Doctor Who - The Two Doctors [1984-86] [DVD] [1963]

Story: 4/5 - Extras: 5/5

Colin Baker's era of the TV series, and in particular season twenty-two, often comes under fire from fans as being badly written, thoughtless, bombastic and violent, with an unlikeable protagonist. However, I must confess a sneaking enjoyment of Colin Baker's era and nowhere more so than in Robert Holmes' The Two Doctors, which is by far the best of the original series' multi-Doctor stories.

The story isn't perfect: episode one drags, and there are some problems with the effects, particularly the Sontarans' loose headpieces. However, it also boasts excellent supporting characters in Jacqueline Pearce's conniving augmented Androgum Chessene and John Stratton's fiendishly greedy performance as Shockeye, the Androgum chef. The story is rife with cannibalistic and carnivorous themes and yes, there is a lot of violence, but it all serves to emphasise writer Robert Holmes' obvious ambhorrence of such behaviour in the real world, without ever resorting to preaching.

We also have the pleasure of seeing the return of Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines, both looking older but obviously enjoying themselves. Finally, much of the story is filmed in sunny Spanish locations in and around Seville, which gives the story a great sense of sophistication and a welcome departure from the often cheap studio sets common to the era. It's just a pity that the Spanish setting doesn't really kick in until episode two.

As well as an expertly restored version of the original story (which is a lengthy one, equivalent to a "traditional" six-parter), which also has an excellent score by Peter Howell, The Two Doctors has as large a package of special features as you could possibly ask for. The commentary by Baker, Bryant, Hines, Jacqueline Pearce and director Peter Moffatt is unfocused (Pearce says "darling" a lot without offering much else), but the on-screen production notes are excellent, and there is also a wide range of bonus material including two custom-made documentaries, an hour's worth of "making of" footage, a half-hour radio programme discussing The Two Doctors and the 1985 Jim'll Fix It special A Fix With Sontarans starring Colin Baker and Janet Fielding. All together a well-stuffed package.

My Uncle bought this for me a few years ago now, i wanted to see it because i was interested on seeing how the second doctor (Patrick troughton) and the sixth doctor (Colin baker) would work together in this classic adventure. All i can say is WOW, the story is interesting, the acting is very strong, especially from patrick troughton (my favourite doctor) also the music used in this episode is brilliant, it really brings the sontarons to life. This story is based in seville/spain which i think is an excellent choice of setting, the story is full of action, adventure and patrick troughton brings a comedy twist to the story wnich i think is brill!. a very good buy and well worth getting. I hope this review helps

The Two Doctors is frustrating - it's very nearly great, but falls down on several counts and leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. There are some interesting themes - the hypocrisy of the Doctor's own race, the folly of a scientist playing god, and some uncomfortable stuff about our habits as meat-eaters. Some of these are paid off in a way that is dramatically-satisfying. We also have some great dialogue and characterisation from the marvellous Robert Holmes - he clearly relished writing scenes in which the Doctors bait the Sontarans and puncture their military swagger, and both Shockeye and Chessene are genuinely disturbing characters. Sadly, it is rather too long: large chunks of episodes one and three are clearly padding - which might not have been so apparent if the direction had been less pedestrian. Its other key failing is its badly-handled changes in tone - one moment we are enjoying some light comedy and rollicking action-adventure, the next, we are confronted by something that goes too far in its darkness and sadism. Uneasy viewing that veers between the brilliant and the tedious.