Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5017 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-02
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Formats: PAL, Colour
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 135 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
There’s been a lot of pressure on the fourth series of Doctor Who. Could Russell T Davies and his team keep the momentum going? Would Catherine Tate overcome the initial criticisms and prove to be a strong companion for the Doctor? And, well, how do you top the three series of the revived show that we’ve enjoyed so far?

We needn’t have worried. The three episodes on this disc, while not vintage Doctor Who (they always save the better episodes for the latter part of each season, after all), have plenty to offer. Partners In Crime is a fun way to start the series, primarily concerned with setting up the Catherine Tate-David Tennant mechanic, and allowing the former to dispel many of the concerns aimed in her direction. It’s forgettable stuff, about a miracle diet, but is still entertaining, and Sarah Lancashire is a welcome guest star.

Next up is The Fires Of Pompeii, and this is where the action kicks in. There’s a little bit of continuing to set up the main character dynamics, but this is the episode that the effects budget was clearly thrown at. With a massive volcano eruption, impressive monsters and a fast-moving plot, it’s good stuff.

Finally, a welcome return for a foe from series past, in Planet Of The Ood. This is a well-written story, with some solid monsters in it, and throws in plenty of moral conundrums along the way. Good stuff.

With three good stories, there’s plenty to enjoy here, and it sees the fourth series of Doctor Who getting off to a strong start. Count us among those who can’t wait for the rest of it... --Jon Foster

DVD Description
Doctor Who returns for a fourth series with a familiar face alongside the Doctor.

Award-winning comedienne Catherine Tate returns as the Doctor’s new companion Catherine Tate’s character, Donna Noble featured in the 2006 Xmas Special, The Runaway Bride.

The Sontarans return in series four of the new series of Doctor Who with Christopher Ryan (who previously appeared in The Trial of a Timelord) playing their leader General Staal in episode four, 'The Sontartan Stratagem'. Martha Jones, who left the Doctor at the end of Series Three will also return.

Series 4, Volume 1 includes:

Episode 1
Partners in Crime
Donna is determined to find the Doctor again – even if it means braving the villainous Miss Foster and her hordes of sinister Adipose.

Episode 2
The Fires of Pompeii
Psychic powers and stone beasts run riot in old Pompeii, but can Donna dare the Doctor to change established history?

Episode 3
Planet of the Ood
The Doctor takes Donna to her first alien world – but the Ood-Sphere reveals some terrible truths about the Human Race.

Synopsis
David Tennant and popular comedienne Catherine Tate return for a fourth series of the incredibly popular, revamped Doctor Who. Features the return of the dastardly Sontaran alien race.

Customer Reviews

A new dawn for Donna!
The first `vanilla' release from Series four of the revived Doctor Who series stars David Tennant as the nomadic Timelord and features Catherine Tate as his companion, Donna Noble. We last saw Donna in the 2006 Christmas Special; The Runaway Bride; and she reappears here investigating the mysterious `Adipose Industries', a company that claims to have produced a fat-busting pill that leaves the user transformed - literally. Donna is clearly hoping to re-encounter The Doctor, after she rejected his previous offer to travel in time and space with him; and this she does, as it seems that the Timelord is also extremely interested in what Adipose Industries are up to. The two eventually meet in one of the series' great moments so far, and quickly prove that they are a great combination - Donna is quick to eschew any romance between them and the Doctor courteously (but clearly relieved!) concurs. `Partners in Crime' is a worthy start to the new series; although the Adipose themselves are far too bland and cuddly to make interesting aliens. The real `monster' is intergalactic super-nanny Miss Foster; played with relish by Sarah Lancashire. As a way of kicking off the new series and reminding the viewer of the state of things, this does the job perfectly; as a stand alone episode it is slightly above average.

Donna's first excursion-proper in the TARDIS takes the travellers to Rome at the height of its powers; however it isn't Rome but actually Pompeii - circa AD 79 - the day before Vesuvius erupts with devastating consequences. The lava creatures `The Pyrovile' are hiding under the volcano and using the `Sybilline Sisterhood' to convert people to Pyroviles. The sumptuous scenery (on location in Italy) and the many colourful characters, make this one of the outstanding stories filmed for Doctor Who. The new series' ability to attract great guest stars remains undiminished, with Peter Capaldi and Phil Davis appearing as local marble dealer and sinister town soothsayer respectively. The Pyrovile are also great value and the creepy sisterhood reminded me of 70s Gothic Doctor Who - specifically `The Brain of Morbius'. Apparently this was one of the least critically-acclaimed episodes in the series; but I have to confess that I enjoyed it immensely; the cringeworthy deification of The Doctor at the end notwithstanding. Visual nods to previous serials - such as the aforementioned Brain of Morbius and 1979 story `City of Death' are subtle, but great for long-term fans. Writer James Moran also incorporated several references from the first three series, such as `The Shadow Proclamation' and `The Medusa Cascade'. The central premise - that The Timelord needs an earthly companion to `humanise' him, was well-worked and not to pushy; as R.T. Davies' ideas occasionally are.

The third and final story on this disc sees the TARDIS crew travel to a `proper' alien planet, where they find themselves on the `Ood-Sphere' with the servile Ood; a race that the Ninth Doctor encountered back in the first series in 2005. The year is 4126 and The Ood are being exploited as servants for wealthy humans; Tim McInnerney's oily owner of Ood Operations, Klineman Halpen, is chief villain here; whilst Roger Griffiths plays one-dimensional sadistic Head of Security `Commander Kess'. The episode's central theme of slavery remains true to the show's original tenets to be educational and issue-based, and the central pairing of Tennant and Tate is growing into a great partnership. It's truly exciting to see such a well-realised alien world - if only The Trial of a Timelord had been able to boast such impressive CGI! The story is gripping throughout, whilst the grotesque ending is classic Doctor Who.

"It's always like this with you isn't it!"
So as series four of the new Doctor Who starts we are faced with a changed Doctor, a new companion and a different feel for the series. Add to that a revamped theme tune that's a bit like the Peter Davidson years.
The first episode `Partners In Crime' reintroduces us to Donna Noble as she finds herself searching all the weird happenings and trouble spots trying to find the Doctor again. She starts investigating the sinister Adipose Corporation who are marketing a new slimming pill.
The whole premise to this episode is rather obvious and gives us one of the most ridiculous ideas in Doctor Who's history. The Adipose look like something that belongs in a kids cartoon rather than Doctor Who and we are reminded of the days when creatures like The Candy Man from `The Happiness Patrol' were acceptable but now make you feel embarrassed to watch again.
Two things make the first episode bearable. British stalwart Bernard Cribbins returns from his cameo in `Voyage Of The Damned' as Donna's grandfather. His scenes with her are very well done and the end one is rather touching. More importantly, the appearance of a former companion is both spooky and mysterious - hopefully heralding an interesting adventure ahead. And what is happening to bees?
`The Fires Of Pompeii' is much better and gets the show firmly back on track. The Doctor takes Donna to ancient Rome only to find that he's landed them in Pompeii the day before the eruption of Vesuvius. With strange prophecies, a sect of women who see the future, alien rock monsters and people turning to stone we get a classic Who adventure. The end is all very predictable but it's done so well that you just don't care.
There are some tongue-in-cheek gags, especially the names of the family as they will be familiar to anyone who took Latin at school in the 70's, some great one liners and thanks to location shooting in Italy the whole episode has a grand feel to it.
Finally we have `Planet Of The Ood' which is the best of the three. The creatures, last seen in season two's excellent `The Impossible Planet' and `The Satan Pit', return for a very emotional story and a study of the nature of slavery and oppression. The Doctor takes Donna to her first alien world and they end up on the Ood Sphere. When he hears a telepathic song they find and Ood dying in the snow. Investigating the nearby Ood Facility, they sneak in posing as company buyers and soon discover the secret behind humanity's subjugation of the alien race.
The ideas behind the Ood as a species are very interesting and emotionally involving, especially in the scenes in Ood conversion. Tim McInnery (from Blackadder) makes a great guest appearance as the MD, Halpern, and the end of the story is rather satisfying.
After the initial fan reaction to the rather loud and annoying Catherine Tate in 2006's `The Runaway Bride' there was a lot of concern with her becoming the new companion. However, her performance in the show is better than it was in the special. She doesn't shout as much but she has a tendency to slip into 'annoying chav teenage Catherine Tate character' which gets tired very quickly. When you hear her talk in Doctor Who Confidential she sounds so much better and it's a shame she cannot bring that voice to the character of Donna.
Fans genuinely cared about Rose which made the end of Doomsday so bittersweet and although Martha was only with us for one season, she also made a big impression. If the writers don't tone down the `angry Donna' routine then fans are simply not going to care about what happens to her and wonder if the Doctor would be better off alone.
David Tennant is as good as ever and his reaction to Donna is well played, the effects of his travels with Martha and the realisation that he may have ruined her life forever is rather haunting, even though he tries to cover this over with his trademark ebullience.
So, with some good acting, several well placed guest appearances and some threads to future stories already planted, it's not a bad start to series four but the upcoming two-parter with the return of the Sontarans and the return of Martha Jones should put this season firmly on track.

Looks like the best series yet!
First of all, I want to talk about the new theme. When I first heard it at the start of 'Voyage of the Damned' last Christmas, I initially didn't like it much. But when I heard it again at the beginning of 'Partners In Crime' and then later watched an episode from the last series, I realised that it is a nice change with the new guitar sounds added in. So I like the new theme!
Secondly, I really enjoyed 'The Runaway Bride' so I was never worried about Catherine Tate rejoining the Doctor this season as many people appeared to be in the run - up to this year's series.
Now let's move on to the episodes on this DVD.

1. Partners In Crime
I always enjoy the opening episode, especially if a companion is being introduced, like 'Smith and Jones' last year. Although in Donna's case, being re-introduced. Anyway, the plot. Donna Noble has regretted her decision not to travel with the Doctor ever since she turned him down. Determined to find him again, she has investigated all things unusual, including the bees disappearing??? , hoping to bump into the Doctor as he has a knack for getting into trouble. When investigating Adipose Industries and its mysterious owner Miss Foster, Donna's plan finally succeeds.
This was a great opening, with some really funny aliens that, for once, weren't threatening. Also Sarah Lancashire was great as Miss Foster. Also some great things seeded for later on in the series such as the disappearing bees and the surprise return of Rose Tyler in a brief non-speaking part.

2. The Fires of Pompeii
A great first trip in the Tardis for Donna, with a really good dilemma for the Doctor as Donna challenges him.
The plot - The Doctor and Donna land in what they think is Ancient Rome but actually turns out to be Pompeii, 79AD, the day before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. As strange rock monsters roam the mountain and the local psychics' visions are surprisingly accurate, can Donna dare the Doctor to change history?
Again, some good guest stars, more seedings when Lucius says,"She is returning." Can it be Rose? Also a brilliant emotional performance from Catherine Tate, who I think is a brilliant companion, even though I liked Rose and Martha also.

3. Planet of the Ood
Yet another great episode to finish off this outstanding DVD. I really enjoyed this episode, being one of very few Doctor Who fans who didn't enjoy 'The Impossible Planet' and 'The Satan Pit'.
The plot - The Doctor takes Donna to her first alien world. The Oodsphere is a world of ice and snow where Ood Operations breeds and sells Ood into service across the galaxies in the 42nd century. However, the Doctor and Donna discover that the Ood are not so willing to serve as the Red Eye infection takes a hold of them. Can the Doctor and Donna get to the core of Ood Operations and find out what's really going on?
An absolutely excellent episode, one of the few of the revived series that is actually set on another planet!!! Still I understand that there are not that many quarries in the country - and they all look the same. Another great emotional performance from Catherine Tate, who has proved she can do the emotion and be funny. Another seeding towards the end when Ood Sigma says,"I think your song must end soon." Creepy... what can it all mean? I certainly can't wait!

So, five stars from me and I will definetely be buying this - I always buy the 'vanilla' releases because I can never be bothered to wait until November for the full series boxset - even if it does have extras!