VHS : Doctor Who - Survival [1989]

Rating: - The Final Story Of The 1980's
Although the last story to be broadcast after Doctor Who's original 26 year run, before the series was quietly dropped by BBC executives, it has no feeling of a programme which has become tired and uninspired. Indeed Season 26 is easily the best series in 5 years, with 3 of its 4 stories now highly regarded by fans of the series. Survival as one of this 3 stories features the return of The Master, finally potrayed in a more serious and straight manner, than the somewhat pantomime version of recent years. Indeed the late Anthony Ainley's final and indeed best performance as the Doctor's Timelord nemesis, evokes memories of the definite incarnation potrayred by Roger Delegado. Although the monsters are less successful, nowadays the Cheetah people look more cuddly than menacing, this shortcoming is lessened by an intelligent script, concerning The Doctor being transported to a Planet in which captured humans are hunted by the Cheetah people race.
Amongst the supporting cast, Julian Holloway is superb as Sergeant Peterson, a survival expert and Youth Club teacher, whose ideals ultimately affect what happens to him. This story is certainly worthy of a DVD release, and is a good example of one which can help lead to a revaluation of this period in the shows history.

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Rating: - Brill, a nice climax to a brill last MacCoy season..
I am a big fan of the MacCoy era and this is just the icing on the cake.
With the Brill "Ghost light" then the superbly set "The curse of Fenric" "Survival" is a nice ending to a superrb season its a shame that it didn't do well with the ratings.

U shud buy this vidieo now!!!

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Rating: - Shame about the cheetah costumes.
In many ways Doctor Who finished on a high with 'Survival'. It has many things going for it. Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred are brilliant (his last season was his finest), the Master returns for a grand finale, the plot is interesting, the location for the alien planet is one of the best Doctor Who ever produced and Julian Holloway gives a good character performance as Sergeant Paterson. The only problem is the Cheetah People themselves. The idea was good but clearly not practical: they look like Puss in Boots and I know for a fact that writer Rona Munro was unhappy with them. On the whole, though, it's well worthwhile and you should look out for an appearance by a young Adele Silva (Kelly Glover in Emmerdale).

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Rating: - This is a great Dr Who story!
I ordered this video a few days ago and when I sat down and watched it I was not surprised by it's quality. It's so sad that they had to end the Dr Who series, but what a way to end. It leaves possibilities open for new stories. Please bring more videos out like this BBC is what I say. Jack