Dr Who - Vengeance on Varos: Special Edition: DVD Review

Dr Who - Vengeance on Varos: Special Edition: DVD Review

Rating: PG

Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Entertainment

Initially released very early on in 2001 as part of the classic series range on DVD, Dr Who - Vengeance on Varos finally gets a  Special Edition blessed with extras which were absent back a decade ago.

It's the second serial starring Colin Baker's 6th Doctor - and sees Baker and the production team doing a lot to ensure that we question everything the Doctor's stood for over his 22 years on screen.

When the TARDIS ends up adrift and lacking power, the Doctor and companion Peri (Nicola Bryant) end up on Varos, a dangerous planet where everyone has to fight for their lives and for popular opinion.

Soon, the pair are fighting for their lives as they face deadly villain Sil (one of the series' best baddies).

Dr Who - Vengeance on Varos: Special Edition DVD is a great release - a story which is hard to love in parts, due to the Doctor seeming nasty on occasion, letting people die in an acid bath and turning a laser on others, it's certainly a brave attempt to subvert the Doc into something a little edgier.

Colin Baker is brilliant in this - getting all of the shifts of character spot on and still hinting at the innate goodness of the hero, even though the Doc's questionable behaviour causes real splits of opinion. Nabil Shaban is also stunning as the reptilian Sil and remains an unctuous presence in the show's history - simply one of the best villains ever and a real shame that we never saw more of him.

A solid and enjoyable set of extras add to this set - giving the re-release several good incentives to buy again and fleshing out a story which is notorious for so many reasons.

Extras: Commentary, doco behind the scenes, a look back at the sixth doctor's era, deleted scenes - and a wealth more.

Rating: