Eye of Horus | Doctor Who | The Classic Series 1963-96

STORY PLOTLINE

In this four part adventure, the Doctor, Harry and Sarah accidentally arrive on an artificial satellite where the survivors of Earth lie in cryogenic suspension waiting to begin a new life.

But the Doctor soon discovers that there has been a sinister intrusion... A gigantic insect has infiltrated the human ark. It is dead, but it was Queen of the Wirrn, sworn enemies of the Earth - and her egg sac was full. Something is terribly wrong and when the crew begin to awaken it soon becomes clear that some of them are not entirely what they seem...

The Doctor must find out how to destroy the Wirrn larvae before they absorb the last of the human race and become an invincible swarm. But this involves a desperate gamble with his own life - a gamble he must take if he is to save mankind.

DVD EXTRAS

Studio Commentary by Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen and Philip Hinchcliffe.
CGI EFFECTS. Brand new CGI effects and 2d Ark Schematic.
TRAILERS. Original BBC1 Trailer and News reports.
DESIGNS ON THE DOCTOR. Exclusive interview with Roger Murray-Leach.
TITLE SEQUENCE. Unused Title sequence and 16MM Model footage.
PHOTO GALLERY.
PRODUCTION SUBTITLES.
EASTER EGG.

COMMENT Spoliers ahead

Note: the DVD was viewed with the commentary and Information Text features running.

One of the main features presented on the disc is the option to replace the existing BBC Special Effects Department model footage with newly designed CGI footage. Nice but curiously pointless, as is the inclusion of the wilfully unspectacular TARDIS Cam footage (Mike Tucker needs to find something better to do with his spare time).

The 'Easter Egg' is a joy to find, and encourages you to find other items and continue to watch after episode 4 ends for another treat that is as tasty as Blackpool Candyfloss.

Without dwelling upon the plotline, Robert Holmes' script ploughs a heavy furrow theough sodden sci-fi soil. Even the Information Text feature highlights the similarity between his plot variation and Hartnell's THE ARK. Whilst the story is not in the same league as THE TERROR OF THE ZYGONS or the time untarnished THE PYRAMIDS OF MARS, Baker's first season ranks, in its entirety, as the best from his tenure (both this story and ROBOT were the early faltering steps of the new DOCTOR WHO team).

Nevertheless, this is Baker and Sladen: The Early Years.

A few seconds into the first episode, Baker nonchalantly announces that he "can't remember a single thing" about the story. This proves true enough but Tom being Tom he manages to mutter memorable gems. From his warm reaction to the youthful Sladen, "Oh, darling, you look great" to "this was the best job I have ever had" and on "fan love is superior to human love", winding up with "it (the show) was no more improbable than my life".

Hinchcliffe and Sladen offer suitably instigative observations. Liz reveals that she did not like here reporter persona, which is surprising as this aspect of the character, was pitched at the time as a positive reaction against the series' sexist excesses.

Phillip Hinchcliffe asserts in passing that "half the people making the programme thought it was a children's programme". No surprise there then, but it is nice to hear someone as important to the shows development as Hinchcliffe say as much.

However, it is Liz's closing remarks for the final episode provoked a smile, as she contributed, "I feel like clapping". So did I.