DVD D DOCTOR WHO: UNDERWORLD

DOCTOR WHO: UNDERWORLD

Written by TroyAnderson Jun 25th 2010 Hits: 40 Favorites

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THE PLOT THUS FAR

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Time Lords of Gallifrey began exploring space and time with their new TARDIS technology. The first alien race they encountered were the Minyans, who treated the Time Lords as gods. In return, the Time Lords gave medical and scientific aid. As the Minyans became more advanced, they renounced their former gods. The war that followed destroyed the planet Minyos and set the Time Lords on the path of non-interference with the affairs of the universe. Before Minyos was totally destroyed, a single ship - the P7E - escaped. It carried the future of the Minyan species, locked into its onboard race banks. But the P7E disappeared into deep space centuries ago. Now the last of theMinyans have embarked on a quest to recover their lost race banks. Their quest is destined to bring the Minyans once again into contact with the Time Lords - one Time Lord in particular.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

The Doctor and his latest traveling compaion Leela find themselves on a ship built by the Minyans a race visted upon by the Time Lords long ago. The Minyans proclaimed them gods and were given such advancements that they destoyed one another. Save for two ships the P7e which held the race banks of the minyan people to start over again and the second sent to find the lost P7E. The Doctor and Leela help those searhing for the ship only to find themselves at the very edge of the universe where planets are made. A strange dicovery that the P7E has become the core of a new found planet and inside the ship's computer has placed itself as a god. Now the Doctor with the minyans has to stop the evil computer calling itself the Oracle from keeping the desendants of the P7E in ignorance and a grip of evil.

At the time of transmission, The BBC was undergoing budget cuts. However, the special effects are fantastic for a Brit show of the 1970s. There are great space ship control centers sets and costumes for the aliens. When the Doctor and Leela find the planet is also inhabited and helping the Minyan race find their lost race banks left behind by the crew of the P7E. Those living on the planet has a secret of their own and only by helping one another out can the planet's slaves and the Minyan crew possibly succeed in their mission.The plot has some nice window dressings that conceal a familiar story. Basically, the doctor must battle a demented computer which thinks it is a god, free a bunch of slaves from servitude, re-unite two branches of a race which diverged 100,000 years ago, and try to make amends for being indirectly responsible for the whole mess to begin with. This story was told previously, and much better, in "Face of Evil", and would be told again in "State of Decay."

The DVD comes with some intensive looks at the restoration process. It seems like the BBC didn't take care of any classic show material that predated 1980. Oh well, the photo galleries and commentaries are fun and help to inform American fans about the glory days of this British staple. Plus, one can't forget the script reads and the video codes from the original production. It's almost like you're getting the show back before your eyes. The A/V Quality is quite magnificent, even though the paper thin audio doesn't really rise above its original standards. Still, it's a must-buy for all Dr. Who fans.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!