Following from Doctor Who #75: Robot...
And again, these are all wonderful DVD packages that include an audio commentary by surviving cast and crew (Elisabeth Sladen is always charming, and while Tom Baker does some of these, he's always something of a loon - I call him the UK's answer to William Shatner, if that makes any sense to you), dense production note subtitles, brand new making of documentaries and photo galleries.
Doctor Who #76: The Ark in Space (Rodney Bennett, 1975)
Starring the 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry. Purportedly where Ridely Scott got the idea for Alien, Who couldn't yet permit itself to go dark enough, so it's al lot of white corridors and aliens made of bubble pack. Still, there are some great speeches and this particular crew works well together (despite Harry being a real idiot). The DVD also includes CGI replacements for the dodgy model scenes, which is a neat option, an unused credit sequence, and an original BBC news report on Who.
Doctor Who #77: The Sontaran Experiment (Rodney Bennett, 1975)
Starring the 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry. Continuing on directly from the last story, the Sontarans return in a short 2-parter. It's a good piece of business that doesn't wear off its welcome. While I was led to believe the DVD would be "cheap", it's really isn't thanks to a fun Sontaran framing sequence on the documentary. The kind of fun bit that adds value to these releases. The bad Photoshop on the Region 1 covers continue to be a disappointment though.
Doctor Who #78: Genesis of the Daleks (David Maloney, 1975)
Starring the 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry. The Doctor goes back in time to the very origin of the Daleks to try and prevent them from ever coming into being. It features the first appearance of the Daleks' creator Davros, and while he would become something of a crutch in later stories, here he's pitch perfect. It's a strong tale about a Time Lord's responsibility to the timeline and about ethnic hatred. The DVD further includes a documentary on the Daleks, and a Blue Peter moment with a Dalek collection.
Doctor Who #82: Pyramids of Mars (Paddy Russell, 1975)
Starring the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane. When people as me where they should begin to sample classic Who, I usually tell them to try Pyramids of Mars. Baker and Sladen are at their strongest, and the gothic Hammer Horror direction the show took in the mid-70s is in full swing, and doing very well indeed. The effects let it down a bit in the fourth episode, but really, who can resist Sutekh's wonderful voice? This strong release is supplemented by a hilarious "where is he now?" spoof on Sutekh, deleted scenes, location visits and a documentary on the Philip Hinchcliffe era.
Doctor Who #87: The Hand of Fear (Lennie Mayne, 1976)
Starring the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane's farewell story was the very first Who I ever saw (while spending my first summer in Texas when I was 12), and then the second Who I ever saw (back in Canada some years later on PBS). A creepy hand that moves by itself, the "Eldrad MUST live" you can't get out of your head, and a very well done goodbye scene (all too rare for Doctor Who), all make this a classic. The DVD further supplies a Swap Shop interview with Tom Baker and Lis Sladen, some continuity announcements for the true completists (often included, but hardly worth mentioning) and what's become a staple on later releases: old Doctor Who Annuals and Radio Times billings in .pdf format.
But what did YOU think? Next: Doctor Who: The Robots of Death to City of Death...
And again, these are all wonderful DVD packages that include an audio commentary by surviving cast and crew (Elisabeth Sladen is always charming, and while Tom Baker does some of these, he's always something of a loon - I call him the UK's answer to William Shatner, if that makes any sense to you), dense production note subtitles, brand new making of documentaries and photo galleries.
Doctor Who #76: The Ark in Space (Rodney Bennett, 1975)Starring the 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry. Purportedly where Ridely Scott got the idea for Alien, Who couldn't yet permit itself to go dark enough, so it's al lot of white corridors and aliens made of bubble pack. Still, there are some great speeches and this particular crew works well together (despite Harry being a real idiot). The DVD also includes CGI replacements for the dodgy model scenes, which is a neat option, an unused credit sequence, and an original BBC news report on Who.
Doctor Who #77: The Sontaran Experiment (Rodney Bennett, 1975)Starring the 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry. Continuing on directly from the last story, the Sontarans return in a short 2-parter. It's a good piece of business that doesn't wear off its welcome. While I was led to believe the DVD would be "cheap", it's really isn't thanks to a fun Sontaran framing sequence on the documentary. The kind of fun bit that adds value to these releases. The bad Photoshop on the Region 1 covers continue to be a disappointment though.
Doctor Who #78: Genesis of the Daleks (David Maloney, 1975)Starring the 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry. The Doctor goes back in time to the very origin of the Daleks to try and prevent them from ever coming into being. It features the first appearance of the Daleks' creator Davros, and while he would become something of a crutch in later stories, here he's pitch perfect. It's a strong tale about a Time Lord's responsibility to the timeline and about ethnic hatred. The DVD further includes a documentary on the Daleks, and a Blue Peter moment with a Dalek collection.
Doctor Who #82: Pyramids of Mars (Paddy Russell, 1975)Starring the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane. When people as me where they should begin to sample classic Who, I usually tell them to try Pyramids of Mars. Baker and Sladen are at their strongest, and the gothic Hammer Horror direction the show took in the mid-70s is in full swing, and doing very well indeed. The effects let it down a bit in the fourth episode, but really, who can resist Sutekh's wonderful voice? This strong release is supplemented by a hilarious "where is he now?" spoof on Sutekh, deleted scenes, location visits and a documentary on the Philip Hinchcliffe era.
Doctor Who #87: The Hand of Fear (Lennie Mayne, 1976)Starring the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane's farewell story was the very first Who I ever saw (while spending my first summer in Texas when I was 12), and then the second Who I ever saw (back in Canada some years later on PBS). A creepy hand that moves by itself, the "Eldrad MUST live" you can't get out of your head, and a very well done goodbye scene (all too rare for Doctor Who), all make this a classic. The DVD further supplies a Swap Shop interview with Tom Baker and Lis Sladen, some continuity announcements for the true completists (often included, but hardly worth mentioning) and what's become a staple on later releases: old Doctor Who Annuals and Radio Times billings in .pdf format.
But what did YOU think? Next: Doctor Who: The Robots of Death to City of Death...
Comments
I've seen all these episodes (multiple times) on TV over the years. But never bought them.
I always hesitate to buy because I know once I do, that I'd want to get them all.
I'd rather finish Leela's first season with Face of Evil, to tell you the truth.