Doctor Who: The Complete First Series (Blu-ray)

Russell T. Davies had a problem in 2004. His problem was how to restart Doctor Who, the great British science fiction television series that had died a slow death in the 1980s, primarily due to shoddy writing and stale characterizations. Then he remembered the basic rule of good-to-great science fiction. It isn't the situations...it's the characters. We learned this when Ronald D. Moore and David Eick reworked Battlestar Galactica. To that end, I felt that RTD really treated the four seasons he ran production more as a 52-episode story that was told in four chapters. This First Series Set plays more as a laying of the baseline for the 21st-Century Time Lord and those around him. Davies seems willing to lay more of the Doctor's emotions out. There is the irreverence and stream of thought that has usually played through the character's recent history, but Davies--through Christopher Eccelston's interpretation--starts laying the Doctor bare at times. The Ninth Doctor doesn't wear the scarf of Tom Baker, the celery boutonniere of Peter Davidson, or the straw hat of Sylvester McCoy. Davies starts this with a subtle reminder that, in spite of his name, what The Doctor is...is a warrior. Whether considered a soldier or superhero, Eccelston's Doctor is a black-wearing, short-haired survivor of a conflict that wiped out his planet. He can be severe, angry, feral and snappish all in a matter of moments. He also hurts--he's alone. This is where Davies' thought process begins to percolate around the character. He starts in this season to introduce "The Family of Time/Children of Time" concept--his Companions , the cohorts who aid and support (sometimes unwillingly), and a world that goes beyond his travels in the TARDIS (Which absolutely could NEVER change from its 1950's Police Box camouflage). In many ways it is a broader vision than what we had in the first run, and opens up new avenues for the Doctor's world. This allows Billie Piper's Rose Tyler--the Family of Time's First Lady--to be the soul and the conscience the Doctor so desperately needs. Piper is allowed to give a strength to Rose that we haven't seen in the Companion's roles before (Or at least since Sarah Jane Smith), and all the while look absolutely adorable. She saves the Doctor's life twice within the first six episodes--in the premiere/return episode "Rose" and at the conclusion of the "Aliens In London/World War III" storyline. In "Dalek", Rose actually challenges the Doctor AND the infamous robot enemy in a way no Companion had. If Rose is the Family of Time's First Lady, Camille Courdi's Jackie Tyler is the Queen Mother--her first meeting with the Doctor is a wonderfully hilarious moment of attempted seduction crushed--and Noel Clarke's Mickey Smith is the reluctant entrant. Having been the boyfriend of Rose when she met the Doctor, Mickey is the one who study's the Doctor's history and realizes the danger of being around him--yet, he finds himself working with the Doctor; even saving the world from itself in "World War III". But the character that knocks it out of the park in Series 1 is John Barrowman's Jack Harkness. Introduced in "The Empty Child", Harkness is the knight errant of the Family--born in the 51st century, Jack would seemingly prefer being a thief to his moments of heroism...that is, if he could get his mind off of getting some. With anyone. Or anything. The explanation of Jack--in the 51st century, the former Time Agent comes from a time where the term "omnisexual" is used. That explains Jack, short of using the term "male ho". While expanding the base of the people surrounding the Doctor, RTD also expands the physical world of the Doctor. In "The Unquiet Dead", the Doctor and Rose travel back to 1869 and meet Charles Dickens in Cardiff, Wales. Finding themselves in an investigation of corpses reanimating at a funeral home, the Doctor discovers the funeral home sits on a time/space rift that is capable of allowing extraterrestrials to move into this world and dimension. That rift becomes a part of the Doctor's universe about 145 years later...but that's for another review. It is the finish to the season--the two-parter "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting Of the Ways"--that set the transition from Eccelston to David Tennant, and the course for Captain Jack...but also the level of strength and devotion to The Doctor that Rose shows; a part of the four-part storyline that runs deep. This first chapter of Doctor Who's return is a fascinating watch, made all the more fascinating by the first season being Eccelston's only season as The Doctor. Among the special features is Eccelston's BBC interview before the premier episode was shown in England, an odd moment because one realizes that Chris knows he's completed his run--leading to his mentioning of regeneration. All in all, the return of Doctor Who to television has been a wonderful view--it hasn't been reimaged as severely (Though to its benefit) the way that Battlestar Galactica was, but it comes off as a diamond long-buried, found and--thanks to Russell T. Davies--well polished...and well done. Season/Series 1--highly recommended.

Before it premiered, the big question about the new series of Dr. Who seemed to be, would Russell T. Davies make it an edgy modern drama or have it return to its traditional family-viewing roots. The answer is that Davies, one of the UK's best script-writers, managed to do both. First thing's first, though, the show is to use the Ninth Doctor's expression, "Fantastic!" While I've found something to enjoy in nearly every episode of the "classic" series (which I'll define as everything from 1963 through the one-off movie with Paul McGann in 1996), rarely has the balance of action and humor been so expertly handled. What's more, by focusing solidly on the relationships between the characters and the ways in which the Doctor's actions affect them (particularly Rose's loved ones), the 2005 incarnation of Doctor Who has an emotional heft that the older episodes seldom achieved. Some would argue (and not without merit) that some of the humor is a bit broad. Indeed, the spoofs of reality shows and aliens with gastro-intestinal issues were not the most subtle. On the other hand, the repartee between the characters (especially when Captain Jack joins the party) is often excellent. High marks go not only to series regulars Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper but also to Noel Clarke who plays Rose's boyfriend Mickey and Broadway veteran John Barrowman who plays the dashing (and it turns out truly heroic) Captain Jack Harkness. Both of the latter characters exemplify one of the series key themes, namely that the Doctor makes people realize that they're better than they knew. Mickey helps Rose get back to the Doctor even though he knows he may lose her again. Jack puts his life on the line for the Doctor (not to mention the whole human race) even though it means almost certain death. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention Simon Callow's excellent guest spot as Charles Dickens and Nicholas Briggs voice-work in the episode "Dalek" which succeeded in turning one of the show's most famous monsters into a fleshed-out character. Obviously, some of the individual episodes stand out. The two-part WW2-era story The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances in particular is a contender for one of the all-time best from the show's 40+ year history (personally I'm baffled by the assertion an earlier viewer made that this story is somehow out of character with the show's past). That said, in many ways the 13-part series is best seen as a single epic storyline, culminating with a battle for the survival of the entire human race. Of course, we know who wins. It is traditional Doctor Who after all, and good always triumphs over evil. At the same time, this is also every bit a modern TV drama, and good doesn't win without a cost. As we see in episode 13 (The Parting of the Ways), the cost is a steep one for many people. The final moments of this episode are sad but also leave you wanting more. Thankfully, the wait won't be nearly as long this time. Addendum (7/7/06): I noticed that someone expressed a view that the price seemed a bit high. To give some context, the SRP for most releases of older Dr. Who episodes has been $25 (less any discounts), and that's for a program that runs about 2 hours. This new release runs 13 hours for $100 (again less any discounts). In short, the amount of material on this new set compares most favorably to the pricing approach established for previous releases.

It was a good show.

"I can feel the turn of the earth ... the skin of this tiny little world," declares the 9th Doctor Who. "The Doctor is a legend woven into history. When disaster comes, he is there. He brings a storm in his wake." Many would love a ride in Doctor Who's TARDIS, a time-machine ans spacecraft = Time And Relative Dimension In Space. Russell T. Davies overwhelmingly succeeds in rebooting Doctor Who after a 16 year hiatus. This is a wild romp, brilliant; the normal and mundane are mixed together with elements of absolute bizarreness. Christopher Eccleston ( Thor: The Dark World ) adds his Geordie 'tude as the 9th incarnation of the Doctor. When asked by his soon to be new companion, Rose Tyler (the great Billie Piper) about his distinctive accent, he replies, "Lots of planets have a North." We savor northern English culture and history, and series like Manchester's The Street , and genre-defying Life On Mars, U.K. starring Doctor Who alumni John Simm Doctor Who Specials: The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars, The End of Time Parts 1 & 2 . In "Rose," the first wonderful episode, which harkens back to Pertwee's 3rd Doctor and his entrance in "Spearhead from Space," we meet Rose, going about her ordinary day. As the Doctor says, "You lot, all you do is eat chips, watch telly, go to bed." Well, Rose's world is about to be rocked. Her mother, Jackie Tyler (the adorable, delightful Camille Coduri, Rumpole of the Bailey ), resists the Doctor and his impact on Rose's life. Hang in there past an episode that would have been super but for annoying gaseous aliens (why?) and get to 'The Unquiet Dead," where you'll be whisked to Cardiff, Wales, in 1869, with "Torchwood" star Eve Myles as a young physic working in a haunted funeral home. A Shakespeare-quoting Dickens (Simon Callow) enters the picture, "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, even for you, Doctor. Shawn Dingwall is marvelous as Rose's wayward father Pete Tyler in the poignant "Father's Day," where Rose travels back to her distant past, with 'No Third Term for Thatcher' posters pasting walls; as the Doctor says, "The past is another country." The spooky two-part "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" features remarkable acting by Florence Heath as Nancy, helping a group of street kids survive in London during WWII, and introduces Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), a former Time Agent. "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways" are superb social commentary - with the Anne Droid (Anne Robinson) in a brutal form of 'The Weakest Link,' Jack facing two scary female robots (Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine) on 'What Not to Wear,' a sweet contestant Lynda (Jo Joyner) on 'Big Brother' assisting the Doctor, and a new incarnation of an old, relentless foe. The Doctor sends Rose back home in the TARDIS to her mother and Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke), but she can't abide being forced back into normalcy while the Doctor is facing a huge battle. At the end, the Doctor must regenerate into a new, wonderful creation/incarnation, the inimitable David Tennant Broadchurch , Spies of Warsaw ) as the 10th Doctor Who in Doctor Who: The Complete Second Series . The narrative gets even better from here on out... Enjoy!

Like many others this was my first introduction to the Doctor, his T.A.R.D.I.S, and the Whoniverse. Christopher Eccleston really charmed me from the moment he stepped into camera view. Having no Doctor Who background or even an awareness this was a reboot of a series that ran for many many years I stumbled into what is now my favorite show in television history and in all likeliness will never be replaced. I've never witnessed anything so spectacular, creatively explored, and brilliantly written with such an overwhelmingly talented cast. Doctor Who raised the bar and changed my TV watching experience irrevocably! For the last couple of years I've wanted to own season 1 of Doctor Who and BBC America finally made this possible - and I don't think I could be any more happier with this product. It's absolutely FANTASTIC, it really is. I've watched this DVD set many times over and plan on watching it many more. This series includes a lot of cool features like Doctor Who Confidential. Confidential is footage shot from behind the scenes that show the making of each individual episode and has a sit-down with the actors who talk about their characters, the sets, makeup, and the Doctor Who story itself. It's really interesting to see where and how they film the show. They also let you peek at the creative process behind making the special effects and even let you see some of the alien/monster makeup application. Some bonus material included are actor interviews and commentary with hours of exciting features not seen elsewhere! It's such a delight to see the behind-the-scenes with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper - they are every bit exciting off-screen as they are on-screen!! That alone should be worth making this purchase easy because you completely get your money's worth! If you're looking for the best that television has to offer look no further because Doctor Who is it! The stories are compelling and complex yet simple enough to understand and thoroughly enjoyable. There's nonstop action, aliens, otherworldly creatures, fantastical worlds, top-notch acting, crazy plot twists, not-to-mention the British wit that will have you laughing out loud at the very cleverness that's presented. Spot-on EVERYTHING! This rebooted series is the beginning to what is one of the best shows on TV, assuredly you won't be disappointed. You'll immediately want to watch the following series as they only get better and better, and that's the biggest understatement. DO NOT skip the Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston because he's incredible and integral to the series as a whole. His portrayal of the Doctor is amazing and his adventures with Rose are the start of a bond unbroken by time and you'll fall in love with them both. Whovians if you don't own this series already then what are you waiting for?! & If you're new it's never too late to become a fan, and trust me upon watching this season you will be!

Fantastic! Perfect play on my PS4 . And of course, as always, excellent show. It threw me off a bit as it created an automatic change in how my controller stops/starts, chooses episodes( like which button do what) but that wasn’t a big deal and just took a little adjusting to it. Other than than, perfect!

People have been after me since I was 14 to watch Doctor Who. Every guy I dated in high school or college was a fan. But I never watched it. That was back when it was classic Doctor Who, way back in the olden days. Then my adult daughter wanted me to watch so finally I tried it, watched two episodes of this with her. I was mildly intrigued, but was busy going through all the Star Treks for the first time. Once I finished those, I sighed and said, "Well, okay, let's get Doctor Who over with." Unsure where to start, because I thought every new incarnation of the Doctor meant a new set of seasons, I just started with the first one I found a season one of, which turned out to be this one. I watched those same two episodes that my daughter had showed me, plus all the rest. Now I'm hooked. Don't know if I will like it as much next season without Eccleston, but other fans say that I'll love Tennant as well or even more. We shall see. But the main reasons I watch the show are for the relationships and for the sass! If the sass isn't as good next season, I just don't know. But I just loved Eccleston. I recommend binge watching it though, if you've never seen it, because it gives you a better flow for what's going on, and kind of, for who the Doctor is. And you can only tell if you'll like it by giving it a chance. So if you haven't seen it, give it a chance!

Really, what can one possibly say about Doctor WHO Season One that has not already been stated at length? The return of Doctor WHO is one of the pivotal moments in all of television history, and the continuation of a now 53 years-long mythos begins with these episodes starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, and helmed by Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner as the creative forces that helped to re-establish the series. Season One is a lot of fun, and one can see how very quickly, the show finds its footing and sets forth to bring the legend of Doctor WHO back to the forefront of the consciousness of pop culture. There are many highlights of the first season of "New Who,' including the great Robert Shearman-penned episode, 'Dalek'--the first time the Doctor squares off with his arch-enemies (one Dalek in this case) in any form or fashion since 'Remembrance of the Daleks. Additionally, the first major contribution made by Steven Moffatt for the revived series is found in this season--'The Empty Child'/'The Doctor Dances'--an awesome two parter that introduces Captain Jack Harkness into Who lore. 'Rose' is an absolutely fantastic episode, while 'Father's Day' at this point seems to be a now-obscure great episode of the series. The season finale two-parter, 'Bad Wolf'/'The Parting of the Ways,' really shows the gravity and danger of the situations the Doctor courageously faces and will always take on, and the lengths that the renegade Time Lord will go in order to save the lives of the innocent and downtrodden--even if it costs him his life. At this point, if you are relatively new to the series and have not had a chance to check this season out, you definitely should, for if nothing else, you can really see how the show has grown since its 2005 return, and why, to this day, Eccleston and Piper remain as beloved personalities by Whovians worldwide and across the ages. Also, since, unless you've bought the discs, Amazon is one of the only ways in which one can view New Who nowadays, it is probably a good idea to subscribe to Amazon Prime to give yourself unfettered access to the show (although frankly, if you take the extra step and buy the blu-rays for all pre-HD episodes of the current series, you will certainly not be disappointed, as clearly, Doctor WHO, in my opinion, is a show that truly shines with crisp, high resolution). As a lifelong fan of Doctor WHO, I can say without question that Season One is a triumph. While the first season is not perfect, it nonetheless helps to set the stage for the future of the series and restores to the generations of Who fans around the world, the art form of television, and history in general one of the great treasures of popular culture. It seems almost surreal that now, so many years removed, the current series is heading into its tenth season stronger than ever. It all begins (or re-begins, as it were) with these thirteen episodes.

In dieser Rezension zur 1. Doctor Who Staffel werde ich folgende Themen besprechen. - Was bisher geschah - Was passiert in der 1. Staffel | Episodenliste - Ist die Serie für Kinder geeignet? - Meine Meinung | Pro & Contra zu „Doctor Who“ Ich hoffe, diese Rezension hilft Ihnen bei Ihrer Entscheidung ob „Doctor Who“ die richtige Serie für Sie ist. Viel Spaß beim lesen. Was bisher geschah „Doctor Who“ startet 1963 beim britischen Sender BBC als Kinderserie über einen Mann aus dem Weltall (seine Spezies nennt sich Time Lord, da sie Raum und Zeit überwachen), der mit seinem Raumschiff durch Raum und Zeit fliegen kann. Sinn hinter der Serie war es, Kindern spielerisch Geschichte beizubringen. Schnell wurde die Serie jedoch zur Familienunterhaltung umstrukturiert. Als der erste Schauspieler des Doctors (William Hartnell) krank wurde überlegten sich das Team, wie sie die inzwischen enorm beliebte, Serie weiterführen konnten und dachten sich die „Regeneration“ aus. Immer wenn der Doctor schwer verletzt ist und im Begriff zu sterben, regeneriert er. Sein Äußeres verändert sich komplett, doch die Erinnerungen bleiben. Der Doctor reist jedoch nie allein, auf seinen Reisen wird er von den verschiedensten Leuten begleitet: Seine Enkeltochter Susan, dem beliebten Brigadier, die Time Lady Romana oder die wissbegierige Sarah Jane Smith (die den Doctor in 4 verschiedenen Gestalten erleben durfte) sind nur ein paar der zahlreichen Mitreisenden. So erlebten die Zuschauer die Reise des 1. Doctors (1963) bis zum 7. Doctor (1989). 1996 wurde ein erneuter Versuch gewagt dem (8.) Doctor Leben einzuhauchen und zwar durch den „Doctor Who“ Kinofilm, dieser floppte leider und man legte das Thema eine ganze Weile auf Eis. Bis jetzt. Die hier vorliegende 1. Staffel ist KEIN Remake oder Reboot der alten Staffeln!!! Nur, dass das gleich klargestellt ist ^^ - Man setzte die Staffelzählung auf 1 zurück, um den potentiellen neuen Fans den Einstieg zu erleichtern. Sonst würde ich jetzt nicht Staffel 1 sondern Staffel 27 bewerten. Der Beginn der ersten Staffel | Episodenliste Zuerst begegnen wir nicht dem Doctor, sondern der 20jährigen Rose Tyler, einer Verkäuferin in London, deren Leben nach einem immer gleichen Muster abläuft: Sie steht auf, geht zur Arbeit, trifft in der Mittagspause ihren Freund, arbeitet weiter, geht nach Hause, ab ins Bett und alles wieder von vorne. Doch eines Abends trifft sie auf den Doctor, ihre Arbeitsstelle wird in die Luft gejagt und ihr Leben nimmt eine vollkommen neue Wendung. An dieser Stelle möchte ich Euch eine Episodenliste posten, denn diese ist leider auf der DVD-Hülle nicht drauf (ändert sich ab Staffel 3, ab dann übernimmt Polyband den Vertrieb in Deutschland). - Rose - Das Ende der Welt - Die rastlosen Toten - Aliens in London (1) - Der dritte Weltkrieg (2) - Dalek - Langzeitstrategie - Vatertag - Das leere Kind (1) - Der Doktor tanzt (2) - Der Spalt - Böser Wolf (1) - Getrennte Wege (2) Besonders hervorzuheben sind die Folgen “Das leere Kind” / “Der Doktor tanzt”, die Einzelfolge „Dalek“ und das Staffelfinale “Böser Wolf” / “Getrennte Wege”. Über die Schauspielerischen Leistungen der Darsteller wird viel gestritten, ich möchte mir darum an dieser Stelle kein Urteil über sie erlauben. Für mich passen alle Darsteller perfekt in ihre Rollen mit all den Ecken und Kanten, die einem das Leben so beibringt und alle von ihnen machen im Laufe der Staffel eine Entwicklung durch. Mehr dazu gibt es unter dem Punkt „Meine Meinung | Pro & Contra zu Doctor Who“ Ist die Serie für Kinder geeignet? Diese Frage höre ich immer wieder und finde es daher wichtig sie anzusprechen. Ich selbst habe keine Kinder, habe mich jedoch bei Freunden und Bekannten umgehört, die „Doctor Who“ mit ihren Kindern zusammen anschauen. Staffel 1 ist ab 12 Jahren freigegeben und das passt für mich perfekt. Wichtig ist, es handelt sich um eine Familienserie, daher sollten die Eltern sie MIT den Kindern anschaut und diese nicht vorm Fernseher parken. Es gibt viele gruslige Stellen, jedoch auch viel Witz. „Doctor Who“ ist eine Drama-Serie, es sollte dem Zuschauer also bewusst sein, dass dementsprechend dramatische Szenen vorkommen. Trotzdem finde ich „Doctor Who“ für Kinder geeignet, denn es werden nicht nur Themen wie Tod und Verlust behandelt, sondern auch Liebe und Vertrauen. Der Doctor versucht Konflikte immer mit Worten und selten mit Waffen zu lösen, er sucht das Gespräch mit seinen Widersachern und ermutigt seine Begleiter ihre eigenen Entscheidungen zu treffen und ihren Weg zu finden. Im weiteren Verlauf der Serie geht es vor allem um die Liebe zwischen Eltern und ihren Kindern: Rose versucht in der Vergangenheit ihren Vater davor zu bewahren von einem Auto überfahren zu werden, Roses Mutter durchreist ganze Galaxien um ihre Tochter zu retten und auch die späteren Begleiterinnen des Doctors haben Familien die sie beschützen wollen. Außerdem kann mich an keine Serie erinnern in der so oft Bitte und Danke gesagt wird. Genau aus diesen Gründen ist „Doctor Who“ in meinen Augen, genau die richtige Serie für Teenies ab 12. Sie ist lustig, spannend, gruslig, verrückt und vieles mehr. Sie ermutigt Kinder ihren eigenen Weg zu finden und zu sich selbst zu stehen. Und sie vermittelt nebenbei so wichtige Dinge wie Liebe, Vertrauen und Akzeptanz Andersartiger (egal ob andere Hautfarbe, andere sexuelle Orientierung oder andere Alien-Spezies). Meine Meinung | Pro & Contra zu Doctor Who Als der Shworunner Russel T. Davis die Wiederbelebung der Serie plante, wollte er an den Charme der alten Serie anschließen, weshalb die 1. Staffel auf einige Leute wohl sehr trashig wirke. Jedoch sollte auch bedacht werden, dass es sich hier um eine britische TV-Serie aus dem Jahr 2005 handelt, diese müssen grundsätzlich immer mit weniger Budget auskommen, als ähnliche Produktionen in Amerika. Wem die Serie jedoch gefällt, der kann sich auf eine, von Staffel zu Staffel, anwachsende Qualität freuen. Besonders ab Staffel 5 macht die Serie unter dem neuen Shworunner Steven Moffat nahezu einen Quantensprung was die Qualität angeht. Mich hat von Anfang an die Skurrilität der Serie begeistert, der Doctor ist ambivalent, mal himmelhoch jauchzend, mal zu Tode betrübt – eben so, wie es jedem mal geht. Es gibt kaum Klischees, die Individualität der einzelnen Figuren ist wichtig und wird immer wieder herausgestellt. Jeder vermeidliche „Feind“ hat seine Gründe, warum er etwas tut und oft stellt sich heraus, dass in der einen oder anderen Schauergestalt ein freundliches Wesen steckt. Nachdem ich die erste Folge geschaut hatte war ich so begeistert, dass ich mir gleich Staffel 2 bestellt hatte und nachdem ich die ganze 1. Staffel durch hatte waren auch schon Staffel 3-5 bestellt. Auf die Specials zu Staffel 4 ( Doctor Who - Die kompletten Specials [5 DVDs ]) warte ich sehnsüchtig und ich kann es kaum erwarten die 50-Jahre-Jubiläumsfolge ( Doctor Who - Der Tag des Doktors (inkl. 2D-Version) [3D Blu-ray ]) im Kino zu sehen. Mich hat „Docotor Who“ auf jeden Fall als Fan gewonnen und ich hoffe, mit diesem Beitrag konnte ich jemanden überzeugen ebenfalls zum Whovian zu werden ^^.

Recibí el producto antes del tiempo indicado. En buenas condiciones. Excelente servicio.

Stupendo prodotto 👍

With 42 years of history, and a 26-year long TV show to match up to, the BBC have braved the wrath of millions in bringing back this historic show. It could have been done with top of the range effects, distracting from the storylines, or it could have been done with wobbly sets and cheap costumes, which seems to be about all anyone can remember of the classic series. Instead it nicely covers the balance, Making a fine distinction between being able to use top quality effects, and actually using them. The storylines, in general, have been faultless. A trip to see the end of the World, fighting the remains of an alien civilization with Charles Dickens, creating a tear in time which can only be solved by a sacrifice, and a child moving around London during a World War 2 air raid, looking for his mummy, and not stopping for anyone. I suppose that now is the time I should mention the Daleks. These have been brought back bigger, better, and shinier than ever. The episode "Dalek" is pure class. Incredible drama is provided by Chris Eccleston, and the Dalek scenes are well handled, without looking tacky or predictable. My only complaint (and it is stupid, but it's the only way I can really fault this episode) is the overuse of "Exterminate". In the very first Dalek story, that word was never even used! Once a Dalek said "They shall be exterminated", but that was it. Now, it seems to be its entire vocabulary! What possible reason did it have for using "Exterminate" as its last word? By far the best episode though was The Empty Child. Physical injuries acting as a plague, moving from person to person, infecting everyone the Child touches, turning them all into mindless gas-mask wearing zombies, looking for mummy. Creepy on every level, highly dramatic, and superbly directed. The risk you often run with a longer story is making the second half live up to the first. "The Doctor Dances" remains highly dramatic. The horror of the first episode is gone, but the thrill is still there. Chris Eccleston has his finest hour, and it's hard to stop smiling when he is so cheerful at the end. He has reason to be happy, and when he so gleefully cries out "just this once, everybody lives!" it's a magical moment, showing just how fine an actor Eccleston really is. As with any TV show, there are both ups and downs, but such superb episodes as "The Unquiet Dead", "Father's Day", and of course "Dalek", "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" make this boxset worth buying even if you didn't want the others. In all honesty, I can't stand the last three episodes, but the others are so wonderfully done that it doesn't matter. Buy this. You won't regret it.

After 16 years of being off the air back in 1989; 9 years after the the movie attempt in 1996 and lastly 6 years after the beginning of the Big Finish Productions audio plays in 1999.(Which based on a 2013 prequel is now cannon I think it's safe to say) It's Back. Doctor Who Is BACK!... On TV that is. Gone is the 4 to 12 part serials of old; in it's place a more modern 45 min episodes / stories. Sometimes 90 minute episodes or stories if 2 parter; with updated Classic monsters and new ones. Chris Eccleston does a good job giving us a new and updated take on The Doctor. The show is kind of continuation / reboot in someways. As it still takes in to account the stories and actors that came before back in the 1960 and up Classic wise. which I find to be a huge plus in my book. The Companion is more real. Just 5 stars across the board. Must have for completists of Who and the 1st cycle. If if U not it's worth a look anyway.