Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
POWERFUL STUFF, 11 Jul 2005
By A Customer
The Sontarans are a race of time travelling warriors, who are the original yobs of the Galaxy who like nothing more than a good ruck. In this two-parter the Sontaran is called Styre.
This is the third outing for Tom Baker and the second time round for the Sontarans, and it is written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin. It is set on Earth sometime in the far future, where what was once London, is now a bleak and barren landscape of hills and mountains (this was shot on Dartmoor). The Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive here, where they come across a small group of humans who are getting captured and then used for sadistic experiments by Styre - the Sontaran. It's enough to put you off fell walking for life! This is a highly enjoyable adventure that has a panoramic feel/quality to it.
'Genesis of the Daleks' takes place on Skaro (home planet of the Daleks), where the Doctor and his two companions go back in time, to a point where the Daleks are about to be unleashed for the first time.
This legendary six-parter that was written by Terry Nation and directed by David Maloney thoroughly deserves it's reputation because it has such a huge impact and works on so many different levels that it makes it very thought provoking. It's uncomprimising, brutal, horrific, scary, gripping and is full of tension. It's scientific, military and political, it's history in the making. There's a war going on (including trench warfare, plus gorilla fighting at the final stage), there's also the moral question about whether the Doctor has the right to wipe out the Dalek race, there's themes that hint at the Nazi's (fascism, fanaticism, genocide, plus genetics to create "the supreme master race of Daleks"), also the laboratories, underground bunkers, caves and tunnels (even a monorail), plus the mutants, slaves, soldiers, scientists and of course, the evil mad scientist Davros and his creation - the Daleks. This is epic on a grand scale, that is action packed all the way, that never loses it's momentum, despite being six episodes long.
Finally, did I mention that the Doctor was sent here by the Timelords, where the first thing he does is accidentily step on a landmine? There's also the half-ruined building in the mist filled wastelands where Sarah witnesses the iconic moment of Davros revealing a Dalek for the first time, also the Dalek incubator room, and the highly radio-active rocket launching pad, plus the dome shaped Kaled city that gets blown up by a rocket. We have the meeting that goes badly wrong (they all get exterminated), plus in another iconic moment, the Daleks turn on Davros and then exterminate him; not forgetting the endless corridors, the lifts, hatches and exits (including the ventilation shaft), and finally the BBC Quarry (Betchworth Quarry in Surrey - I believe).
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Doctor Who story?, 18 Mar 2005
By A Customer
Two excellent stories from Tom baker's first season as the Doctor. The Sontaran Experiment is a neat little 2 parter which works well. Kevin Lyndsey is excellent as the sadistic Sontaran Warrior Styre (following up his performance as Lynx in the previous season's 'Time Warrior'). It's a pity that the Sontaran stories were never quite so good after this.
What can you say about Genesis of the Daleks? A real classic and a candidate for the best story of them all. It is enhanced by the superb performance of Michael Wisher as the insane scientist Davros. He comes across as the ultimate dictator. Genesis is really his story, rather than 'just another dalek story.' Peter Miles is also excellent as his chilling sidekick, Nyder.
These were Tom Baker's third and fourth stories respectively, and by now he has firmly settled into his role. He is also given able support by Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan, and the excellent Liz Sladen as Sarah-Jane (the best Doctor Who companion). This was arguably the peak period for the series.
Well worth having if you can afford it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sontar-Ha!, 18 May 2009
Nice VHS set where you get two serials for the price of one! The Sontaran Experiment is one of Doctor Who's shorter stories; with just two episodes it bridged the gap between the intriguing 'Ark in Space' and the epic 'Genesis of the Daleks'. The story itself is not that memorable but it sees the return of The brutish Sontarans - well one brutish Sontaran - who is experimenting on human subjects in order to spearhead an invasion of Earth.
Generally considered by fans to be the best Doctor Who story ever made; Genesis of the Daleks is a winning combination of the evil titular mutants, the first appearance of their Machiavellian creator 'Davros', Tom Baker and Lis Sladen on top form, and a dilemma that sums The Doctor up in one breathless moment. Whilst it naturally suffers from being dated (it was made 34 years ago!) it still stands up as a great slice of Doctor Who from the show's golden period. Baker had settled into the role after a handful of stories, and his Doctor is all manic action and charisma; the scene where he debates with himself whether or not he has the right to destroy The Daleks before they have had a chance to unleash their evil and destruction on the universe is a series high; of that there is no doubt.
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VHS ~ John Pertwee
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VHS ~ Peter Davison
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