h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is undoubtedly, 'The War Games', with Zoe and Jamie as companions. We've recently bought DVDs of several stories - including 'Caves of Androzani', and *all* are wonderful. Doctor Who has *never* had a dud. (It isn't on TV any more here, though. )
Check out http://zoeshrine.da.ru if you like...It's by Jimmy Nugget

I thought The War Games suffered because of its length, although its importance in the overall history of the show shouldn't be underestimated.

My personal vote for the greatest story would be City of Death, but I can fully understand why it wouldn't be everyone else's choice. But to my mind, it perfectly encapsulates all the best elements of the show - clever time travel plot, unparalleled dialogue, ludicrous monster and Tom Baker at the top of his form. It even has memorable incidental music, and not many serials can boast that.

I just read the book of The War Games (by Malcolm Hulke) this year, and it is so relevant to current events! (I wish it wasn't) To be honest, my memory of it as an episode is not that good. Doctor Who was recently re-run here in NZ up to the middle of the Tom Baker years, then inexplicably taken off, never to return, I was told when I phoned. We did see City of Death though, and it was brilliant! I *love* time travel stories, the more convoluted the better, and the chemistry between Lalla Ward and Tom Baker was amazing. (Well, it would be, wouldn't it?)

The City Of Death also has some of the best support acting ever from Julian Glover, who gives a truly evil but believable performance!!

My vote for best story goes to Seeds of Doom, episode one is one of my favourite episodes in the whole series, and the episode ending is pretty good too; the heavy breathing Wynlet/Krynoid will haunt me forever!!

Yes, Julian Glover is marvellous.
Although it's pretty old, one of my favorite stories has to be 'The Aztecs'. Jacqueline Hill (Barbara) is outstanding!

That was a great story, however, my all time favorite was (I think it's title was this anyway) "The hand of fate". It wwas the one were Sarah unwittingly brings a long dormant evil mastermind back to life when she finds a hand in a pile of rocks that had fallen on her... I'm not going to recount the plot here, since I'm sure you all remember it.

Liked it because the plot was nicely done (The end was somewhat of a disappointment, but you can't have everything), it was a nice goodbye to Sarah (My favorite of all the companions), and the simple joke that when the Tardis materializes in a rock quarry on earth, both the Doctor and Sarah mistake it for another planet (A nice little in-joke if there ever was one).

"The Hand of Fear" is the story you're thinking off! I think the way they kill off Eldrad is very embarrasing; I mean, he doesn't even trip over the scarf convincingly, he just steps over it and suddenly he's falling into a pit of oblivion!! You're right though, shame about Sarah leaving!!

Yes, Sarah's farewell was quite sad really... I quite liked that story. Jimmy Nugget is urging that we buy more Doctor Who DVDs this weekend. He wants 'The Ark in Space' but it's available only on video..

The Ark in Space is very much available on DVD!! Among the extras are new special effects to replace the old model shots, and very good they are too!!

Is it on DVD? I'll tell Jimmy. We ended up buying 'Spearhead from Space'. How about those Autons, hey? Really sh*t-yer-pants-scary, to use an expression I have heard...
A very good story.

For fans of the later stories, the new DVD of The Curse of Fenric is the best release so far in terms of extras. They have the original transmitted version (not previously available on VHS) and a brand new 'feature-length' version on a separate disc with about 12 minutes of extra footage, new special effcets and a revised musical score. There are also a load of mini-documentaries, including an interview with the writer, Ian Briggs, who talks about his research into Norse mythology, a few bits from composer Mark Ayres, who also oversaw the new film-length version, a look at the costumes and the work of Ken Trew (who first worked on the show in 1971), a clip from a feature on the monster masks and a clip from a kiddie's TV show that went behind-the-scenes on the show.

Really good set of extras and one of the better McCoy stories.

Next month's Three Doctors DVD looks like it'll be almost as good though!

Weehu! (as John Barnes' characters say...) Do you know if they're available in New Zealand? We'll have to have a look for them...

For me, it has to be Caves of Androzani. I think that the Doctor and Peri were brilliant in that. Peri hardly screamed at all and the Doctor was how the fifth incarnation should have been all along. I remember thinking that at the time, then reading an interview with Peter Davison a week later and he said the same thing. I was chuffed! *laff*

I think the darker fifth Doctor works so well on the new audios, along with the companions, who get to do a lot more than they did on the series.

I also love City of Death, any third Doctor story and Seeds of Death with Doctor 2 and Zoe, oh, and not to forget Tomb of the Cybermen, and....

There's just too many to chose from,

Alicia

A "few bits" from Mark Ayres? There's *loads* from him, and both his features are quite long.

I found the location walk-arounds from the production crew fascinating. And the story's one of my favourites too

Alicia, I have to agree - Jimmy has the DVD of 'Caves of Androzani' and I like it more and more each time he plays it. It just keeps getting better and better! Peter Davidson was brilliant though Jon Pertwee still remains my favourite Doctor.
Peri was excellent as well, before J., got the DVD I'd never seen her.

Hiya Della,
I have the Caves DVD, but have yet to get a DVD player *grin* I can't wait to see the extras in it.

Jon Pertwee is my favourite Doctor as well,

Alicia

Hi, Alicia. Jimmy just bought the DVD of Earthshock, and he loves Caves. He is going to do one of his end of year English assessments about it. (He's in the 6th form at Western Springs College in Auckland NZ. BTW, whereabouts are you?)

Hiya Della,
awesome. I hope he does well in his assessment. I did one on Doctor Who when I was at school as well...no...two. One on the book Earthshock for English and one on the incidental music for music. There's so much to learn from that show

I'm in Sydney Australia,

Alicia

We watched Earthshock on Saturday, and I loved it (Jimmy didn't seem as keen.) I was actually moved when Adric died... and I'd never seen him before! That's (Adric) Jimmy's online name for a lot of sites, so I think he felt funny about it.

I was a kid when Adric died and I cried. Now I cry that he didn't die sooner. Not nice, I know, but I think the poor 5th Doc had too many companions.

I watched Arc Of Infinity and Time Flight on the weekend, two stories I hadn't seen in a long time and two good stories for Nyssa, finally *laff*

I saw the Earthshock DVD in the ABC shop on the weekend, but I have to wait a little while before I can pick it up. Can't wait though,

Alicia