(BBC America; 311 Minutes)

www.bbcamericashop.com

BY CHRIS ZIMMERMAN

Doctor Who is somewhat of a mystery to me. Being a sci-fi aficionado, I was familiar with the show's earlier incarnations. Unfortunately, I never could quite get into series like most others. While I loved the initial premise, it was the cheesy special effects and the campy acting that hampered my overall enjoyment of the otherwise classic British television series. Then came the reboot, and while fully intended to give it a chance, I could never quite bring myself to do so. While I hoped it would be a new start in the same vein as Battle Star Galactica, I also feared it would be a retread of the former series, complete with poor acting and below average effects. After viewing the complete specials DVD, I find myself having to reevaluate my opinion of the good doctor.

For the uninformed, Doctor Who follows the fantastical adventures of a "time lord", a member of a futuristic race of beings with the ability to travel through time and space. This particular time lord is referred to as simply "the Doctor".

As he defends the universe from aliens and warlords, every so often he must undergo a regeneration cycle in which his appearance and presumably his memories are altered. This allows different actors to take up the role so that the show may continue airing for an indefinite amount of time.

The specials contained herein are akin to TV movies, each one being a self contained story. They are as follows:

The Next Doctor

Planet of the Dead

The Waters of Mars

The End of Time parts 1 and 2

What separates these from normal episodes is the scope of the stories each one tells. Each contains a larger-than- life threat that would usually be reserved for a season finale including the Doctor's perennial nemesis "the Master".

Each of these specials demonstrates what is great about this series. With the perfect combination of high production values, witty dialogue, and engaging plots, the Complete Specials is a DVD set that Doctor Who fans shouldn't be without. It represents the perfect climax to the ten Doctor's conflicts and provides fans with a fitting farewell to actor David Tennant, who held down the title role from 2005 to 2009.

Special Features:

Doctor Who at the Proms
 Doctor Who Confidential - The Next Doctor (New to Collection)
 Doctor Who Confidential - Planet of the Dead
 Doctor Who Confidential - The Waters of Mars
 Doctor Who Confidential - The End of Time, Part One
 Doctor Who Confidential - The End of Time, Part Two
 Deleted Scenes
 David Tennant Video Dairy - The Final Days
 BBC Idents
 Audio Commentary
 Doctor Who At Comic Con