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At long last, Revenge of the Cybermen and Silver Nemesis come to DVD. Packaged in a stylish purple slipcase, the stories are every bit as enjoyable as i remember them.
I've only ever seen Revenge in an omnibus format, and enjoyed it on a certain level. Watching the story in episodic formast made me like the story even more. The location work is excellent, as are the Cybermen, back to their old tricks of taking over space stations.
Silver Nemesis doesn't actually feature the Cybermen a great deal, focussing more on the character of Lady Peinforte, and her knowledge of the Doctor's secrets. This story poses the question 'Who is the Doctor'? a scene which sticks in the mind long after the credits roll on episode 3.
All in all, two very under-rated stories in one quality boxset. Looking forward to Time and the Rani.
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 | SILLY, UNEQUIVICAL FUN... |
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| What: | The Two Doctors (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 9 September 2010 |
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| Rating: |  10 |
"Why dont you resign Styke? Take a pension..."
"Oh my giddy aunt oh crumbs"
"Tea time already nurse?"
"Your Doctor is an anti deluvian foegey!"
"Most of them must have leaked out of your ears, or you wouldnt be involved in this madness!"
"How is it you can be such a stubborn irrational and thoroughly objectionable old idiot?!"
"Of course I can walk!"
"Then we can cook her"
"Take the one in the skirt"
With so many beutifully comedic lines such as this, does it matter if the story isnt in keeping with past elements of Doctor Who.
Pat Trouhgton delivers what I think is his best ever Doctor Who performance. He is so utterly brilliant that he does steal most of the show somewhat.
Give Clinton and Tim their due too, they are brilliant sontarans, especially in the stifling heat of Spain. They manage to rise above the ill fitting costumes and deliver with their voices excellently.
John Stratton is memorable as that psycho Shockeye too. Dastari is likeable, despite all his nasty experiments. So you do feel for him at the end when he is killed. Laurence Payne is an excellent actor.
Yes, for me this story may not be high on continuity, but it is very high on entertainment. Anyway, frequently Doctor Who is all over the place with its continuity anyway. So thats nothing to worry about.
And Frazer is back in full force as my favourite companion ever. And he works just as well beside Colin Baker as with Pat Troughton. And the two doctors here work together so brilliantly. You can see everyone had a good time making this story. It comes out in the performances. Pure Doctor Who brilliance.
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| Were U trying to attract my attention? |
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| What: | The Talons of Weng-Chiang (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 9 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Because if you were BBC with this tale, then you certainly succeeded.
This story is the perfect blend of horror action and humour. It is a good end to the Phil Hinchcliffe years as producer. He couldnt have bowed out in better style.
This story is so entertaining. It boasts so many excellently realised elements. Mr Sin is a creepy creation, Magnus Greel is disgustingly disfigured, and John Bennett is sublime as L'hsen Chang. one of the best villains in the long history of Doctor Who. We can frogive the woeful rat for the rest of the story is brilliant. It looks as if tonnes has been spent on the production. The set design again is excellent, one really gets a feel of Victorian England that adds to the realism of it all.
Louise Jameson is so brilliant and so different from so many of the past companions. Jumping out of windows and all that. She is a really strong character indeed. One of the best in fact.
Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter. What can I say about these two that hasnt been said before? These two are the best double act in Doctor Who. Rob Holmes is so good at creating memorable double acts. This is the cream of the bunch here. These two bring so much to their characters. It is no wonder this is conssitently called one of the best Doctor Whos ever. It is stunningly effective.
| What: | Planet of Evil (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 9 September 2010 |
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| Rating: |  9 |
Roger Murray Leach reached his height as designer on this story. The jungle is terribly good. It all looks so very very good film. But it is noticeable and not quite as convincing when it goes to the studio, but it can be forgiven because this is such a good story with an excellent plot.
And it isnt overburdened by sub plots galore. It just gets on with telling a totally gripping sci fi tale. And the acting is of a high class indeed. Prentis Hancock delivers again as Salamar, perhaps bettering Vaber.
And also of worthy note is the excellent creature. Shown as an energy being, and so not totally there. Only a reddened outline which is very ominous. Especially in the scenes when it rises out from the pit to hunt.
What is good is the creature isnt all bad. As soon as the Doctor promises to give the antimatter back, it keeps its promise and returns Professor Sorenson.
The scenes inside the pit are well realised too. All rather well directed is this tale. I can quite see why Elizabeth Sladen likes this story more than a lot of her other outings. It does have a lot going for it.
The only downfall slightly for me is the prepensity for this era of Doctor Who to be rather lacking in humour. Doctor Who always had a lot of good humour amidst the previous horror stories in its past, but in this era seems to be running dry. And for me it is a vital element. But for that, this story is otherwise very entertaining.
| What: | Horror of Fang Rock (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 9 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The fact that this story was written so quickly is unbelievable. This classic story has all the qualities of a well thought out and long planned script.
The studio bound nature may be very obvious. But the lighthouse interior is excellently realised. And highly cramped and claustrophobic.
The acting here too is excellent, with so many memorable characters. Alan Rowe is memorable as Skinsale. Lord Palmerdale represents that nasty breed of baddies that Doctor Who always does so well. And poor old Adelaide, acted to perfection. So brilliantly written are these parts.
And the rutan is another great design. Its amusing to see how different to the Sontarans these aliens are. Jellies fighting tough warriors. A brilliantly imaginative match too.
Terrance once again did a brilliant job at crafting this tale in the time he had. This has all the brilliant Doctor Who ingredients, and puts them together in a refreshing and brilliant way.
And keeping the real sight of the rutan to the end is not a bad thing for once. The story is so good it doesnt actually need it a whole lot. Brilliant Doctor Who! One of the best.
| What: | Terror of the Zygons (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 9 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The inside of the spaceship is excellently designed. It reminds one of a plate of lasagne. It looks so organic and real that one just has to ask why the exterior looks like just a plain every day UFO? But aside from this niggle this story is absolutely brilliantly produced. The direction is tought and startlingly realistic. The characters are all memorable, especially the Nurse. Those eyes of hers. I shiver.
And the cliffhanger to part one was absolutely toilet inducing for me when i first saw it.. For the zygons are one of the best monster designs to grace Doctor Who. The look realistic. They look like genuine flesh. Douglas Camfield duly deserves his praise as a director. And the final London piece isnt as bad as all that either. This is certainly one of the best Tom Baker stories.
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| An altogether excellent story.... |
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| What: | Invasion of the Dinosaurs (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 9 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
As is the case for many a Doctor Who story, an otherwise flawless production is let down just by the effects. But this is only relevant when it comes to the poor design of the Tyrannosaur. The other model dinosaurs arent actually all that bad, although they are clearly unflexible and stiff and therefore not brilliant for all out dino-fighting as seen in the Lost World. But as that film had more money than most of the entire original series of Doctor Who, then actually it wasnt done too badly. And for a point in fact, this story is far better than Jurassic Park, for all its special effects.
Jon Pertwee is at the head of a very experienced and polished cast. And Elizabeth Sladen is really making an impact already as the headstrong but reliable Sarah Jane Smith. Peter Miles again portrays one of the villains of the piece brilliantly, as with his past and futre Doctor Who roles.
The plot of this story is also believable and easy to follow. The writers of the Third Doctor Handbook obviously cant see the merit in this excellent story. Barry Letts seemed to be injecting a lot of his productions with a good moral centre, and here it is done in a twisted way where the ends as per usual dont justify the means.
And that Mike should become one of the enemy is not too hard to believe. Its a neat little surprise that I was totally not expecting at all. Richard Franklin really excels in the story right from the word go.
And the final scene with the Doctor talking all things greed is excellent and very well scripted. A real truth amidst the fantasy of the program.
This was and still is one of my favourites of Jon Pertwee's era as the Doctor. I cant believe the Handbook rates it as two out of ten. That really is abominable and totally unbelievable too. This story really does have a lot going for it. Paddy Russell's direction is spot on with the characters, and its not her fault she had to deal with that t-rex. She did a great job and deserves recommendation!!!
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| An excellent piece of history.... |
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These series of books are wonderfully in depth and informative. There is a great deal of insight into the making of the periods of Doctor Who. For a real fan of this series these books are invaluable.
The Doctor in his own words is particularly interesting, in getting a feel of what the lead actor in the role thought of all the different aspects of the programme.
The only thing of course is I dont necessarily agree with the views of the writers on a lot of these stories. But we are meant to be different. Otherwise this book as Ive already made clear is a brilliant guide to the First Doctor.
| What: | The Creature from the Pit (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 8 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
So very often was the case of Doctor Who, that with most of the productions only one single element lets it down. And it truly is the case from the Creature from the Pit.
The story itself is excellent. But the huge tent of Erato is totally stupid. But it just so happens that I dont really care all that much about Erato. So he's very bad indeed, but thats whats so lovable about Doctor Who.
Aside from Erato, this story is one of the best of Tom's time. His wit and humour are to the fore once more as with the rest of season seventeen, but this is by no means a bad thing. At times in the Phil Hinchcliffe reign the Doctor became far too serious. So there was actually at last a balance.
And then we come to Myra Francis. One of the best women to have ever graced Doctor Who. She is so delightfully over the top and camp. She just steals every scene shes in.
And that group of morons are so brilliant. I love the woeful fall into unconciousness by the leader, as if he's thinking Oh Ive just been stunned, so Ill just sit on the floor!!! These apparent blunders can be so enjoyable to watch.
And the sets are very realistic. The jungle has to be the best of the jungles to ever appear on Doctor Who. (Meglos could have been better.) In the same vein of brilliance as Roger Murray Leach's jungle on Planet Of Evil.
And Tom and Lalla work so well together. They spark off each other nicely. David Brierly comes in for John Leeson, and somehow isnt quite as nice as K9. But he does a good job.
And one has to mention Geoffery Bayldon too. He plays the silly astrologer very well indeed. So, all in all, not the worst of Doctor Who stories....
| What: | The Faceless Ones (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 8 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Jamie was finally brought to the fore of companion action with this story. He had his own lines instead of nicking some intended for the other members of the cast in the three previous stories. Frazer does a great job at making Jamie at last a real and brilliant character. His scenes with Pauline are just the tip of the iceberg in what is a really well thought out and subtley different knid of Doctor Who story.
The plot is different too. And is not as fanciful or stupid as I have seen a lot of people write about this story. The Chameleons are very well portrayed indeed. So soulless and also very well realised. They do indeed look rather sad with their mushy faces.
And the pace of the story is neither too fast or too slow, it unfolds at a good pace, keeping the interest throughout. And again Patrick Troughton shines.
But Ben and Polly fade out of the story rather quickly. A shame, as they were both so well brought to life by Mike and Anneke. It would have been nice to see them a bit longer. But they say good things come to an end. (Only one thing doesnt)
This is a neat story, with good characterisation yet again. The airport commandant is typically a sceptic that became a sore vein through many of the later stories, but here he is a memorable and likeable character.
Doctor Who with Pat in the lead was always brilliant, and is well displayed in this great early story from his first season!
| What: | The Moonbase (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 8 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
"There are some corners of the universe which have bred the most terrible things, things which act against everything that we believe in, they must be fought"
So says the Doctor in this so nearly perfect story. This is one of the plethora of brilliant lines that Pat was allowed to speak during his time as the Doctor. This story is all claustrophobia and convincing action and is only let down by one thing in my opinion.
The only thing that lets it down is the clear obvious plothole of "We are in it already", the line said by the Cybermen just before they blow a hole in the base. If they are in it already, then why are the Doc and everyone so uplifted when the cybermen are shot off into space? Surely the few inside would still be a very major problem...maybe a plot hole left open for the sequel that never came!!!
But aside from this little nag this story is brilliant. Once again it is cramped and claustro, due to the limitations of the budget. But the moonbase outdoor scenes seem very realistic indeed. With all the craters and everything along the way. And the newly designed Cybermen are highly impressive. The Borg are just tepid retreads in Star Trek of these classiest of monsters.
And the score is affecting and menacing, even if it is one that has been sampled in stories previous to this one.
I like to see Polly coming up with the thought of throwing the cocktail into the cybermen's chest units. She is a lot stronger a character than seems to be often remembered. Anneke's portrayal is brilliant.
Morris Barry directs this story very well indeed, the menace is brought to the fore right from the word go. And once the cybermen appear in full force, they are in it for a decent amount of time too.
And the thought of the gravitron is very original and intriguing idea. Who knows if this could happen in the far future? I doubt it. We've harmed this planet far too much already to start fiddling about with the weather more than we already have anyway.
And Jamie's incapacity to me is a strength. Listening to the audio, you can think he's hurt himself much more than we think. And the phantom piper is not a stupid line of speech. People back in far history were highly superstitious, so this just adds to the realism of the tale. Nearly spotless. A very good cyberman story.
| What: | The Power of the Daleks (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 8 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
First of all let me say there was never anything wrong with William Hartnell as the doctor. He was an excellent actor who brought much to the role of the Doctor. He was brash and sensitive, comedic at times but not quite as much as his lead on when he had to bow out due to his poor health. And it is sad that he is not with us any longer. He after all got Doctor Who off to a flying and highly memorable start.
But for me, Pat Troughton just cant be beat for what he brought to the role of the Doctor. Going for a totally different approach could have failed abismally, but it is due to his acting prowess that it didnt. Pat came along with such energy and enthusiasm that clearly shows itself right from the word go. He doesnt sound like someone who has just started playing the part here, he sounds like he's been doing it for years and years and years.
And this story is highly recommended for many other reasons too. The characters are very well presented and acted, adding a sense of realism to the tale. And the daleks here are far more deep than the daleks of William's time on the show. Here they are manipualtive and devious, yet will anyone pay heed to the Doctor's words? Do they ever?! Until its far too late.
Lesterson is a thoroughly real and totally brilliant character, wonderfully portrayed, going from assured loud mouth to quivvering wreck when he sees the real truth of the daleks who are slowly mass producing themselves.
Bernard Archard also impresses just as much as he does in Pyramids Of Mars. Assured and totally nasty character.
But as I said before, it is Pat that makes the story. In replying to Ben in an amusing scene with just toots on his recorder, just brings the show more alive and makes it all the more interesting for it.
Anneke and Michael are also involved for once properly in the scheme of things, and get a bit more to do than in later stories. Reminds me why their characters are so solid and likeable. They just gel so well too with Pat. They make a great team.
Yes, im sorry but I just cant say enough about this excellent start to Pat's time as the doctor. A classy era indeed!
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| Far better than loads of others!!!!! |
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| What: | The Highlanders (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 8 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I must say I totally disagree with Doug, but he is certainly allowed his own opinion!!! We are all different and itd be a boring world if we were all uniform like the cybermen wouldnt it?
I have to say this is a cracking good piece of light relief after the hard sci fi of The Power of the Daleks.
Patrick Troughton is on excellent form, and although he doesnt really take part in the bulk of the action, he does amusingly dress up and act his socks off to very great effect. This is one of my favourite storys of Pat's.
I love his old woman! It had me in fits the first time i heard it. It prooves what a great actor he was and it truly is sad that he is no longer with us now.
And Polly gets a lot more to do than just scream for once. Shes gets a meaty part, and is strong and decisive and even manages to overpower Ffinch, I like the series when it gives the women far more stronger roles rather than just screaming all the time, although it does at times have its place.
And this story also introduced Jamie, wonderfully brought to life by Frazer Hines. he is by far my favourite companion so far. Although its amusing to hear that after his strong accent in this, he goes down to a far more english scots vocal after this story!! But after all, one of the most charming things about Doctor Who is its discontinuity and flaws. Its just plain good television.
And there are a good amount of horrible scenes too, like the hanging and the running through of the redcoat right at the beginning of the tale. Its so sad that none of this story survives. Its a real pain in the butt.
The history may not be 100% right, but the entertaining value of this gem of a tale can not be denied.
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| Deserving of the title... |
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| What: | The Web of Fear (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 8 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
The Web of Fear is one of the few Doctor Who stories that by hearing and seeing the first part I can quite believe deserves its classic status.
The yeti here have been updated to become far less cuddly and much more menacing. Those glowing eyes are eerie and frightening to say the least. It really is sad that only episode 1 exists though.
The Action scenes sound like they were very well done indeed.
And then we have Jack Watling back again, made up well to look thirty years older. He is such a wonderful character, and he gels well with Patrick and the rest of the crew.
And the ending to this story is totally surprising. But I wont give too much away but say this is well worth the getting. Far more worth getting this than most of the new series at least anyway.
This story has it all: a great amount of yeti sequences, a good followable plot, and great performances from all involved in the making of this story.
| What: | Series 5: Volume 4 (BBC new series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 7 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
Vincent And The Doctor is a highly entertaining and original episode of Doctor Who and was a joy to watch. The characters are all likeable, even the blind alien who is killed accidentally at the end which makes for a sadder ending than usual. A really well made pseudo historical which buckled this buckling series up somewhat for me.
The Lodger is also a totally different piece of Doctor Who. With more focus on characters than just the nonsense sci fi bits of the story to follow. This again started to reignite my somewhat mixed view of this series as a whole. Again the characters were likeable and we got to see Matt play a bit of footie!
Pity it had to end with such a monumental, confused, eclectic and frankly pathetic piece of garabge that I found frankly impossible to understand. The worst piece of Doctor Who ever it has to be said. Incomprehensible to the extreme. The plot threads just dont go together....thats why the new series cant match the old series...even the worst of them were more understandable than this pile of rubbish....
| What: | The Fires of Vulcan (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Andrew Shaw, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 6 September 2010 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
in this story I thought Mcyoy as 7th Dr gave up to easily on himself and Mel should have known to get into character as somebody from pompeii because she could have give the game away throughout but otherwise that an OK historical story
Changing the format of introducing a companion is bold but did it work? If the doctor hadn't walk away with a new companion I think I would have enjoyed it more. However situation vacant is an entertaining and fast passed story with some good humour and a little laugh at the doctor who format itself.
Feeling unsure about the final outcome, I'm looking forward to a clever subplot or twist that will bring his new partner to life.
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| The End... The Final end... for Target |
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| What: | The Evil of the Daleks (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | JG, Gallifrey, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 26 August 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Target Books Series goes out with a bang, 'The Evil of the Daleks', the characters, the scenes, the Dalek Emperor, Great book, great ending.
P.S. Yes I know there is another book after this, but this is the last novelised TV story.
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| My 1st, but certainly not last DW Audio! |
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The only Doctor Who CD I had bought before this was the soundtrack of 'The Daleks' Master Plan'. Granted, a great story, but unfortunately this epic deserves the visuals it will probably never have. As the video is gone, this novelisation reading is the next best thing, and by god it's good!
Peter Purves and Jean Marsh read the book expertly, with the former pulling off the action sequences superbly and the latter giving a chilling representation of the more dramatic chapters.
The other masterstroke of this audio is casting Nicholas Briggs to do the Dalek voices; it adds a great sense of realism to the piece.
Plaudits must also go to John Peel for novelising the story brilliantly - roll on 'The Mutation of Time'...
| What: | The Forgotten Army (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Thursday 19 August 2010 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
I have loved the first to books in the 11th Doctor series, so i had huge expectations for this one (maybe that was the problem). Unfortuanatly I really didn't like this one.
The plot was very silly, and the constant amount of sarcasm between the Dr and Amy was great the first few times but after a while just started to get on my nerves. The police and NYPD Commander Jackie Stebbins I didn't care about and if they were all wiped out it wouldn't have worred me.
What i did like thoe was there were a lot of referances to the tv series, particaly the Dalek 2 parter set in New York when Tennent was the Dr. And I particualy loved the referance to Torchwood - Children of Earth.
This book was ok, there was enought in it to keep me reading and I did want to know what happened next. I will put this in the same pile as Sting of the Zygons, and Love and War (new adventure novel) - ok i've read it, now it will be on my bookshelf gathering dust.
