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Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [2008]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

There’s been a lot of pressure on the fourth series of Doctor Who. Could Russell T Davies and his team keep the momentum going? Would Catherine Tate overcome the initial criticisms and prove to be a strong companion for the Doctor? And, well, how do you top the three series of the revived show that we’ve enjoyed so far?

We needn’t have worried. The three episodes on this disc, while not vintage Doctor Who (they always save the better episodes for the latter part of each season, after all), have plenty to offer. Partners In Crime is a fun way to start the series, primarily concerned with setting up the Catherine Tate-David Tennant mechanic, and allowing the former to dispel many of the concerns aimed in her direction. It’s forgettable stuff, about a miracle diet, but is still entertaining, and Sarah Lancashire is a welcome guest star.

Next up is The Fires Of Pompeii, and this is where the action kicks in. There’s a little bit of continuing to set up the main character dynamics, but this is the episode that the effects budget was clearly thrown at. With a massive volcano eruption, impressive monsters and a fast-moving plot, it’s good stuff.

Finally, a welcome return for a foe from series past, in Planet Of The Ood. This is a well-written story, with some solid monsters in it, and throws in plenty of moral conundrums along the way. Good stuff.

With three good stories, there’s plenty to enjoy here, and it sees the fourth series of Doctor Who getting off to a strong start. Count us among those who can’t wait for the rest of it... --Jon Foster


Doctor Who's return to form!
Review date: 2008-08-24 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a definite comeback for Doctor Who after the lamentable time of Martha Jones who to me was a very one dimensional character. Catherine Tate, who isn't constantly in awe of the Doctor, adds a lot of humour to proceedings.

The first episode, "Partners in Crime" was not scary as such but made you think and featured great turns by Sarah Lancashire as Miss Foster and Verona Joseph (Jess from Holby City) as nosy a journalist. The Adipose were also the cutest monster in existance.

Episode number two, "The Fires of Pompeii" is probably the weakest episode as the monsters were neither scary nor particularly thought provoking. However, when you return to this episode, having watched the whole of this series there are many threads and references to pick up on which become relevant later on.

The third episode, "Planet of the Ood" is deeply moving and thought provoking. It also sees development in the character of Donna, no longer simply humourous and feisty. This is definitely the most scary episode of the three and the most taut and interesting storyline.

Overall, three great episodes which you will be surprised how many times you'll watch and which become more fascinating after you've watched the later episodes in this series...

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Reviews


Bravo Ood-Kind!
Review date: 2008-08-09 Rating: 8 out of 10

Gotta say, the Oods are the star of the show here! They may not be beautiful, but they are appealing to non-wimpy kids and adults alike. Planet of the Ood is the best episode set in the 4000s where to Oods are enslaved by cruel humans on a distant planet. Adipose is the second best which has funny moments and 'Eew gross' moments. Then The Fires of Pompeii. Well, oh dear. The kids don't like it, the sensitive find it too sad and the normal people are bored stiff. For that it loses out on five stars. Shame. Still I would buy the DVD as it does contain two of the best Doctor Who episodes to date!

Contains two of the best stories of the series. A delight.
Review date: 2008-07-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

After the disappointment of the mainly dismal third series, this one has turned out to be the best yet. This is mostly thanks to Catherine Tate joining the Doctor as his companion. After the emotional turmoil of Rose, and having to suffer the vacant, goggle-eyed staring of Martha, the poor old Doc was badly in need of some light relief, and he certainly gets it with Donna, especially in the first story in the series. Though as the season progresses, we see far more to Donna's personality than just wise-cracking humour and wittiness. But in the first story, we get quite a bit of that and most welcome it is too. The hilarious moment when the Doc and Donna first clap eyes on each other is classic and just gets funnier the more I see it. And this is mainly down to Donna's lively, ebullient personality, which makes such a refreshing change from what has gone before, and of course, she's pretty too, which helps, but mainly it's her vibrant, sparky personality that draws you in and makes you want more.
Miss Foster is hilarious too, in an icily restrained manner, and the Adipose make you go 'aaahh' they are so cute. It was a nice, fun episode, but with pathos too, when we see Donna at home being nagged by her unappreciative mother, and then with her grandfather on the hillside at night, telling him about the Doctor and how she wanted to find him. And then at the end, after she'd found him, but momentarily doubted that he still wanted her to accompany him, she switched from high spirits and ebulliance to vulnerability in the blink of an eye. And then, when she doubted the Doctor's intentions and misinterpreted something he said, she was outraged at what she thought was a dishonourable suggestion on his part, and this was her back in expressively funny mode. The whole interaction between them a delight to behold.
A wonderful first episode to start the season off.

Not so keen on the second story, as I'm not usually with the historical ones, but still entertaining and the relationship between Donna and the Doctor evolving into them being very comfortable in each other's presence and with a lively repartee bouncing off one another that ran throughout the whole series. Nice how the Doctor was shown to be responsible for the events that happened way back in history. This was quite cleverly worked in to the story and was a bit of a twist seeing as how it wasn't really going to happen and he had caused it all along.

The Planet of the Ood was a delight. Once again, the humans were shown in a bad light and the Ood as really rather superior in their innocence. The planet could have been shown a bit more, rather than just snow-covered industrial machinery, but I guess maybe budget restrictions could have been behind this. But it was still very effective and Donna's sympathy for the Ood was very touching. At least in this story, the Ood had a happier outcome to the last time we saw them.

All in all, a great start to a great fourth season. And if you only buy one dvd from this season, then to me, this would be the best.

Oh, and I think the picture on the cover of the dvd is the best yet too!

The Noble One.
Review date: 2008-06-30 Rating: 8 out of 10

Not since Bonnie Langford have people feared the return of another red-headed companion... I know a lot of people were less than pleased to hear that Catherine Tate was to be brought back for this series, but I personally enjoyed her portrayal of Donna (even if I didn't love everything about her Christmas special episode).

The character needed depth, and she got it. Left feeling disillusioned since The Runaway Bride she manages to find The Doctor and pretty much invite herself into the TARDIS - and I'm glad she did. Since Doctor Who was re-launched it has managed to capture some brilliant moments. With Catherine Tate in the series, you always knew the writers would tap into her comedy credentials, and the scene from the first episode where Donna and the Doctor mime their way through a conversation is one of the funniest moments throughout the shows 45+ year history! For me, this is the strongest first episode since Ecclestone's "Rose". Those little Fat Creatures (I'm sure everyone went "aw" when they saw the Adipose) were fantastic, it was only on a second viewing that I noticed that some of the poor blighters were squidged by a taxi when it skidded over them to an understated yet comedy splat noise!

Any doubters that Catherine Tate wasn't strong enough to pull off the joint lead for this series were convinced by the second episode where we got to see her experience the harsh realities of disaster, and also the inner angst that comes with being a Timelord; we get to explore more of the doctor and the difficulties he faces with every decision often life or death decisions for thousands of innocent souls. There's CGI galore here and it isn't too bad.

Finally, we see the return of the Ood. This episode didn't feel as strong as the others but it followed the dark theme, in this case the sadness lay with the plight of the exploited Ood and the revelation around the extent of their loss.

The single disk format with no additional features is disappointing, but the inevitable box-set will no doubt contain a mass of special features for those who want a bit more.


Not Bad for a Fourth Series
Review date: 2008-06-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

At the point of writing this we are only one episode away from the end of the fourth series. It has received a mixed reaction in our household and had caused a few disagreements over good or not-so-good episodes.
The first three of the series, for me, were fairly good. I loved the Adipodes - tooo cute for words. The return of Donna Noble as the Doc's companion was like a breath of fresh air! Her first appearance in the Christmas Special '06 was immediately after Rose's departure and such a different character was a lot to take on board. After 13 episodes of Drippy Martha, Donna is delightful. She is not in love with the Doctor - as all the others appeared to be - and this gives her character much more scope. She stands up to him, she reigns him in when required and she lets him know what it is like to be human. She is a hit in our household and we totally enjoyed the start to the new series because of her.
Episode 2 - Fires of Pompeii - I liked this. The effects were good, the scenery was excellent and there was enough 'big stuff' to keep the 8 year old happy. Donna had a blub at towards the end when she realised that there was a moral choice to be made and that neither outcome could be without death. I particularly liked the way that RTD used the Doctor to 'create' a time in history.
Episode 3 - Planet of the Ood - By far and large the favourite of the series for us. We have watched this one several times over and we still think it is wonderful. RTD does it again when he revives a 'monster' from a previous series and gives it a different identity. He had us crying over a Dalek in the first series (who'd have thought it eh?) and he does the same with the Ood. Donna has another blub in this episode and we have now realised that this is the flaw to her character - she's always blarting!! That aside, however, this is a magnificent episode to watch.
All in all, the first three episodes are promising for the new series. This DVD is a must for the collection.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Bernard Cribbins
Sarah Lancashire
Catherine Tate
Billie Piper
David Tennant

Creators:
David Tennant (Primary Contributor)
Catherine Tate (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503260521
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, PAL,
Release date: 2008-06-02
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 135 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2008
Language: English (Original Language)

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