“Doctor Who – The Key to Time – The Complete Adventure” (BBC Video)
It’s not often that, when it comes to Doctor Who, people in the US get something the British don’t, but such is the case with the Key to Time.
For whatever reason, the Key to Time season, released as a single boxed set, was issued in the US, and I’m not complaining, because it represents Tom Baker’s Doctor at some of his finest. Far superior to the season the preceded it and the season that followed it, the Key to Time is one of those rare seasons that follows a single theme.
The Doctor, having just saved Gallifrey and leaving companion Leela behind, is intercepted by the White Guardian of Time and given the quest of locating the six segments to the Key of Time. He’s also given a new companion in the form of the beautiful young Time Lord, Lady Romandvoratralundar. (Romana for short.) Not surprisingly, the season was 6 stories long, each corresponding to one segment of the Key.
The stories
- The Ribos Operation by Robert Holmes
A Bob Holmes story almost always stands out because it will have two characters who have a banter going between them, and this story is no exception. Two con men attempt to sell a planet to a mad tyrant. The Doctor and Romana land right in the middle of the mayhem. - The Pirate Planet by Douglas Adams
This is Douglas Adams’ first story for Doctor Who. It’s an interesting story, undermined by a little too much comedy and some really unconvincing sets and costumes. - The Stones of Blood by David Fisher
My favorite of the Key to Time series and, in fact, one of my all time favorite Who episodes. The bulk of the story is set on modern day earth where a stone circle and those who worship it and its goddess cause some good old-fashioned mischief. Very atmospheric. My main complaint is the conclusion and the ridiculous subplot of the Justice Machines. - The Androids of Tara by David Fisher
Possibly the most blantant rip off episode of Doctor Who, ever. Clearly a retelling of the Prisoner of Zenda, but still quite enjoyable. Swashbucklers are always fun. - The Power of Kroll by Robert Holmes
This often-maligned episode is actually my second favorite of the season. The story involves gun-runners, mistreated native “savages”, “progress” and a gigantic squid. Why do I like it? Probably because it pokes holes in both sides of the issue, it creates one of the few “alien” looking planets ever presented on Doctor Who and probably just because of all the crap my ancestors took at the hands of the white man. - The Armageddon Factor by Bab Baker and Dave Martin
The overlong finale about two planets at war, all being manipulated by the mysterious “Shadow”.
Another great thing about this series: It features Mary Tamm as the far superior first incarnation of
Romana. (Lalla Ward would take over as Romana in the next series.)
The DVDs match the rest of the US Doctor Who releases perfectly, except that each case has one of the pieces of the Key to Time on the spine. The quality is good, but the DVD re-mastering has clearly not been done as painstakingly as on the British releases of the other episodes.
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There’s also a scarcity of bonus materials, although each and every episode has a commentary track and a informational subtitles. Several of the episodes have commentary from either Tom Baker and/or Mary Tamm. Other commentators include John Leeson, John Woodvine and episode directors.
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