The first thing that will strike everyone about this box set is its unusual packaging. Now while there's nothing wrong with it being shaped like a TARDIS, it's probably the flimsiest thing developed. My box barely ever stays together and the middle section with the Confidential disc is on the verge of coming off.
However, away from such fannish concerns, with everyone and their cat seemingly discussing the new series, I won't waffle on too much about the actual episodes; suffice to say my favourite is The Unquiet Dead. It's the type of story that the old series did incredibly well, and for me, it was proof that the new series would work with the fans as well as the general public.
Going through the discs in order. Disc 1 sees Rose, The End of the World and The Unquiet Dead with commentaries. The most interesting of the three is probably on the first episode, with Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson combining with a laugh a minute track, which is informative. Collinson teams up with visual effects producer Will Cohen for a commentary I can barely remember anything about for The End of the World. Mark Gatiss and Euros Lyn do most of the talking over The Unquiet Dead, with the occasionally wry comment from Simon Callow.
A BBC Breakfast interview with Christopher Eccleston isn't the most in-depth interview, while 'Destroying the Lair' gives us a fascinating look behind the scenes on the climax for Episode 1. Davies' video diary is brilliant, and covers the first week of filming. The video diary by Mark Gatiss, 'Waking the Dead' looks more at the writing process with 'Laying Ghosts' covering ground already done by the Gatiss video diary. The rest of disc 1 features trailers.
Disc 2 sees an invasion by the Slitheen in Aliens of London/World War III and the return of the Daleks. The commentary for Aliens of London comes from an enthusiastic David Verrey, with Gardner and Cohen returning. It's an interesting one to listen to. It's better than the next one where Annette Badland doesn't say a lot on the commentary for World War III, but it's more than Helen Raynor, which says a lot about this commentary. Dalek's commentary is a livelier affair with Nick Briggs, Rob Shearman, Bruno Langley and Dave Houghton, all of whom are lively and having a lot of laughs.
Billie video diary is fascinating for behind the scenes footage of various episodes, though particularly for her barrage balloon acting as she acts with a man who sounds nothing like Captain Jack. Destroying Big Ben gives us a look at the disastrous first take of one of the most impressive special effects in the series. Trailers finish looking at disc 2.
Disc 3 is the meatiest with four episodes. The Long Game commentary is pretty much led by Brian Grant, with Christine Adams occasionally saying something. I don't even remember Langley saying anything on this one. Father's Day track is more interesting, where Billie Piper's enthusiasm for the series comes out. Paul Cornell, Collinson and Shaun Dingwall complete another track worth listening to.
Steve Moffat, John Barrowman and Dave Houghton discuss The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances, where both Moffat and Barrowman discuss the sexual overtones of the script while Houghton talks about the practical creation of effects. The only other extra is a discussion of how the barrage balloons were created for the sequence where Rose flies over wartime London. A vital part of the sequence, but it's hardly something you'll want to watch again.
Disc 4 gives us Boomtown along with the heart stopping final two parter. Boomtown's commentary is Barrowman, Collinson and Badland, which you can imagine being recorded in a gay bar with some gin and tonics, while the indomitable trio of Davies, Gardner and Collinson return for Bad Wolf, which gives us some great insight into the making of the story. Barrowman and Piper return alongside Gardner for The Parting of the Ways, which is another fun commentary for Piper's genuine reaction when she sees the Emperor Dalek.
The other extras on disc 4 is a brief interview with John Barrowman about the part of the Captain Jack along with a chat with just about everyone in the design department which is probably the most comprehensive featurette on the set.
The other disc on this set contains the confidential episodes. You can more or less ignore these as, music edits aside, they're the same as the ones that have been on the BBC website ever since transmission. Every fan will look at Backstage at Christmas, which isn't particularly insightful for reasons of giving away the plot of The Christmas Invasion, but it will whet the appetite in time for the Christmas day special.
That's it. It doesn't feel like a particularly comprehensive package. There's no outtakes, deleted scenes and while only the design and model making parts feature in the making of departments, where for example was a look at the special effects, creating the costumes, monsters or make up on the series.
Overall, this box set is something that will give fans something they will watch over and over again. However, it's only likely to be the episodes with or without the commentary, which will stand up to repeat viewing rather than the extras
top of page |
