The Doctor and Leela arrive in Victorian London, and find themselves plunged into a series of macabre events...

DVD EXTRAS

COMMENT  1 (relates to the ORIGINAL DVD release)  Spoliers ahead

More eagerly awaited than a Labour Party victory, or a Tetra pak container that would open without uncontrollably spraying its contents, or waiting for the gas man to keep his appointment, THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG is one of a select handful of DOCTOR WHO stories that have made considerable impact on the psych of the fans worldwide.

Once in a lifetime a television event endures far beyond the end credits or the commercial break. Recall the world's collective viewing of the Moon landing or a death of a iconic Princess.

However, similarly, for DOCTOR WHO fans it is a story that is so unique, so flawless and so captivating that retribution for those who do not concur is readily dealt. TALONS is in the league with THE DAEMONS, THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI, AN UNEARTHLY CHILD and THE WEB OF FEAR as irrefutably being an example of outstanding British television of its era.

However, with the release of the DVD episodic format I must challenge myself in that last statement. Simply to say that the production displays the quality of today's television, rivaling the banality of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER or ANGEL (USA Imports that are deemed by many to be the 'formula' that any future DOCTOR WHO series should be molded from. Trust me, it shouldn't be). DOCTOR WHO has come along way since the 1989 final episode, and it hasn't done a thing. Automatically respected, cherished and enduring.

TALONS rivals the DVD release of THE AZTECS with its sumptuous morsels of 'Extras', including the seemingly Alzheimer commentary of the aging contributors (the ramblings and quips are Award-winning!). John Bennett (even today an outstanding British television actor - superb in BBC1's WAKING THE DEAD) and Christopher Benjamin jab and parry as perfect foils for each other. The lengthy discussions about the 'rat' are noteworthy and entertaining.

The documentary, WHOSE DOCTOR WHO, should have been the highlight of the second disc but it was eclipsed by the BLUE PETER team creating a DOCTOR WHO Theatre from a grocery box, polystyrene apple trays and copious lashings of PVA glue. Happy innocent times and of course, as an eager eleven year old at the time, I lovingly created my own version (complete with small 1volt light bulbs). Brags' documentary seemed to safe and limited in its investigation, though the smattering of 'behind the scenes' (BTS) balanced the (very dated) 'so, kiddie, why do you like the Doctor?' interviews.

Separately, the BTS footage of the studio recording session (the Doctor and companions' escape from Greel's HQ, theough the aid of a gas filled sack) was truly fascinating. Having witnessed the studio recording of a Davison story, I appreciate the theee way balancing act of studio time, studio costs and acting expectations. Though pressed for time, the care with which the TALONS crew endeavoured to retain credulity and accuracy is commendable, and a key reason why the story is one of the best.