Doctor Who: The Black Guardian Trilogy (Mawdryn Undead / Terminus / Enlightenment)

For the 20th season of "Doctor Who," producer John Nathan Turner wanted each storyline to feature a callback to the past of the show, whether it be a returning villain or monster or a familiar face or two coming back across the Doctor's path. In addition, Nathan-Turner wanted a new face to join the TARDIS crew-a school boy with a mysterious past and possibly an alien heritage.

Those two elements led to the creation of a three-story arc during the twentieth season, loosely referred to as The Black Guardian trilogy. The overarching theme saw the Black Guardian seeking revenge on the Doctor for denying the Guardian the Key to Time at the end of season 17. Out for vengeance, the Guardian procured the services of an English school boy named Turlough, who in exchange for killing the Doctor would be suitably rewarded.

Released on DVD for the first time, this loosely connected arc of stories makes up the latest box set of classic "Doctor Who."

The first story, "Mawdryn Undead" sets up the Turlough storyline in the midst of one of the more insightful looks at time travel and its implications the classic series ever did. Multiple time zones play a factor as do the intersecting time lines of returning favorite Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. Visually stunning (even without the CG updates) and featuring a catchy and driving musical score, "Mawdryn" is the highlight of the set and may be the best story from the twentieth anniversary season.

Next up comes "Doctor Who" wrestling with the creation of the universe and saving us from the next big bang with "Terminus." Much derided by some of the "Who" community, the story is probably best remembered for companion Nyssa living the TARDIS crew and, in episode two, shedding her skirt. It's a shame that the story is probably only remembered for these moment and not for some of the more interesting ideas its trying to put forward on screen. Unfortunately, the story is let down by a the famous "Doctor Who" cliche of running around a lot of corridors and a ton of technobabble. It's also the story that feels the most forced into the trilogy concept once the first episode is complete (Turlough sabotages the TARDIS to get the TARDIS crew to the station).

Finally there's "Enlightenment" which is one of the most unique stories from the classic run. The TARDIS comes aboard a racing ship in space where immortal beings called the Eternals are racing for the ultimate prize-enlightenment. The story has a lot of nuances to it and it's easy to see why it's a fan favorite from the season. It's got a lot to offer from the ideas of the Eternals who exist as almost vampires on the emotions of the human crew to the superb direction on the serial itself.

It's also interesting that on the new set that this story is the one that gets the biggest extra treatment-namely in the form of a new director's cut. On several recent commentaries, various participants have wondered if classic "Who" could work under the guidelines of new "Who." The most obvious point being-could you tell a classic "Who" story in the 45 minute time slot?

"Enlightenment" decides to try and answer that question with a new edit that was supposed to be under an hour but ends up being a bit longer. It's probably due to the complexity of having to set up some things for the final leg of the trilogy, but it could also be that the story is a rich one that fully utilizes the screen time across four episodes. Whatever the case, the new shorter edit is a fascinating experiment and it looks and sounds great (they pull out all the stops with new CGI of the space race). And while it's good, it may not be something classic "Who" fans return to time and again along the lines of the extended cuts of "Battlefield" and "Curse of Fenric" we got as extras on those releases.

As for the rest of the extras, they're up to the usual standard of that the "Doctor Who" restoration team is known for. The biggest is the new CGI effects for all three stories. Since the team began tackling these for certain stories and projects with "Ark in Space" years ago, the quality has risen with each release and what we see here is no exception. The new effects and exterior shots on "Mawdryn Undead" alone are worth a look and may be the new way that some classic "Who" fans watch the stories from now on.

There's also commentaries on each episode, anchored by Peter Davison and Mark Strickson. It's interesting to hear the two discuss the character of Turlough and the limitations placed on him early by having him being opposed to and trying to kill the Doctor. The two, along with script editor Eric Saward, agree that having a companion whose chief goal is the death of the Doctor limits how you can use the companion-either he's failing or locked in a room away from the main action. As always with stories from this era, I wish that producer John Nathan-Turner was around to offer some counter-point and his motivtions for decisions made during his tenure.

The set also includes a documentary on each story, though a lot of the anecdotes tended to crossover from the commentaries. But if you're a classic "Who" fan, it won't take away from the enjoyment of any of these extras.

Were it not for "The War Games" release during the same month, this latest set would be in the running for one of the best classic "Who" releases of the year. And it's still a good one with two solid stories, one a bit dodgy one and a wealth of great special features. What else could a classic series "Who" fan want?

So you want to know about the special features? Come hither...

(Taken from the Restoration Team website)

Disc 1 - Mawdryn Undead

* Commentary -with actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson and Nicholas Courtney, script editor Eric Saward.

* Who Wants to Live Forever? (dur. 24' 30") - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Nicholas Courtney, Mark Strickson, David Collings and Lucy Benjamin, director Peter Moffatt, script editor Eric Saward and plastic surgeon Dr. Simon Withey. Narrated by Floella Benjamin.

* Liberty Hall (dur. 7' 19") - a new drama. Journalist Philip Clarke (Simon Ockenden) travels to Brendan School to interview Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart.

* Deleted and Extended Scenes (dur. 5' 14") - deleted and extended scenes from the location filming.

* Film Trims (dur. 3' 31") - film trims from the location filming, including clapperboards and cast and crew setting up and performing various takes.

* Out-takes (5' 33") - the producer's blooper reel.

* CGI Effects - this option allows the viewer to watch the story with a number of original effects shots replaced by new computer-generated images.

* Continuity (dur. 0' 55") - BBC1 continuity announcements from the story's original transmission.

* Set Photo Gallery (dur. 1' 35 ") - Set design photos from the story.

* Isolated Score - option to watch the story with the isolated music score.

Disc 2 - Terminus

* Commentary with actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson and Sarah Sutton, writer Stephen Gallagher.

* Breaking Point (dur. 22' 32") - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton and Martin Potter, director Fiona Cumming, writer Stephen Gallagher, designer Dick Coles, camera supervisor Alec Wheal and sound supervisor Scott Talbott. Narrated by Floella Benjamin.

* Origins of the Universe (dur. 6' 28") - Sir Patrick Moore and, Dr. John Mason take a look at the science behind the Big Bang and the origins of the universe.

* Original Storyboards (dur. 1' 17") - production storyboards for the spaceship sequences, plus how the shots were realised on screen.

* Unused Model Shots (dur. 3' 29") - a selection of unused takes from the model effects shoot, taken from a timecoded production tape.

* CGI Effects - this option allows the viewer to watch the story with a number of original effects shots replaced by new computer-generated images.

* Continuity (dur. 1' 51") - BBC1 continuity announcements from the story's original transmission.

* Isolated Score - option to watch the story with the isolated music score.

Disc 3 - Enlightement

* Commentary with actors Peter Davison and Mark Strickson, writer Barbara Clegg and director Fiona Cumming.

* Winner Takes All (dur. 23' 47") - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson, Janet Fielding, Keith Barron, Christopher Brown and Leee John, director Fiona Cumming, writer Barbara Clegg, costume designer Dinah Collin and camera supervisor Alec Wheal. Narrated by Floella Benjamin.

* Casting Off! (dur. 10' 33") - an actor's view of working on Doctor Who. With Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Keith Barron, Christopher Brown and Leee John, with director Fiona Cumming.

* Single Write Female (dur. 5' 12") - writer Barbara Clegg looks back on her career and the writing of 'Enlightenment'.

* The Story of the Guardians (dur. 11' 53") - the Guardians have appeared in Doctor Who as far back as Tom Baker's era... but who - or what - are they? With Robert Luckham (son of the late White Guardian, Cyril Luckham), Sarah Leppard (daughter of the late Black Guardian, Valentine Dyall), Doctor Who Magazine editor Tom Spilsbury and Doctor Who Adventures editor Moray Laing.

* Storyboards (dur. 5' 56") - a dual-angle feature, in which visual effects supervisor Mike Kelt uses the original storyboards to explain how he went about planning and shooting the model effects sequences for the show. The disc should default to the main angle, but the viewer should be allowed to flip angles on their remote to see the model sequences full-frame.

* Isolated Score - option to watch the story with the isolated music score.

Disc 4 - Enlightenment - Special Edition

* 75 min movie-format edit in 16:9 with 5.1 (default) and stereo audio. Menu option to play with an introduction (dur. 1' 28") by the director if required.

* Re-Enlightenment (dur. 14' 30") - the production team responsible for the new version of 'Enlightenment' discuss how they are going to approach the task in hand...

* Original Edit Comparison (dur. 2' 34") - a comparison of the original opening of episode three compared to that eventually seen on transmission.

* Film Trims (dur. 5' 32") - trims from the story's filmed sequences.

* Finding Mark Strickson (dur. 8' 28") - Mark Strickson looks back over his acting career.

* Finding Sarah Sutton (dur. 7' 45") - Sarah Sutton looks back over her acting career.

* Russell Harty Christmas Party (dur. 3' 31") - Peter Davison and his then-wife Sandra Dickinson perform a song and dance routine on Russell Harty's 1982 Christmas show.

* Continuity (dur. 2' 09") - BBC1 continuity announcements from the story's original transmission.

* Plus of course the usual Radio Times Listing PDFs, Coming Soon trailer, Programme Subtitles, Subtitle Production Notes and Photo Galleries.

I am sure many fans of the clasic series were hoping these three episodes would be released together and sure enough the Doctor Who Restoration Team did not disapoint us. The three episodes in the box set hail from Doctor Who's 20th aniversary Season (5th Doctor Peter Davison's 2nd season). While that season seemed a bit dis-jointed at times it did have one of those "moments" that reminded you why you loved Doctor Who in the First place. I am of course talking about the real "Gem" of this box set...Mawdryn Undead. This episode is so cleverly executed from start to finish. The writing, the direction and the acting are all top shelf! The story revolves around a group of alien immortals deperatly trying to escape the curse of immortality. The doctor is flung into the middle of their struggle by the bent on revenge "Black Gaurdian" and his emotionaly twisted and unwilling assassan Turlough (sounds like ter-low). The Doctor is aided in this episode by the returning Brigadere Lethbridge Stewart who is now retired from UNIT and teaching at an all boys school. This is truly the Brigadere's finest hour in the program's history as Nicholas Courtney returns to the role and plays the aging veteran to perfection. The episode also features a brilliant plot twist that has the doctors companions Tegan and Nyssa sent back in time some nine years or so and yet they are still able to aid the Doctor as events unfold. Other highlights are the brilliant set designs on Mawdryn's ship, the music score and a nice little "flashback" during episode two...But I'll say no more to protect first time viewers.
The other two episodes in the box set, Terminus and Enlightenment, have their moments but fail to come up to the level of Mawdryn Undead. That being said this box set is worth every penny. If you have seen it buy it again and relive the magic of Mawdryn if for no other reason than to remeber how you felt after you viewed it for the First time ( I would imagine most Doctor Who Fan's can remember exactly where they were the first time they saw this episode.)If you have never seen Mawdryn Undead (and I envy you) buy it as well and enjoy One of Doctor Who's finest hours....or hour and a half. Celery anyone???