Remembrance of the Daleks
Encyclopedia
Remembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who
, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 5 October to 26 October 1988.
The serial opened the 25th anniversary year of the series, and contained many references to the history of the show. It is set in 1963, around the same time as the very first Doctor Who episode, An Unearthly Child
. Remembrance of the Daleks returns the Doctor to Coal Hill School
and the junkyard at 76 Totter's Lane, locations first seen in that episode. The serial also continues the story arc of a civil war
between rival Dalek
factions, culminating in a titanic showdown between the Doctor and Dalek Emperor Davros
. This was the last appearance of Davros and the Daleks in the original run of Doctor Who; after a brief appearance in the 1996 television film the Daleks would return in the 2005 episode "Dalek
".
and Ace
arrive on Earth in 1963 across from Coal Hill School to recover a Time Lord artifact the Doctor left on Earth due to two Dalek factions battling for it.
in 1963 and become ingratiated with Professor Jensen and Sergeant Mike Smith who are tracing 'the primary source' of magnetic fluctuations outside Coal Hill School. They are summoned to 'the secondary source' at Totters Lane Junkyard where Group Captain
Gilmore and his men have been attacked by an unidentified assailant. The aggressor is identified as a grey Dalek
which is promptly destroyed by the Doctor using Ace's Nitro-9 explosive.
Meanwhile, Mike enlists the cooperation of his friend, Mr. Ratcliffe, whose fascist
Association operates from a Builders warehouse. His agents recover the remains of the Dalek which Ratcliffe presents to a Dalek Battle computer secreted in his office whom he assures that the Doctor will be followed.
The Doctor, troubled by the presence of the 'wrong Dalek', travels with Ace back to Coal Hill School, and with the permission of the Headmaster begin searching the school. The Doctor reveals to Ace that the Daleks have followed him through time to this point hoping to secure the Hand of Omega
.
In the basement of the school the Doctor and Ace discover a transmat
device which the Doctor disables, causing a white and gold Dalek operator to charge on the saboteurs. While Ace is incapacitated by the controlled Headmaster, the Doctor is locked in the cellar to face the rising Dalek chanting his extermination. Ace overpowers the Headmaster and frees the Doctor, and they make use of anti tank rockets forwarded by Group Captain Gilmore to deal with the Dalek.
Very concerned about the presence of two Dalek factions, the Doctor decides to 'bury the past' and leaves Ace in the care of Smith. The Omega Device is awaiting burial in a local undertakers. The Doctor leads the floating casket to a freshly dug grave. As the blind Vicar presiding over the ceremony announces, "it is over"; the Doctor corrects him saying, "it's only just beginning". The unusual burial is watched by Mike Smith.
The Doctor, Smith, Jensen, and her assistant Allison travel to Gilmore's base where the presence of a large Dalek mothership is detected in geostationary orbit
. The mothership dispatches an Imperial Dalek assault squad to the transmat repaired by the Headmaster. The Doctor vetoes a proposal of military action, warning of massive reprisals from the Imperial Faction. He assembles a jamming device to interfere with the Dalek control systems.
A bored Ace realises that she has left her stereo back at the school. She returns there to discover it crawling with Imperial Daleks. With some assistance from a baseball bat imbued with power from the Omega Device she proves more than a match for a surprised Dalek scout. However during her escape she is cornered by three Daleks.
Alerted to Ace's visit to the School, the Doctor arrives just in time to save Ace using his Dalek Jammer. Deciding to buy himself more time he then destroys the transmat. The Daleks on the Mothership detect this and decide to wait for the Omega Device to reveal itself. Informed of the location of the buried casket and the Battle Computer's promise of great shared power, Ratcliffe and his association begin digging for the Device. He is unsettled by the presence of a silent school girl who has been observing most of the proceedings. The disturbed device is detected by the Imperial Daleks and the summoned Dalek Emperor sends a shuttle to recover it from the Grey Renegade Daleks who have rejected his authority.
The Doctor sends Gilmore and his men to establish a defensive position at the school. He reveals to Ace that two sets of Daleks are vying for control of the Omega Device which was used to give the Gallifrey
ans mastery of time. Ratcliffe presents the Device to the Battle Computer which is revealed to contain the little girl. A Supreme Dalek, flanked by Grey Daleks, kills Ratcliffe's men and takes him hostage. They prepare to flee with the device using a time controller.
Not wanting this faction to escape with the device, the Doctor disables the controller and is chased back to the school by a squad of Daleks. The Doctor assures his entourage that the approaching Imperial shuttle will not land at the school as it is so far away from the Renegade base. The group take cover as the shuttle lands in the playground. The Doctor notes with concern that he might have miscalculated.
The Imperial Daleks leave the ship to face the Renegade faction. Using a Special Weapons Dalek for extra firepower, they advance towards the Renegade base. Realising that Smith is Ratcliffe's agent, Gilmore detains him. The Doctor decides to use the transmat remains in the cellar as a communications link with the Mothership.
Smith escapes to the Renegade base to find Ratcliffe a prisoner. The repaired time controller powers up to enable the Renegades' escape but the base is attacked by the Imperials, who overwhelm the few remaining opponents. Ratcliffe and Mike flee with the Time Controller and the Supreme Dalek orders the controlled girl to recover it. Using Dalek powers she kills Ratcliffe and pursues Smith. The victorious Imperials return to the shuttle with the Device. The Doctor orders Ace to shadow Smith.
The Imperial Emperor is informed that the Omega Device is in his possession. The Doctor appears on the bridge screen and he demands the surrender of the Device. The Emperor is revealed to be Davros
who announces his plans for his Daleks to overthrow the Time Lords. Angered by the Doctor's insults, Davros decides to unleash the device on Skaro's sun. Rather than the desired effect, the device creates a supernova
, obliterating the Daleks' home. The device smashes back into the Mothership just after an escape pod drops out of view. The Doctor announces that the device is travelling back to Gallifrey
.
Ace is captured by Smith, who is still holding the Time Controller. The girl tracks him down and kills him before turning her attention to Ace. The Doctor seeks out the Supreme Dalek. Convinced of its absolute defeat it kills itself, breaking the link with the controlled girl.
At Smith's funeral Ace wonders if what they did was good. "Time will tell," replies the Doctor. "It always does."
stereo sound.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 5 October to 26 October 1988.
The serial opened the 25th anniversary year of the series, and contained many references to the history of the show. It is set in 1963, around the same time as the very first Doctor Who episode, An Unearthly Child
An Unearthly Child
The serial that became An Unearthly Child was originally commissioned from writer Anthony Coburn in June 1963, when it was intended to run as the second Doctor Who serial. At this stage, it was planned that the series would open with a serial entitled The Giants, to be written by BBC staff...
. Remembrance of the Daleks returns the Doctor to Coal Hill School
Coal Hill School
Coal Hill School is a fictional school in the television series Doctor Who. It is a comprehensive school located in the Shoreditch area of London....
and the junkyard at 76 Totter's Lane, locations first seen in that episode. The serial also continues the story arc of a civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
between rival Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
factions, culminating in a titanic showdown between the Doctor and Dalek Emperor Davros
Davros
Davros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
. This was the last appearance of Davros and the Daleks in the original run of Doctor Who; after a brief appearance in the 1996 television film the Daleks would return in the 2005 episode "Dalek
Dalek (Doctor Who episode)
"Dalek" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on 30 April 2005. It should not be confused with the first Dalek serial, The Daleks...
".
Synopsis
The DoctorSeventh Doctor
The Seventh Doctor is the seventh incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor Sylvester McCoy....
and Ace
Ace (Doctor Who)
Dorothy Gale McShane, better known by her nickname Ace, is a fictional character played by Sophie Aldred in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
arrive on Earth in 1963 across from Coal Hill School to recover a Time Lord artifact the Doctor left on Earth due to two Dalek factions battling for it.
Plot
The Doctor and Ace arrive in ShoreditchShoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
in 1963 and become ingratiated with Professor Jensen and Sergeant Mike Smith who are tracing 'the primary source' of magnetic fluctuations outside Coal Hill School. They are summoned to 'the secondary source' at Totters Lane Junkyard where Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Gilmore and his men have been attacked by an unidentified assailant. The aggressor is identified as a grey Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
which is promptly destroyed by the Doctor using Ace's Nitro-9 explosive.
Meanwhile, Mike enlists the cooperation of his friend, Mr. Ratcliffe, whose fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
Association operates from a Builders warehouse. His agents recover the remains of the Dalek which Ratcliffe presents to a Dalek Battle computer secreted in his office whom he assures that the Doctor will be followed.
The Doctor, troubled by the presence of the 'wrong Dalek', travels with Ace back to Coal Hill School, and with the permission of the Headmaster begin searching the school. The Doctor reveals to Ace that the Daleks have followed him through time to this point hoping to secure the Hand of Omega
Hand of Omega
The Hand of Omega is a fictional device from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who.In Remembrance of the Daleks the Seventh Doctor explains that the "Hand of Omega" is the mythical name for the remote stellar manipulator invented by Omega, the first of the Time Lords of the...
.
In the basement of the school the Doctor and Ace discover a transmat
Transmat
Transmat is the record label of techno music pioneer Derrick May, started in 1986. For years the label "released the tracks that would fuel the Techno boom" .....
device which the Doctor disables, causing a white and gold Dalek operator to charge on the saboteurs. While Ace is incapacitated by the controlled Headmaster, the Doctor is locked in the cellar to face the rising Dalek chanting his extermination. Ace overpowers the Headmaster and frees the Doctor, and they make use of anti tank rockets forwarded by Group Captain Gilmore to deal with the Dalek.
Very concerned about the presence of two Dalek factions, the Doctor decides to 'bury the past' and leaves Ace in the care of Smith. The Omega Device is awaiting burial in a local undertakers. The Doctor leads the floating casket to a freshly dug grave. As the blind Vicar presiding over the ceremony announces, "it is over"; the Doctor corrects him saying, "it's only just beginning". The unusual burial is watched by Mike Smith.
The Doctor, Smith, Jensen, and her assistant Allison travel to Gilmore's base where the presence of a large Dalek mothership is detected in geostationary orbit
Geostationary orbit
A geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator , with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers...
. The mothership dispatches an Imperial Dalek assault squad to the transmat repaired by the Headmaster. The Doctor vetoes a proposal of military action, warning of massive reprisals from the Imperial Faction. He assembles a jamming device to interfere with the Dalek control systems.
A bored Ace realises that she has left her stereo back at the school. She returns there to discover it crawling with Imperial Daleks. With some assistance from a baseball bat imbued with power from the Omega Device she proves more than a match for a surprised Dalek scout. However during her escape she is cornered by three Daleks.
Alerted to Ace's visit to the School, the Doctor arrives just in time to save Ace using his Dalek Jammer. Deciding to buy himself more time he then destroys the transmat. The Daleks on the Mothership detect this and decide to wait for the Omega Device to reveal itself. Informed of the location of the buried casket and the Battle Computer's promise of great shared power, Ratcliffe and his association begin digging for the Device. He is unsettled by the presence of a silent school girl who has been observing most of the proceedings. The disturbed device is detected by the Imperial Daleks and the summoned Dalek Emperor sends a shuttle to recover it from the Grey Renegade Daleks who have rejected his authority.
The Doctor sends Gilmore and his men to establish a defensive position at the school. He reveals to Ace that two sets of Daleks are vying for control of the Omega Device which was used to give the Gallifrey
Gallifrey
Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
ans mastery of time. Ratcliffe presents the Device to the Battle Computer which is revealed to contain the little girl. A Supreme Dalek, flanked by Grey Daleks, kills Ratcliffe's men and takes him hostage. They prepare to flee with the device using a time controller.
Not wanting this faction to escape with the device, the Doctor disables the controller and is chased back to the school by a squad of Daleks. The Doctor assures his entourage that the approaching Imperial shuttle will not land at the school as it is so far away from the Renegade base. The group take cover as the shuttle lands in the playground. The Doctor notes with concern that he might have miscalculated.
The Imperial Daleks leave the ship to face the Renegade faction. Using a Special Weapons Dalek for extra firepower, they advance towards the Renegade base. Realising that Smith is Ratcliffe's agent, Gilmore detains him. The Doctor decides to use the transmat remains in the cellar as a communications link with the Mothership.
Smith escapes to the Renegade base to find Ratcliffe a prisoner. The repaired time controller powers up to enable the Renegades' escape but the base is attacked by the Imperials, who overwhelm the few remaining opponents. Ratcliffe and Mike flee with the Time Controller and the Supreme Dalek orders the controlled girl to recover it. Using Dalek powers she kills Ratcliffe and pursues Smith. The victorious Imperials return to the shuttle with the Device. The Doctor orders Ace to shadow Smith.
The Imperial Emperor is informed that the Omega Device is in his possession. The Doctor appears on the bridge screen and he demands the surrender of the Device. The Emperor is revealed to be Davros
Davros
Davros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
who announces his plans for his Daleks to overthrow the Time Lords. Angered by the Doctor's insults, Davros decides to unleash the device on Skaro's sun. Rather than the desired effect, the device creates a supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
, obliterating the Daleks' home. The device smashes back into the Mothership just after an escape pod drops out of view. The Doctor announces that the device is travelling back to Gallifrey
Gallifrey
Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
.
Ace is captured by Smith, who is still holding the Time Controller. The girl tracks him down and kills him before turning her attention to Ace. The Doctor seeks out the Supreme Dalek. Convinced of its absolute defeat it kills itself, breaking the link with the controlled girl.
At Smith's funeral Ace wonders if what they did was good. "Time will tell," replies the Doctor. "It always does."
Continuity
- The serial is apparently set in November 1963 (see the Chronology for details), shortly after "An Unearthly ChildAn Unearthly ChildThe serial that became An Unearthly Child was originally commissioned from writer Anthony Coburn in June 1963, when it was intended to run as the second Doctor Who serial. At this stage, it was planned that the series would open with a serial entitled The Giants, to be written by BBC staff...
", the first episode of the very first Doctor Who serial. - Coal Hill School and a book on the French Revolution are shown, a nod to the book that SusanSusan ForemanSusan Foreman is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The granddaughter and original companion of the First Doctor, she was played by actress Carole Ann Ford from 1963 to 1964, in the show's first season and the first two stories of the second season...
was reading in the first episode of Doctor Who. A scene also takes place in I.M. Foreman's scrap yard, although it does not resemble the location as seen in "An Unearthly Child" or Attack of the CybermenAttack of the CybermenAttack of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from 5 January to 12 January 1985. It opened Season 22 of the series...
, and the name on the scrap yard sign is misspelled I.M. Forman. The sign painter had mistakenly painted "L.M. Forman". While the "L" was easily changed into an "I", the rest could not be altered in time for the recording of the story. This was later addressed in-story in the BBC-licensed Doctor Who novelPast Doctor AdventuresThe Past Doctor Adventures were a series of spin-off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. For most of their existence, they were published side-by-side with the Eighth Doctor Adventures...
The Algebra of IceThe Algebra of IceThe Algebra of Ice is a BBC Books original novel written by Lloyd Rose and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Seventh Doctor and Ace.-Synopsis:...
, as a race of creatures taking the form of mathematical equations causing a number of minor, self-correcting temporal disruptions in the vicinity of the Doctor, including the spelling of Foreman/Forman.) - An apparent meta-referenceMeta-referenceMetareference, a metafiction technique, is a situation in a work of fiction whereby characters display an awareness that they are in such a work, such as a film, television show or book. Sometimes it may even just be a form of editing or film-making technique that comments on the...
to the show happens in one scene, the first and so far only explicit one in the show's history. A television screen shows a BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Television caption of the period with a continuity announcer saying "This is BBC television, the time is quarter past five and Saturday viewing continues with an adventure in the new science fiction series Doc—", but is cut off by a scene change before completing the title. - The story's second day, 23 November 1963, is set concurrently with the K-9 episode, "The Cambridge Spy".
- Ace, having grown up after decimalisation, is confused by shillings and pencePenny (British pre-decimal coin)The penny of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, was in circulation from the early 18th century until February 1971, Decimal Day....
; she is instructed by Sgt. Mike Smith outside of Coal Hill School. This refers back to Susan ForemanSusan ForemanSusan Foreman is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The granddaughter and original companion of the First Doctor, she was played by actress Carole Ann Ford from 1963 to 1964, in the show's first season and the first two stories of the second season...
's similar confusion in Barbara WrightBarbara Wright (Doctor Who)Barbara Wright is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of the First Doctor. She was one of the programme's very first regulars and appeared in the bulk of its first two seasons from 1963–65, played by Jacqueline Hill. In the film version...
's class inside the school in "An Unearthly ChildAn Unearthly ChildThe serial that became An Unearthly Child was originally commissioned from writer Anthony Coburn in June 1963, when it was intended to run as the second Doctor Who serial. At this stage, it was planned that the series would open with a serial entitled The Giants, to be written by BBC staff...
". - The Doctor says that Ace's tape deck being destroyed is a good thing - "the whole microchip revolution would take place now, twenty years too early." He builds her a new one before the events of Silver NemesisSilver NemesisSilver Nemesis was the 25th anniversary serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast in the UK in three weekly parts from 23 November 1988, to 7 December 1988....
. - The undertaker refers to the fact that he thought the Doctor was supposed to be an "old geezer with white hair," referring to his first incarnationFirst DoctorThe First Doctor is the initial incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor William Hartnell from 1963 to 1966. Hartnell reprised the role in the tenth anniversary story The Three Doctors in 1973 - albeit in a...
. - The blind vicar opines that the Doctor's voice has changed in the month since they last spoke. The Doctor replies that his voice "has changed, several times."
Daleks
- Episode 1 is commonly considered the first time a Dalek is shown on screen to hover independently above ground. However, the Daleks' ability to defy gravity was first implied as far back as The ChaseThe Chase (Doctor Who)The Chase is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 22 May to 26 June 1965. The story is set on multiple locations including the Mary Celeste, the Empire State Building, and the planet Aridius...
(1965); a Dalek was seen hovering with the aid of an "anti-gravitational disk" in the 1973 adventure Planet of the DaleksPlanet of the DaleksPlanet of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from April 7 to May 12, 1973.-Synopsis:...
and both Davros and the Daleks were seen to hover in Revelation of the DaleksRevelation of the DaleksRevelation of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 23 March and 30 March 1985...
(1985). However, this is the first episode that explicitly shows that using that ability means that stairs are no longer a major impediment to the species. - Several elements in the plot are structured so as to surprise viewers familiar with previous Dalek serials. The story initially leads the informed viewer to identify the figure speaking to Ratcliffe and commanding the renegade faction as Davros, and to identify the imperial faction with the Daleks who captured Davros at the end of Revelation of the DaleksRevelation of the DaleksRevelation of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 23 March and 30 March 1985...
, with the stated intention of taking him to Skaro for trial. However, the figure is revealed to be a kidnapped schoolgirl, and the imperial faction are commanded by Davros. - The Skaro Daleks of Revelation become the Renegade Daleks in this story, and the story does not explain how Davros went from being their prisoner to being the Emperor of a rival Dalek faction. In the story's novelisation, Aaronvitch states that the Daleks split into different factions across the universe as a countermeasure to the Movellan virus that attacks their casings in Resurrection of the DaleksResurrection of the DaleksResurrection of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts between 8 February and 15 February 1984...
and that the Imperial faction have since resettled on Skaro, but does not reveal how Davros became their emperor. The Doctor Who MagazineDoctor Who MagazineDoctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
comic strip story Emperor of the Daleks (DWM #197-#202) also attempts to fill in this gap, with Davros conquering Skaro and also explaining how his remains came to be housed in the Emperor Dalek shell while the Big Finish ProductionsBig Finish ProductionsBig Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
audio adventure The JuggernautsThe JuggernautsThe Juggernauts is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
presents an alternate version of DavrosDavrosDavros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
's activities in the period between Revelation and Remembrance. - The Eighth Doctor AdventuresEighth Doctor AdventuresThe Eighth Doctor Adventures are a series of spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. 73 books were published overall...
novel, War of the DaleksWar of the DaleksWar of the Daleks is an original novel written by John Peel, published in 1997, based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor and Sam. This novel was the first appearance of the Daleks in an original Doctor Who novel; they had not...
by John PeelJohn Peel (writer)John Peel is a British writer, best known for his books connected to several television series. He has written under several pseudonyms, including John Vincent and Nicholas Adams. He lives in Long Island, New York and his wife is a U.S...
, claimed that Skaro had not been destroyed after all; having discovered records of Skaro's destruction during their invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of Earth is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from November 21 to December 26, 1964....
, the Daleks moved Davros to another planet while he was in stasis after terraforming it to resemble Skaro, thus allowing the destruction of 'Skaro' to take place on their terms. The later Big Finish ProductionsBig Finish ProductionsBig Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
audio play Terror FirmaTerror FirmaTerror Firma is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The story follows on directly from the previous Eighth Doctor audio drama The Next Life and flashes back to scenes that takes place before the first Eighth Doctor...
contradicted this and also gave an alternate account of what Davros did after the events of this story (Although it should be noted that Terra Firma features Davros suffering from multiple personality disorder that may affect his memory). As with all non-televised stories, including the comic strip, the canonicity of these stories are unclear. Furthermore, Dalek Caan mentions in "Daleks in ManhattanDaleks in Manhattan"Daleks in Manhattan" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 21 April 2007, and is the fourth episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series. It is part one of a two-part story, concluded in "Evolution of the Daleks"...
" (2007) that Skaro was destroyed in "a great war", leaving more doubt as to the actual moment of its destruction (Russell T Davies referred in Doctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
to the events of Genesis of the DaleksGenesis of the DaleksGenesis of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros, the creator of the Daleks.-Plot:...
as the first strike of the Time WarTime War (Doctor Who)The Time War, more specifically called The Last Great Time War, is a conflict within the fictional universe of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
, so Caan might be referring to the events of Remembrance in this context). - Davros's threats to destroy Gallifrey and the Time Lords are referenced in the Doctor Who Annual 2006, where it is claimed that "one of the Dalek Puppet Emperors openly declared his hostility".
- The Doctor tells Ace that the Daleks conquered the Earth in the 22nd century, referring The Dalek Invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of Earth is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from November 21 to December 26, 1964....
. He also tells Ace about the war between the Kaleds and the ThalsThal (Doctor Who)The Thals are a fictional race of humanoid aliens from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, originating on the planet Skaro.-History within the show:...
, and how the mutation of the Kaleds was accelerated by DavrosGenesis of the DaleksGenesis of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros, the creator of the Daleks.-Plot:...
.
The Doctor
- The Doctor describes himself to Davros as "President Elect of the High Council of Time Lords". While the Doctor did become President in The Deadly AssassinThe Deadly AssassinThe Deadly Assassin is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 30 October to 20 November 1976...
, assumed the role in The Invasion of TimeThe Invasion of TimeThe Invasion of Time is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 4 February to 11 March 1978...
and was appointed once again as President in The Five DoctorsThe Five DoctorsThe Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programme's twentieth anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago PBS station WTTW and various other PBS member stations...
, by the time of his sixth incarnation'sSixth DoctorThe Sixth Doctor is the sixth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Colin Baker...
trial in The Trial of a Time LordThe Trial of a Time LordThe Trial of a Time Lord is a fourteen-part British science fiction serial of the long running BBC series Doctor Who. The serial, produced as the twenty-third season of the Doctor Who television series, aired in weekly episodes from 6 September to 6 December 1986...
he had been removed from office due to his absence. While he was offered the opportunity to run for the position again at the end of his trial, he declined. - In a scene deleted from the original broadcast, the Doctor also tells Davros that he is "far more than just another Time Lord". This, along with the Doctor's hints that he was present at the creation of the Hand of Omega, was part of the so-called "Cartmel MasterplanCartmel MasterplanThe Cartmel Masterplan is a fan name for the planned Doctor Who backstory developed primarily by Andrew Cartmel, Ben Aaronovitch, and Marc Platt, which they intended to restore some of the mystery of the Doctor's background that had been lost through revelation of the existing backstory...
" by script editor Andrew CartmelAndrew CartmelAndrew Cartmel is a British science fiction writer and journalist, and former script editor of Doctor Who. He has also worked as a script editor on other television series, as a magazine editor, a film studies lecturer and as a novelist.-Biography:...
to restore some of the mystery to the Doctor's origins. More hints would surface over the next two seasons (for example, in Silver NemesisSilver NemesisSilver Nemesis was the 25th anniversary serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast in the UK in three weekly parts from 23 November 1988, to 7 December 1988....
), but as the programme ceased production in 1989, the intended revelations never came to pass. The Seventh Doctor, from this point on, also grew darker and more manipulative. - When asked to sign a document, the Doctor clearly does so with a question mark.
Production
Preproduction
- Working titles for this story included Nemesis of the Doctor.
- In one scene, Dr Rachel Jensen makes mention of a "Bernard" from the "British Rocket Group". This is a reference to Bernard QuatermassBernard QuatermassProfessor Bernard Quatermass is a fictional scientist, originally created by the writer Nigel Kneale for BBC Television. An intelligent and highly moral British scientist, Quatermass is a pioneer of the British space programme, heading up the British Experimental Rocket Group...
and his British Experimental Rocket Group, of the Nigel KnealeNigel KnealeNigel Kneale was a British screenwriter from the Isle of Man. Active in television, film, radio drama and prose fiction, he wrote professionally for over fifty years, was a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award and was twice nominated for the British Film Award for Best Screenplay...
-penned Quatermass science-fiction television serials. The Rocket Group is again mentioned in "The Christmas InvasionThe Christmas Invasion"The Christmas Invasion" is a 60-minute special episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is Christmas, but there is little cause for celebration as planet Earth is invaded by aliens known as the Sycorax...
", and Bernard Quatermass gets a namecheck in "Planet of the DeadPlanet of the Dead"Planet of the Dead" is the first 2009 special of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was simultaneously broadcast on BBC One and BBC HD on 11 April 2009. It was the second of five special episodes broadcast throughout 2009 and early 2010, which served as lead actor...
".
Production
- For the final battle sequence between the Renegade and Imperial Daleks, the BBC Effects Department's pyrotechnics were so loud and the explosions so realistic that the London Fire BrigadeLondon Fire BrigadeThe London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
was dispatched to the scene by local residents who feared that an IRAProvisional Irish Republican ArmyThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bomb had gone off. The reason for this is that this scene was filmed under Waterloo Bridge in west London on the 60th anniversary of the uprising in Dublin, so some kind of terrorist attack was expected. Sylvester McCoySylvester McCoySylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor. As a comic act and busker he appeared regularly on stage and on BBC Children's television in the 1970s and 80s, but is best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to...
, in Episode 6 of the documentary series Doctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
, told the story of how after the first explosions, a number of car alarms in the neighborhood went off, and how surprised the emergency services drivers were when they arrived to see three Daleks coming at them from out of the smoke. - Production on the serial went over-budget by £13,000, and as a result Andrew Morgan was barred from directing for the programme again.
Post-production
- The first episode begins with a cold openCold openA cold open in a television program or movie is the technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown...
(other examples being Castrovalva, The Five DoctorsThe Five DoctorsThe Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programme's twentieth anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago PBS station WTTW and various other PBS member stations...
and Time and the RaniTime and the RaniTime and the Rani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 7 September to 28 September 1987. This story was the first to feature Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor. It also features the last appearance of the Sixth...
). A cold open would become a regular part of the show's format in the 2000s revival, starting in the second episode of 2005, "The End of the WorldThe End of the World (Doctor Who)"The End of the World" is the second episode of Series One of the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by show runner Russell T Davies and directed by Euros Lyn, the episode was first broadcast on 2 April 2005....
". - When Ace first goes into the cafe, "Return to SenderReturn to Sender (song)"Return to Sender" is a 1962 rock and roll hit single recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music. The song was written by Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell....
" by Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
is heard on the radio. "Do You Want to Know a Secret" and "A Taste of HoneyA Taste of Honey (song)"A Taste of Honey" is a pop standard written by Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow. It was originally an instrumental track written for the 1960 Broadway version of the 1958 British play A Taste of Honey . Both the original and a cover by Herb Alpert in 1965 earned the song Grammy Awards...
" by The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
are heard in later scenes, although for rights reasons these were replaced for the original DVD release, with the former replaced by the Billy J. Kramer And The DakotasBilly J. KramerBilly J. Kramer is a British Invasion/Merseybeat singer. In the 1960s he was managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed The Beatles, and he recorded several original Lennon and McCartney compositions.-Early life and career:He grew up as the youngest of seven siblings and attended the St George of...
version of the same song. The DVD contained in the later-released Davros Boxset and the 2009 re-release were able to use the original songs thanks to changes in licensing agreements.
Cast notes
- To protect the secret of Davros' presence in the story, Terry Molloy was credited in part three under an anagram, "Roy Tromelly".
- William Thomas, who appears in the story as Martin the undertaker, appears again in the series in the 2005 episode "Boom TownBoom Town (Doctor Who)"Boom Town" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 4 June 2005. The Doctor, Rose and Jack travel to modern-day Cardiff and meet up with Rose's boyfriend, Mickey...
", making him the first actor to appear in both the classic and new series of Doctor Who. He later goes on to play Geraint Cooper, the father of Gwen CooperGwen CooperGwen Cooper is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off to the long-running show Doctor Who, portrayed by Welsh actress Eve Myles. The series' lead female character, Gwen has featured in every episode of the sci-fi programme to date as well as two crossover...
, in the 2008 TorchwoodTorchwoodTorchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
episode "Something BorrowedSomething Borrowed (Torchwood)"Something Borrowed" is the ninth episode of the second series of British science fiction television series Torchwood. It was broadcast by BBC Three on 5 March 2008 and repeated on BBC Two one week later.-Synopsis:...
" and the 2011 series Torchwood: Miracle Day. He is the first actor to appear in all three shows. - Tip TippingTip TippingTimothy Tipping , better known as Tip Tipping, was an English film and television stuntman and actor.Prior to his career as a stuntman, Tipping served in the Royal Marines and 21st Special Air Service Regiment...
, a stuntman in this serial, also plays the corporal knocked out by Mike in Part Four. - Joseph Marcell, who appears as John, is better known for playing Geoffrey Butler on The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their...
. - The episode also features guest appearances by Pamela Salem and Michael Sheard. See also Celebrity appearances in Doctor WhoCelebrity appearances in Doctor WhoThis is a list of actors who have made guest appearances in Doctor Who.-First Doctor stories:-Second Doctor stories:-Third Doctor stories:-Fourth Doctor stories:-Fifth Doctor stories:-Sixth Doctor stories:-Seventh Doctor stories:...
. - Mark McGannMark McGannMark McGann is an English actor, director and musician.- Acting career :McGann first appeared on stage in 1981 in the production Lennon at the Everyman Theatre and the London Astoria where he portrayed John Lennon, role which won him the first of his two Olivier Award nominations for best actor in...
, the brother of Eighth DoctorEighth DoctorThe Eighth Doctor is the eighth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann...
actor Paul McGannPaul McGannPaul McGann is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role...
, was originally considered for the role of Mike Smith. - Simon WilliamsSimon Williams (actor)Simon Williams is an English actor known for playing James Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. Frequently playing upper-class roles, he is also known for playing Dr...
later played Paul Addison in the audio play Nekromanteia. - Peter Hailiday played Packer in the Second DoctorSecond DoctorThe Second Doctor is the second incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by character actor Patrick Troughton....
serial The InvasionThe Invasion (Doctor Who)The Invasion is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in eight weekly parts from 2 November to 21 December 1968...
.
Broadcast and reception
This story was the first time the programme was transmitted — albeit only in the London (Crystal Palace transmitter) and Yorkshire (Emley Moor transmitter) broadcast regions — with NICAMNICAM
Near Instantaneous Companded Audio Multiplex is an early form of lossy compression for digital audio. It was originally developed in the early 1970s for point-to-point links within broadcasting networks...
stereo sound.
In print
- A novelisation of this serial, written by Ben AaronovitchBen AaronovitchBen Denis Aaronovitch is a London-born British writer who has worked on television series including Doctor Who, Casualty, Jupiter Moon and Dark Knight...
, was published by Target BooksTarget BooksTarget Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. The imprint was established as a children's imprint to complement the adult Tandem imprint, and became well known for their highly successful range of...
in June 1990. The book also has a noticeably higher word count than most previous novelisations. It is here that the ancient Gallifreyan figure known as "The OtherOther (Doctor Who)The Other is a fictional character in the expanded universe of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A legendary figure in Time Lord history, the Other does not appear in the television series itself, but is mentioned several times in the spin-off media based on the...
" first appears. Aaronovitch's novelisation also contains a reference to Kadiatu Lethbridge-StewartKadiatu Lethbridge-StewartKadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart is a fictional character from the Virgin New Adventures range of spin-offs based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. She is a descendant of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart....
, the granddaughter of Brigadier Lethbridge-StewartBrigadier Lethbridge-StewartBrigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, generally referred to simply as the Brigadier, is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Nicholas Courtney...
. Kadiatu's own great-granddaughter and namesake was a recurring character in the Virgin New AdventuresVirgin New AdventuresThe Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
, including Aaronovitch's own TransitTransit (Doctor Who)Transit is an original novel written by Ben Aaronovitch and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Seventh Doctor, Bernice and the first appearance of Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart...
and The Also PeopleThe Also PeopleThe Also People is an original novel written by Ben Aaronovitch and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Seventh Doctor, Bernice, Chris, Roz and Kadiatu.-Plot:...
. There are also several flashbacks, most notably one for DavrosDavrosDavros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
describing the accident that left him crippled, which formed the basis of similar flash backs in the audio play DavrosDavrosDavros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
and the series I, Davros. Certain phrases are also translated into the Dalek's language and it is established that they refer to the Doctor as the "Ka Faraq Gatri", which is variously translated as "Bringer of Darkness" or "Destroyer of Worlds". The phrase is used throughout the Virgin New AdventuresVirgin New AdventuresThe Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
series to refer to the increasingly dark actions of the Seventh DoctorSeventh DoctorThe Seventh Doctor is the seventh incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor Sylvester McCoy....
and is referred to again in Journey's End (Doctor Who)Journey's End (Doctor Who)"Journey's End" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who first broadcast on BBC One on 5 July 2008. It is the second episode of a two-part crossover story featuring the characters of spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane...
where Davros condemns the Tenth DoctorTenth DoctorThe Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
as the "Destroyer of Worlds". The novelisation of this story is widely considered to be one of the best of the entire series. - The novelisation also states that the troops seen in this story were from a unit known as the "Intrusion Counter-Measures Group". UNIT Exposed, the 1991 Doctor Who MagazineDoctor Who MagazineDoctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
Winter Special, suggested that the ICMG was a forerunner of UNIT. This was picked up on and expanded in the spin-off novel Who Killed KennedyWho Killed KennedyWho Killed Kennedy is an original novel written by David Bishop and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
by David BishopDavid BishopDavid Bishop is a screenwriter and author. Born in New Zealand, he was a UK comics editor during the 1990s, running such titles as the Judge Dredd Megazine and 2000 AD, the latter between 1996 and the summer of 2000....
, which provides a fictional history of UNIT from an investigative journalist'sInvestigative journalismInvestigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
perspective. Who Killed Kennedy also stated that Dr Rachel Jensen was drafted from the British Rocket Group.
VHS and DVD releases
- This story was released in a two VHSVHSThe Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape set with The ChaseThe Chase (Doctor Who)The Chase is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 22 May to 26 June 1965. The story is set on multiple locations including the Mary Celeste, the Empire State Building, and the planet Aridius...
in September 1993 as a special Dalek tin set titled The Daleks: Limited Edition Boxed Set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Doctor WhoDoctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. It was re-released in 2001 as part of The Davros Collection which was a limited-edition box set, exclusive to UK retailer WH Smith. - This story was released on DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in the United Kingdom on 26 February 2001, remastered by the Doctor Who Restoration TeamDoctor Who Restoration TeamThe Doctor Who Restoration Team is a loose collection of Doctor Who fans, many within the television industry, who restore Doctor Who episodes for release on DVD....
. Special features included were outtakes, a photo gallery and a commentary with Sylvester McCoySylvester McCoySylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor. As a comic act and busker he appeared regularly on stage and on BBC Children's television in the 1970s and 80s, but is best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to...
and Sophie AldredSophie AldredSophie Aldred is an English actress and television presenter, best known for her portrayal of The Doctor's companion Ace in the television series Doctor Who during the late 1980s.-Early life:...
. One scene included among the deleted scenes on the DVD release is the extended version of a scene in the café where the Doctor muses on the consequences of choices on history to John (played by Joseph Marcell). The original Region 2DVD region codeDVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
DVD release has some video effects missing from episode 1 and the start of episode 2. This was an unforeseen consequence of the Restoration Team using earlier edits of these episodes, made before certain effects were added. The problem was corrected with subsequent DVD releases, including Region 1. - The story was included as part of a limited run box set in 2003 with The Dalek Invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of Earth is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from November 21 to December 26, 1964....
and Resurrection of the DaleksResurrection of the DaleksResurrection of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts between 8 February and 15 February 1984... - A remastered version of this story was released on Region 2 in November 2007, as part of The Complete Davros Collection and as a two-disc standalone release (including the 'Davros Connections' documentary from the boxset) on 20 July 2009. It includes the effects that were mistakenly left out and songs by The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
that weren't clearable for the original release but subsequently fall under a blanket music licensing agreement for the U.K. Two new extra features cover different aspects of the story. "Back to School" covers the making of the story while "Remembrances" talks about the relationship to other stories in the show's history that are referenced. There is also a newly remastered stereo and 5.1 surround sound mix. In the original Davros Boxset release version, there were two total mutes of the 5.1 soundtrack during episode one. 2entertain fixed the master within a few days of release and faulty copies could be exchanged for fixed ones via mail-in. The standalone version of the release uses the fixed version. - Released as part of The Doctor Who DVD FilesDoctor Who DVD FilesDoctor Who DVD Files is a fortnightly partwork magazine published by GE Fabbri, authorised by 2 entertain and BBC Worldwide. Each issue consists of a magazine and a DVD....
Vol 29. This marks the fourth different separate release of the serial on DVD.