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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
"The Sontaran Experiment", by Bob Baker and Dave Martin, achieves exactly what it sets out to achieve: to provide a diverting two-part filler story to plug the gap between "The Ark in Space" and "Genesis of the Daleks".
Fifty minutes really isn't a lot of time for the classic series to work with, and as such the plot (and resolution) is fairly straightforward. Of much more interest is the fact that "The Sontaran Experiment" was shot entirely on location, in cold weather on the windswept expanses of Dartmoor. There are, therefore, no corridors for once, and good use is made of the natural environment, with its dramatic vistas and all its concomitant hazards.
In his first performance as the Doctor under new producer Philip Hinchcliffe ("The Sontaran Experiment" was made before "The Ark in Space"), Tom Baker nails the part right away, delivering just the right mixture of madness and intensity. Companions Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan are their usual likeable (if hopeless) selves and there's nothing really to object to, except perhaps for the rather cheesy robot. The Sontaran makes a good, if one-dimensionasl villain, and his eventual demise is fairly gratifying.
The DVD presentation in this likeable slice of filler is the first of the BBC's cut-price "vanilla plus" presentations of classic series stories. The DVD therefore features a commentary (with actress Elisabeth Sladen, producer Philip Hinchcliffe and writer Bob Baker) and a decent documentary on the role of the Sontarans in Doctor Who, but not all that much else. A decent purchase for Who fans none the less.
Fifty minutes really isn't a lot of time for the classic series to work with, and as such the plot (and resolution) is fairly straightforward. Of much more interest is the fact that "The Sontaran Experiment" was shot entirely on location, in cold weather on the windswept expanses of Dartmoor. There are, therefore, no corridors for once, and good use is made of the natural environment, with its dramatic vistas and all its concomitant hazards.
In his first performance as the Doctor under new producer Philip Hinchcliffe ("The Sontaran Experiment" was made before "The Ark in Space"), Tom Baker nails the part right away, delivering just the right mixture of madness and intensity. Companions Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan are their usual likeable (if hopeless) selves and there's nothing really to object to, except perhaps for the rather cheesy robot. The Sontaran makes a good, if one-dimensionasl villain, and his eventual demise is fairly gratifying.
The DVD presentation in this likeable slice of filler is the first of the BBC's cut-price "vanilla plus" presentations of classic series stories. The DVD therefore features a commentary (with actress Elisabeth Sladen, producer Philip Hinchcliffe and writer Bob Baker) and a decent documentary on the role of the Sontarans in Doctor Who, but not all that much else. A decent purchase for Who fans none the less.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Though not a classic, this story holds a special place on my shelf.
The plot is nice and easy to follow despite the seriousness of the Sontaran plot.
Tom Baker is on top form and gets a chance to show the audience that like Jon Pertwee his doctor is capable of using physical strength to overcome an enemy when required to.
This was my first Sontaran story and I have to say they instantly became one of my fave monsters in the series.
Overall this story is a welcome addition to Tom's first season and shows just how violent and sadistic a Sontaran can be.
The plot is nice and easy to follow despite the seriousness of the Sontaran plot.
Tom Baker is on top form and gets a chance to show the audience that like Jon Pertwee his doctor is capable of using physical strength to overcome an enemy when required to.
This was my first Sontaran story and I have to say they instantly became one of my fave monsters in the series.
Overall this story is a welcome addition to Tom's first season and shows just how violent and sadistic a Sontaran can be.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
As many Doctor Who fans know, this was a last minute story with very little budget and so became the first Doctor Who story to be filmed entirely on location.
This is Tom Baker at his best, he injured himself during the making of this and you can tell during part of the fight scene with the Sontaran that a double in a wig was used. Baker is witty and demonstrates the light hearted ego we all love about his Doctor.
A welcome return of the Sontarans. Given the budget restraints Doctor Who often had, the Sontaran costume and make-up is excellent. One of the eeriest characters (and one I hope we'll see again in the new series at some point!).
The Sontaran was one of the darkest characters, carrying out experiments on humans as if they were mere labratory specimins. There seemed to be a bit of humour in his beaurocracy obsession with keeping notes too!
The robot was a bit dire - it looked like a couple of coat hangers had been animated through demonic possession, so it didn't scare me. But that's where imagination comes in handy - as with the snake! The accents of the astronauts kept you guessing as to where they were from as you picked up hints of, well, everywhere!
Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen) was a strong character in this episode, perhaps more than Ian Marter who was easing himself into the role still. Interestingly, Tom Baker looked as though he'd been playing The Doctor since the dawn of time, even though he was still pretty new to the role - such was the genius of Baker.
A slow edited story, which adds to the feeling of nothingness and heightens the tension. It's not a 13 part spectacular, it's not the best ever Doctor Who. But it's still good, and a worthwhile addition to any DW DVD collection.
This is Tom Baker at his best, he injured himself during the making of this and you can tell during part of the fight scene with the Sontaran that a double in a wig was used. Baker is witty and demonstrates the light hearted ego we all love about his Doctor.
A welcome return of the Sontarans. Given the budget restraints Doctor Who often had, the Sontaran costume and make-up is excellent. One of the eeriest characters (and one I hope we'll see again in the new series at some point!).
The Sontaran was one of the darkest characters, carrying out experiments on humans as if they were mere labratory specimins. There seemed to be a bit of humour in his beaurocracy obsession with keeping notes too!
The robot was a bit dire - it looked like a couple of coat hangers had been animated through demonic possession, so it didn't scare me. But that's where imagination comes in handy - as with the snake! The accents of the astronauts kept you guessing as to where they were from as you picked up hints of, well, everywhere!
Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen) was a strong character in this episode, perhaps more than Ian Marter who was easing himself into the role still. Interestingly, Tom Baker looked as though he'd been playing The Doctor since the dawn of time, even though he was still pretty new to the role - such was the genius of Baker.
A slow edited story, which adds to the feeling of nothingness and heightens the tension. It's not a 13 part spectacular, it's not the best ever Doctor Who. But it's still good, and a worthwhile addition to any DW DVD collection.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Half-sized but adequate story - good expansion of our brief...
The Sontaran Experiment stands up well today and much like the excellent The Time Warrior, it predominantly is about a solitary Sontaran, this time experimenting on humans to... Read more
Published 5 months ago by R. Le Quin
An Alien in the Countryside
The Sontaran Experiment is a great story set on Earth before London was built. A lone Sontaran has been dispatched to conduct experiments on humans to establish their weaknesses... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Andrew50
doctor who - the sontaran experiment
In this reasonably well acted production. The Fourth Doctor and his companions encounter and outwit the sontaran race once more, in this drivable but nonetheless enjoyable... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2010 by scrooge
A good filler story but a poor value DVD - buy the Bred for War boxed...
No doubt about it, this is a real swizz from the BBC and 2Entertain: this Tom Baker two-parter was always included on the old video releases of Genesis of the Daleks, the story it... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2009 by Trevor Willsmer
Experimental
One of the so-called 'vanilla releases; this two part serial from 1975 is one of Doctor Who's shorter stories, and it bridged the gap between the intriguing 'Ark in Space' and the... Read more
Published on 19 May 2009 by Captain Pugwash
rubbish
i think the sontaran episode was rubbish it was only a two parter and witht he sontaran only showing at the end of part one made it one of the rubbishet episodes ever
Published on 15 April 2009 by Mrs. D. Wilson
"Sontarans and South Africans"
A good 2 parter shot entirely on location, Dartmoor adding more than a little atmosphere.
Yes, the script is a bit scatalogical. Read more
Yes, the script is a bit scatalogical. Read more
Published on 16 April 2008 by Bob Marlowe
Only 2 episodes.
'The Sontaran Experiment' is good, but, being only a 2 parter (about 50 minutes), should have been released with 'The Ark in Space' (4 parts), the story that had preceded it on... Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2007 by Paul2002
Experiments in time and space
We are informed in the entertaining commentary to The Sontaran Experiment that this rare two-parter came about because Ark in Space, originally envisaged as a six-parter, was cut... Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2007 by Sarah L. Willis
did the sontarans create the SMASH robots?
i like many people originally saw this story when released with Genisis of the Daleks years back now. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2006 by dazza
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