DVD Review: Dr. Who: The Complete Specials

Dr. Who: The Complete Specials

Dr. Who: The Complete Specials is a collection of television specials, starring David Tennant as the immortal “Doctor.” The set includes “The Next Doctor,” “Planet of the Dead,” “The Waters of Mars,” and “The End of Time, Part One & Two.” These specials lead up to The Doctor’s regeneration as the 11th Doctor, played by Matt Smith. It’s a fun and exciting addition for Doctor Who fans, as well as newcomers to the show.

“The Next Doctor”
When the Doctor (David Tennant) arrives in London on Christmas Eve 1851, he discovers that Cybermen are planning to resurrect the CyberKing. But another Doctor (David Morrissey) is already there, with little memory of his past. Fast-paced, with a few surprises, this installment is fun and light-hearted.

“Planet of the Dead”
David Tennant is back as the Doctor, tracking a strange wormhole. But the Doctor and a bus full of people soon find themselves stranded on a strange planet, in the middle of what looks like an arid desert. Teaming up with a beautiful thief, prepared for any situation (played by Michelle Ryan), the Doctor searches for a way back to Earth before a storm of murderous creatures reaches them. Slightly creepy, but a lot of humor, this installment was definitely my favorite of them all.

“The Waters of Mars”
When the Doctor (David Tennant) stumbles upon a base on Mars, he excitedly realizes that this is the first ever human base on Mars. But soon discovers that they are all supposed to die this same day. The Doctor’s curiosity gets the better of him, when he decides to help the group try to defend themselves from a strange water-based infection. But when the creatures find out that Earth is mostly water, they decide to hitch a ride back to Earth and take over. This installment was the darkest and felt most like a horror flick, with hear-pounding suspense and even an ethical dilemma for the Doctor.

“The End of Time, Part One & Two”
This is David Tennant’s last adventure as the Doctor. When his adversary the Master (John Simm) is reawakened, the Doctor is too late to stop the insane Master’s plot to take over Earth. And the Doctor also faces his fate that “He will knock four times,” leading to his death. Former James Bond, Timothy Dalton, narrates these ominous, climactic installments.

Specs:
– Disc 1: “The Next Doctor”
– Disc 2: “Planet of the Dead”
– Disc 3: “The Waters of Mars”
– Discs 4-5: “The End of Time”, Parts One and Two
– Doctor Who Confidential
– Doctor Who at the Proms
– Deleted scenes with introduction from Russell T. Davies
– David Tennant Video Diaries: The Final Days
– Doctor Who BBC Christmas idents
– Audio commentaries
– Doctor Who at Comic-Con

Dr. Who: The Complete Specials is available now on DVD and Blu-ray.