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Doctor Who – The Seeds of Doom (DVD) – Death by plant!

22nd October 2010 By Tim Isaac

Never mind international terrorism: plants have long been society’s greatest enemy. Anyone  who has read The Day of the Triffids or seen Invasion of the Bodysnatchers or even a few episodes of Gardener’s World will, of course, already know this, but just in case you don’t, this six part Tom Baker Doctor Who (and Sarah Jane) adventure from 1976, serves to re-emphasise this valuable lesson.

Earth in the 20th century is the setting. When a research team digs up two ancient pods buried beneath the surface of the Antarctic, the Doctor is quick to recognise that they are of Krynoid origin – a highly pernicious species of vegetation which can attack or even plant itself within animals and humans. Despite the Doctor’s warnings, the pods are soon infecting and taking over people all over the place. John “Boycie” Challis, best known for Only Fools and Horses, is amongst those dealing with the effects of an altogether more dangerous form of plant life than his usual Green Green Grass, here.

As usual, the presence of Tom Baker immeasurably enlivens the episode commentaries which, with the notable exception of Sarah Jane actress Elisabeth Sladen, include an impressive number of the surviving cast and crew.  In this case, the Fourth Doctor sometimes reacts as if he has no memory of filming the story whatsoever. The Podshock feature, detailing the making of the story, is pretty dry and not really helped by an iffy snow special effect added to create an Antarctic feel to the interviews. More fun is the Stripped For Action featurette, focusing on the Doctor’s parallel adventures in comic form, which includes interviews with Judge Dredd co-creator Pat Mills and Dave ‘Watchmen’ Gibbons. Ever wondered what exactly a Production Assistant or a Production Unit Manager does? Me neither. However the So What Do you Do Exactly featurette attempts to answer such questions about obscure members of the production crew.

Perhaps the boldest claim on the extras is that the story may have had some influence on the development of Ridley Scott’s Alien. Regardless of that, this is an entertaining six parter, typical of the Doctor Who of the mid-70s.

Overall Verdict: Vintage Doctor Who saga which should ensure you’ll never be able to look an aphid in the eye in quite the same way ever again.

Special Features:
Audio Commentary with Actors Tom Baker, John Challis, Kenneth Gilbert and Michael McStay, Producer Philip Hinchcliffe, Writer Robert Banks Stewart, Replacement Designer Roger Murray-Leach and Joggs Camfield (son of the late director, Douglas Camfield)
Isolated Musical Score
Podshock Feature
Now and Then Location Featurette
Playing In The Green Cathedral: Featurette on Composer Geoffrey Burgon
So What Do You Do Exactly? Featurette
Stripped For Action Featurette on the Doctor’s Comic Strip Adventures
Trails and Continuity
Photo Gallery
Radio Times Listings and Douglas Camfield’s Paper Edit  for a Compilation Version of the Story

Reviewer: Chris Hallam

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