Doctor Who - New Beginnings: The Keeper of Traken / Logopolis / Castrovalva (3DVD)

This Box Set comprises 3 stories. The final two stories of the 18th season The Keeper of Traken and Logopolis as well as the first story of the 19th season Castrovalva. They are prime examples of Doctor Who at it's best. It features the 'New Beginnings' of the Master as a recurring villain, Tegan Jovanka and Nyssa of Traken as companions and of course the regeneration of the Doctor from his lonely alien bohemian incarnation to his more friendly, vulnerable humanistic one.

These stories are one of the best run of 3 consecutive stories in the series history in part because they actually are connected. The best build up to and transition in a regeneration from one Doctor to another ever seen and that includes the current series.

The Keeper of Traken features one of the best realized alien environments in the series history. It feels like a historical fairytale about a real world even though we only see a small part of it.

Logopolis is drenched with an atmosphere of foreboding doom and destiny.

Castrovalva is centred around the Doctor's efforts to heal his mind and body with the help of his friends. Like the other two tales in this set the world of Castrovalva is palpable in its presentation.

As usual Doctor Who has the best extras of any TV series released anywhere!

Some (though not all) of the features available:

The Keeper of Traken * commentary with Anthony Ainley, Matthew Waterhouse and Sarah Sutton, writer Johnny Byrne.

Being Nice to Each Other-30 minute making of feature.

Logopolis * commentary with Tom Baker and Janet Fielding, writer Christopher H. Bidmead.

A New Body at Last-50 minute feature following the transition from Tom Baker to Peter Davison.

Castrovalva * commentary with Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, director Fiona Cumming and writer Christopher H. Bidmead.

Featurettes Being Doctor Who, Directing Castrovalva and The Crowded TARDIS.

Each also includes more features both new and archival as well as isolated music scores which are some of the best ever heard in the show's history.

I cannot recommend this set highly enough. These are the kinds of stories that make Doctor Who great because they really could only actually take place in Doctor Who. They are part of the fabric that makes the show even unique.

I like both of these two actors as the Doctor and these stories are quite good. The extras are interesting, as is usually the case with the Doctor Who DVD sets. However, I was disappointed with the video quality, having expected much better quality for video that has been re-mastered.

This Box set contains 3 stories from the end of Tom Baker's tenure and introduces Peter Davison.

The stories are:'The Keeper of Traken', 'Logopolis' and 'Castrovalva'.

This also re-introduces the character of the Master as played by Anthony Ainley.

Pros - Tom Baker, Anthony Ainley's performance in the keeper of Traken before he starts twirling his moustache.

Cons - Adric, Nyssa and Tegan.

These stories are also available separately.

Comes with the usual restoration team treatment and extras.

See [...] for all the details.

Overall a must buy item for the Dr. Who enthusiast.