Review by Craig Byrne
Ah, old Doctor Who. You really loved that “The ____ of ____” title scheming trope, didn’t you?
BBC Video earlier this month released three classic Doctor Who stories to DVD, and being that two of them feature Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor and two of them feature Sarah Jane Smith, I’m definitely happy with that. Find the reviews below:
Starring Jon Pertwee as The Doctor with Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Story #61 – U.S. DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
When I first saw this episode, I was in a streak of watching as many episodes in chronological order as possible with my best friend. As such, following a series of mostly Earth-bound stories, this was one of my first Doctor Who experiences with The Doctor and his companion going to other planets.
And I loved it.
Sure, the Alpha Centauri with its squeaky voice and olive-looking head is ridiculous, but this episode is still one of my favorites of the Jon Pertwee era.
Modern Doctor Who fans will catch one of the guest stars of the episode “Midnight” in this episode, playing a different character – they might also notice he looks a little bit like the Second Doctor.
The Ice Warriors factor in to this story, for their first appearance in a color episode. The Doctor and Jo team is as always great. The settings – granted, some of them were small model shots – are memorable and still look really good.
Getting past the silly looking Alpha Centauri creature, this is definitely a Third Doctor story I’d recommend or show to someone new. It’s also the best of the three new releases.
Extras on this DVD include audio commentary from Katy Manning (Jo Grant), script editor Terrance Dicks, production assistant Chris D’Oyly-John, and the late producer Barry Letts; trivia subtitles; a 23-minute behind the scenes featurette; a fantastic look back at the Ice Warriors; storyboards; and a retrospective on the Doctor/Jo era. BBC Video as always threw a lot into this release and make it worthwhile. It’s kind of amazing, actually, that so many extras are done for a nearly 40 year old serial.
The only thing that would make this better would be complete season sets – I know Doctor Who fans including myself are used to the individual releases, and I would prefer to finish this way, but I think they might ultimately sell better and have a better reception if full-season sets were out. Rating: 9/10
Find the other two reviews below the cut…
Starring Jon Pertwee as The Doctor with Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith
Story #73 – U.S. DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
Writer Brian Hayles and the Third Doctor revisited Peladon with another story/serial that aired a year and a half later. One of the few direct “sequels” in Doctor Who history, this one takes place 50 years after the Doctor’s first visit to Peladon. The Doctor’s companion is by this point the popular Sarah Jane Smith, who now stars in her own spin-off series, The Sarah Jane Adventures.
The olive-head creature is back this time, as are the Ice Warriors, but I do feel that the original “Curse of Peladon” is a stronger and more original story. There’s a feeling of “been-there, done-that” involved… and this story, being 6 chapters, runs a bit long. Because of the length this is a 2-disc set, which also brings the price up a bit – and I’m not so sure it’s as much worth it.
There are many extras – commentary with Nina Thomas (Queen Thalira), Donald Gee (Eckersley), Ralph Watson (Ellis), Stuart Fell (the body inside the Alpha Centauri), Terrance Dicks, and Barry Letts; a fan commentary; a 22-minute “making of” and a fascinating reconstruction of a “deleted scene;” an interview with the voice actress behind Alpha Centauri; plus the typical production notes and more. My favorite bonus feature is actually an interview with Terrance Dicks about his Target novelizations. But unfortunately – when it comes to picking a story for a 2-disc set, I’d hope for a better story. Rating: 3/10
Starring Tom Baker as The Doctor with Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith
Story #86 – U.S. DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
“The Masque of Mandragora” came at a time where Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen got into a real groove as The Doctor and Sarah. This episode was produced by Philip Hinchcliffe during an era that is fondly remembered by many, especially here in the United States, where Tom Baker’s Doctor was the first to really be known.
This story takes place in 15th Century San Martino, and the locations are really something to enjoy. (There’s a featurette on the location on the DVD, too.) The episode also introduces the very Jules Verne-like secondary control room, a short-lived change for the series that gave The Doctor a place to travel through time and space with wood paneling.
For those who are fans of modern Doctor Who, there’s even gay subtext decades before Russell T. Davies had his way into the show. Seriously. Check out Giuliano and Marco, and honestly tell me they’re straight.
Extras on this DVD include the previously-mentioned location feature; commentary with Tom Baker, Giuliano actor Gareth Armstrong, producer Philip Hinchcliffe, and production manager Chris D’Oyly-John; a 26-minute “Making Of” documentary; a “Beneath the Masque” feature; and production notes. In addition to all of those things there’s a 19-minute history of the TARDIS which among other things has a manipulation of Susan Foreman standing in the David Tennant-era control room. Great stuff, even if the crazy backrooms of “The Invasion of Time” are even revisited.
This isn’t the first Tom Baker story I’d recommend to a new fan but it’d definitely land on my “good to watch” list. Rating: 7/10
You can order these from Amazon.com and support KSiteTV! Check them out:
“The Curse of Peladon” – “The Monster of Peladon” – “The Masque of Mandragora”
