Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5584 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-04-16
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 73 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The final serial in Doctor Who's original run on the BBC (before it was revived in 2005), this three-episode story stars Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, who brings his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) back to Earth, only to discover that a race of feline aliens have turned the planet into their private hunting ground. The aliens, called Cheetah People, are traveling between their dying planet and Earth to kidnap humans for food--and lurking behind the whole scheme is none other than the Doctor's arch enemy, the Master (Anthony Ainsley in his final TV performance as the character). Despite the relative lack of quality of its video cinematography, Survival is a sold serial from the McCoy era, with some genuine suspense and an affectionate (if temporary) send-off for the venerable sci-fi hero.

The two-disc set of Survival is typical of the impressive presentations that the Doctor's adventures have received on DVD. Two commentary tracks have been recorded--one featuring McCoy, Aldred, and script editor Andrew Cartmel, and the other by the winners of a contest sponsored by Doctor Who magazine (this appears only for episode 3). The hour-long, two-part Cat Flap (one of the original titles for the serial) covers the making of the serial from start to finish, and Endgame is an intriguing look at how the program might've continued after Survival had it not been cancelled in 1989. Little Girl Lost is a 15-minute exploration of Ace's character from her debut story until Survival, and Destiny of the Doctors features footage of Ainley as the Master taken from the 1997 computer game of the same name. The extras are rounded out by several deleted and extended scenes, a round of outtakes, the standard photo gallery, text-only commentary track, Radio Times listings (in DVD-ROM format), and a 20-minute episode of a U.K. educational program called Search Out Science, which features McCoy and Aldred as their characters in a discussion of (what else?) time and space. --Paul Gaita

Synopsis
The original series ran from 1963 and culminated in Survival in 1989; a story that would be the show’s last until being revived in 1996. Having taken Ace to the present in order for her to visit her friends, the Doctor soon discovers that they have been shanghaied by the cat-like Kitlings, and transported through space to their home planet. Arriving on the planet, it soon becomes clear that the kidnappings had been undertaken in order to set a trap for the Doctor.

Customer Reviews

"Not Quite with a Bang"
Survival is one of the better Sylvester McCoy stories of his entire era & of this season. It's more coherent than Ghostlight, has more energy than Battlefield but not quite as good as Fenric.
It's very easy to knock it for not being a fitting end to the classic run of Dr Who but then it was never intended to be anything more than a story which was screened last in a season.
It's a slightly better story for Ace than the Doctor. She is returned to her roots and looks for her friends. A mystery involving disappearances linked to black cats takes the Doctor and Ace to a dying planet where they meet Cheetah people and the Master.
On the whole the themes of survival and evolution are well developed and explored. It fits Ace's character that she would be tempted by the possibility of running like an animal. The Glaswegian self defence instructor who ultimately isn't tough enough is good if occasionally unsubtle.
Sylvester McCoy is good as usual although the script makes him look more thick than eccentric genius as he leaves cat food on the streets in the hope that the right black cat will come along! With this and the image of him upside down on an old sofa following the bike crash, he really looks more cosmic dosser than cosmic hobo. When he does get good material though he goes for it, slightly too much with the famous "If we fight like animals, we'll die like animals!" line, but still a good performance.

Sophie Aldred relishes Ace's wildside and makes the most of her material.

The Master does not get one of his better appearances. He's too dumb to work out that you just need a transformed humanoid from a different planet to escape it. Ainley struggles with poorly judged material and a costume that makes him look portly.

The Cheetah people look like care bears (Wuss Bear and Soppy Bear) but the body language etc. of Lisa Bowerman et al transcends the costume's limitations and makes them believable a good portion of the time.
It's well directed, good and pacy and has a terrific explosion at the end. (although how the Doctor survives it is lazily not explained)The early CGI work etc. to colour the sky is marvellous, making it seem very alien. Generally effects are good with only a woeful animatronic cat letting the side down.

There is a barrelful of extras. "Endgame" is a look at the end of Sylvester McCoy's time. It starts to chronicle the start of McCoy's time but soon settles down for a look at the events. Andrew Cartmel is a major participant and very interesting to listen to. I didn't personally agree with his view that he hired writers who did incredible things with Dr Who but still enjoyed watching. Mccoy, Sophie Aldred, Peter Cregeen (the canceller!) and others also take part. We also get a look at what stories were tentatively planned for the next year and learn what other famous BBC show JNT was offered.

Catflap is an enjoyable making of although I'm not sure why it's in 2 parts. Most of the major players are there and it's V good even if they are a lttle too keen to take the credit for the Rose Tyler set up in New Who.

We also get an enjoyable commentary with Sophie, Sylvester and Andrew Cartmel and an interesting fan commentary for episode 3.

Search out Space is a science show for young kids made a few months after Survival's transmission with Sylv, Sophie and K9 in character. An interesting curio but be warned the K9 and Company theme tune is featured!

There are outtakes and deleted scenes one of which shows an insight into Ainley's approach to a scene and there are Anthonmy Ainley's Master sequences for the Destiny of the Doctors computer game. He puts quite a lot into these!

A great package from a good if not classic story. More for classic who fans who like plenty of extras, and if you're a new who fan who's recently come to appreciate Sylvetser and Sophie, this is one you will want to see.

8 Out of 10 Viewers will Enjoy this Romp.
Without question this story isn't one of the greats like "Genesis of the Daleks" and som e might argue this story is so memorable as it is the last episode before it was axed and the the reset button was pressed by Russell T. Davies. Yes, the cats aren't scary or realistic and the cheetah people are too cute to startle but it is immense fun.

Ironically, it joins on well with "Rose", the 1st episode from the rebooted Who. It does have flaws:- Ace enunciates well for a street kid; McCoy shouts too much like a stressed lecturer and the FX are not that special but it is fun and very watchable. Compared to "The Two Doctors" etc... this is a good story and sadly shows the Beeb swung the axe for the doctor's past poor outings and not his last incarnation's output.

80's Who is a hit and miss affair
For me, Doctor Who died a death after the departure of Tom Baker although to be fair the rot had set in towards the end of his tenure.

I stopped watching the programme as soon as Peter Davidson appeared on screen, from time to time I would tune in and sigh woefully at what had happened to the show. It's only now in adulthood that I have come to appreciate SOME of the post Tom Baker stories: Earthshock, Revelation of the Daleks, Time and the Rani - all great stories in an otherwise uninspiring decade of Sci fi and I even enjoyed Mr McCoys outing in Curse of Fenric and Remembrance of the daleks.

Unfortunately the same can't be said of this story and even the late great Anthony Ainleys performance couldn't improve matters as he seems to be somewhat MEOWted (sorry).

However, I would say to anyone thinking of trying it out to rent it first as they might just like it a lot. After all, a review is just a personal opinion and this story has obviously appealed to a lot of people who've left reviews on here.