Dragonfire is a pivotal serial in the Doctor Who run because it is an episode that bridges the tenures of two companions. By the end of the third part, Mel is gone, through a series of events I won't spoil, and Ace is now on board. This is especially important because, coming so close to the end of the original series, Ace will be the last companion featured. Sure, Doctor Who will eventually be resurrected. But for fans of the original show, Ace is the last.
Perhaps because of all of these reasons, the sharp storytelling, devilish bad guy, and pivotal events, Dragonfire is considered one of the great Who stories, and has been ranked as the Seventh Doctor's best. It holds up extremely well, and while I have not viewed all of this Doctor's tales, it seems like it is probably worthy of this distinction.
The extras only sweeten the deal. Besides the typical PDF materials and photo gallery, there is an isolated score from which to better enjoy the show's music. Ten minutes of deleted and extended scenes are included, and the picture and sound have been remastered pretty well. It's not high definition quality, but it surely looks better than when it aired in 1987.
The audio commentary this time around is done by actors Aldred and Peel, director Chris Clough, script editor Andrew Cartmel, writer Ian Briggs, and composer Dominic Glynn. It is moderated by Mark Eyres, who also composed music for Doctor Who.
Dragonfire gets a 35-minute making of featurette. Like other Doctor Who releases, this is a treasure, allowing fans behind the scenes. There is also a 12-minute special on the special effects of the series, and "The Doctor's Strange Love" is made up of writers and a comedian analyzing the story.
In all, Dragonfire is a terrific tale, and an even better DVD. Doctor Who fans should find whatever they are looking for in it, be it great television episodes, or insight in a beloved series. That's why it is one that I can recommend buying.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments