Doctor Who - The Time Warrior (Episode 70)
Starring: Jon PertweeStudio: BBC Warner
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, NTSC
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release: April 1st 2008
Buy DVD:
DVD Review
A terrifying clash between the past and future threatens the entire human race and plunges the Doctor and Sarah into a chilling race against time. When top scientists begin to mysteriously vanish, Doctor Who finds himself headed back in time to the middle ages and not-so-merry England. Linx, a war-loving Sontaren fleet commander, has crash-landed near a medieval castle and is supplying the feuding Irongron with advanced weapons that could totally change the course of human evolution. He is also using the kidnapped scientists to repair his ship. Linx is determined to return to his squadron - and nothing will stop him. As Irongron gets ready for battle, the Doctor makes his move. Can he save the doomed scientists, outwit Irongron and stop Linx from completing his catastrophic plan? The future of mankind is in his hands...
User Reviews
The Sontarans are coming (or rather came a long time ago) - Rating: 3/5
This episode is classic WHO. I don't mean to say it's a classic episode. It doesn't stand out as one of the very best episodes of the classic series, but it does stand out as the typical sort of thing going on during the best years of the classic series.
Here we are introduced to the Sontarans. While the Sontarans are one of the best conceived monsters/villans in the series' history, they unfortunately received bad treatment for the few times they were used. The only good Sontaran episodes were TIME WARRIOR (Season 11) and THE SONTARAN EXPERIMENT (Season 12). In TIME WARRIOR, the Sontarans are well realized as monsters and Kevin Lindsay did a wonderful job bringing the Sontaran to life. The script also re-introduces us to the historical story, a type of story not much used since the Hartnell days. Set in Medieval England, this story is great for the technology/dark ages interplay, the sets and the costumes (costuming period episodes was always a strong point at the BBC). The acting, while over the top at some points, is also done well overall, especially Kevin Lindsay as the Sontaran.
This episode is special for one other reason; it introduced us to Sarah Jane Smith. Sarah Jane as the Doctor's companion was a fan favorite.
All in all, this was one of my favorite Jon Pertwee episodes for the reasons stated. This would be a great buy for both hard core fans and casual viewers alike.
A "Timely" release for SARAH JANE and the SONTARANS - Rating: 5/5
With the success of the BBC's Sarah Jane Adventures (UK series targeted for younger viewers)and the pending 2008 return of the Sontaran's to the 4th season of Doctor Who it is a great time for the DVD release of the "Time Warrior." Not only was the story a season opener and the 3rd Doctor's final season played by the groovy Judo-chopping Jon Pertwee, but it introduces one of the Doctor's finest companions Sarah Jane Smith as played by Elisabeth Sladen. Sarah returned to say her farewells in season 2 of the 2006 Dr. Who only to get her own CBBC spin-off.
The Story: England's scientists are being snatched and transported to the middle-ages by a stranded alien. UNIT asks the Doctor to sort it out, while the lovely and plucky young reporter Miss Sarah Jane Smith stows-away on the TARDIS as the Doctor tracks the scientists into the past. Ultimately, Sarah ends up at odds with the Doctor believing he is the time-napping villain and teaming-up with a local King and Queen to storm the baddies castle. Eventually, the two ally themselves to face the true foes, including the war-mongering armored Sontaran supplying the locals with centuries advanced weaponry.
Some neat moments are the introduction of a "fighting mechnical-man" to the middle-age tyrant in which an archer stays his execution by pumping arrows in to the machine as it continues to march ever forward. A scene which is repeated later with sword and axe-play as the Doctor is disquised as the robot.
The action in this one is typical of Pertwee's years, as is the over-the-top writing for the late great Robert Holmes, especially dialogue for Bloodaxe and his minions, who in one scene refer to the Doctor as a "Long-shanked rascal with a mighty nose!" The strength of the original series has always been the great location work giving the long running sci-fi fantasy series a grounding in the real world, the nearly 35 year old episode was filmed at a real castle, Peckforton Castle. The on-screen chemistry between the Doctor and Sarah certainly foreshadows the highlights to come in the shows future, even in these formative stages of character development Sladen is a joy to watch and is my favorite companion (follow closely by Billie Piper ofcourse). New fans of the series will appreciate this "historic" meeting between Doctor and sidekick.
The DVD has lots of extras and easter eggs, including OPTIONAL CGI SPECIAL EFFECTS to bring the 1973 story visually up-to-date, if you chose. Since the History of the Sontarans Documentary was included in the Sontaran Experiment DVD, "Beginning the End" talks with cast, producers and script editors on location at Peckforton. Extensive interviews include guest star Jeremy Bulloch who played Hal the Archer, Star Wars fans may not know his face, but are surely familiar with his name as Emipire and Jedi's original Boba Fett.
Finally - Rating: 5/5
This is a great Doctor Who episode with the late, great John Pertwee.
Long overdue !!!
