STORY PLOTLINE
The Doctor has regenerated and the TARDIS forced to land by an evil renegade female Time Lord known as the Rani.
The Rani has taken control of the planet Lakertya and forced the peaceful Lakertyans to build a rocket silo-cum-laboratory base into a cliff face. She is aided by the Tetraps, a race of bat-like creatures, and plans to fire a rocket loaded with loyhargil, a substance with the same properties as strange matter, at an asteroid completely composed of the latter.
DVD EXTRAS
- Commentary - With actors Sylvester McCoy and Bonnie Langford, writers Pip and Jane Baker.
- The Last Chance Saloon - The BBC were on the point of killing-off Doctor Who in the face of stiff fan opposition. Instead, they decided to give the show one last chance. With Sylvester McCoy and Kate O'Mara, producer John Nathan-Turner, director Andrew Morgan, script editor Andrew Cartmel, writers Pip and Jane Baker, BBC Head of Series & Serials Jonathan Powell and graphic designer Oliver Elmes. Written by Nev Fountain and narrated by Richard Heffer.
- 7D FX - Behind-the-scenes at the creation of the story's impressive visual effects. With visual effects designer Colin Mapson, visual effects assistant Mike Tucker and video effects designer Dave Chapman.
- Helter-Skelter - Graphic designer Oliver Elmes and animator Gareth Edwards talk about how they created the first CGI title sequence in Doctor Who's history.
- Lakertya - Pip and Jane Baker talk about their original vision for the lush forest planet Lakertya and director Andrew Morgan explains why he ended up shooting it in a desolate quarry instead.
- Hot Gossip - Kate O'Mara recalls the fun of working with gossiping friends. With Sylvester McCoy and Andrew Morgan.
- On Location - BBC Breakfast Time's reporter Guy Michelmore visits the production during location filming for the story's exterior scenes and talks to John Nathan-Turner, Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford and Kate O'Mara.
- Blue Peter - Janet Ellis welcomes newly appointed Doctor Who Sylvester McCoy to the Blue Peter studio.
- Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
COMMENT Spoliers ahead
Studio DVD Commentary
On the pre-title sequence TARDIS crash, Sylvester McCoy: And that was the first example of CGI used in DOCTOR WHO.
On seeing the regeneration, Bonnie Langford: Is that you, Sylvester? Sylvester McCoy: Yes. I'm the only actor to have played two Doctors. Bonnie Langford: its rather bad wig isn't?
Sylvester McCoy: Yes, I look like Hapro Marx that wig on.
On her first "DVD commentary", Bonnie Langford: I have never seen any of these episodes before, let alone commented on them. So I'm intrigued really as to what my memory will bring back.
On the DOCTOR WHO digital title sequence, Bonnie Langford: The wink's very cute. Rather "camp".
On the filmed location sequence, Bonnie Langford: Another quarry. I look about 14 years old. Look at the shoulder pads - all very 80s.
On McCoy's first story, Bonnie Langford: When you first joined the show was it what you expected?
Sylvester McCoy: No, I didn't know what to expect. I was very apprehensive to work with Kate (O'Mara) but both of you were very welcoming and easy. It was a journey of discovery. The hardened fan didn't like change and they weren't complimentary to begin with. Well, I see it now I don't think it was all that bad. Rather good really.
On the character development of Mel Bush, Bonnie Langford: I think I was trying too hard to find too many layers.
Jane Baker queries the existence of the infamous "question marked" pullover, Sylvester McCoy: I always thought it was overstated. I did like my umbrella partly that I invented it.
On the "men-in-rubber-suits" actors as the monsters, Sylvester McCoy: The unsung heroes of DOCTOR WHO. A thankless task. They work so hard at what they do.
On the Tetraps, Bonnie Langford: I don't like the look of his tonsils. They look disgusting.
On his "perplexed" facial expression, Sylvester McCoy: That was just me trying to remember the lines. No acting required.
On remembering her previous story (THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD), Bonnie Langford: I hate carrot juice. They forced me to drink it.
On being captured by the Tetrap and a paralysing "sting", Bonnie Langford: Give us a kiss. He's given me a tongue sandwich.
Sylvester McCoy: And look at the stiff acting. Whoever said you was a "wooden" actor.
On being captured and being placed in the "mind-probe" cabinet and where the Doctor's hat was placed, Sylvester McCoy: It seemed a good place to hang it.
On the success (?) of the Rani's slaves, Sylvester McCoy: Bring back the Tetraps.
There was a decisive discussion on the value of the Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver, with all the contributors agreeing that the Doctor should use his brain to solve problems rather than waving his "magic wand".
On the reason why he though that Colin Baker was removed so unceremoniously as the Doctor, Pip Baker: It's a straightforward commercial decision to keep marketing fresh, and to make money.
On re-writing STRANGE MATTER (the original title) to TIME AND THE RANI to fit the fact that Colin Baker had refused to film one final story, Jane Baker revealed that Beyus' sacrifice to destroy the super-brain was to be the Sixth Doctor's own sacrifice (and forcing his regeneration).
On his time as the Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy: I had the most amazing great time. I'm still journeying through DOCTOR WHO.
Bonnie Langford: I have never seen any of my DOCTOR WHO stories, and I thought I was going to fear it but I enjoyed it.
DVD EXTRAS - THE FEATURES
THE LAST CHANCE SALOON documentary seems familiar in content. It seems to repeat content previously discussed as part of THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD boxset, as it documents the knock-on effect of the "hiatus" between seasons 22 and 23. Jonathan Powell and John Nathan-Turner, like the duelling lawless of the West (London) swinging appropriately sized handbags aiming for that knock out blow, provide opposing viewpoints of how McCoy's engagement was assigned.
More interestingly is the inclusion of McCoy's audition tape (and the two other actors who were "considered for the part" - though, in reality, it was a manipulated ploy by Nathan-Turner to persuade the BBC's Executives that the Dunnoon actor was the only choice. Smoke & mirrors, or fags & "compact" the master Producer), as he acts with appropriate gusto opposite Janet Fielding (as an intergalactic Margaret Thatcher).
This documentary reveals that Nathan-Turner had not wanted to continue with DOCTOR WHO and had a single script commissioned for the forthcoming season 24, leaving in-coming Script Editor Andrew Cartmell to professionally panic. With the counsel sought (by BBC Excecutives) from DOCTOR WHO luminaries such as Verity Lambert and Sydney Newman (who suggested that Patrick Troughton should return to the role...) there seemed to be an over-arching panic after the seemingly disasterous Colin Baker years.
Finally, Sylvester McCoy, candidly, reveals that he believed his was destined to be the Doctor with a hint of "cockiness. I was right for this job. I know I got better." He did, and, at times, was incomperably superb.
7D FX is a real treat for fans that are fascinated by the behind-the-scenes machinations of creative experts that had little time and little money to create the unearthly in a basement workshop at BBC TV Centre. The team of talents for DOCTOR WHO - TIME AND THE RANI lead the vanguard of new technology, including the use of new CGI (for the new title sequence) and Quantel Harry (a digital "paint box" use in tandem with "live-action"). This documentary includes previously unseen filmed sequences, models and interviews with the camera-shy Dave Chapman (CLASSIC SERIES video effects designer).
HELTER SKELTER dovetails from 7D FX superbly as documents the creative process & manifestation of season 24's new all-digital title sequence. The sequence may not be a fan's favourite but a new respect can be garnered following this documentary. Due to the limitations of computer software in 1987, the 50-second "helter skelter" sequence was rendered in an incomprehensible six weeks, with, perhaps, a single frame (there are 24 frames per second) of image taking half a day to complete.
LAKERTYA is a brief explanation of why DOCTOR WHO - TIME AND THE RANI was primarily set across a barren landscape (yes, the quarry in Somerset) instead of the "paradise" wooden-glades" initially devised by the writers, Pip & Jane Baker.
HOT GOSSIP is, yet another (like LAKERTYA) an inconsequential aside that recalls the "making of." memories of the cast & crew. The delicious Kate O'Mara (yes, she could reappear as the Rani as part of the NEW SERIES - and then regenerate into Keeley ASHES TO ASHES Hawes to battle with Matt Smith's Doctor) reveal that "luvvies" Wanda Ventham and Donald Pickering were forever gossiping on-set.
ON LOCATION is a "from the BBC BREAKFAST archives" replay, following the reporter on McCoy's first days of (location) recording. Beware: it includes two comic moments as the reporter lifts a fibreglass boulder out his way and dematerialises in his TARDIS Ford Cortina car. Oh, how I laughed.
BLUE PETER's Janet Ellis meets a slightly nervous (unprepared) McCoy as part of the live magazine programme for children.
Overall, DOCTOR WHO - TIME AND THE RANI is wonderfully ebullient, sowing the first seeds of McCoy's eventful (yet flawed) tenure as the Seventh Doctor (12 stories as part of the BBC TV produced series), and, as part of THE LAST CHANCE SALOON documentary, Andrew Cartmell was right in his assumption; DOCTOR WHO - TIME AND THE RANI was not the right style of story to introduce a new Doctor.
However, it was, in the time allowed, the best that could be produced. Of course, long-time fans have voted this one of the least most favourite (in the bottom five of over 200) but give it another chance, look at it afresh (and, with the aid of the DVD's documentary, review it in context of the time - the show was still in flux, scheduled against British television's popular institution - CORONATION STREET - and with the Producer that had lost heart) and you might just appreciate it. Might.
