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(a) ARTICLES INDEX.
- Season 19, Story 6
- 4 episodes (run times and UK airdates shown below)
- (24:25) - Monday 8 March 1982
- (24:24) - Tuesday 9 March 1982
- (24:25) - Monday 15 March 1982
- (24:28) - Tuesday 16 March 1982
- Author - Eric Saward
- Producer - John Nathan-Turner
- Director - Peter Grimwade
MAIN CAST
- Peter Davison (The Doctor)
- Matthew Waterhouse (Adric)
- Sarah Sutton (Nyssa)
- Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka)
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Most of this DVD is fine, however, this is the worst transfer to DVD I have seen for a Doctor Who story yet. Although the print has been cleaned up and the exterior scenes are bright and the sky is much clearer, the initial viewing experience is marred by the compression artefacts throughout episodes one and two, specifically during the cave scenes.
I would expect to see minor video noise - and have encountered it on other Doctor Who DVDs - but that does not detract from the viewing experience. While the viewing experience of Earthshock is not completly spoilt the problems in those first two episodes stick out like a sore thumb. I would rate picture quality overall at 75% - the poorest yet.
Sound quality is, if you will pardon me, excellent.
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- Putting the Shock Into Earthshock (32:27)
A feature on Earthshock - about the various elements that came together to create this story and its effect on its original UK broadcast in March 1982.
- 40th Anniversary Celebration (3:00)
The celebration trailer placed on BBC Video and DVD releases during 2003.
- Film Sequences (8:48)
Different takes on exterior scenes used in the story: the platoon arriving at the cave entrance; Walters observing the progress of the platoon. All without added dialogue, sound effects and score.
- Did You See? (10:17)
BBC 2 TV review show presented by Gavin Scott with a feature on Doctor Who.
- CGI Effects
The option to turn on some added effects during video playback. When selected, this replaces the 1980s laser gun effects and the exterior freighter scenes from the end of the story with updated effects.
- Information Text
The option to turn on or off story information displayed during video playback.
- Photo Gallery (4:41)
A selection of stills from Earthshock and from the commentary session.
- Audio Options: Commentary - Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, Sarah Sutton & Janet Fielding
The option to turn on or off the audio commentary during video playback.
- Audio Options: Isolated Score
The option to turn on or off score only soundtrack during video playback.
- Episode 5 (1:39)
Animated short chronicling events after Earthshock.
- Easter Egg
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Lieutenant Scott and his platoon have been called in to investigate an attack on a group of archaeologists and paleontologists in a cave system. During their journey into the caves, members of the platoon are killed by mysterious, shadowy figures. Reaching the site of the expedition, Scott finds the Doctor and two of his companions. Accusing them of murder, Scott tries to find out what is happening in the caves. The shadow figures attack and it becomes clear that the Doctor is not the killer. What are the shadows protecting and what implications will it have for Earth?
Further investigation takes the Doctor, his companions, Lieutenant Scott and his platoon and Professor Kyle (last survivor of the expedtion) to a freighter in deep space. En route to Earth, the freighter contains a secret which poses an even greater threat to Earth. Can the Doctor save the Earth once again or is it finally destined to be destroyed?
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REVIEW BY
(d) D.S.Carlin
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