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Amazon.co.uk Review
By Tom Baker's third season in the role the actor had become firmly established in the minds of many fans as the definitive Doctor. First broadcast in early 1977, "Robots of Death" follows on directly from "Face of Evil", which was writer Chris Boucher's debut and also that of Louise Jameson's Leela, the Doctor's most shapely companion (a kind of Neanderthal Seven of Nine if you will). Boucher's second Who story concerns an isolated mining ship on which a series of inexplicable deaths take place--although as the Doctor opines, "nothing is inexplicable, only unexplained". The Doctor and Leela inevitably become embroiled in events, which soon turn into a sci-fi murder-mystery: imagine Isaac Asimov crossed with Agatha Christie in a Frank Herbert Dune-like setting. Add an undercover robot sent by "the company" and the claustrophobic, not to say deadly setting of the mining ship and there is a fascinating foreshadowing of Alien, too. It is tightly plotted, intelligent Saturday teatime entertainment (something that was possible then but is now an unthinkable oxymoron) with a typically strong cast of redoubtable thesps in supporting roles (not to mention extravagant costumes and garish make-up). There may be no Daleks or Cybermen, but this is vintage Who nevertheless.
On the DVD: For a mid-70s TV programme, this looks really fresh on DVD, although the sound is mono. Each of the four episodes are broken down into chapter points for ease of use. There is a full audio commentary with producer Philip Hinchcliffe and writer Chris Boucher which suffers from some very long gaps ibetween the interesting nuggets of information. Also included are a few sundries of interest to die-hard fans: unused model shots, floor plans of the studio layout and some scene comparisons between "raw" footage and the same shots after post-production. --Mark Walker
Video Description
DVD Special Features :
Writer's and producer's commentary
Photo gallery
Scene selection
Model sequences
Graphical menus
Studio floor plans
Subtitles -- English SDH
Dolby Digital Mono
DVD9 4:3
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Among the best of 1970s Who,
By
This review is from: Doctor Who - The Robots Of Death [1978] [DVD] [1963] (DVD)
Story: 5/5 - Extras: 2/5One of Doctor Who's finest stories, not for special effects or outstanding originality, but for the quality of the script and the performances of the cast. The premise of the story is unashamedly derivative, both of past Who stories and of the works of Isaac Asimov, but here it is cleverly mapped onto a claustrophobic, Christie-esque whodunnit that will keep the average viewer guessing until the true villain is eventually revealed.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stylishly thrilling episode,
By A Customer
This review is from: Doctor Who - The Robots Of Death [1978] [DVD] [1963] (DVD)
This is not only one of the best Tom Baker episodes, but also one of the best Doctor Who's of all time, and certainly one of the most stylish. It also has one of the strongest cast to ever feature in an episode, apart from say, off the top of my head 'City of Death'.
The Robots are very slick & stylish and may have unintensionly started off the trend in 3/4 length trousers. The costumes that the humans wear are are bit too camp for my taste, but after all, the human crew are supposed to be a bunch of pampered primadonnas who have Robotic Servants to do everything for them. This is a brilliantly acted, gripping, claustrophobic, edge of the seat episode, which moves at a frenetic pace.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I must kill...the Doctor...,
By
This review is from: Doctor Who - The Robots Of Death [1978] [DVD] [1963] (DVD)
There is something about this episode. Whether it be the sharp script, the wealth of excellent supporting characters, the claustrophobic atmosphere, the genuinely gripping plot, the creepy featureless robots, the iconic Art Nouveau design of everything, Tom Baker's finest performance, Leela's skimpy outfit...no i know what it is. Its the ideas. The whole story is steeped so much in names / places / ideals / theories / fantastic imagination...yet below it lies a simple murder mystery, and thats what is so enveloping. The storm mine and its crew have a whole history, you could swear the future they live in is true. In much the same way Tolkien created Middle Earth, Chris Boucher has created the world in which this story takes place. You care for the characters, and not one thing goes above your head as unbelievable. In particular, robophobia: not a fear of robots, that would be cliche, but instead a fear of something the human mind can't recognise, but thinks should be human. Its fantastic. So many things which are made up but you believe in them instantly: dust miners, scoops, corpse markers, VOC robots.
I can't wax lyrical about this enough. It truly is my favourite doctor who story, there isn't a doubt. I laugh every time that Borg knocks the jelly babies away...i shudder every time they go into that cargo hold and the Doctor asks Poole: "What would you do now...?" And Poole says, without thinking..."Why...i'd...I'd call for a robot!" Stunning. The best Who story ever, highly recommended. Oh...and don't get me started on why the robots themselves. VOCs, SVOCS? They're so...just so brilliant. Especially that poor one with the secret. "Then...I have failed." Oh, wicked. I'm going to go watch it again. Right now.
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