Doctor Who – The Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2005] [DVD]
Doctor Who – The Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2005] [DVD]
It was always going to be a risk for the BBC to revamp Doctor Who–few television programmes inspire as much rabid and cultish adoration. With the 2005 series, however, the BBC have really outdone themselves. Their updated Doctor Who is a revelation: a cult science fiction series that has real mass appeal, and works for both children and their parents. Christopher Eccleston is an inspired and charismatic Doctor–he leaps around the sets with an unrestrained glee, like he’s a child running amok
List Price: £69.99
Price: £14.99
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Fantastic!,
No need to go into too much detail – this relaunch of Doctor Who was the best thing to happen to television in years. The original series managed it in 1963 and this new version has managed it in 2005 – it’s well-written drama with a warmth, wit and imagination far in excess of any other sci-fi show. There are some rather dull people around who have bemoaned the progress the new series has made, who seem to think that genuine, emotional drama and proper, rounded characters have no place in sci-fi (indeed, some of them have contributed reviews to this site). But anyone who’s still got a sense of fun in them, anyone who’s after a wonderful ride through time and space, should hop aboard the TARDIS. You’ll never regret it!
The DVD extras are great, too – particularly the audio commentaries from clearly enthusiastic cast and crew.
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|A classic re-born,
I was quite gob smacked to read the previous review. The Daily Mail style frothing at the mouth and wringing of hands was quite astonishing. Were we even thinking about the same series? The re-birth of Doctor Who under the careful guidance of Russell T Davies was, and still is, a total triumph. This first of the new series trod that difficult ground of keeping the old guard fans happy while introducing the wonderful character of the Doctor to a whole new generation. It could have quite easily fallen flat, but it didn’t.
The opening episode “Rose” has probably the hardest job to do, and struggles manfully with the introduction of characters and the development of a story line. As for the rest of the series for me the best episodes were “The Unquiet Dead”, wonderful Gothic horror stylings with added walking dead zombies and Charles Dickens – what more could you ask for? The Slitheen are fun in “Aliens of London” and “World War 3″. “Dalek” actually makes you feel sorry for a Dalek, which is a bit of masterful writing. “The Long Game” is brought alive by the wonderful Simon Pegg as The Editor and I think this is an unnecessarily underrated story, full of sharp humour and nice touches. “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances” are full of menace, particularly the ghostly little boy wandering the streets of war torn London asking all and sundry “are you my Mummy?” The season finale double header “Bad Wolf” and “Parting of the Ways” are two of the finest episodes seen in the whole Doctor Who pantheon up to this point.
A great first series, particularly enriched by a fine performance by Christopher Ecclestone in the central role. His wonderfully damaged Doctor comes with all sorts of baggage, tragically failing to come to terms with the loss of The Time Lords and his own solitary wanderings. Billie Piper rose (if you’ll pardon the pun) above all expectations with her fine portrayal of Rose Tyler. John Barrowman makes a fine Captain Jack and there is strong and able support from Noel Clarke and Camille Colduri.
You are on safe ground here. Entertaining intelligent sci fi for a new generation of Doctor Who fans.
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|Great show,
Like many of the other reviewers of this series, I loved the show. As a fan of the previous Doctor Who series I was hoping for much. I was not disappointed. A small number of reviewers have given the series a rough time. They fail to appreciate that in trying to make the show accessible to everyone the BBC were bound to make it inaccessible to some. Look at all the modern sci-fi shows out there today, how many are really suitable for the entire family to watch? The answer – very few.
Admittedly I do agree that Russell T. Davis’ episodes tend to be worse than the others and I too find the epsiodes dwelling on Rose’s family to be boring. I can’t wait to see the back of her mum and Mickey. I guess we’ll have to endure them all the time that Rose is the assistant.
I bought the individual DVDs as they came out during 2005 and recently sold them to “upgrade” to the box-set. In some respects I wish I hadn’t bothered. I enjoyed having Doctor Who – Confidential included but we should have been given the full versions and not the “cut-down” editions which are dull. The best part of confidential was getting the opinion of the past Doctors. This is absent from the cut-down editions.
So if you’re thinking of getting the series for the first time – buy this box set. If you have the individual DVDs – keep them and skip this.
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