Dr Who: Series 1-4: DVD Review

Dr Who: Series 1-4: DVD Review

Doctor Who - Series 1 -4 Box Set
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
Cast: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Billie Piper, Catherine Tate
23 discs, 2 Time Lords, a wealth of Daleks, Cybermen and adventures - what's not to love about this collected set of the first four series of the remade for the noughties audiences?
Well, this set is a timely reminder of why new Who has been so successful - there was no guarantee when it rematerialized on our screens back in 2005 that it would be a bona fide hit - but thanks to the oft overlooked presence of Christopher Eccleston behind the TARDIS, this series had sure fire hit written all over it.
And when David Tennant, a self professed fan of the show stepped behind the blue doors, the show got stellar and became bigger and bigger.
It's easy to see why the show's so popular - over 45 minutes and some 50 odd episodes, there's much to love - all of the show's cast and its supporting players throw so much into the mix as the Doctor was brought into the 21st Century.
There's only 2500 of these complete series in existence in New Zealand - but without being churlish, aside from a lavish 68 page book, there's little new to entice old school fans to shell out once again for the 4 series they're already likely to own.
Don't get me wrong - there's some great entertainment here; episodes like Dalek, The Christmas Invasion show why the show's done so well in this day and age with a great script and story being the main thrust over the effects (granted there are a few duds - Fear Her and the one with Peter Kay as a loin cloth wearing alien aren't the finest) but for the die hard fan, there's likely to be a sense of frustration that this set doesn't come right upto date with current Doctor, David Tennant's final episodes (being broadcast this Christmas).
That said, the extras are the same as the original sets - and it's quite fun to see David Tennant being given a police escort and his priceless reaction in the video diaries; there's also the behind the scenes cut down episodes of sister show Doctor Who Confidential, which beef up the package.
All in all, if you're a new fan to the show, it's a fabulous jumping off point - if you're an old school Whovian, you may be heading straight to TradeMe to sell off your old sets to get the money together for this set - or for the inevitable reboxing of it along with Doc 10's final eps.
Extras: Christmas episodes, commentaries, outtakes, deleted scenes, cast interviews, BBC idents, video diaries - a 68 page booklet - almost as gigantic as the TARDIS itself.

Rating: 9/10 for new fans, 6/10 for fans who've already bought the series