STORY PLOTLINE

In this four part adventure, the Doctor, Harry and Sarah accidentally arrive on an artificial satellite where the survivors of Earth lie in cryogenic suspension waiting to begin a new life.

But the Doctor soon discovers that there has been a sinister intrusion... A gigantic insect has infiltrated the human ark. It is dead, but it was Queen of the Wirrn, sworn enemies of the Earth - and her egg sac was full. Something is terribly wrong and when the crew begin to awaken it soon becomes clear that some of them are not entirely what they seem...

The Doctor must find out how to destroy the Wirrn larvae before they absorb the last of the human race and become an invincible swarm. But this involves a desperate gamble with his own life - a gamble he must take if he is to save mankind.

SPECIAL EDITION DVD EXTRAS

• New content: A NEW FRONTIER : MAKING OF THE ARK IN SPACE
• New content: TV MOVIE VERSION : The 70-minute repeat compilation of the story that was broadcast on 20th August 1975
• New content: DR FOREVER! – LOVE AND WAR : A new documentary examining the Virgin/BBC Books range of novels produced during the show's hiatus. Interviewees include Russell T Davies and Mark Gatiss
• Studio Commentary : With actors Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen plus producer Philip Hinchcliffe
• Scene Around Six : 1978 news footage of Tom Baker's public appearances in Northern Ireland
• 8mm location footage : Amateur film shot during Tom Baker's first story
• Interview: With Designer, Roger Murray-Leach
• Alternative title sequence and model footage
• Optional CGI effects + Original BBC trailer + 3D technical schematics
• Photo gallery + TARDIS Cam
• Coming Soon trailer (DOCTOR WHO – THE AZTECS)
• Production information subtitles
• Radio Times listings, Doctor Who Technical Manual, plus Crosse & Blackwell and Nestlé promotional material (Adobe PDF format)
• Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

SPECIAL EDITION DVD (2013) COMMENT

My Granddad used to me, “If you have nothing new to say, keep your gob shut”.

Wise words, indeed, and when it comes to reviewing DOCTOR WHO Special Edition DVD releases it is some that should be heeded by all parties - DVD Commissioning Editors and Fandom Critics – and a careful assessment of what can be said “new” undertaken before continuing on a journey that will inevitably end with hard earned cash being agitated from fan’s TARDIS moneyboxes.

There are two questions; (1) How valuable are these “Special Editions” - whether published under the REVISITATIONS sub-brand or singularly – in adding further narrative to DOCTOR WHO story, and (2) Should Fan Critics promote what is clearly a (clever, if not manipulative) marketing tool in perpetuating the DOCTOR WHO archive knowing that fan’s, like myself, will buy the product because we are fans even though we know that such releases are/can be a “cash cow” for the BBC?

The answer to both those is, as yet, undefinable. There has yet to be a “special edition” release that truly demonstrates a worthiness to be re-issued. Am I being too harsh or, heaven forefending, (too) cynical, or (very) narrow-minded? Probably to all three.

On 18 February 2013, BBC CONSUMER PRODUCTS are releasing an undoubted and unchallenging classic story from 1975 but with less than a handful of new items for fans to view would they be better off buying a roll of ‘Bubblewrap’ and get more enjoyment from laying it across the kitchen floor and ‘de-pimpling’ it under bare feet? I want to say categorically “Yes” but I want to be truthful, honest and independent in voice. So, sadly I have to say “Maybe”. Certainly the level of professional production quality exceeds all expectations but the new content hardly pushes the envelope of originality as it once did (recently only DVD extra content for THE SENSORITES’ “Looking for Peter” and, in 2004, THE GREEN DEATH’ “Global Conspiracy” have been extraordinarily perceptive). It would seem that this “special edition” will be viewed once and then left to garner a layer of dead skin cells and household detritus on the DVD shelf.

However, there is true jewel that contradicts the inglorious content assessment; A NEW FRONTIER – THE MAKING OF THE ARK IN SPACE is fascinatingly astute and entertaining in equal measure. As expected, this new classy documentary (from PUP’s Chris Chapman) chronicles it genesis (originally scheduled was a story called SPACE STATION from Christopher Langley, superseded by a complicated contribution from John Lucarotti), casting, design and filming with contributions from its series producer, Phillip Hinchcliffe (“…a vision of mine…science fiction…taking it away from Earth…Feature Film design on a shoestring”), director Rodney Bennett (“…very complicated script and lots of challenges as I’m not a very technical director…I would have like to have more slime…”), actress (as Vira), Wendy Williams for which time has been generous for her (“…haughty…very proud to be in it 40 years later”), actor (as Noah), Kenton Moore (“…I think Tom Baker was inspired casting…may hand was gift-wrapped in Bubblewrap…”). The documentary discusses the rigorous approach that Hinchcliffe applied to both the script and filming, undertaking self-censorship where he felt that elements would be unsuitable for the viewer (In episode three, Noah, then partly infected by the Warn DNA, confronts the Doctor and (his life-long partner) Vira in which the original script he pleaded them to kill him. “...for pity’s sake, kill me…”). A fascinating insight in to the process of developing story narrative without being exploiting the viewers’ goodwill, balancing a broad church of morality and depicting gratuitous acts of violence. A NEW FRONTIER delivers everything you’d expect from a featurettes; intelligent, earnest yet warm, and informative; if only other documentaries followed this winning formula.

In DR FOREVER! – LOVE AND WAR an array of DOCTOR WHO luminaries analyse the often overlooked (or purposefully ignored?) contribution of the VIRGIN BOOKS publishing licence in perpetuating the DOCTOR WHO brand following the broadcast termination of the CLASSIC SERIES (in December 1989). For nearly 15 years, the company’s NEW ADVENTURE range of original novels reimagined, as Russell T Davies would do with the 2005 NEW SERIES, the Doctor and his companions for the most dedicated of fans and harnessing latent writing talent (including Paul Cornell, Robert Shearman, Gary Russell, Mark Gatiss) that was genuinely fostered within the incestuous world of DOCTOR WHO fandom fanzines of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Thankfully, the documentary avoids crude acts self-congratulatory naval-gazing and gestalt pats-on-the-back, and eloquently focuses on the valuable contribution that the series of novels inadvertently provided in – perhaps – re-engaging the BBC in considering the brand as a equally valuable commodity and, yes, “cash-cow” (VIRGIN’s licence was revoked-terminated, and BBC BOOKS launched their own novel series on the back of the 1996 TV MOVIE). Indeed, you may logically deduce that perhaps VIRGIN’s contribution (and its Commissioning Editor, Peter Darvill-Evans) may have been a major catalyst in seeing the viability of re-commissioning a television series itself?

The only other ‘new’ VAM (value added material) as part of this two-disc release is the 1975 edited TV MOVIE VERSION, and, as an example of television drama produced on a shoestring nearly forty years ago, it is remarkably watchable. If only it had been cleaned” as part of the restoration process.

Oh, yes, the cleaning process. The ‘blurb’ states that “…newly re-mastered, utilising advances in technology and technique…” Now, I’m a little confused as I have viewed both this release and the original (2002) release and I’m struggling to see any difference (unless my SONY television and gold-plated connection cables are faulty..!). Personally, each of the ‘re-mastered’ DVDs should include a mandatory VAM feature detailing the updates whether it is cleaning of picture flickering, scratches, dust, colour balancing.

Nevertheless, whilst the new content is (very) limited, the release of DOCTOR WHO – THE ARK IN SPACE is truly welcome, ready to be explored and devoured with the same relish as a mandible-chomping insectoid who thought, in discovering Space Station Nerva, that their all their Christmases and birthdays had come all at once. Yes, it is ‘classic’ in the truest sense of the word but, regrettably, I felt that this release deserved more (perhaps, a 360 degree animation of Nerva’s interior, demonstrating the extent of its storage capability) to warrant that emptying of the TARDIS moneybox.

I'm glad I sometimes disagreed with my Grandad about keeping my gob shut; DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK IN SPACE is always worth talking about.

ORIGINAL 2002 DVD EXTRAS

• Studio Commentary: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen and Philip Hinchcliffe
• CGI EFFECTS. Brand new CGI effects and 2D Ark Schematic
• TRAILERS. Original BBC1 Trailer and News reports
• DESIGNS ON THE DOCTOR. Exclusive interview with Roger Murray-Leach
• TITLE SEQUENCE. Unused Title sequence and 16MM Model footage
• PHOTO GALLERY + PRODUCTION SUBTITLES + EASTER EGG.

ORIGINAL DVD (2002) COMMENT 

Note: the DVD was viewed with the commentary and Information Text features running.

One of the main features presented on the disc is the option to replace the existing BBC Special Effects Department model footage with newly designed CGI footage. Nice but curiously pointless, as is the inclusion of the wilfully unspectacular TARDIS Cam footage (Mike Tucker needs to find something better to do with his spare time).

The 'Easter Egg' is a joy to find, and encourages you to find other items and continue to watch after episode 4 ends for another treat that is as tasty as Blackpool Candyfloss.

Without dwelling upon the plotline, Robert Holmes' script ploughs a heavy furrow theough sodden sci-fi soil. Even the Information Text feature highlights the similarity between his plot variation and Hartnell's THE ARK. Whilst the story is not in the same league as THE TERROR OF THE ZYGONS or the time untarnished THE PYRAMIDS OF MARS, Baker's first season ranks, in its entirety, as the best from his tenure (both this story and ROBOT were the early faltering steps of the new DOCTOR WHO team).

Nevertheless, this is Baker and Sladen: The Early Years.

A few seconds into the first episode, Baker nonchalantly announces that he "can't remember a single thing" about the story. This proves true enough but Tom being Tom he manages to mutter memorable gems. From his warm reaction to the youthful Sladen, "Oh, darling, you look great" to "this was the best job I have ever had" and on "fan love is superior to human love", winding up with "it (the show) was no more improbable than my life".

Hinchcliffe and Sladen offer suitably instigative observations. Liz reveals that she did not like here reporter persona, which is surprising as this aspect of the character, was pitched at the time as a positive reaction against the series' sexist excesses.

Phillip Hinchcliffe asserts in passing that "half the people making the programme thought it was a children's programme". No surprise there then, but it is nice to hear someone as important to the shows development as Hinchcliffe say as much.

However, it is Liz's closing remarks for the final episode provoked a smile, as she contributed, "I feel like clapping". So did I.

Original DVD 2002 release

Special Edition DVD release