Doctor Who - The Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2005] [DVD]

 

 

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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.

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.

I was born in 1984 so I'm of that generation who really missed-out on "Doctor Who". I had no Doctor to call my own when I grew up, and little knowledge of the series outside of the cult symbols of the Daleks and the TARDIS. (When I was still at senior school we had a Christmas quiz one time and one of the questions was to name any of the actors who had played the Doctor - no one could answer, which proves the point.) But then the new series came along, and I, like many other people, became a convert. I'm a big "Star Wars" fan and I love the "Harry Potter" books as much as the next person, but forget "Revenge of the Sith" and "Half-Blood Prince" - "Doctor Who" was *the* event of 2005, without a doubt.

So, what made it work? Well, it's simple really: well-written stories, excellent casting with some superb actors, special effects better than what's usually seen in any British TV series, and a show that was as much about the characters as it was about the monsters and the spaceships. Though its eccentricity when compared to the likes of "Star Wars" and other sci-fis threw me off to begin with, I soon settled in to the show's wit and charm, and I love its ability to never take itself too seriously, which is the downfall of a lot of modern fantasy stuff. Also, the fact that it was thoroughly entertaining and accessible for both children and adults was a real bonus, especially since so many things - even "Harry Potter" - seem to be getting to that level at the moment where they're too dark for younger audiences to enjoy. How wonderful it is to safely be able to sit back with either young kids or your grandparents and still feel comfortable about watching something together!

The show's power for me lays in its characters, though, and every week, though I loved the monsters and the fantastical adventures, I wanted just as much to see what the next development might be in the relationship between the Doctor and Rose, or to see how Mickey and Jackie were getting along without them, if we had an adventure that took us back to present-day Earth. It just made it all feel so much more realistic, though it's ironically choc-full of the impossible!

Billie Piper is an absolute revelation as Rose - I had my doubts at first, but from the moment you set eyes on her in part 1, you know she's a gifted actress. Put her together with Christopher Eccleston, one of the most talented and gritty actors in Britain today, and you've got an absolutely electric combination. Talent ahoy! They're both extremely capable of bringing every aspect of the scripts - from the dry humour to heart-wrenching emotion - to life, and are the driving force behind what proves to be a very energetic, intelligent and moving drama series. Though some episodes prove to be superior to others, there's never a terrible one, and this box set is well worth the investment if you have the cash. The extra featurettes give the enthusiastic Whovian something to get their teeth into, and I guarentee you will never find some more hilarious audio commentaries than you do along to some of these episodes, which, as well as revealing the actor's thoughts, also reveal some incredibly funny asides and memoirs of the on-set hiccups.

Though there are some fans of the classic "Doctor Who" who dismiss the new series (like any fan who treasures the originals, I guess), no one can deny that the new "Who" was a huge hit and that it's an incredibly well-made drama/sci-fi series. Now showing in its second season on BBC in the UK, the first shall always be remembered as the one that set the benchmark for the rest to follow, with a Doctor of the likes that we've never seen before (I personally don't think we'll ever see another Doctor as great as Chris Eccleston, but we all have our favourites, don't we?).

So, just sit back with the whole family, relax, jump behind the sofa if you have to, and enjoy what is the best of British family drama. Thank you Russell T Davies - we owe you one.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series
This series is absolutely terrific. The first season has the ninth Dr played magnificently by Christopher Eccleston. Read more

Published 1 day ago by Richard Johnston

1.0 out of 5 stars Crap
I wish I could give it less than 1 star. Its awful. RTD's scripts got marginally better towards the end, but at this stage (season 1), he couldn't write decent Sci-fi to save his... Read more

Published 13 days ago by Jaques

5.0 out of 5 stars Great
The box is great and shipment of amazon is great too.
The box contains many extras and a great package with format of TARDIS.

Published 2 months ago by Max

5.0 out of 5 stars The Revamp of the Century
The Series itself -
Episode 1 of a highly anticipated revamp is a wonderful story on first viewing. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Sylictic

5.0 out of 5 stars good value
bought this as the bbc dont show it on tv like they do the david tennant ones its just as good . nicely boxed too, good value for money.buy it!

Published 3 months ago by I. R. Bingham

5.0 out of 5 stars Need I say more?
One of the best seasons of the revived Doctor Who and the perfect jumping on point for new fans. As the Ninth Doctor would say: "Fantastic!"

Published 4 months ago by Richard Sharpe

4.0 out of 5 stars New Who Series 1
WARNING!! Review May contain spoilers...

Doctor Who returned after sixteen long years since the original series ended (and 6 years after the mediocre TV Movie). Read more

Published 5 months ago by Dehumanizer

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Six years on, and the premiere series of the revamped all new 21st Century Incarnation of our favourite Time Lord's adventures is still by far the best. Read more

Published 9 months ago by G. G. Stafford

5.0 out of 5 stars A BRILLIANT PROGRAM!
DOCTOR WHO is one of the longest lasting TV programs ever made! It's amazing how it's kept on going for 48 years now! Read more

Published 9 months ago by G. Stephenson

5.0 out of 5 stars Just brillient.
The best series on T.V that year.

Every episode is Amazing, unlike the resent Doctor Who series. But they too are just worth watching. A must buy! Read more

Published 10 months ago by Reetep

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