Doctor Who The Pirate Planet Story 99 The Key to Time Series Part 2

Product Description Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) penned this episode in which the Doctor and Romana seek the second segment of the Key to Time on a parasitic planet. DVD Features:Audio CommentaryBiographiesPhoto galleryProduction Notes Amazon.com Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy scribe Douglas Adams made his scriptwriting debut for Doctor Who with this 16th-season episode, the second in the "Key to Time" story arc, and a delight for fans of the series and Adams's work. Tom Baker's Doctor and companion Romana (Mary Tamm), in pursuit of the second segment of the Key to Time, accidentally land on the planet Zanak, which has been cored out and converted into a ship with which to plunder the mineral resources of other neighboring planets. The Doctor and Romana must outwit the Captain, the planet's half-human, half-metal ruler, in order to retrieve the segment, which is concealed in the shriveled husk of a conquered planet. Adams's wry humor (well delivered by Baker and Tamm) and imaginative flourishes help buoy this episode, though Who aficionados that dislike the series' humorous efforts may not appreciate the serial's overall light tone. Fans of the Hitchhiker series will note several references to elements from that series (Adams was writing a radio adaptation of Hitchhiker's Guide at the same time he wrote this episode) woven throughout the script. --Paul Gaita Additional Features The full-frame mono DVD presentation offers a lively commentary track by director Pennant Roberts and actor Bruce Purchase (the Captain), as well as an optional information subtitle track loaded with production and broadcast information about the episode. The "Who's Who" feature offers short biographical sketches on the main performances and screenwriter Adams, while the photo gallery presents a wealth of color production stills, many of which have never been seen before. Several color film clips featuring additional footage shot on location in South Wales round out the special features. The main menu also offers individual episode and scene access as well as English subtitles. --Paul Gaita