Doctor Who: Dalek Invasion of Earth, The (Episode 10) (DVD)
Radiation nil, oxygen normal, pressure normal yet London is deserted, with no sign of life and no sense of normality. Exploring the decaying city sometime after 2164AD, the Doctor and his companions soon learn that it is not as empty as it seems. The Daleks far from having been destroyed on Skaro have conquered the world. Nearly wiped out by storm and plague, the Earths population has been commandeered by the Daleks into huge mining operations. Some humans have suffered the additional indignation of being transformed into Robomen to serve the Daleks in their diabolical plans. Humanitys only hope for survival lies with a small band of resistance fighters who need all the help they can get.
Additional Features Doctor Who: Dalek Invasion of Earth is a comprehensive two-disc set with a generally excellent black-and-white picture and mono sound. The highlight of disc 1 is a warm and very informative commentary hosted by Gary Russell and featuring director Richard Martin (all episodes), producer Verity Lambert (5 episodes), and Carol Ann Ford and William Russell (4 episodes each). There are optional subtitles for the episodes, as well as for the commentary, and further text titles giving detailed background information. Optional new CGI-effects shots have been added, which via seamless branching can be selected over the original 1964 model work. The new material obviously lacks authenticity, but looks about 1,000 times better. Disc 2 offers an abundance of extras including an amusing extract from Blue Peter (6 min.) showing how to make edible Daleks. There is a photo gallery and some very poor quality rehearsal footage, but most fun of all is a 27 minute 1994 BBC spoof radio documentary that asks Whatever Happened to... Susan? Jane Asher plays Susan Foreman in a sci-fi comedy as ingenious as it amusing and irreverent. This is a remarkable set that belongs in any Who fan's collection. --Gary S. Dalkin
