Doctor Who: The Series 13 Specials Steelbook [Blu-ray]

The final 3 Whittaker stories deliver a departure very much in line with her Doctor. Quiet, courageous and dignified which is something the post 2005 remake doesn't tend to do very well. Furthermore the final (genuinely) feature length story is the best kind of nostalgia fest. Using Classic Characters with the respect and understanding they deserve rather than just as the butt of crude and inaccurate meta jokes.Eve of the Daleks 9/10It is very rare that I give a story featuring the long extinct and incredibly over used joke monster that is the Daleks a high score but unlike so many of those crammed between what was supposed to be their final story and the present this one gets what makes Dalek stories great and that is everything BUT the Daleks. A gleeful subversion of the romcom genre that has plagued the show under Chibnall's predcessors this traps a VERY odd couple (one who may or may not be a serial killer) with the TARDIS crew in a time loop with a couple of very angry variant Daleks called Executioners. One of the few times the incessant meta humour of the remake has landed with me is present with an indignant Dalek (Nick Briggs) exclaiming "I-AM-NOT-NIIIIIICK!" Yes I do realise Dan's well intentioned attempt to get Yaz to admit her feelings is very awkward and borderline problematic for some (not nearly as problematic as the whole concept of something as primitive as a human making goo goo eyes at a Time Lord by the way) but that's Dan for you. The biggest well intentioned idiot we've had since Harry Sullivan!Legend of the Sea Devils 7/10This clearly suffered horribly in the editing room in order to accomodate the BBC centenary special that the crew didn't know they were actually making until the last possible minute. It would be interesting to see the original cut along with the intended regeneration but at least (unlike the dreadful Twice Upon a Time) this time the unexpected episode that followed was a step up rather than a plummet down. The Sea Devils are perfectly realised with a degree of fieldelity and respect that was horribly absent when their cousins the Silurians were so horrifically mutilated way back in Series 5. The leader speaking through his gills was a very simple practical effect but so much more effective than degenerating them into humans with a token rubber skin applied. The historical aspect was, as has been the trend in this era, brilliantly informative and well done which makes it all the more fustrating that this final season ends without the long overdue return of the true historical.Power of the Doctor 10/10If you want to know how to do an anniversary special, watch Power of the Doctor! I mean its not perfect by any means but its as close to being so as the remake series will ever get. Chibnall amps up the (admittedly crude) storytelling techniques that define this era with the rapid time and space jumping accompanied by ludicrously oversized captions to the point of self parody yet still manages to squeeze in something meaningful for everyone involved in what has to be the most star studded cast to date. Sasha Dahwan in particular is having a ball with his Master topping the great Ainley himself. Whilst Ainley was famous for embodying all of the contradictory personas of the Master in the same scene Dahwan somehow manages it in the same sentence, or in some cases even word. His put downs of returning companions Ace and Tegan are savage and naturally he gets as good as he got. Speaking of, I'm a massive purist when it comes to proper Who continuity and this story has moments that fly in the face of it but honestly I didn't really care that Ace doesn't have her Time Lord training or TARDIS or that Mel is somehow back from the post human future she stranded herself in by choice because I was having too much fun. As for the regeneration itself it was a model for how they should be handled going forward. Quiet, melancholy and above all poignent... at least until the imposter appeared to take the role again!

I thoroughly enjoyed the 13th Doctor's era. It's my favourite of all New Who. No pretension, just good zippy colourful fun. I feel the scripts got better and better - generally - which wasn't IMO the case with the previous 'new' Doctors' eras. Chris Chibnall far exceeded my expectations. So, we say Goodbye to Jodie Whittacker. A breath of fresh air all-round. I rank her travelling companions among the best ever - all likeable, convincing and well-cast. I wish we were to receive two more seasons. As with most of the new Doctors regeneration spectacles, my only gripe is the anticlimactic process of regeneration. Unlike Classic Who, wherein a mortal injury resulted in rapid renewal, the later incarnations of the Doctor enjoy a period of grace ... their injuries heal and they have time to eulogise and seek acceptance that their lives are to end. This rather sucks the drama out of the moment and the viewer may be wondering why they must surrender to a successive incarnation at all. I would therefore have found greater thrills in the 13th Doctor carried by Yaz into the TARDIS and have the Doctors friends be ushered out of harm's way as her artron energies burst from her ravaged body. The befuddled 14th Doctor may slowly sit up and wonder why all these 'strangers' are loitering in his Ship. Ah well. It is what it is. Welcome back David Tennant. Don't be a stranger to future Who, Jodie. I'll miss you.

Great packing and came with what was advertised.

Flux is showrunner Chris Chibnall and Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker's final full series in their roles as they had a three series and out pact apparently (though if the ratings had been higher surely Chibnall would have continued). His first couple of series - especially his first - tended to favour a more back to basics to approach which was for the most part successful but had a few failings too. Now in his last series Chibnall has evolved his vision for Doctor Who into it having more complex writing a lot of the time but to what extent is this effective?On first broadcast The Halloween Apocalypse did not seem too impressive. It appeared very convoluted and hard to follow due to its multiple plots and copious number of actors. But upon second viewing on the Blu-ray, it transformed from being average into a very clever mystery and a scintillating way of introducing most of the characters and sub-plots that would comprise the rest of series 13. The Halloween theme was welcome and something more innovative for Doctor Who and the Trick or Treaters scenes added some comedy to the episode. Initially, Karvanista appeared a bit ridiculous as merely a man dressed as a dog but as the series progressed you become more accustomed to the costume. That opening scene with the Doctor and Yasmin Khan being trapped by him was a dramatic way for Flux to commence.Another feature of episode one that I appreciated - as I live in a commuter town north of the city - was the setting of Liverpool for the Doctor's new companion/friend Dan Lewis. The HD picture really conveyed the spectacular beauty of Liverpool and as a Kopite I appreciated references to Anfield, the Klopp-era and the famous comeback in Europe to Barcelona. Although John Bishop's acting ability may not be the greatest ever as he at first appears a bit wooden he becomes more confident as the episode progresses becoming impressively feisty and charismatic. It is great to have Scouse Doctor Who though Fourth Doctor Tom Baker was the first. Although The Halloween Apocalypse disappointed at first upon re-watch it is actually a solid, exciting way to start series 13 and a highlight.Second show, War of the Sontarans continues the Flux story strongly from the first episode's intriguing cliffhanger and the Doctor using the TARDIS' time vortex energy against the Flux wave was a clever method of separating her and her two friends into three different places. The episode is again fairly intricate at times due to the sub-plot of Atropos and the Temple of Time. While this once again appeared like fantasy nonsense on first broadcast it has some intelligence when given a second chance. Although the Ravagers look a bit similar in concept to the immortals in the previous series detestable Can You Hear Me? (my least liked episode of New Who) they are superior this time due to the greater sophistication in their origin, intentions and they appear more convincingly menacing. While possibly Swarm and Azure are still not the greatest antagonists in Doctor Who history, they do become more appreciable.But anyway, the main plot about how the Sontarans (it is a positive they are a foe again although one being a companion in the 2010s was fine too) are exploiting the Flux to invade the history of Earth effectively balances the sub-plots by keeping it simple. In fact, of all of series 13's episodes the main story is the most similar to Chibnall's earlier series with a historical figure appearing in Mary Seacole with Sara Powell conveying all her kindness, warmth and compassion to the maximum. The main facet it has that is most comparable the previous Chibnall material is its moralising anti-war message (set in the Crimea) due to the cowardly General Logan's actions leading to the fatalities of many of his troops. As the female Doctor and Mary Seacole have a superior sense and mentality than his, there is definitely a welcome feminist theme too.Admittedly, it seems a bit convenient that the resolution involves the Sontarans being able to have all their preservative chemicals stopped because they all feed at the same time. Similarly, it is fortunate that Dan and Karvanista merely ramming the Sontaran ships at present day Liverpool Docks - an extraordinary image though - is sufficient to create a resetting temporal time energy that removes the Sontarans from humanity's history completely. But it is arguable too that it does have ingenuity because the first solution is discovered from Seacole's tactical observations and anyway it is reminiscent of Russell T Davies' simple but thrilling payoffs in series 1-3. Although War of the Sontarans is not outstanding it is a quite good romp and provides a satisfying less is more approach in its main plot. This provides some variety to the rest of series 13's plotting which can be slightly overwhelming at times.Some critics felt that next episode Once, Upon Time was the weakest but it is actually my second favourite of the entire series. While it is true that it is the most puzzling, if the viewer concentrates hard enough, it is a pleasurable watch. It almost feels like a clip show of dislocated scenes but that is what it was intended to be as the Doctor and all her associates are being hidden in their revolving timestreams and ultimately it is rational enough. As the Doctor is in her timestream she sees her past Division incarnation and it must be a strong episode when Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor is present. Jodie Whittaker is a very good Doctor Who when Chibnall's writing is at its best but Martin's well-intentioned but more sinister take on the role is even more impressive. She has such an aura, and it is a shame that she will probably not be the Fourteenth Doctor.Meanwhile, the Bel sub-plot is interesting enough and the reveal that she is Vinder's partner provides a love story across space and time. Her scenes add a bit of action to this third episode with the reappearance of classic enemies the Daleks and the Cybermen. While the scene with who we later find out in the series is Tecteun really ratchets up the tension for the rest of Flux. But anyhow, the pay off in which both the Fugitive and present Doctors store the Mouri priests in the Ravager's Passenger is a powerful way to round off the main plot and the simplicity of it is satisfying after such a complex show. Although Once, Upon Time is perplexing it is ultimately a compelling mystery and the cliffhanger at the end with the Weeping Angel controlling the TARDIS is the most sensational yet.Fourth episode, Village of the Angels is undoubtedly the highest point of the entire Flux story. For a start, the additional characters are super with Claire Brown - sent back in time to 1967 in the first show - being very expressive in her vulnerability to the Angel inside her and Professor Jericho being a courageous and wise older war veteran channelling all his experience to face the Angels. In fact, their activities with the Professor conducting psychic experiments on seer Claire are reminiscent of series 7's Hide except clearly this is not a love story this time due to their sizeable age gap. Obviously due to the Angels being previous showrunner Steven Moffat's incredible creation that also connects it very much to his era of Doctor Who. There have been exceptional Weeping Angel's stories before and series 3's Blink is probably the finest Doctor Who episode ever so is Village of the Angels enough of a similar outstanding quality? The answer to that is a resounding yes and the virtually impeccable Moffat would have been proud of this effort in the Chibnall-era. It also must not be forgotten that this is the only episode in series 13 to have a co-writer in the excellent Maxine Alderton. She impressed highly in the previous series’ The Haunting of Villa Diodati and this is even more brilliant. It is complex again but like most of Moffat's episodes it is rewardingly and inherently clever.The Angels attack in a similar way obviously but what makes this episode standout on its own and evolves their modus operandi is the way all their different methods of attack are combined in the one show. They send people back in time, that which holds an image of an Angel becomes one, they control devices/TVs/speakers, and they even physically kill the older great uncle and aunt of the little girl, Peggy, who went missing at the outset of the story. There is so much relentless suspense and drama throughout, and it is so ingenious and there is such pathos that the older woman in 1967 who is advising the residents to leave the Devon village - a great setting - is Peggy grown up and she has come to quote Moffat "the long way around." The cliffhanger with the Doctor being turned into an Angel is one the most shocking and gripping in the history of the show.The only tiny criticisms could be that the passageway from Jericho's basement and the Angel's leaving witnesses to extraction to Division (so the Doctor's friends can survive) are a bit lucky but ultimately they are fine in advancing the Flux story. Overall, I wonder whether this could be the finest hour of the Chibnall years and combining all their threats in the one episode is a Weeping Angel tour-de-force.After the mind-blowing previous episode, penultimate one Survivors of the Flux is a bit erratic. It is like a mixed bag of stronger and less effective scenes. Perhaps because the previous one had a greater focus on the main plot this feels like finally it is a bit too convoluted with too many sub-plots and a few too many characters. The Weeping Angels that starred previously are quickly but nicely jettisoned as the Doctor is converted to Division. To really appreciate the scenes between the Doctor and her nasty adoptive mother in Division’s base between the universes, then the viewer must not dislike the controversial finale of series 12 too much in which the Master reveals that the Doctor is from another dimension. Chris Chibnall exploring the Doctor’s origins was always going to be either embraced by some fans or hated by others who preferred the status quo of the Timelords/Gallifrey in which the Doctor’s backstory was mysterious. Personally, it is not totally without credit, but it is possible to see why it alienated some fans and possibly Chibnall was slightly over-confident to re-write the history of this beloved legendary sci-fi drama. The scenes with the Doctor discovering that she is facing her abusive adoptive mother are a bit soap opera, but they also are successful too because they have an interesting sci-fi basis in the form of the multiverse – a concept that is very pleasing to finally be introduced to Doctor Who.Other sub-plots involve Yas, Dan and Professor Jericho who have survived but are living in the 1900s they were sent back to by the Angels. Once again, it is a bit inconsistent in quality. For example, one of the earlier scenes in which they are raiding an underground temple for an object that will reveal the date of the end of the Earth is impressive because it is very much reminiscent of the classic 80s film Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. But the waiter who tries to assassinate them on the ocean liner being thrown overboard – admittedly after he had ended his own life – does seem slightly unlike Doctor Who in terms of compassion to enemies and a bit too ruthless from Yas. However, Yasmin Khan’s character seems more multifaceted now in its third series, John Bishop seems ever more assured, and Jericho remains a popular role. But the Nepalese seer scene in which he states “Fetch Your Dog” still remains embarrassing on a second viewing but the Doctor’s associates leaving a message on Earth near the Great Wall of China for Karvanista is clever though. Meanwhile, the Grand Serpent scenes with him trying to sabotage UNIT are fine - his snake multiform looks quite scary - and the reappearance of Jemma Redgrave’s iconic Kate Stewart from the Moffat-era is very satisfying especially as the viewer finally discovers why the Doctor cannot contact her in 2019’s Resolution. The Bel, Vinder and Diane sub-plots are skilfully integrated into the continuing Flux story too.Survivors of the Flux despite its shortcomings is overall a fairly good episode if not great as it advances the Flux story quite well and there is another sublime cliffhanger at the end with the Sontarans using the creepy Grand Serpent to re-invade the vulnerable Earth and the Doctor facing the Ravagers ahead of the last show.Admittedly on first broadcast I was not really convinced by Flux finale, The Vanquishers, because it was again rather complex and difficult to comprehend. But if the viewer gives it a second chance it does enhance its impression. Admittedly it does drag slightly in the centre due to the weight of all its characters and sub-plots, but it is the way in which all these combine for a spectacular resolution to all Flux's stories that elevates it from merely fine to pretty good. The Doctor’s removal of her conversion plate in Division for a start is a clever method of having multiple Thirteenth Doctors and her omnipresence in being able to defeat all the antagonists. The pay off with the Ravagers being destroyed by Time at Atropos because the Flux did not occur, and the Doctor being reunified at the end was rather intelligent too. The warning from Time about the Master’s forces and the Doctor’s imminent end – though it is slightly similar to series 4’s “Your song is ending” – creates excitement ahead of Chibnall final couple of episodes later this year. Now that the Doctor has the fob watch that stores her erased previous lives from Division deep in the TARDIS it will be interesting to see how much further Chibnall will go in terms of revealing more of her/his origin. Possibly, some of the Doctor’s backstory should always remain unknown and it was a relief that Vinder and Bel’s child was not the Doctor as some speculated, as that would have been far too open and unbelievable. The Williamson tunnels were well integrated into the Flux story and were a fine method of exiling the Grand Serpent near the end too. Although Kate Stewart does not have a particularly significant role, the scenes she has are satisfying and worthwhile. Dan’s heartbreak, Bel and Vinder’s reunion and the Doctor and Yas’ increasing closeness/romance are strong writing too due to their contrast in fortunes and even greater representation of the LGBTQ+ community in Doctor Who.However, there are couple of issues the episode has in addition to its convolution. Although it would have been unrealistic for all the Doctor’s associates to have survived, Professor Jericho’s death does seem that Chibnall is harsh on his older characters – like series 12’s Ko Sharmus also – as after all the Tenth Doctor sacrificed himself to save the elderly Wilfred Mott. It was great that Claire survived but this does seem mean spirited. Also, one of the Sontarans leading Claire and Jericho to their main ship because these aliens like chocolate does appear contrived and a bit daft. Although The Vanquishers is a bit flabby in the middle and it is still not as vintage as Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat’s series endings, ultimately it is the best of Chibnall’s three finales and the way everything combines at the conclusion is epic.Although I personally felt most of series 13's episodes were average back in Autumn 2021, when given a second chance Flux became a markedly stronger serial Doctor Who story when I received the Blu-ray. But perhaps that is where there is a reason for the lower ratings is that the casual Whovians who do not re-watch were flummoxed by the more complex writing. Although the viewership became lower, critically this is - while not the absolute finest ever - another strong series and anyway it was only six episodes this time. But another concern is whether it was only six because of not just the pandemic's effects on television - though it is remarkable that Chibnall has pulled off more new Doctor Who during these tough times - but also due to the falling viewing figures. Still the more sophisticated style of series 13's writing complements Chibnall's earlier series well as a difference and the depth of his imagination required to create this is creditable too. Also, any Whovians who felt that series 11/12 were too "preachy" may prefer this effort as the moralising is more toned down. Personally, I liked the social messages raised by series 11/12 it was just the storytelling in the weaker episodes that was a shame. One other small criticism is that although Flux is for the most part successful in its ambition and echoes series 6-9 in terms of complexity, Steven Moffat had the slightly better grasp of logic as perhaps there is slightly too much fantasy in series 13 at times. Still Whittaker acts with a greater range of emotion in addition to her typical chirpiness in Flux so her character is a bit more rounded now. Additionally, the picture quality is a lot brighter than when broadcast on my OLED TV and its beauty/detail is what you would expect from the superior - than streaming - format that is Blu-ray disc. Although Flux is a slightly imperfect experiment by Chibnall and Russell T Davies in his second tenure as showrunner needs to restore the ratings to ensure the show has a future, it is a mostly enjoyable series with a fantastic opener and centre which particularly stand out.

Ich werde sie an einen Fan verschenken. Sie fährt total drauf ab und wird sich bestimmt sehr freuen. Man sollte die Serie aber kennen wenn man sie kaufen will. Für einen Doctor Who Fan ein Must have.

personnelle. tres bonne science fiction.

The best era Doctor Who has ever had. Jodie Whittaker is amazing, she is the Doctor and always will be.

My steelbook came in prefect condition from Amazon. The art is gorgeous, it might be my fav 13 era steelbook.This has the last 3 specials on it, all episodes I love. Sad to see the 13th Doctors run come to an end, would love more adventures with her and the fam but this is a gorgeous package for her to go out in.

Les steelbooks Doctor Who, toujours au rendez vousCelui là ne fait pas execption.Une qualité Blu RayL'ensemble des 3 épisode spéciaux entre la saison 13 et le 60ème anniversaire de la sérieEn France il vous faudra vous contenter de DVD qui ne sortiront que début 2024 (et oui, pas de blu ray France tv ne respecte toujours pas les clients) et ça sera en 2 boites différent entre les épisode du nouvel an et celui des 100ans de la BBC.Les épisodes sont des histoire clôturant l'ère Chibnall avec brio avec un twist final des plus tragique