VHS : Doctor Who - The Invasion Of Time [1978]

Rating: - Time for a realistic viewpoint
As a Doctor Who fan I am duty-bound to see the good in every story from the classic series; I can even see The Myrka in a (vaguely) positive light and trust me, that ain't easy to do! For me, part of being a true fan is seeing something good in the weakest stories - true, this isn't what I envisaged as a callow 13 year-old in 1985 reading Terrance Dicks' Target novelisation, but 1970's 'Who' was made on a shoestring for the most part and the overwhelmingly ambitious creatures and worlds created within it were never going to be anywhere near as impressive when televised. Although I love the new series I often hanker for the slow-pace and often more thought-provoking episodes of yesteryear - this story has betrayal, duplicitousness ,false-enemies, Leela, the TARDIS' true interior AND presents The Timelords' home for the first time; if you see it for what it is and set your expectations and imagination accordingly then I guarantee you'll enjoy this story.

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Rating: - Oh dear...
I love Dr Who - it is one of my all-time favorite shows, but for want of a better word, this story is complete pants.
In fact I wish it had never been made...

Many people probably disagree, but I always think it was a mistake to actually SHOW the Timelords and their home planet - surely they should have remained an enigma, like, er, Mrs Columbo!
And, considering how 'eccentric' the Doctor is (& here is tiresomely more than ever), why are the rest of his peers (excluding the Master) so terribly one-dimensional and dull??!

This story to me represents the very nadir of Dr Who.
Beset with production problems, including a strike at the studios, the filming was completed for the most part in a disused Victorian public swimming pool building, which, in a distastrous plot twist, ends up doubling for the vast and multi-storeyed interior of the Tardis!

Also, the wonderful Sontarans, who made such a memorbale debut in The Time Warrior, are now overused & simply laughable in ill-fitting costumes and have long lost any sense of menace.

Sorry to say, but a story to definitley avoid...

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Rating: - So near, and yet so far
All the ingredients are here for a classic Doctor Who story, but the reality is sadly disappointing. As with most of the Graham Williams-produced stories, the humour is laid on with a trowel and completely undermines what should be an exciting, fast-paced story. Also, the Sontarans look and sound more like the Mitchell brothers from Eastenders rather than the proud warrior race that we know and love, and the Timelords seem about as omnipotent as the Ramblers Association.

But the biggest crime of all has to be the Tardis. For years we wondered what the rest of the Tardis was like. We knew that it was bigger on the inside, but how big? Only the BBC budgets stopped us finding out. In 'The Invasion of Time' we are finally treated to a grand tour of the Tardis only to discover that it is cunningly disguised as an infants school in West London. What a wasted opportunity. As for K9, let's not even talk about him.

If you're a dedicated Who fan, buy this because it's reasonably entertaining and provides a tantalising glimpse of what could have been one of the best Who stories ever.

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Rating: - It should've never been made
This story presents the Vardans,and in presenting the Vardans was just about the worst decision ever.All they seem to be are tin foil shapes hanging in the air,then they turn into a group of sorry looking human soldiers.As for the Sontarans,well they seem more wooden and one dimensional characters than before.Don't bother with it at all.

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Rating: - This is a brilliant story, and long overdue for release.
The authors and director take full advantage of Tom Baker's vast personality and capacity for inventiveness, setting him against a background of political intrigue and bizarrely imaginative ideas. Tom gives one of his finest performances, veering wildly from dark and calculating to fiercely temperamental, sinister and childlike.

This is an absolute must-see, if only for the cliffhangers to episodes 1 and 4, and Tom's huge and powerful presence.

Highly recommended.