Reviewed by James Whittington
Stars Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Michael Jayston, Lynda Bellingham, Brian Blessed, Bonnie Langford,
Christopher Ryan, Honor Blackman | Written by Robert Holmes, Philip Martin, Pip & Jane Baker
UK certification PG | UK RRP £49.99 | Runtime 349 minutes | Directed by Nicholas Mallett, Ron Jones & Chris Clough
After being out in the wilderness for 18 months (the BBC decided that it had become complacent and too violent) Doctor Who returned to our screens with the 14-part story, The Trial of a Time Lord.
Epic in scope and seemingly re-energised, the first 40 seconds or so treated the fans to cinematic quality effects of the TARDIS being dragged into a spaceship. This jaw dropping moment signalled that the Doctor was entering a new era — dimension even — and fans all over the country got incredibly excited. That was until they actually watched the 14 episodes. Boy, were they disappointed.
Split into four individual stories but linked with the Doctor being on trial for crimes against his people and other species, The Trial of a Time Lord looks like a pantomime and feels like one too. Over-acted, underwritten and with a budget so tight it looks cheaper than a Pound Store gift. I hate to write such a negative review, as it could have been so different. Colin Baker is a superb actor, he has proven himself time and time again via the Big Finish audio range what a stunning actor he is and what he could have been given the right material. Here he is served with clichéd rants and ropey dialogue from those that should know better. Each of the four stories — The Mysterious Planet, Mindwarp, Terror of the Vervoids and The Ultimate Foe — are over-run with guest stars and hammy acting. Colin, bless him, does his best and to a point so does Bryant but the casting of Bonnie Langford is just unforgivable. Over keen and over done she adds nothing but cheese to the series. The stories are lame, flat and even with the return of top bad guy Sil they all fail to raise interest for the viewer.
The extras are, as is usual with DVDs from 2entertain, top notch — a fine collection and the only reason that this set is worth looking at. It’s a sad fact, but I feel many will agree with me.
EXTRAS **** I need to take a deep breath here as the extras contained in this set are very well put together. All four discs have commentaries, information text, deleted scenes, extended scenes, trails and continuity and photo galleries. They also have individual extras:
The Mysterious Planet The Making of the Mysterious Planet, Trails and Continuity, 35mm Sequence, Music Videos, Wogan Segment, Blue Peter Piece, Points of View.
Mindwarp The Making of Mindwarp, Now and Then – On the Trail of a Time Lord, A Fate Worse Than Death? TV Talkback, Children in Need, Lenny Henry Sketch.
Terror of the Vervoids The Making of Terror of the Vervoids, The Lost Season, Now Get Out of That, Saturday Picture Show.
The Ultimate Foe The Making of the Ultimate Foe, Trials and Tribulations, 1985 Hiatus, Doctor in Distress, Open Air, Saturday Superstore, PDF Materials, Coming Soon Trailer for Four to Doomsday (which was actually released prior to this one!)