Doctor Who - New Beginnings (Box Set) (DVD)

With Doctor Who Season being back in full swing; as the third series of the new stories is a third of the way through I thought this a pertinent time to review this box set.

Anyone who has watched the new series of Doctor Who, may well be aware that all three series have been working there way towards a massive story arch. This culminates into a crescendo of shocks at the end of this season. Working on the idea that the Doctor is alone ...
...a startling message to the Doctor in the episode Gridlock. “You are not alone!”

With this in mind I bring you a review of Doctor Who: New Beginning box set. This three disc set brings about the return of a much loved Doctor Who enemy.

The Keeper Of Traken

Having arrived on the planet Traken, The Doctor (played by Tom Baker) and his hitchhiking pal Adric discover that this somewhat normally calm peaceful ... more

With Doctor Who Season being back in full swing; as the third series of the new stories is a third of the way through I thought this a pertinent time to review this box set.

Anyone who has watched the new series of Doctor Who, may well be aware that all three series have been working there way towards a massive story arch. This culminates into a crescendo of shocks at the end of this season. Working on the idea that the Doctor is alone for the first two seasons (i.e. the last of his kind) The Face Of Boa revealed a startling message to the Doctor in the episode Gridlock. “You are not alone!”

With this in mind I bring you a review of Doctor Who: New Beginning box set. This three disc set brings about the return of a much loved Doctor Who enemy.

The Keeper Of Traken

Having arrived on the planet Traken, The Doctor (played by Tom Baker) and his hitchhiking pal Adric discover that this somewhat normally calm peaceful planet has been rocked by a recent change of events. Just prior to the arrival of the Doctor a monument appeared of an Alien figure, the people of Traken refer to the creature as “The Melkur”. In recent days however there have been a series of disappearances and unexplained deaths, after a history of peace on the planet.
While one of the planets peacekeeper’s a man called Tremus and his daughter Nyssa are pleased with the new arrivals, and the help they offer in solving the mystery. The other peacekeepers are convinced that the Doctor and Adric are behind the terrible things that have happed to their planet.
The Keeper is a man who governs the planet, and it was at his request that the Doctor came to Traken to help solve the riddle, however now upon arrive the Keeper’s health is deteriorating. As his death draws close The Master reveals himself and prepares to use Traken’s life-force in order to extend his lifespan.

The Master is an ongoing character who first appeared in Doctor who (allegedly) in the 1960’s. His first officially confirmed appearance was in the 70’s adventure Terror Of The Autons, during the early 1970’s The Master appeared on numerous adventures battling Jon Pertwee’s Doctor. When Roger Delgado the man playing the Master was killed in a car accident the character was written out of the series. Three years later The Master returned played by actor Peter Pratt. But he was horribly disfigured due to using all his regenerations (a time lord can regenerate 13 times, this is a ability that allows the Doctor to change his appearance). In that story he battled the Doctor in an attempt to bring about the end of Gallifrey. The character then disappeared for a further five years when he returned in the same form as before until the end of this story. For the longest period of onscreen time in the series, 8 consecutive years in fact the Master was played by Anthony Ainley once he hasd regenerated from his rotting state played by Geoffrey Beevers.

This return adventure was a really big thing for fans, the return of the second most popular enemy, the first being The Daleks.

The story itself moves as a very brisk speed, and mixes an emotionally challenging tale, with almost Gothic style horror. It’s a traditional Who-dunnit style who with all the plans and villains not truly being revealed until the last episode of the story. I know I’ve told you the main villain, but picking up the box will tell you the same so I have not ruined anything for you.
The Keeper Of Traken provides me with one of my clearest memories of the series, as a child. It was the first time during my life I was aware of whom the Master was, I had no knowledge of his past at the time.
The story features a moving musical score, and some slightly better than usual special effects.

Special Features:

• Commentary from actors Anthony Ainley, Matthew Waterhouse and Sarah Sutton, plus writer Johnny Byrne - Interestingly enough that must have been done some years back as Anthony Ainley died some years prior to the release of this boxset. The quartet exchange tales and talk with fondness about the pisodes of this story.
• Being Nice to Each Other (30 mins) - a new documentary looking at the making of this story through the eyes of the cast and crew. Featuring actors Sarah Sutton, Sheila Ruskin, Geoffrey Beevers, director John Black, writer Johnny Byrne and script editor Christopher H. Bidmead. Narrated by George Williams - This is a great feature, full of information and unlike many Doctor Who documentaries does not become dull at any point.
• The Return of the Master (9mins approx') - Geoffrey Beevers, Christopher H. Bidmead and John Black talk about how they realised the return of the Doctor's arch-adversary – This feature speaks for itself really.
• Sarah Sutton on Swap Shop - Noel Edmonds interviews Sarah Sutton, with questions phoned in from young viewers (11 mins) – You have top ask when you see old features on things like this what on earth was going on in fashion during 1981.

Logopolis

Having travelled on from Traken, The Doctor and Adric call in on Earth where they find they need to do some work on the TARDIS (the Doctors space vehicle). This situation collides with the TARDIS’s cloister bell sounding, something only heard in times of great danger.
Having arrived on the M25 the Doctor observes a sinister figure dressed in white; when the Master shortly after appears Adric puts two and two together assuming The Master was the man in white.
Having picked up an unexpected guest in the form of air stewardess Tegan Jovanka; the Doctor and Adric head for Logopolis in order to carry out some emergency calculations. Once there they meet up with Nyssa bought to Logopolis by the man in white. As the foursome battle with equations, The Master moves in for the kill….. For someone in the TARDIS it’s the end of the road.

After the longest period anyone had ever played The Doctor, Tom Baker bowed out of the series. This was a well publicised event at the time, but while bringing about the end of an old friend we got the opportunity to make a new one.
The TARDIS benefited from events, for the first time in 15 years the TARDIS has a full crew of four again, this was how the series had begun some 18 years prior.
Despite the massive storyline, and the return of The Master the story was one of the more disappointing, the sets were just awful and the special effects were far from special. It was if the producers sat back and said “look at the end the fans get a new Doctor, lets not bother doing anything that much with this one”. That being said the story had some chilling moments as the Master revealed his special weapon, a gun like devise that makes people die, but not before making them doll size.

Special Features
• Commentary from actors Tom Baker and Janet Fielding, plus writer Christopher H. Bidmead – At times very amusing, at others a bit dull. Its hard to tell if anyone other than the writer really enjoyed this story.
• A New Body at Last - a new documentary covering the transition from Tom Baker to Peter Davison. Featuring actors Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, Sarah Sutton and Adrian Gibbs, script editor Christopher H. Bidmead, directors Peter Moffatt and John Black. Narrated by Denis Lawson (50 mins) – A documentary that charts Tom Baker’s long reign as the Doctor. And looks at the shoes the new Doctor, Peter Davison had to fill
• Nationwide - Tom Baker - an interview with Tom Baker from the BBC news magazine show – Quite a jolly farewell for Tom Baker, who was rumoured to be very unhappy at the time as he did not expect his resignation as the Doctor to be excepted.
• Nationwide - Peter Davison - an interview with Peter Davison on his forthcoming role as the Doctor – Bursting with energy and enthusiasm Davison promises to be a very different Doctor to Baker, and that he certainly was.
• Pebble Mill at One - Peter Davison - Peter Davison interviewed on the long-running BBC lunchtime show (12 mins) – A look at the history and addressing the future of the series.
• News Items - a selection of BBC News items, including reports on Tom Baker and Lalla Ward's wedding, the announcement of Tom Baker's departure and Peter Davison's arrival. A mish mash of features that really needs no comment.

Castrovalva

Having regenerated the new Doctor (Peter Davison) in a very weakened state takes his three companions to Castrovalva to recuperate. Finding the regeneration incredibly difficult to come to grips with the Doctor spends much of the first two episodes either fainting or asleep.
Having arrived the Doctor is abducted by unknown assailants leaving Adric to fall into a nasty trap, and Nyssa and Tegan heading up a mountain in search of the Doctor.
Having found the Doctor safe and well, all seems fine. But a strange optical illusion makes the Doctor see something to prove something in Castrovalva is far from ok. As the Master reveals himself as the puppetmaster behind a terrible game, the Doctor faces the Master in a battle of mind over matter.

This first story to fully feature Peter Davison, upset the viewers. They were not happy that the Doctor had been missing for much of the story, this got Davison off on the wrong foot with the fans. Luckily enough things got better for Davison’s incarnation of the Doctor.
The story much like Logopolis lacked a bit of umpf, the sets were very wooden, using the same set pieces time and time again but fobbing them off as different rooms, or corridors.
The Master was as usual, masterly taking Adric as a hostage. But his presence was getting boring, bearing in mind he had been about for 8 weeks of the previous series and 4 of the this one, and on DVD its even worse because there was no gap at all.
The story itself was disappointing and quite boring, there was no big mystery, no big bad character reveal, although it was nice to see Anthony Ainley donning a disguise that would become his trademark in the series. While looking familiar to the viewer, few ever saw through his disguise.

Special Features

• Commentary from actors Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, plus director Fiona Cumming and writer Christopher H. Bidmead – Davison practically creams himself during this commentary, you could tell that he was happy remembering his times at the helm of the TARDIS.
• Being Doctor Who - Peter Davison discusses his casting and time as the Fifth Doctor (13 mins) – A look at how things were during Davison’s time as the Doctor.
• Directing Castrovalva - Fiona Cumming talks about directing Peter Davison's debut story (11 mins) – Fiona talks enthusiastically about the adventure, it’s a shame she never put so much enthusiasm in at the time.
• The Crowded TARDIS - by the end of Tom Baker's tenure, the TARDIS crew had grown from the usual one companion to three. This featurette examines the reasons behind this change of direction. Featuring actors Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton, director John Black and script editor Christopher H. Bidmead. Narrated by George Williams (11 mins)
• Blue Peter - Peter Davison - Peter Davison interviewed on the popular children's magazine show – Again Davison bounces along happily on the media hype that goes along with playing the most popular character on British television.
• Swap Shop - Peter Davison - Noel Edmonds interviews Peter Davison, with questions phoned in from young viewers (20 mins)
• Deleted Scenes- two deleted scenes from the story – These are great little extras, and things that always amaze me about the whole WHO phenomenon, I think its amazing that these are still in existence although I gather that the then executive producer the late John Nathan Turner had a habit of taking his work home with him.
• Theme Music Video - a brand new remix of Peter Howell's version of the theme music for the series, exclusively remixed from the original multitrack master. Option to listen to the music in either stereo (default) or Dolby Digital 5.1 surround versions.

Since this story the Master returned a number of times being played by Gordon Tipple (the shortest length wise actor to play the Master), Eric Roberts (Julia Roberts bother), and now **** **** I’ve already said too much! If you don’t know which other recent time travelling actor is to play this role, who am I to let it slip ;o)

You can get this box set from play.com priced £22.99. Or you can gamble with other sites where I have seen it for £20. 

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