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Written by Phil Ford, DREAMLAND sees the iconic TARDIS touch down in the desert in the USA. Stumbling across a mysterious alien artefact in a local diner, the Doctor is led to Area 51, also known as Dreamland, the US' most secret base. He then finds himself on a momentous mission to rescue Rivesh Mantilax from the threat of the ruthless Viperox and the clutches of the American military.

DVD EXTRA:

Doctor Who Greatest Moments - A retrospective, taking viewers on a journey through time and space to relive action from the legendary sci-fi show from 2005 onwards, featuring exclusive interviews with key actors offering unique insights on the classic moments.

EPISODE REVIEW

According to the BBC, DREAMLAND is part of DOCTOR WHO "canon". A real story that fans can relate to as part of the programme's history that SCREAM OF THE SHALKA (2003) and (probably) THE INFINITE QUEST (2007) was never.

But why an animation adventure? The main "human" centric series has a wonderfully diverse audience including legions of younger fans. How is adding an animation event add value to their enjoyment (or to the DOCTOR WHO brand)? Would it be sold to "children's channels" in America as a taster for the "human" series?

So, was it waste of money and effort?

No. Absolutely not.

It's a truly professional produced - if formulaic - adventure that is riot of corridor chases, wit & charm and morality that every single member of the family will relish - and will enjoy again & again.

And the quality of the "print" is stunning. Now, the Williamson household has not succumbed to a HD television but the richness of colour, depth of contrast and a grand music score (Murray Gold origination) that has had neighbours from four streets away complaining.

Written by Phil Ford and directed by fan-turned-professional Gary Russell, DREAMLAND encapsulates the very DNA of DOCTOR WHO as developed under the stewardship of Russell T Davies and David Tenannt.

It's 1958's America, and the Doctor arrives to satisfies his hunger (Chilli mince) only to stumble across an alien hoard (Viperox) breeding beneath the plains of New Mexico, a group of robotic "bounty hunters" seeking an alien device, a distrustful USA Army General and a separated alien pairing (husband & wife). Corridors, explosions, elevators, more corridors, flashbacks, sonic screwdriver-ing, crawling through air conditioning conduits, companions calling him "Doc.", and even more corridors.

The story is, however, a jumble sale of recycling from both DOCTOR WHO and other fantasy-science fiction ventures - THE RUNAWAY BRIDE's insectoid "mother" is re-invented as the Viperox Queen, robotic "Men in Black", THE X-FILES forays into the New Mexico desert in search of "bug-eyed monsters", and even a INDIANA JONES - RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK mine-shaft truck ride.

The computer-generated animation is faultless except that when the Doctor & crew walk in the desert sand there were not footstep marks. Hey, I had to highlight the most inconsequential aspect as, as I said, faultless.

The cast is superb and, quite frankly, stellar. David Warner, Clarke Peters and the underused & undervalued (BBC WALES must employ him for a villainous role in SERIES 5 or beyond - a returning character, perhaps?) Peter Guinness adds a touch of virtual class to DOCTOR WHO - DREAMLAND.

The episode (originally broadcast on the BBC's "Red Button" & online in six mini-parts) is highly recommended even if you are not six years old or 86 years old. An addition to the DOCTOR WHO universe that, on the surface, may be puerile or even overly comedic but it will not disappoint.

And then there's the three DOCTOR WHO - GREATEST MOMENTS (60 minute each) documentary programmes previously broadcast on the BBC, focusing (1) THE DOCTOR (2) THE COMPANIONS and (3) THE ENEMIES.

The only issue I have with these documentary/clip-shows is that they focus on the the David Tennant era more than the Christopher Eccleston set of stories. Shame.