STORY PLOTLINE

The TARDIS arrives on the space liner Empress which has become locked together with a private ship, the Hecate, after colliding with it on emerging from hyperspace.

The Doctor and Romana meet the scientist Tryst, who has with him a Continuous Event Transmuter (CET) machine containing crystals on which are stored supposed recordings of planets that he and his team have visited.

DVD extras for NIGHTMARE OF EDEN:

• THE NIGHTMARE OF TELEVISION CENTRE
• ASK ASPEL with Lala Ward
• GOING SOLO with writer Bob Baker
• THE DOCTOR’S STRANGE LOVE – NIGHTMARE OF EDEN
• COMING SOON - ACE ADVENTURES

COMMENT - SPOILERS AHEAD

Being a DOCTOR WHO fan ‘pariah’ is sometimes a pleasure and at other times it’s a nightmare – with a single comment posted by an ‘internet troll’ on a Forum snowballing with venom and influencing the weak & the misinformed to perpetuate negativity. In the past, sadly, it’s happened with eyeofhorus.org.uk – and in attempting to review the recently released remastered BBC DVD, DOCTOR WHO – NIGHTMARE OF EDEN I’m placing a very large sign above my head saying, “I’m fond of NIGHTMARE OF EDEN”.

Yes, I can understand why this season 17 Bob Baker written story is not a ‘fans favourite’ and riles emotions amongst the foresaid mentioned Forums by those who clearly can see passed the ‘flared legged’ aliens, faux-Germanic accent and sequinned-costumes of interplanetary ‘police’.

However, they - fans – are missing a real treat and a mature & intelligent plot that would not be out of place as part of the NEW SERIES (and probably more interesting than some of the episodes made by BBC WALES for the 11 th Doctor). If the ‘internet trolls’ can disregard the flaccid attempt at Direction from Alan Bromly then it will be more substantially appreciated.

With contributions from the cast & crew, this DVD release casts light on the trials and tribulations experienced back in 1979, and after listening to their concerns I can emphasise with their struggle. Week in and week out, the production team were focused on delivering the best that they could but, with NIGHTMARE OF EDEN, they had hit the proverbial ‘brick-wall’ in the form of Bromly. Clearly out of his depth he was replaced (by series producer, Graham Williams) at the end of the second filming block but the damage (i.e. the tone of the production) had been done.

The DVD EXTRAS may be brief but they are a combination of being (i) cathartic for the cast & crew to exorcise the demons and (ii) for fans to act more sympathetically toward the four-parter.

In THE NIGHTMARE OF TELEVISION CENTRE (in effect a “The making of…”), key members of the production discuss the vagaries of NIGHTMARE OF EDEN and analysis the inherent problems therein. Visual Effects Designer, Colin Mapson sums up the production; “It lived up to its name. A good story but a disaster to be honest. The model shots were shot on video instead of film so it all looked rubbish”. Whilst his colleague, “Mitch” admits that “…looking back it was a very innovative show”.

The documentary is clear and informative, but not necessarily focusing upon the positive elements of creating NIGHTMARE OF EDEN. With the exception of discussing the use of MATCH OF THE DAY’s ‘slow-motion capture’ video technology for scene when a plant attacks the Doctor, the negative aspects shine through. So tortuous was working on NIGHTMARE that the Assistant Floor Manager (the essential link between the actors and the Director), Val McCrimmon, had printed t-shirts made for the ‘wrap-party’ that read, “I’m relieved the nightmare is over”.

In a successful attempt to wash his hands clean of NIGHTMARE OF EDEN, it’s writer, Bob Baker said, “I’m not there on the (recording) day or at rehearsals. So it’s af ait accompli.” Certainly, the core plotline is intriguing, fascinating and mature (its Script Editor was Douglas Adams) with humour, wit and twist of inoffensive comedy (its Script Editor was Douglas Adams) and blame cannot be laid at Baker’s feet for NIGHTMARE’s final result (“The monsters looked like soft toys but what can you do?”)

THE DOCTOR’S STRANGE LOVE – NIGHTMARE OF EDEN sees three fans droll on about the story’s inadequacies and vacuous production values. This ‘format’ is dull, embarrassing & cringe worthy and should be shelved by BBC DVD immediately. There is no value in witnessing DOCTOR WHO fans patronising a series that other appreciate so deeply. This documentary is the worse of DOCTOR WHO online forums in visual form; it’s not big and it’s certainly not clever. One of the contributors is described as a 'comedian'. Sadly, I didn't laugh.

The enchanting Lalla Ward certainly makes chat-show host, Michael Aspel earn his salary during an appearance on ASK ASPEL (a children’s television show from the 1970s/1980s). Charming as she is she’s hardly the most ‘chatterbox’ you’d come across, though it is clear that she’s uncomfortable seeing herself on-screen (there is an audible sharp in take of breath from her when Aspel announces that he’s about to show a clip of Ward in DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET).

And with a COMING SOON trailer for DOCTOR WHO – ACE ADVENTURES (DRAGONFIRE and THE HAPPINESS PATROL), the usual RADIO TIMES pdf files, on-screen information text, that’s DOCTOR WHO – NIGHTMARE OF EDEN over and done with.

The perennially ebullient Toby Hadoke hosts the DVD COMMENTARY serving tea & clotted cream scones to Lalla Ward, Oscar winner writer Bob Baker, Colin Mapson, make-up/hair/prosthetics designer Joan Stribling and actor Peter Craze.

The DVD COMMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS:

On the budgetary constraints of NIGHTMARE OF EDEN, Lalla Ward: I thought they were fantastically budget conscious. I wasn’t aware that any were more than others. Limitations always stoke creativity. Often when you have a constraint or a small budget you get wonderful sets (set design) made out of milk crates.

On the quality of NIGHTMARE OF EDEN, Bob Baker: This one swings from high to low. The you get monsters with flared trousers.

On idiosyncratic hidden meanings throughout the story, Bob Baker: A comment on ‘car insurance’ and pretty bad ‘package holidays’.

On her costume, Lalla Ward: Ghastly. Totally depressing. Dull as hell. You can’t spend all your time worrying about the frock. It could have been worse; flared trousers like the monsters!

On the contribution of Douglas Adams, Lalla Ward: One of the joys of being in DOCTOR WHO in this era was Douglas. He brought a sophisticated wit, and good at slapping Tom (Baker) on. He and Tom got on fantastically well.
Bob Baker: He brought an energy to it that wasn’t there before.
Lalla Ward: He was ‘science literate’. He made use think about it.

On the character of Tryst, Bob Baker: Clichéd German Professor.

FACT: The restoration of the print is so clean and precise that you are able to see ‘stage hands’ wafting smoke effects in the area between the two spaceships (episode one), and a helping hand for the Doctor to secure the replacement of the bulkhead panel (episode two).

Criticising David Brierely (the voice of K9), Lalla Ward: David didn’t come to rehearsals

On series producer, John Nathan-Turner’s hatred of K9, Lalla Ward: It was ugly.
Colin Mapson: There was an affection from the public (for K9) but ‘he’ was notorious for his ‘wee’ problems in the studio.
Bob Baker: Purely mechanical.

On Alan Bromly, Lalla Ward: He was inflexible, with Tom and the special effects.
Colin Mapson: Alan was not aux fait.

On seeing the result of the Doctor biting into an alien plant, Lalla Ward: That is disgusting.
Colin Mapson: Rather good.
Toby Hadoke: It went all over his face.
Lalla Ward: Improved it.

On DOCTOR WHO fandom, Lalla Ward: Slightly peculiar at times.

On seeing the marauding Mandrells, Peter Craze: There has to be a name for five Mandrells?
Toby Hadoke: A flare of Mandrells? A shuffle of Mandrells?

Peter Craze talks fondly of his Brother’s (Michael Craze who played TARDIS travelling companion, Ben Jackson) involvement in DOCTOR WHO fandom, and his funeral.

In concluding the DVD’s commentary, Lalla Ward: Sleep well.

Overall, and you’ll probably think I’m some sort of masochist, having watched DOCTOR WHO – NIGHTMARE OF EDEN DVD twice I have to recommend the four-part story to you whole heartedly. As you watch it, mentally ‘edit out the bad bits’ and re-glue the story back together (probably as a three-parter) in a more coherent form. It works when you do that (and one of you will probably do so and eventually upload it to YOU TUBE).

Certainly, the production values of care and attention are lacking throughout but the central plot premise is exemplary (and the Fourth Doctor’s characterisation is homed to perfection by Baker) and warrants your re-watching (if you’re an ‘old-school’ fan) or your first watching.

Don’t be shy, give it a go.