie Glover all play parts that should matter, but are largely forgettable, likely more because of a lack of focus from the script than the performers themselves.

Luckily, this release is flush with extras. The very first Doctor Who serial, “An Unearthly Child,” is included in its entirety (with its own bonus features) so fans can compare the look of An Adventure in Space and Time to the actual episodes. There’s a “Making Of” narrated by Carole Ann Ford herself, as well as a featurette on William Hartnell, delete scenes, and reconstructions. Best of all (in my mind) is a comedy sketch about the creation of Doctor Who starring producer Mark Gatiss and David Walliams. These help make the set feel worth it, and as I said, the film itself isn’t bad, if you can get past the squandered potential.

An Adventure in Space and Time is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.

Death Strikes DOCTOR WHO At "The Tenth Planet"

Article first published as DVD Review: 'Doctor Who' - 'The Tenth Planet' on Blogcritics.

Recently released on DVD, The Tenth Planet is the second story in the fourth season of Doctor Who, and the final episode starring William Hartnell as The Doctor (aside from a three-Doctors special years later). Originally broadcast in October 1966, it features the very first appearance by the Cybermen, a terrifying enemy that will plague Earth for decades to come as one of the shows scariest and most frequently appearing villains.

The Cybermen look quite different in The Tenth Planet than they do in later installments. They are more fleshy, with clothing in place of being wrapped in metal, though some of the familiar elements are present. However they look, they remain a creepy race.

As the serial begins, The Doctor, Polly (Anneke Wills), and Ben (Michael Craze) land in Antarctica in the mid-1980s. At the same time as the TARDIS arrives, an Earth-like planet called Mondas also appears, heading straight towards our world. The emotionless Cybermen come from this planet and quickly take over Snowcap, a base near the South Pole, resulting in the death of Snowcap’s men aboard a probe.

The Doctor and his companions attempt to stop the Cybermen from destroying Earth and making its inhabitants like them. They soon come at odds with General Cutler (Robert Beatty, 2001: A Space Odyssey), who wants to use a very destructive means of stopping the Cybermen, even if these is massive collateral damage on Cutler’s own planet. Luckily, one of Cutler’s men, Barclay (David Dodimead, The Honey Pot), thinks the Doctor has it right and offers his assistance.

They do stop the Cybermen, of course, but at a very high cost. The Doctor, sick, soon dies in the TARDIS, his face changing to appear as another man.

Although the fourth installment of this four-part serial has been lost, the BBC has produced an animated version of it, which is combined with the existing audio recordings, finally allowing the complete story to be put out on DVD.

The disappointing part about Part Four being animated is that it includes the very first Doctor regeneration, as the First Doctor becomes the Second (Patrick Troughton). Because this is such an iconic moment of Doctor Who history, this, more than most things, is sad to lose. Now, the two-disc DVD set does include, as a bonus feature, the fourth episode with audio and stills from the VHS, which boasts a grainy video copy of this sequence, but the version shown when watching the serial itself is an animated version.

The Doctor’s departure is telegraphed throughout these episodes. Besides appearing ill, which Hartnell was in real life, the Doctor is almost completely absent from episode three. For those watching the show, as surprising as it may have been to kill of the titular lead, there had to be some hint that something bad was coming for the beloved Time Lord.

One cool thing about The Tenth Planet is the specifically designed title sequences, which only appear in this story. They are not only fitting, but highlight this serial as being very special, which it is. Although, the production of these may have been rushed, as there are a couple of misspellings in them.

There are a ton of bonus features in this DVD set. Besides the aforementioned alternate reconstruction of episode four, there’s an audio commentary with Wills and several guest actors, moderated by Toby Hadoke. PDF materials, a photo gallery, and a tenth anniversary retrospective are included. There’s a “Making Of,” a brief interview with Hartnell, and a profile of Wills. Plus, several other featurettes are present.

Doctor Who The Tenth Planet is an important entry in the Doctor Who saga, and this release is pretty satisfying, considering the circumstances.

An Adventure in Space and Time

Article first published as TV Review: 'An Adventure in Space and Time' on Blogcritics.

As part of Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary celebration, which was in full swing last week, BBC America aired a made-for-TV movie called An Adventure in Space and Time. This two-hour film takes us back to the early days at the BBC, when Doctor Who was first being made, and gives us a piece of that story, with a focus on the show’s first titular star, William Hartnell (David Bradley, Harry Potter, Broadchurch), and producer Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine, Call the Midwife).

An Adventure in Space and Time is an important tale. Not only does it reveal the origins of a legendary series which is one of the longest-running shows ever, but it also represents a bold, brave era for the network. It was the BBC’s first real attempt at science fiction. Lambert was the youngest producer there, and the only female producer at the time. Because of this, it deserves better.

I won’t say I didn’t enjoy An Adventure in Space and Time. It was actually pretty good. I thought the acting was terrific, and I was excited to learn new things about this show and era. It was well-paced and the production looked good.

But it felt like a TV movie, rather than an epic film. Much of the story was told in small vignettes, stand-alone occurrences, rather than a cohesive tale. Either Verity or Hartnell could rate their own full movie, but instead, each part is cut down so that there’s room for them both here. I felt like both were under served in this way, without much exploration as to what Verity herself did to help the show along. Hartnell’s plot is bit more complete, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, but still, I would have liked a few more details, including a slower descent at the end, and the cheesiness of starting at the end then flashing back should not have been allowed.

Bradley and Raine could pull off more complex versions of the roles, I’m sure. They both manage to get a lot into their parts, conveying beyond what’s on the page. We see Hartnell’s rise and fall, and what it costs him. We see Verity coming into her own. Were they given more time, or if this were made into a miniseries, rather than confined to two hours, these actors could have absolutely risen to an award-bait level.

They are joined by Sacha Dhawan (Outsourced, Chuggington) as director Waris Hussein. Waris is another part that feels like it didn’t get is due. While playing a smaller role in the history, and thus confined to only a portion of the movie, Dhawan makes an impact. Sadly, he is not developed much beyond filling a vital, but small, position.

Other than those three, most of the rest of the cast are merely on the sidelines, with only a couple that sort of stand out a bit. Brian Cox’s (Bob Servant Independent, Deadwood) Sydney Newman is overblown and cartoonish, in a good way, fitting for someone of his temperament in his position. Claudia Grant seems to capture Carole Ann Ford perfectly. Lesley Manville, Jeff Rawle, Jemma Powell, and Jamie Glover all play parts that should matter, but are largely forgettable, likely more because of a lack of focus from the script than the performers themselves.

I do think An Adventure in Space and Time is worth watching; as I said, I enjoyed it. I just mourn for the potential that hasn’t been reached, especially when there is never a more opportune time for a project such as this.

DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – First to Fourth’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – First to Fourth’ on Blogcritics.

In honor of Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary this year, the BBC is releasing a special on each of the eleven Doctors. Each airing is approximately half an hour of documentary about one of the Doctors, and then a full serial in which they star, making it several hours of footage for each. Recently, the First through the Fourth of these were released in a four-disc DVD set.

For fans of the modern Doctor Who, this is a real treasure trove. If you’re like me, you’ve only seen a handful of the old episodes (there are a lot of them), or perhaps none at all. This set gives you a quick overview of who each Doctor is, how the show changed with each new incarnation, and a bit about the actor who played them, making you feel somewhat informed as we approach the big anniversary event. People actually involved in the process are interviewed, giving their unique insights.

The first four were an interesting group. First came William Hartnell, whom is iconic in being the forefather to everything that came after him. At this point, the series was still in its infancy, and the writers hadn’t figured out exactly where they were going with things yet. The Doctor had a granddaughter, the only extended glimpse we get of his family and his life before the series, which seems strange. Yet, he also fought the Daleks and the Cyberman and had various companions during his tenure, establishing a basic structure that continues through today.

Then, Hartnell left the show and, rather than cancel it, someone came up with the brilliant idea that the Doctor would regenerate as a totally different person. Patrick Troughton was cast, and he sets that standard for departure in each new incarnation. Troughton didn’t play an impression of Hartnell, but he kept enough of his predecessor to make it a continuation. It’s a brilliant move that could have gone terribly wrong in hands other than those that guided it, one that has never been successfully repeated by any other series since.

After Troughton comes Jon Pertwee, who, to me, is whom I think of when I think of classic Doctor Who. Eccentric and wise, Pertwee is the caring elderly man who can also run around and be daring. He brings some of his own self to the part, including a memorable car for the Doctor to drive in. He also finds Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), perhaps the most famous of all companions, whom pops up many times over the years with several Doctors, and his long exile on Earth shifts the format of the show show for awhile.

Fourth is Tom Baker, the longest-serving Doctor. With his curly hair, loud scarf, and otherworldly personality, Baker definitely makes his mark. He serves as a transition between the first batch and the second of the older years, not quite fitting in with either group as well as the rest fit with one another, but definitely being memorable in his own right. A lot changes occur during the Baker years, especially the phasing out of UNIT, who had been quite integral to Doctor Who for awhile.

Along with the somewhat in-depth examination of each of the first four Doctors, four complete four-part serials are presented on the DVDs, just as they aired. The stories included here are “The Aztecs,” “The Tomb of the Cybermen,” “Spearhead From Space,” and “The Pyramids of Mars.” Each of these are carefully selected and are good representations of the periods from which they hail. Not exactly typical episodes, but also not too far from the norm, they are well chosen glimpses of the fine men who brought the Doctor to life and great reminders of how the show has lasted so long.

There aren’t any special features to speak of, but the introductions and interviews are themselves special features when you think about it. These discs are extras in the larger scheme of Doctor Who, the ultimate bonus inclusions in the series set.

Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – First to Fourth is available now.

Doctor Who messes with the Aztecs

Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Aztecs Special Edition on Blogcritics. 

The Aztecs, the latest Doctor Who Special Edition released to DVD by the BBC originally aired towards the end of the show's first series. The serial consists of four half-hour episodes, which aired in May and June of 1964. It is now available on a two-disc set, complete with a wealth of extras.

As The Aztecs opens, the TARDIS lands in a tomb in 15th century Mexico. Upon emerging from said tomb, Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) is mistakenly hailed as an incarnation of an ancient high priestess. Considering she knows quite a bit about this period of human history, she decides it might be best to end the Aztec's practice of human sacrifice here and now, which, in her estimation, could spare them from their eventual extinction at the hands of Spanish conquerors.

At stake in The Aztecs, are the consequences of changing of history. If presented with the opportunity, should anyone alter the present, even if it is possible to rending the world a better place? Or is it preferable to let events run their course, considering that every bad thing still contributes into civilization as it evolves.

If you're satisfied with the present, why  risk messing it up by screwing with the past? What unintended consequences could the wreak havoc with the world? Is it even possible to change events, or are certain paths predestined?

These are questions wrestled with since the idea of time travel was first explored, and certainly since the beginnings of Doctor Who nearly five decades ago. There aren't easy or certain answers, and they are still debated today.

Doctor Who does itself a service by addressing them so early on in the show's history, and in a way that viewers would find relatable, as Barbara's intentions are noble. It's intelligent storytelling, and an excellent example of what Doctor Who has to offer the genre.

The Doctor (William Hartnell) is shocked and appalled that Barbara would even consider mucking up events. His mindset and values are not well known, especially at this point in the show's run, but clearly changing history goes against his grain. This makes for some tension between the Doctor and his companion.

The Aztecs is an exciting adventure, with lots of subterfuge and danger. Ian (William Russell) is tasked with battling to the death; there is poison and betrayal. It makes for a great and entertaining batch of episodes, even while raising some important moral issues.

Besides the action and musings, though, The Aztecs still finds room for humor. Both the Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan (Carole Ann Ford), accidentally become romantically involved with locals from the time, and must try to gracefully exit the situation without destroying local custom. This combination of so many elements makes The Aztecs a very good entry, indeed.

Which isn't to say that it's perfect. The fight scenes, like many shows of this era, feel stilted and fake. The backdrops are not always convincing. But this can be chalked up to budgetary issues and the style of the era, and not a complaint directed against the show.

The DVD picture and sound are far from the best among the Doctor Who serials on the market. However, considering that it comes from the earliest days of the series, the efforts taken to restore it should be appreciated. The technical quality could definitely have been much worse, and most fans will just be delighted to get to experience this classic tale at all. Guest stars in The Aztecs include Keith Pyott (The Prisoner), John Ringham (Just Good Friends), and Ian Cullen (Emergency - Ward 10), all of whom do a fine job.

There are many, many bonus features with this set. The audio commentary track is done by Russell and Ford, accompanied by producer Verity Lambert. The expected photo gallery and PDF materials are also present, as is an optional Arabic soundtrack for episode four. Big Doctor Who fans won't want to miss the previously lost story of Galaxy 4, tacked on here with the complete episode three, only recently recovered.

There is a half hour "Making Of" as well as several short featurettes, including one on design, and one on restoring the episodes. "It's a Square World," the very first Doctor Who skit, is included, and there are specials on the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the making of the film Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 AD. And there's even more than what I've listed.

Not all of the extras are directly related to The Aztecs. It's interesting to get some history of the time period, even if its a bit baffling as to why so much Doctor Who content pertaining to other stories is included. All in all, though, The Aztecs Special Edition is a jam-packed, very satisfying set.

Doctor Who The Aztecs Special Edition is available now.

Doctor Who cowed by The Reign of Terror

Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Reign of Terror on Blogcritics.

The BBC finally released the Doctor Who eason one finale, The Reign of Terror on DVD this month. Besides Marco Polo (which is lost, but has already been released as a condensed reconstruction), this is the last serial of the first year that hadn't yet been available on disc.

The Reign of Terror begins with the Doctor (William Hartnell) attempting to take Ian (William Russell) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) home, but instead they land in France in the 18th Century, at the time of the French Revolution. It doesn't take long for our heroes to get involved in events, and instead of getting to relax, Ian and Barbara are drawn into one more predicament.

I have a lot of issues with The Reign of Terror. I understand why the Doctor and his companions would seek period clothing, to blend in, but do they have to choose garb that will incite violence against them? And then not change? Once they realize what is going on, why not just find the TARDIS and leave? Why would they consider messing with history, and tell those living in this time of things yet to come? Are the law enforcement officials so inept that the main characters can skirt around them and escape imprisonment on multiple occasions? And there seems to be a little more overacting than is usual, even for actors of the period, especially from Carole Ann Ford, who plays Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter.

I'm not sure if I just haven't watched enough of the very early episodes of Doctor Who to get a feel for what the series was like back then, or if the show was still finding its footing. Or maybe, in this instance, it's just a misstep of a serial, writing full of plot holes, and execution that doesn't really give viewers much to get invested in, which I find unusual for Doctor Who.

There is definitely a formula to the older Doctor Who serials, in which the Doctor and his friends are invariably separated; some get captured, they escape, others get captured, and this tends to happen several times before they can sort things out. Yet, usually there is a larger arc or a moral issue to ponder. I did not detect that second layer in this particular batch of episodes, only the surface, rote method of storytelling. Not to mention, in the middle of a war, there should be a level of danger and chaos, which is absent here.

I also am not thrilled with the portrayal of France. For exterior shots, we get crude sketches. There aren't any crowd scenes, despite what is going on, and it's hard to keep track of which guest characters are trustworthy or not. I understand, budget was probably a serious consideration, but it makes the tale feel more fake than it needs to be, taking us out of the story. Overall, I am underwhelmed.

That being said, I do give credit for the restoration project. The episodes themselves look dated, to be sure, as it is awfully hard to make something so old have clear picture and sound. This DVD release is grainy, though mostly consistent throughout.

But my compliments go to the animation of the two missing installments. They use the original audio tracks, or so it seems, and the animation style matches the sets, costumes, and performers better than expected. It isn't as good as watching for real, of course, but the effort to fill in the gaps and make the story still flow seamlessly is a resounding success.

I also really enjoy Hartnell in this. While the others actors are mostly forgettable, Hartnell is charming and funny, stealing most scenes, especially the ones in which he is without the other main players.

Even though The Reign of Terror is not a Special Edition, it does contain quite a few extras in the one disc set. There is a twenty-five minute Making Of featurette, in which Russell and Ford, among others, participate. A set tour of the animated recreation is present, as are galleries of both stills and drawn images. Plus, there's the usual PDF materials and audio commentary on all six episodes, the animated ones being a bit different from the originals.

All in all I can recommend this DVD because it does finish out the first season, and because there is something worth admiring in the way that the production team brings us previously lost parts of the story, even if the plot itself leaves a little something to be desired.

Doctor Who - The Reign of Terror is available now.

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Planet of Giants doesn't intimidate Doctor Who

Now available on DVD is the second season premiere of the classic Doctor Who, originally airing in the fall of 1964. Entitled Planet of Giants, the story finds the Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Ian (William Russell) finally making it back to 1960s Earth. There's just one caveat: they've all been shrunk to only 1" tall.

Yes, Planet of Giants is the inspiration for several stories that came after it in film culture, including the movie Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Our heroes encounter giant bugs and have trouble even getting around. Short distances become long journeys. They're even too small to make themselves heard by normal sized humans.

Of course, Planet of the Giants is not just about how the Doctor and his companions get around while being tiny. There is a murder that must be uncovered, as well. A man named Farrow (Frank Crawshaw) has invented a very deadly insect spray. Too deadly, it turns out (is there such a thing?). When Farrow tries to cancel the project, he is killed by Forester (Alan Tilvern, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), a guy who stands to profit greatly from the poison.

There isn't much the Doctor and his friends can do in their current state to stop Forester, or expose his heinous acts. Luckily, they aren't alone in their suspicions. A telephone operator named Hilda (Rosemary Johnson) notices something funny going on, and tells her cop husband, Bert (Fred Ferris). Forester's assistant, Smithers (Reginald Barratt) also grows wary of his boss.

On a side note, might this Smithers be the inspiration for the sidekick to evil boss Mr. Burns on The Simpsons?

Planet of the Giants does show its lack of budget or special effects technology more than many Doctor Who serials, having to rely heavily on visual tricks for its premise. The story is definitely ambitious for the resources of the time, and while it might have been slightly better made in a later era, Who should be applauded for taking on such a task.

Most of the writing is very well done, as usual. There is only one thing that bugs me, and that is how can someone be healed from an illness just by growing in size? Is the TARDIS technology really so good that it can enlarge people, but keep microscopic things inside the body tiny?

While presented as three episodes on television, Planet of the Giants was originally written and filmed in four parts. Much of what was cut were scenes for Hilda and Bert. Unfortunately, someone at the studio didn't like the lack of focus on the show's leads during that time, and so ordered episodes three and four to be edited down to a single half hour combined. The lack of insight into supporting character development is regrettable. This DVD attempts to correct that injustice, offering both episodes in full, recreated using new animation and dialogue. Eight minutes of a look behind the scenes at this process is included. For that alone, this DVD set is well worth fans' time.

There are also a lot of other features. The expected audio commentary is this time handled by Clive Doig, a vision mixer, Sonia Markham, make-up supervisor, David Tilley, floor assistant, and Brian Hodgson, special sounds creator. The discussion is moderated by Mark Ayres. There are also the typical photo gallery and PDF materials.

The set includes two interviews. One shows Carole Ann Ford in 2003 making a Doctor Who documentary. The other is Verity Lambert, from the same documentary. These aren't really fresh, but they are nice to have included if one hasn't seen them before.

Interestingly, there is also an Arabic audio option.

Despite Planet of Giants being made in the mid-'60s, the picture and sound has been restored pretty well for the digital era. It's far from perfect, of course, but it's better than many black and white releases from the same time frame. Taking into account the BBC's lack of preservation efforts in that decade, it's really remarkable that we get a quality this good.

Check out Doctor Who Planet of Giants, available 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 Planet of Giants on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who unites first three doctors in latest DVD release

The Three Doctors is a classic Doctor Who story, bringing together the first three actors to portray the infamous Time Lord in one serial. It was originally broadcast in 1972 and 1973 as the opener of Season Ten, and is the last time William Hartnell ever played the Doctor. Now, this four-part adventure has been given the Special Edition treatment, in a two-disc set packed with extras.

In The Three Doctors, the planet of the Time Lords is attacked. Desperate to save their home, the Time Lords allow the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), in his third incarnation, to break the First Law and summon his two previous versions. The First Doctor (Hartnell) is stuck in a time eddy, but is able to communicate via viewscreen. The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) comes at once to aid his fellow.

While the Doctors help UNIT HQ, which is attacked by some sort of odd-looking creatures, the First Doctor realizes that a nearby black hole is a portal to a whole different universe. The Doctors, along with their friends Jo Grant (Katy Manning), Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), Sergeant Benton (John Levene), and newcomer Dr. Tyler (Rex Robinson) go into the black hole, and arrive in an antimatter universe.

In this alternate world lives a powerful Time Lord known as Omega (Stephen Thorne), who created the supernova from which the other Time Lords draw the power for their civilization. When Omega did this, his colleagues assumed he had been killed, but really, he has been trapped in the antimatter universe ever sense. However, instead of simply asking for help now, Omega lets years of bitterness and building insanity rule him, trapping the Doctors.

Thankfully, the Doctors find a solution. It's not a nice one for Omega, as the only way he can gain the freedom he craves is through death. The Doctors give him that release, and go back to their homes, with the First and Second Doctors returning to the time in which they belong. The Third Doctor is rewarded for his efforts by the Time Lords, who restore his knowledge and the TARDIS.

There isn't always a happy ending. Omega is too far gone to save. Doctor Who doesn't shy away from the tough choices, or tone things down when the situation turns grim. This story is about a soul who was wronged, though not through any conscious decision by anyone else. Circumstances prove Omega's downfall, not betrayal, but once a mind has gone, it's nearly impossible to get it back. There isn't a true villain in this tale, but simply, a man who buckles in the face of tragedy.

Any glimpse of the society from which the Doctor comes is welcome. The titular character is generally so mysterious, and information about him is doled out in tiny portions. The Three Doctors, being an adventure with other Time Lords, reveals a lot, which is surely something fans that will gobble up eagerly.

The Three Doctors remains legendary because of the use of all three series stars up til that point. Hartnell was sadly ill when the filming was done, and thus, his turn had to be regulated to pre-recorded bits. It is the last time he ever played the character, making it all the more iconic. What a treat to capture these three men together in one story! Thank goodness it was done before Hartnell's passing.

Originally released on DVD in 2003, The Three Doctors has never been short on bonus features. The prior version has a commentary by actors Manning and Courtney, along with producer Barry Letts. There are also interviews with Troughton, Pertwee, Courtney, and many others. The PanoptiCon '93 panel is included, as is a retrospective on the first ten years of Doctor Who and an introduction to Pertwee's car. Plus, the standard photo gallery.

But the Special Edition has even more! There is a new "Making Of" featuring Manning and Throne, among others. A 14-minute defense of Doctor Who aimed at its haters is fun, though probably not directed at anyone who would buy this DVD. Then again, maybe the purpose is to arm fans with a logical argument, so perhaps it's fitting.

There is a look at the Who girls in the 1970s, and how the culture influenced their characters. A trailer for this season when it repeated in 1981 is present, as well as a trailer from 1972 for the first part of the serial. There are the PDF materials that Who fans have come to expect. Best of all, picture and sound has been remastered again, making this the clearest version of the story available.

In short, The Three Doctors is worth a re-buy, if one already has the previous release. The better quality of the recording and the additional bonuses assure that. If one doesn't own the story already, then now is the perfect time to correct that.

Doctor Who: The Three Doctors (Special Edition) is on sale now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for every Doctor Who review I've ever written. Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Three Doctors (Special Edition) on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who brings "The Sensorites" to DVD

BBC has just released the classic Doctor Who serial "The Sensorites" on DVD. This six-part tale is from season one of the series, originally airing in the summer of 1964. The Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Ian (William Russell, Harriet's Back in Town), and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill, Romeo & Juliet) find a spaceship whose inhabitants are apparently dead. Or so they think until the "dead" begin to wake up. But the ship is trapped, forced to stay in orbit of the Sense-Sphere, where the Sensorites live. This race has had a bad encounter with humans, and it's unclear whether they mean to harm the travelers. Can the Doctor broker peace?

"The Sensorites" introduces the Sensorite race, which isn't a particularly memorable one. They are a scaredy-cat species, at least as afraid of the humans as the humans are of them. They are terrified of the dark and loud noises, and quite oddly, cannot recognize members of their own race. This particular characteristic is incredibly weird, and surely not realistic. It is hard to comprehend how a culture could function when they can't tell one individual from another. This is not delved into in depth, but on the surface, at least, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

The Sensorites, despite their timidness, do still prove a threat, or at least, certain Sensorites do. Some of these aliens wish to kill the Doctor and his companions, while others just want their help in curing a disease inflicting the race. Which want which? Again, impossible to know, because no one can tell which Sensorite is which, making it easy for one in power to be replaced.

One thing that "The Sensorites" can be credited for is being the frontrunner to the rebooted Doctor Who race, the Ood. The Ood are from the Ood-Sphere, which is, apparently, in the same solar system as the Sense-Sphere. Many consider the Ood a better set of characters, but those fans should thank "The Sensorites" for laying the groundwork, which in present day has been built upon.

As much as the Doctor is the star of the series, Susan is center stage in "The Sensorites." Like the aliens, she possesses telepathic abilities, which allows her to help solve the mysteries that the group faces. She also speaks of her home planet, enriching the back story of a character not well known. Ford is up to this challenge, really making Susan quite interesting in this installment, and it's too bad that she doesn't get more focus more often.

In the end, it is discovered that the Sensorites are being poisoned by humans on the planet, who have become monsters. The offenders are stopped, and sent home to be treated for madness. It's an unexpected twist, and not one that seems particularly brilliant. There isn't really a set of clues that leads to this discovery, but rather, it's tossed in at the last minute. Slightly disappointing.

What "The Sensorites" does well is deliver a sci-fi experience. The look of the alien world is pretty, well, alien. The set builders use lots of curved lines to differentiate the architecture of the Sensorites. Being that this is made in 1964, and predates most filmed science fiction, Doctor Who really had room to play at making a new environment, and they do so very well. There is also a general level of creepiness infused in much of the adventure, owing to the slow burn unfolding of the plot, wonderfully capturing a tone of unease in this strange place.

"The Sensorites" DVD comes with some pretty great extras. Twenty-one minutes are devoted to looking into the writer of this serial, Peter R. Newman, who, strangely enough, has only one other screen credit. There is a seven minute extra examining what a Vision Mixer does, and two minutes cover how the Sensorites' voices were developed by said mixer.

The commentary track has a lot of voices on it, but it is moderated to avoid being too confusing. The performers behind Ian and Susan are present, as well as some guest stars, the director, Frank Cox, and a couple of crew members. In all, there is a wealth of information to be gleaned from these tracks. Also included is a photo gallery and PDF materials, which include some design sketches. Pretty neat.

For a serial so old, "The Sensorites" looks good. The audio and picture have been remastered, of course, and perhaps that's why it took so long to reach release. The work is fantastic, and one may be surprised at how nicely it is presented, considering.

Buy Doctor Who - "The Sensorites," available now on DVD.

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Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Sensorites on Blogcritics.