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Doctor Who - Series 4, Volume 1 [2008]

Actors: David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Billie Piper, Bernard Cribbins, Sarah Lancashire
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~Ł17.99~~
Buy New: Ł10.30
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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

22 reviews
Sales Rank: 174

Format: Colour, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 135
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6

EAN: 5014503260521
ASIN: B00153NOPE

Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: June 2, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
There's been a lot of pressure on the fourth series of Doctor Who. Could Russell T Davies and his team keep the momentum going? Would Catherine Tate overcome the initial criticisms and prove to be a strong companion for the Doctor? And, well, how do you top the three series of the revived show that we've enjoyed so far?

We needn't have worried. The three episodes on this disc, while not vintage Doctor Who (they always save the better episodes for the latter part of each season, after all), have plenty to offer. Partners In Crime is a fun way to start the series, primarily concerned with setting up the Catherine Tate-David Tennant mechanic, and allowing the former to dispel many of the concerns aimed in her direction. It's forgettable stuff, about a miracle diet, but is still entertaining, and Sarah Lancashire is a welcome guest star.

Next up is The Fires Of Pompeii, and this is where the action kicks in. There's a little bit of continuing to set up the main character dynamics, but this is the episode that the effects budget was clearly thrown at. With a massive volcano eruption, impressive monsters and a fast-moving plot, it's good stuff.

Finally, a welcome return for a foe from series past, in Planet Of The Ood. This is a well-written story, with some solid monsters in it, and throws in plenty of moral conundrums along the way. Good stuff.

With three good stories, there's plenty to enjoy here, and it sees the fourth series of Doctor Who getting off to a strong start. Count us among those who can't wait for the rest of it... --Jon Foster

Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Contains two of the best stories of the series. A delight. July 12, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful

After the disappointment of the mainly dismal third series, this one has turned out to be the best yet. This is mostly thanks to Catherine Tate joining the Doctor as his companion. After the emotional turmoil of Rose, and having to suffer the vacant, goggle-eyed staring of Martha, the poor old Doc was badly in need of some light relief, and he certainly gets it with Donna, especially in the first story in the series. Though as the season progresses, we see far more to Donna's personality than just wise-cracking humour and wittiness. But in the first story, we get quite a bit of that and most welcome it is too. The hilarious moment when the Doc and Donna first clap eyes on each other is classic and just gets funnier the more I see it. And this is mainly down to Donna's lively, ebullient personality, which makes such a refreshing change from what has gone before, and of course, she's pretty too, which helps, but mainly it's her vibrant, sparky personality that draws you in and makes you want more.
Miss Foster is hilarious too, in an icily restrained manner, and the Adipose make you go 'aaahh' they are so cute. It was a nice, fun episode, but with pathos too, when we see Donna at home being nagged by her unappreciative mother, and then with her grandfather on the hillside at night, telling him about the Doctor and how she wanted to find him. And then at the end, after she'd found him, but momentarily doubted that he still wanted her to accompany him, she switched from high spirits and ebulliance to vulnerability in the blink of an eye. And then, when she doubted the Doctor's intentions and misinterpreted something he said, she was outraged at what she thought was a dishonourable suggestion on his part, and this was her back in expressively funny mode. The whole interaction between them a delight to behold.
A wonderful first episode to start the season off.

Not so keen on the second story, as I'm not usually with the historical ones, but still entertaining and the relationship between Donna and the Doctor evolving into them being very comfortable in each other's presence and with a lively repartee bouncing off one another that ran throughout the whole series. Nice how the Doctor was shown to be responsible for the events that happened way back in history. This was quite cleverly worked in to the story and was a bit of a twist seeing as how it wasn't really going to happen and he had caused it all along.

The Planet of the Ood was a delight. Once again, the humans were shown in a bad light and the Ood as really rather superior in their innocence. The planet could have been shown a bit more, rather than just snow-covered industrial machinery, but I guess maybe budget restrictions could have been behind this. But it was still very effective and Donna's sympathy for the Ood was very touching. At least in this story, the Ood had a happier outcome to the last time we saw them.

All in all, a great start to a great fourth season. And if you only buy one dvd from this season, then to me, this would be the best.

Oh, and I think the picture on the cover of the dvd is the best yet too!

4 out of 5 stars

The Noble One. June 30, 2008
2 out of 6 found this review helpful

Not since Bonnie Langford have people feared the return of another red-headed companion... I know a lot of people were less than pleased to hear that Catherine Tate was to be brought back for this series, but I personally enjoyed her portrayal of Donna (even if I didn't love everything about her Christmas special episode).

The character needed depth, and she got it. Left feeling disillusioned since The Runaway Bride she manages to find The Doctor and pretty much invite herself into the TARDIS - and I'm glad she did. Since Doctor Who was re-launched it has managed to capture some brilliant moments. With Catherine Tate in the series, you always knew the writers would tap into her comedy credentials, and the scene from the first episode where Donna and the Doctor mime their way through a conversation is one of the funniest moments throughout the shows 45+ year history! For me, this is the strongest first episode since Ecclestone's "Rose". Those little Fat Creatures (I'm sure everyone went "aw" when they saw the Adipose) were fantastic, it was only on a second viewing that I noticed that some of the poor blighters were squidged by a taxi when it skidded over them to an understated yet comedy splat noise!

Any doubters that Catherine Tate wasn't strong enough to pull off the joint lead for this series were convinced by the second episode where we got to see her experience the harsh realities of disaster, and also the inner angst that comes with being a Timelord; we get to explore more of the doctor and the difficulties he faces with every decision often life or death decisions for thousands of innocent souls. There's CGI galore here and it isn't too bad.

Finally, we see the return of the Ood. This episode didn't feel as strong as the others but it followed the dark theme, in this case the sadness lay with the plight of the exploited Ood and the revelation around the extent of their loss.

The single disk format with no additional features is disappointing, but the inevitable box-set will no doubt contain a mass of special features for those who want a bit more.

5 out of 5 stars

Not Bad for a Fourth Series June 26, 2008
3 out of 7 found this review helpful

At the point of writing this we are only one episode away from the end of the fourth series. It has received a mixed reaction in our household and had caused a few disagreements over good or not-so-good episodes.
The first three of the series, for me, were fairly good. I loved the Adipodes - tooo cute for words. The return of Donna Noble as the Doc's companion was like a breath of fresh air! Her first appearance in the Christmas Special '06 was immediately after Rose's departure and such a different character was a lot to take on board. After 13 episodes of Drippy Martha, Donna is delightful. She is not in love with the Doctor - as all the others appeared to be - and this gives her character much more scope. She stands up to him, she reigns him in when required and she lets him know what it is like to be human. She is a hit in our household and we totally enjoyed the start to the new series because of her.
Episode 2 - Fires of Pompeii - I liked this. The effects were good, the scenery was excellent and there was enough 'big stuff' to keep the 8 year old happy. Donna had a blub at towards the end when she realised that there was a moral choice to be made and that neither outcome could be without death. I particularly liked the way that RTD used the Doctor to 'create' a time in history.
Episode 3 - Planet of the Ood - By far and large the favourite of the series for us. We have watched this one several times over and we still think it is wonderful. RTD does it again when he revives a 'monster' from a previous series and gives it a different identity. He had us crying over a Dalek in the first series (who'd have thought it eh?) and he does the same with the Ood. Donna has another blub in this episode and we have now realised that this is the flaw to her character - she's always blarting!! That aside, however, this is a magnificent episode to watch.
All in all, the first three episodes are promising for the new series. This DVD is a must for the collection.

5 out of 5 stars

a great opening to the series June 8, 2008
1 out of 6 found this review helpful

PIC: after the tragic eps, it was cool to have a nice light hearted episode with a FEW dramatic moments and of course the great donna/doc reunion, and a glimpse of an old ally surely makes your heart stop 8/10

FOP: great episodes, dramatic moments and a very different feel to the doctor who universe 9/10

POTO: fav episode of the first three, brilliant to see the ood back but they werent brought back just 4 the hell of it, oh no, a great story is told and the mystery of the Ood deepens in this tragic tale 9/10

2 out of 5 stars

Oh dear... June 1, 2008
2 out of 16 found this review helpful

After the anti-climactic 'Last of the Time Lords' and the, frankly abysmal 'Voyage of the Damned' I was expecting a better start to the fourth series of Doctor Who. I kept my expectations low, not looking forward to Catherine Tate's return, and feared that Russell T Davies may have become too big for his boots.

Unfortunately, this is a bad start. What was once a mixed bag (suspense, action, sci-fi, and wit) this began to show strong signs of Doctor Who becoming a bad sitcom with aliens. Never mind the farting, comical Slitheen, we now have the Adipose, a race that don't even pose a threat and look like a walking sponge with a 'cute wittle face'. In fact, a trend in series four seems to be non-threatening 'enemies', which two of these three episodes centre around. An exception to this are the Pyroviles in episode two. However, although they pose a threat, they are dull and instantly forgettable. I can only recall that they strongly resemble Transformers, and that is not a positive way to remember a Doctor Who villain.

The return of the ood provides an entertaining enough episode, and one that provides a few well-needed answers, but once it ended, I was left feeling rather empty. The episode felt forced, unnecessary, and somewhat predictable. A 'filler' episode if you will. A man-to-ood transformation, while quite thrilling and representing justice, is clearly a rehashed Empty Child transformation.

In addition to Catherine Tate bordering on unbearable and David Tennant appearing somewhat bored with the role (although he's back on form from episode four onwards), Murray Gold's once fantastic music becomes reptitive and overpowering. In the majority of series four, I found myself constantly playing with the volume, in an attempt to find a balance beween the action and the music, both of which seem to dominate this series.

All in all, if you're a fan of any style of Doctor Who, you'll like this, but if you're a fan of Classic Who, and New Who episodes such as 'Human Nature' 'Utopia' 'Blink', and generally most of the episodes of series 1 and 2, chances are you'll be sorely disappointed.

Just my opinion, but (despite a few episodes) this series is all action and no atmosphere.