COMMENT Spoliers ahead
The commentary for SURVIVAL (previously titled BLOOD-HUNT and CAT-FLAP) is potentially the most erudite and intelligent discussion (verging on analysis) to be released on DVD to date. Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and the series' Script Editor, Andrew Cartmell provide a less of a gag-a-minute that litter the commentaries from Davison and (Tom) Baker, focussing on the strengths of the production and how the story - perhaps - unwittingly became the blueprint for Christopher Eccleston's SERIES 1 Earth-based stories.
McCoy: You can see the influences of this Doctor in the NEW SERIES. Sophie's Ace is ballsy and full of vitality - a pre-Rose by any other name. Many of our stories going back in time to the Second World War, picking up babies there were the daughter.
Note: McCoy refers to the NEW SERIES stories THE EMPTY CHILD and FATHER'S DAY.
However, the commentary is not dull as dishwater. It rattles along with entertainment, wit and passion for DOCTOR WHO back in 1989. As Richard Molesworth's "on-screen Information Text" announces "26 years - 159 stories - 694 episodes - 31 companions - 3 K9s - 7 Doctors - 9 Producers - 9 title sequences - 4 theme tunes" DOCTOR WHO 1963-1989", SURVIVAL is an iconic but frequently misjudged production (yes, the animatronic cat looked like, as Cartmell described it, "a Muppet") (and, yes, there were only 5 million viewers watching the programme at the time but it was up against ITV's CORONATION STREET ) and worthy of re-visiting
The episode demonstrates that virtually twenty years ago DOCTOR WHO was striving toward excellence (the use of the electronic FX software called PAINTBOX to "paint the alien skies") though sometimes was reduced to mediocrity verging on ridicule (the overly designed Cheetah costumes that, as Cartmell describes them, "Teddy Bears"). The script contrived contemporary Earth and a dying alien planet on which the Master (Aldred confirms with critics that Anthony Ainley as "spooky in this") was encamped.
The DVD's Information Text reveals that much of the Rona Munro's dialogue (in episode 2 and during the Time Lords' final confrontation) between the Doctor and the Master had been altered during production, and potentially reveals more about their background and relationship.
The Master: They are so much more aesthetic than carrion birds, don't you agree, Doctor?
The Doctor: Everything has its own purpose. They're alright, in their place. What were they doing on Earth?
The Master: Hunting.
The Doctor: Hunting what?
The Master: You. You're very easy to follow, Doctor, you lumber around the Galaxy dabbling and meddling, you left a trail so obvious I'm amazed you still survive.
The Doctor: Why are you looking for me?
The Master: I need your help.
The Doctor: You're trapped.
The Master: Just so. The doors into this world are one way only.
The Doctor: For anything other than a native animal, a cheetah, or a kitling.
The Master: Precisely, Doctor.
The Doctor: So now we're both trapped.
The Master: And time is running out. This planet has an effect on everything that comes here, Doctor, an effect that no one can escape, not even a Time Lord.
The Doctor: Why should I help you? Find you own way home
The Master: No time. You have to save me, to save yourself.
The Doctor: Save myself from what? You pets?
The Master: They're not my pets. I. don't control the Cheetahs, Doctor. You might say they.control.me. I can use. the kitlings.I can provide distractions but. Even the will of a Time Lord cannot hold out against this place. We have to leave now. Or we will it leave too late.
And during their final face-to-face tussle the scenes were quite different.
EXT: The Cheetah planet. The Time Lords begin to fight.
The Master: There is no escape.
FX: A blinding flash of light.
EXT: Suddenly, the Time Lords return to Perivale, outside the TARDIS.
The Doctor: Yes, there is.
The Master: The planet?
The Doctor: It isn't anymore. It's destroyed.
The Master: How?
The Doctor: It was too old. to dangerous. And I said we were an explosive combination.
The Master: Yes, but how did it happen? How did we get back here? Who are you? What are you?
The Doctor: We were at University together, remember?
The Master: You're not a Time Lord!
The Doctor: Well, strictly speaking. That is to say. well not just a Time Lord. We all have to evolve a bit the years go by. Evolve or become extinct.
The Master: What are you?
The Doctor: Shall we just say I'm multi-talented.
EXT: The Doctor walks over to his TARDIS.
The Master: Time Lord or not, Doctor, you will find that I cannot be so easily dismissed. Or ignored. Till another time, Doctor. Another time.
How the relationship between the Doctor and the Master, and the development (or evolution) of the Doctor himself would have been played out in following seasons (of the CLASSIC SERIES) is only known to a select few - including Cartmell. Of course, revealing whom the Doctor is/was would have only reduced his mystery at a basic level. Perhaps, he should have (and will) remained simply a do-gooder time traveller.
The commentary is often frank and revealing. McCoy found filming in Perivale unkempt flats and unassuming streets "depressing" with Aldred asserting that it was "Thatcher's Britain". McCoy adds:
Cartmell: We're getting a bit political now. But it's true. At the time we were up in arms about terrible social situations. Didn't make much difference.
McCoy: We just got another Thatcher but it was a bloke. Amazing that we can go to war, spend billions on that and we can't go to war on poverty. I don't understand that. Never have.
McCoy is DOCTOR WHO's very own Ben "Mrs Thatch!" Elton. Fantastic.
The commentary discussed the termination of the series and how the final monologue was hastily written due in part to a "feeling" that Producer, John Nathan-Turner and Cartmell had that the it was to be rested from the BBC schedule.
Unsurprisingly, SURVIVAL is of its time but surprisingly the production is equally watchable two decades on.
The remaining DVD extras are balanced, informative and entertaining.
