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The longest running Sci-Fi program in the history of this universe. The Doctor is a Time Lord who travels the universe for kicks because his planet is the dullest in the universe and Earth is much more fun. Million of fans continue to enjoy this series on many levels, from the fantasy and sci-fi to the tongue in cheek humor. DVD Features:Audio CommentaryBiographiesPhoto galleryProduction Notes
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Reviews:
Boyfriend LOVED it as a Christmas gift!
I bought this for my boyfriend for Christmas. He went nuts! He loves it. The picture quality is good, and has not been retouched, so it's exactly how you would remember seeing back when it was aired. I wish it wasn't so expensive, but somethings are just worth it! I recommend this set to any fan of Dr. Who that liked Tom Baker the best.
Good Fun
For me, Tom Baker is the quintessential Doctor. Probably, I like him because he was the first one I saw. He is funny: the hair, the eyes, and of course, the scarf. This story with the six sub-plots is a nice story arc. Romana or Fred (Mary Tamm) is elegant, beautiful and witty. She makes for a good companion, not the most fun of the companions, but definitely perfect for this story arc. My favorite story of the episodes is the Douglas Adam story "The Pirate Planet." It has a interesting mystery and some good dialog. The cheesiest is "The Power of Kroll," but it has a good soliloquoy by Baker as he tries to encourage himself to approach the giant squid. The Ribos operation had some good characters. All the stories are fun.
The conclusion is perfect. The Doctor smiling from ear to ear because the Tardis is taking him and Romana to random locations throughout the universe. The kicker is that they never know where they'll be until they get there. He is grinning because that is his perfect idea of fun.
About the DVDs, I haven't watched the interviews yet. I am sure they are interesting with Tamm, Baker and some of the directors. The picture and the sound qualites are excellent. The quality is better than when I watched them in reruns for the first time in the 1980s.
A HIT-AND-MISS SEASON FOR "DOCTOR WHO."
The first attempt at doing a season-long story arc with "Doctor Who," the entirety of the show's sixteenth season was devoted to the Doctor's quest for the Key to Time, an object that has the power to stop time or hold it in place. For all six adventures, the Doctor and his companion, the first version of Romana, hunt down one segment to the key, always wary of the Black Guardian, who seeks it for his own power.
The series begins with the four-part adventure "The Ribos Operation," a rather dull beginning. The cast and crew do what they can, but the story is rather uninteresting. The follow-up adventure, "The Pirate Planet," is more interesting, but also does little to keep the viewers interest for the entire four episodes. This is followed by "The Stones of Blood," the 100th "Doctor Who" serial produced. This is a good entry to the series, with chills, thrills, and humor.
"The Androids of Tara" is also a worthy adventure, mixing dark age and computer technology to create a fine serial. The fifth serial, the four-part serial "The Power of Kroll," is the weakest link in the series. Writer Robert Holmes, who wrote some fantastic work for the series, has a brief stumble with this one, which is overall very silly.
The final serial, the six-part adventure "The Armageddon Factor," is the best of the adventures, tying up loose ends, and the Black Guardian finally makes an appearance in the finale. Chills, thrills and great humor make this a great end to the season.
Overall, "The Key to Time" is an interesting idea that was overall worthwhile. While a couple of the serials didn't match up to classic "Who," the series ended with a bang, and proved that there was still life in the show. The year-long arc worked for Colin Baker in the shorter, fourteen-episode season 23, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord - Episode 144-147,. But fans of the Doctor will find much to enjoy with this boxed set.
Overall Program/DVD Grade: B+
A must buy for any Dr. Who fan
I'm a dedicated Dr. Who fan, so my bias must be considered, but I would have traded my embossed sonic screwdriver set for this collection. Tom Baker is my all-time favorite Dr. Who and Romana...weeelll...she's a beauty to behold. Time travel should really be this much fun!
Fine Dr Who but often silly
The earlier Dr Who season produced by Philip Hinchliffe used classic Gothic horror interspersed with sly humor. Here Graham Williams and Douglas Adams bring the humor to the fore front and while witty especially with Adams' own "The Pirate Planet" it often leaves Dr. Who fans cold. Mary Tamm is a knockout and the jokes come fast and furious. For newcomers to Dr. Who via the new season this is a fine introduction to the real show.
