Season 25 - The Collection

Before we get on to the content of the discs, a word about the booklet which accompanies this set. I'm afraid that the proof reader must have been on their holiday this time as there are a number of silly errors evident in the text. Lesley Dunlop did not play a character named Norma in Frontios. Fiona Walker did not play a character named Karla in The Keys of Marinus. And Richard Maynarde in Silver Nemesis was most definitely not played by Gerald Taylor.

Anywho, on to the content. All four stories of Season 25 get the Special Edition treatment and, as I've looked at the stories as broadcast elsewhere on this blog, I'll be concentrating on them - plus the numerous new Extras (existing Extras such as the big Davros documentary and the original making-of's are ported over from the DVD releases). Not quite so many of them this time, compared to the 20th Anniversary season, but this reflects the somewhat diminished status of the series in 1988 as compared to 1983.

Remembrance of the Daleks has three versions to chose from - the original, the original with new CGI, or the 2024 Special Edition.

The SE has a few short scenes added - mainly character pieces between members of the Counter Measures Intrusion Group, some of which help sow the seeds of Mike's racism. One nice addition is the change of music playing on the jukebox when Ace first enters the café and meets Mike. It's now "John Smith and the Common Men", as listened to by Susan in An Unearthly Child.

The "I.M. Forman" sign on the gate has been amended to read "Foreman". Sometimes. The "E" comes and goes as the gates are opened and closed.

The main new CGI elements involve the Mothership and Shuttle, as well as Dalek ray effects. A pity they couldn't have painted out those clearly anachronistic buildings which keep appearing in the background of many street scenes.

The Dalek Supreme now melts, rather than disappears in a rainbow swirl.

The Happiness Patrol has the same three options, but this time the Special Edition has seen a major overhaul. There's around 15 minutes of extra material across the three episodes - roughly 5 minutes apiece. Some totally new scenes have been created as well as the inclusion of previously deleted ones, and they have re-edited some sequences. The big visual difference is the CGI expansion to many of the Terra Alpha street scenes, showing them in the context of the larger cityscape.

We see the Kandyman actually being swamped by the hot sugar solution in the pipeline, and the dialogue of the Pipe People has been taken back to the original studio audio so that it is slightly more intelligible. 

Silver Nemesis actually has five different versions on offer. There's the broadcast one, the broadcast one with new CGI, the 1993 VHS version (with a few deleted scenes reinstated), the 2024 Special Edition, and a 55 minute omnibus of the 2024 Special Edition.

Truth be told, I'd go with the omnibus as it cuts out a lot of the pointless stuff from the original episodes (like skinheads and rich Americans). The new CGI effects are mainly the Cyberman fleet in space, and some of their shuttle craft scenes. Nemesis' return to the rocket sled in the third episode has been redone. The Special Edition not only has new effects, it has also been re-edited and restructured to make it flow a little more smoothly. They haven't stuck all of the deleted scenes into it. One scene I always liked as it provides a character moment for De Flores is the one where he talks to his mercenaries in the van. This has been excluded from the SE but is there as an extra. 

Back in 1988, Mike Tucker had wanted to use Cybermats to overpower the policemen when the Nemesis first lands. This was vetoed by Andrew Cartmel, though we did get to see one of the new design on the anniversary documentary 30 Years in the TARDIS, menacing Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant near St Paul's.

They've finally got their scene in the SE.

Finally, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy also has the three options - as broadcast, as broadcast but with new CGI, and the 2024 Special Edition which once again includes previously deleted scenes as well as the new effects.

The main differences here are replacement video effects, though the first and third episodes have a few minutes of deleted material reinstated - which don't add much to the story at all.

Onto the extra material, and the first three stories of the season are given two discs apiece to allow for their Special Editions and extras, whilst the final story is confined to a single disc. Disc 8 covers more general McCoy extras, as opposed to story or season specific ones.

Most of the archive material appears alongside the Dalek and Cyberman stories, as one launched the anniversary season and the other was the actual anniversary story. A lot of this material comprises short appearances on various daytime television shows. Whilst a lot feature McCoy / Aldred, there's another which concentrates on interviews with Jon Pertwee and Verity Lambert, with clips from the very first episode in November 1963. Open Air presents a piece from the "Space Adventures" exhibition by London Bridge, where JNT is interviewed surrounded by monster costumes - nice to see this relatively obscure exhibition.

As always, we have a convention archive feature - two different appearances from McCoy and Aldred at DWAS Panopticon events in the 1990's.

"Behind the Sofa" this time features three panels. Interestingly, the Doctor / companion one sees a guest from each story. McCoy and Aldred are joined by Karen Gledhill (Alison) for Remembrance, Sheila Hancock (Helen A) for Happiness, Mark Hardy (Cyber-Lieutenant) for Nemesis, and Jessica Martin (Mags) for Greatest Show.

Panel Two is Bonnie Langford and Nicola Bryant, and the third comprises Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Wendy Padbury.

McCoy doesn't really say much, so Aldred leads their panel, whilst the third panel isn't heard from too much (which I'm happy about as I've always disliked Fielding's negativity - even if it is sometimes only in jest). The Langford / Bryant panel is quite entertaining, with some interesting impartial insights.

Bonnie obviously relates well to the circus-themed story.

The Dalek story gets a thumbs up, whilst the Cyberman one fails to impress. The Kandyman lets down the second story, as do the sets - though they're watching the broadcast version, obviously. The final story gets a positive response, with the third panel preferring it over the Dalek story.

Everyone agrees that the McCoy opening titles are rubbish.

Matthew Sweet has a busy time, with three "Conversations". The best is with Mr Cartmel. The one with director Chris Clough doesn't really touch on his Doctor Who work very much, whilst Aldred has already been interviewed - so her chat mainly deals with her return in The Power of the Doctor, along with some thoughts on the various contradictory timelines for Ace, post Survival.

The big new documentary this time belongs on Disc 2 - a biography of actor Dursley McLinden who played Mike Smith in Remembrance of the Daleks. A hugely promising theatrical career cut short by the onslaught of AIDS / HIV, he represents a whole lost generation. Friends and family are interviewed, and we see and hear from Dursley himself through home movie footage. Russell T Davies, who knew him, speaks about how he inspired the character of Richie in It's A Sin. Toby Hadoke presents, as one of his "In Search of..." features.

Rumour has it that it's Season 7 next.

What's Wrong With... Snakedance

There's not really a lot to say about this one, despite the difficulties Chris Bailey had in writing it (mainly due to issues he had with Mr Saward).

We have a reasonably well defined society, with a historical backdrop of past empires, interesting characters, and even the snake is a big improvement on the one from Kinda.

The Doctor does not come out of this story very well - having simply brushed off Tegan's earlier concerns about being truly free from the Mara at the conclusion of the Season 19 story.

Everything which happens here could be placed at his door. No-one gets killed, but a lot of people are psychologically harmed. He really ought to have taken Tegan's concerns more seriously.

The story begins with Tegan redirecting the TARDIS to Manussa under the Mara's influence. She doesn't know how to do this, and nor should the Mara itself - so you have to wonder how this was managed.

Once they've arrived on the planet, the Doctor and Nyssa - in a truly dreadful new outfit - very quickly lose Tegan, despite the great danger she poses.

She's wearing a device which is supposed to cut out all extraneous sound - but it's only got one earpiece.

There's a scene in a hall of mirrors where we see the Mara / Tegan / Lon laughing at its own reflection. But it was clearly stated before that Evil (the Mara) cannot face itself - hence its defeat on Deva Loka. 

The Six Faces of Delusion hat sequence is neat - but surely one of the previous Directors should have spotted the solution before now. The audience certainly spots what the sixth face is straight away.

The story is badly structured - probably going back to the issues between Bailey and Saward - as the Doctor spends an entire episode locked in a cell, as though the writer doesn't know what to do with him for a chunk of the story. 

Whilst the world-building of Manussa might work on paper, it doesn't translate to the practicalities of an all studio production. The big ceremony has only a couple of dozen people in attendance, despite it being a massive cultural event.

The Manussans would have been planning the event for months, yet it feels very much like people are making things up as they go along.

If you think Nyssa's outfit is bad, just wait until you see Lon's ceremonial gear. It's no wonder this clip is always dragged out for those "before they were famous" clip shows, designed to embarrass people.

Clunes' regular gear as Lon is pure New Romantic, so dates this story badly.

Normal service will resume...

A slight pause in posts this week as I'm struck down with one of those winter bugs. Lying in bed enjoying Season 25 on Blu-ray - a review of the Special Editions and extras soon. Hopefully all back to normal by the end of the week.

I did have a planned break coming up soon - away 15th to 25th November. I'll be attending the UNIT Reunion event at Riverside Studios during that holiday.

Episode 139: The Power of the Daleks (5)

Synopsis:

Lesterson looks on in horror as he witnesses a new race of Daleks rolling off a production line within their space capsule...

His already fragile mind finally snaps. Rushing out he meets Janley and tries to warn her - claiming that he intends to melt the Daleks down. He turns off their power supply, but discovers that they are now able to store energy. Lesterson runs off to find the Examiner. Janley is determined that he will not harm the Daleks as her rebel group plans to use them in their uprising.

Kebble and Valmar are going to be working in the capsule to provide the Daleks with their power supply, and Polly is brought there so that they can keep an eye on her.

In the prison block, the Doctor is attempting to find the right sonic frequency to operate the cell locks. After trying his recorder, he is now using water in a glass.

Lesterson bursts in and tells him about the Daleks duplicating their numbers. A guard drags him away to see Bragen.

At the Governor's office, the scientist is not believed - Janley helping convince Bragen that he is mentally unbalanced. Bragen refuses to call Governor Hensell back early from his tour of the outlying areas of the colony.

In the capsule, Polly tries to convince Valmar and Kebble that the Daleks will turn on them at the first opportunity - and they should not trust the ambitious Janley either.

Hensell returns from his tour, and is irritated by the work going on to set up the Dalek power circuit - and the sight of Bragen's armed guards everywhere.

The Doctor finally manages to open the cell locking mechanisms, freeing himself and Quinn.

Hensell confronts Bragen and learns that he no longer follows his orders, and all of his own people have been replaced. Bragen offers him the chance to help with his rebellion by appearing to sanction it. This will avoid bloodshed and lead to a smooth transition of power.

The Governor flatly refuses - and Bragen has a Dalek exterminate him.

The Doctor and Quinn sneak into the laboratory and learn that the rebels have been duped into setting up a static electricity circuit covering the entire colony - and it is almost complete.

Kebble attacks them but Quinn knocks him out and Polly is freed.

They flee the room as armed Daleks emerge from the capsule.

The Doctor, Quinn and Polly come upon Hensell's corpse and Bragen announces that his revolution has begun. The Daleks will obey only him.

However, back in their capsule, the Daleks are waiting for the humans to destroy themselves before exterminating the survivors. 

They begin to stream out of the vessel, chanting: "Daleks conquer and destroy!" over and over and over...

Data:

Written by David Whitaker

Recorded: Saturday 19th November 1966 - Riverside Studio 1

First broadcast: 5:50pm, Saturday 3rd December 1966

Ratings: 8 million / AI 48

Designer: Derek Dodd

Director: Christopher Barry

Additional cast: Robert Russell, Robert Luckham (Guards)

Critique:

Michael Craze was on holiday during the production of this episode as Ben did not feature - though Anneke Wills returns from her break.

Both actors, along with Troughton, missed two days of rehearsal for this episode as they were working on the Frensham Ponds location filming for the next story. It wasn't much of a holiday for Craze, as he had a third day spent at Ealing on other scenes  for The Highlanders.

Four Dalek props were required in studio, along with 10 photographic blow-ups - noticeable in the surviving clip from the close of the episode.

For the scene where Bragen inserts the gun into the servant Dalek, just before it killed Hensell, the recording was allowed to run on and later edited.

The usual mix to negative was used for the Governor's extermination.

The circular camera mask was once again employed to give the Dalek POV shots - including the sequence where Lesterson chases one from Hensell's office.

Now the sole Dalek vocal performer, Peter Hawkins' voice was overlaid multiple times and echoed for the closing sequence, which had involved the four Dalek operators going round in circles to replicate greater numbers - an old trick first used for the Daleks entering their time machine in the opening episode of The Chase.

The Daleks have very much been kept to the background so far, but in this episode they begin to make their mark. We have some well known lines, which just happen to survive in clips (see below), and we also have an interesting philosophical scene in which a Dalek asks of Bragen why humans kill each other. This comes across as a genuine wish to know something of human nature, rather than the on-going servitude deception.

Execution of their own kind is not unknown to the Daleks, of course. We saw the Black Dalek order the destruction of a pursuit ship crew in their last outing.

Two clips from this episode survive thanks to their inclusion in other programmes. The first is a scene of a Dalek moving towards the camera, claiming that "We are not ready yet to teach these human beings the law of the Daleks!". The Dalek bumps over a camera cable - an incident which the animators elected to retain in the DVD / Blu-ray release. This clip derived from the same source as the production line sequence - the Australian Perspectives documentary episode C for Computer.

The closing sequence, featuring the Daleks chanting "Daleks conquer and destroy!" as they pour through a doorway, had been featured in two programmes - an edition of Blue Peter from 27 November 1967; and the Whicker's World instalment I Don't Like My Monsters To Have Oedipus Complexes, from 27th January 1968. 

The latter programme can be seen in its entirety on the Special Edition release of the animated The Power of the Daleks.

Trivia:

• This is the highest rated of the story's six episodes - both in terms of actual audience numbers and in the appreciation figure.
• Robert Russell, playing a guard here, is best known for his supporting role in Witchfinder General, in which he plays Vincent Price's henchman John Stearne. To Doctor Who fans, though, he is remembered as the Caber in Terror of the Zygons.
• On the evening before recording this instalment, the BBC Light Programme broadcast an edited soundtrack of the second Peter Cushing Dalek movie.

O is for... Olvir

A young space pirate who accompanied a colleague named Kari on a raid on what they thought to be a luxury liner. It transpired that this had been converted into a "plague ship", carrying sufferers of Lazar Disease to a space station known as Terminus. This is where they were supposed to be cured, but Olvir knew that no-one ever returned. His own sister had been afflicted. He and Kari realised that they had been set up by their treacherous commander - intended to become drug-addicted Vanir Warriors, who oversaw the Lazars. Olvir initially ran away in panic when he discovered the nature of the spaceship, but soon returned to help Kari and the Doctor. He had become enamoured with Nyssa of Traken, and braved the radiation-filled Forbidden Zone to rescue her.

Nyssa discovered a genuine cure for the disease, as well as a means to replace the Vanir drug with a safer substitute. She opted to stay on Terminus after the Doctor, Tegan and Turlough left. It is not known if Olvir remained with her, or if he and Kari left the station - perhaps to seek revenge on their old leader.

Played by: Dominic Guard. Appearances: Terminus (1983).

• Dominic is the brother of Christopher Guard, who played Bellboy in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.
• His wife, Sharon Duce, played Control in Ghost Light.
• He began his career as a child actor, appearing as the title character in The Go-Between (1971). Other film roles include Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Gandhi (1982), and opposite Richard Burton in 1978's Absolution.
• He also provided the voice of Pippin Took in Ralph Bakshi's animated Lord of the Rings (1978).
• He has turned his back on acting these days to become a psychotherapist and children's author.

O is for... Ollis

Mr Ollis was warden at the Minsbridge Wildlife Sanctuary, located a few miles from UNIT HQ. One morning he found a wooden box attached to a parachute which had landed in the sanctuary. This contained scientific equipment belonging to Professor Tyler. After contacting the scientist to tell him about the box, Ollis heard a strange noise emanating from it. Touching it, he was suddenly transported to a bleak environment - unaware that he had actually been sent to a world in the universe of anti-matter. This was the domain of the Time Lord Omega, who had sent an organism to Earth to ensnare the Doctor.

After UNIT HQ had also been transported, the Brigadier met up with Mr Ollis, who had used his country skills to avoid Omega's Gellguards.

The Brigadier placed him under his command and together they launched a mission to break into Omega's citadel. This coincided with the captives held there escaping. All took refuge in the TARDIS, where the means to defeat Omega presented itself in the shape of the Second Doctor's recorder.

Later, Ollis was sent back home along with the other Earth people, whilst two incarnations of the Doctor remained to destroy Omega. Ollis arrived back where he had been taken from. On getting home, he simply brushed aside his wife's questions - interested only in his dinner.

Played by: Laurie Webb. Appearances: The Three Doctors (1972/3).

• The novelisation of the story gives his first name as Arthur.
• In May 2024 Webb became the seventh Doctor Who cast member to reach their 100th birthday.

O is for... Ohila

Leader of the Sisterhood of Karn (see O is for... Ohica). Ohila succeeded Ohica in this role - the group having taken on board the Doctor's words about the importance of change.

During the Time War, a spaceship crashed onto the surface of Karn. On board was the humanoid pilot, who perished, and the Doctor in his Eighth incarnation. He was fatally injured. He had tried to save the pilot but had been rejected as she saw the Time Lords as no better than the Daleks in the conflict. 

He was offered the Elixir of Life. This had been refined over the centuries so that it now had a range of different properties. These would influence the regeneration and the nature of the new incarnation which emerged from the process.

Having kept his distance from the Time War, the Doctor accepted that it was time to change and participate in the War, and so elected to become a warrior.

Many years later, the Doctor went into hiding when he discovered that an agent of Davros was looking for him. He was ashamed of something he had done in Davros' past, and so took refuge on Karn whilst he prepared himself to confront his old foe - which he did not expect to survive. There he was protected by Ohila and the Sisterhood. The Doctor trusted her enough to give her his Confession Dial, to pass on to his designated 'heir' - Missy.

The Time Lords later imprisoned him within this Dial for millions of years, hoping that he would supply information about a prophesised Hybrid, destined to destroy Gallifrey.

On freeing himself, he overthrew President Rassilon and the High Council who had been responsible for his ordeal. Ohila was present in the Capitol at this time. 

She usually had some influence over him, but on this occasion he rebelled - removing Clara Oswald from the point of time of her death to save her life and shooting the commander of Gallifrey's armed forces before fleeing in a stolen TARDIS.

Played by: Clare Higgins. Appearances: The Night of the Doctor (2013), The Magician's Apprentice, Hell Bent (2015).

• Ohila also features in the prologue to The Magician's Apprentice.
• An early prominent cinema role for Higgins was as Julia in the original Hellraiser movie (1987) and its sequel. Offered a good role in the third, she asked instead to be killed off in the second film of the franchise.
• Her theatre work has seen her wining three Olivier Awards, as well as a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in 2003.