Doctor Who: The Complete Fourth Series

DOCTOR WHO - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SERIES can be argued as the best of the revived series that features the Tenth Doctor in his final full season. Aside from the spectacular writing and the emotional roller coaster ride, the Fourth Series brings back several characters we've known and loved from the three previous series as well as spin-off series TORCHWOOD and THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES.Unlike the previous series/seasons, the Doctor (David Tennant) gains a previous companion in the form of Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), whom the Doctor met in the 2006 Christmas adventure "The Runaway Bride." Donna had declined the Doctor's invitation to travel with him, but she's changed her mind, finding traveling on Earth to be not as exciting as she'd thought and now she wants to experience everything the Doctor once offered her. Unlike Rose Tyler and Martha Jones, however, Donna is not romantically involved with the Doctor, something he tests her on before he agrees to let her come with him ("I just want a mate"). Thus, throughout her time with the Doctor, she becomes something he probably hasn't had in a long time - a best friend.The three previous series each had a common thread in the form of a name or phrase, but Series 4 breaks the mold with something different with the return of Rose, who was last seen in a parallel universe unable to return to the Doctor. How and why she came back remains a mystery until near the end, but it somehow connects with another, seemingly unrelated plot-thread concerning disappearing planets. Another, minor change is the return of Martha Jones for several episodes (unlike Sarah Jane in Series 2 where she was only in one episode), and the return of UNIT (whom the Doctor reveals he once worked for years ago, something he didn't make quite as clear in Series 1). Also, we're finally introduced to a group the Doctor's mention several times throughout Series 1 - the Shadow Proclamation.Each of the previous series revived at least one of DOCTOR WHO's enemies (Daleks and Autons in Series 1, Cybermen in 2, and the Master in Series 3), and that tradition continues with the return of the Sontarans ("Sontar-HA!"). But the Sontarans are the least of the Doctor's worries as yet another long-thought dead nemesis reveals himself much later on... Other plot points throughout the season include subjects from previous seasons such as the Ood and Pompeii ("It's Volcano Day!"), but there's newer material the writers talently weaved in each episode. Highlights include a murder-mystery in the 1920's with famed author Agatha Christie, a planet-wide library where the shadows are carnivorous, a blood feud between the clones of humans and an alien race called the Hath, and a 2-part finale that will leave one in tears...Aside from the main cast of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, we have guest stars that include Bernard Cribbins as Donna's grandfather Wilfred Mott, Alex Kingston as the mysterious River Song ("Hello, Sweetie"), Georgia Moffet (who is the real-life daughter of 5th Doctor Peter Davison) as Jenny, and Christopher Ryan as General Staal. Returning from the previous series are John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones, Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble (Donna's mother), and Billie Piper as Rose. Series 4 also marks the first appearances of Dan Starkey and Peter Capaldi in DOCTOR WHO before they would later be cast as Strax the Sontaran and the 12th Doctor respectively.The chemistry between the Doctor and Donna is amazing; over the course of the series they grow to have a mutual and deep respect for each other, through good times and especially bad times. The Doctor is often times at odds with Donna over certain matters, such as trying to save an entire city from an eventual volcanic eruption (The Fires of Pompeii), or concerning parenthood (The Doctor's Daughter). But also there are moments of pure comedy gold between the two, especially in "The Unicorn & the Wasp" ("One word! ... What do want, a Harvey-Wallbanger?" "How is Harvey-Wallbanger one word?!")THE COMPLETE SERIES 4 consists of 1 Christmas Special and 12 regular Episodes (SPOILERS!):2007 Christmas Special: "Voyage of the Damned" - Continuing from the conclusion of Series 3, the Doctor finds himself on board the Titanic, but it's not THE Titanic... it's a space-faring star-liner visiting Earth to observe Christmas. Kylie Minogue co-stars as Astred Peth, and Bernard Cribbins makes his first appearance as Wilfred Mott.Ep. 1: "Partners In Crime" - The Doctor begins investigating Adipose Industries, a company promoting a miraculous weight-loss program with extraordinary results. However, he's not alone... a familiar face is also poking around Adipose, hoping to meet the Doctor once more... And yet another old face briefly returns...Ep. 2: "The Fires of Pompeii" - The Doctor takes DOnna to what he believes is Ancient Rome, but they end up in Pompeii... the day before Mt. Vesuvius is supposed to erupt! 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi makes his first appearance within the DW universe in this episode.Ep 3: "Planet of the Ood" - The Ood (Last seen in Series 2) return, but the truth is revealed to the DOctor and Donna - they're not servants, they're slaves to humanity. And as history has shown, eventually slaves revolt...Eps 4 and 5: "The Sontaran Strategem" and "The Poison Sky" - Martha Jones, and UNIT, bring the Doctor and DOnna back to Earth to investigate ATMOS, a device that seemingly reduces air pollution caused by cars. However, ATMOS hides a deadly secret for Earth, as the Sontarans return to plague the Doctor once more, and they use Martha to further their plans... NOte: Liste closely for two jokes made by the Doctor referencing Series 1 in this two-part story.Ep. 6: "The Doctor's Daughter" - Suddenly transported by the TARDIS to an unknown location, the Doctor, Donna, and Martha become involved in a blood-feud between cloned humans and cloned aliens called the Hath over a mysterious object called "the Source." And almost right from the start, the Doctor is forced to make a contribution... a DNA sample that creates his daughter, bred for fighting...Ep 7: "The Unicorn & the Wasp" - The Doctor & Donna crash a socialite party in the 1920's and meet Agatha Christie... just in time for a murder-mystery to occur. And to complicate things, a notorious thief is also on the prowl. But what is the motive of the murderer, and is it human?Eps 8 & 9: "Silence of the Library" and "Forest of the Dead" - The Doctor takes DOnna to the 51st Century and the biggest Library in the universe: a planet-wide house of books. However, the only ones there beside them are a team of explorers led by a woman who appears to know the Doctor quite well, and the Library's automated terminals that leave an eerie warning: "Watch out for the shadows." This 2-part story introduces River Song, played by Alex Kingston, and begins the mystery of her relationship with the Doctor that will be explored in Series 5 and 6.Ep 10: "Midnight" - Taking a break on the planet Midnight, the Doctor takes a transport for the Sapphire Waterfalls while DOnna enjoys the spa. However, the transport suddenly breaks down, and some mysterious force is trying to get inside. This is a unique episode as the companion is given a minimal role while focus is more on the Doctor, whereas usually it is the opposite. Also, David Troughton, son of 2nd Doctor Patrick Troughton, guest-stars as Professor Hobbes.Ep 11: "Turn Left" - COntrast to "Midnight," Donna takes center-stage as she is lured by a mysterious fortune-teller into a tent for a free reading. However, Donna suddenly finds herself in the past, at a crucial moment in her life where she was on her way for a job interview at H.C. Clements. She is manipulated into going to a different interview, and thus her history is rewritten: she doesn;t meet the Doctor, and the events from "The Runaway Bride" to the present are drastically altered...Eps 12 & 13: "The Stolen Earth" and "Journey's End" - Hot off the heels of "Turn Left," the Doctor and Donna return to Earth only to witness its disappearance. Jack Harkness & Torchwood, Martha & UNIT, Sarah Jane & her son Luke, and even Harriet Jones (Last seen in "The Christmas Invasion") unite to try and bring the Doctor to the misplaced Earth as the greatest threat ever returns. When a long-thought dead enemy reveals himself as the mastermind behind everything, it's up to the Doctor and DOnna, plus a slew of familiar faces, to save the day... but at what cost?Bonus content includes DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL specials on every episode, David Tennant's video diaries throughout Series 4, and a special Children-In-Need episode set before "Voyage of the Damned" - "Time Crash," featuring the return of Peter Davison as the 5th Doctor.Produced by Russel T Davies, who penned several of the episodes, SERIES 4 is a must-have for any DW fans. There's excitement, laughs, tears, science, and most of all, there's timey-whimey goodness. if you are a fan of the 10th Doctor, this DVD set is for you.

What? Me? You want me to review The Complete Fourth Series of Doctor Who? I'm not worthy. Okay, enough of that, but this is no small task. Where do I begin?First things first. Let's NOT presume that you're familiar with Doctor Who (which is or at least once was) the world's longest running science fiction television program. Let's not take for granted you're aware of the fact that despite his outward appearance, Doctor Who or "the Doctor" as he is known to friends and foes, is an alien. Let's also not presume that you know about the Doctor's TARDIS (a time machine that's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside) which permits him to travel backwards and forwards (sometimes even sideways) in time. Head spinning yet?The program is still relatively new to many even though the Doctor has been around for a very long time. How long? Factually speaking, as the central character of a television show which began in the early '60's, he's been with us for more than 40 years. Fictionally speaking, the Doctor is over 900 years old, so it is safe to say he's not the new kid on the block.While the Doctor tends to favor the human race, he values all life. At first glance what sets him (technologically) apart from the rest is his ability to time travel. When his writer's hit the mark, time traveling is not some far fetched farce but rather a closely guarded secret that members of his race do everything in their power to keep secret, otherwise chaos would reign. Time traveling technology in the wrong hands has many potentially negative consequences, but that's another subject for another day. Back to The Complete Fourth Series, which is what I have set my mind to review.What about the production? First rate. There, that bit's done. No? You want more? Okay, here goes... whether you're a newbie to the show or a seasoned fan, the current production standards are in step with the latest, and I do mean the latest technology. Doctor Who has seen leaner days, when monsters were little more than creative Halloween costumes, sometimes less, and the sets wobbled, yes, wobbled. Hopefully those days are gone (and for good) however they do give one a certain appreciation for today's Who. It's real, very real, in your face real and not afraid to get even closer. Got it?If you want to be scared, Series Four delivers plenty of reasons to hide behind the sofa. If you want to laugh, you will, just as you will weep, and sometimes all in the same episode! That's why it's tough to pigeon-hole any given episode and why I will not attempt to do so here. Call me lazy if you like, but others have beautifully summarized each episode and with far fewer words than I could, so instead I will ramble on in my own wordy way, hoping to strike a chord, one that you will hear again and again until you give in and at least test drive the program to see what all the fuss is about.Doctor Who makes more sense when viewed episode to episode (from the very first to the most recent) so that you get to know the Doctor, his companions, and the inside scoop on what to the untrained ear sounds like sci-fi-techno-babble but is in actual fact just the show building on it's own lore, lore which spans the cosmos and all of time. Having said that, today's Doctor Who does an admirable job of bringing new viewers up to speed without inducing a group coma amongst long time loyal fans. Apart from the occasional cliff-hanging, cold-sweat, white-knuckled, tear-jerking, weak-in-the-knees, laugh-out-loud, and hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck-is-standing-at-attention two part season finale, each episode is a standalone adventure. Say that about your favorite sit-com or soap.The Doctor (a Timelord) has two hearts and possesses the ability to regenerate. Regenerating is sort of like morphing, but not exactly. He doesn't become someone or something else, he does however get a new lease on life each time he undergoes the process of regeneration. Throughout as well as after his regeneration or rebirth he retains his memory though it is somewhat muddied at times. His outward appearance changes, as does his demeanor and his voice, etc. A very handy tool, one that permits creators and producers of the Doctor's adventures to keep things fresh by replacing an outgoing or current Doctor (or rather the actor that portrays him) with a new one.Step into the TARDIS and you step into a reality that is, always has been, and always will be all around us, just hidden from plain view, a reality that's magical, mythical, defies the laws of physics and even good old common sense at times. This reality is inhabited by a (fictional) force for good in the form of a being that is not of this planet, not of this time, though his appearance and manners say otherwise. Stay with the Doctor until episode's end and you may well be introduced to a completely new life-form, or perhaps plot with him to once again defeat a rather small but formidable number of long-time, if not life-long enemies. Maybe you will travel back in time to discover the truth about a particular fact of history, then again you might arrive at a place where the stuff of fairy-tales becomes real. It's all inside that wonderful blue box.I won't delve into each episode of the Fourth Series, I wasn't asked to write a book, but a review. Some might ask, "Has the review started?" I will leave it to your curiosity to determine if this is the type of entertainment which is (at the very least) worth a look. Don't take my word for it. Search the web. The Doctor is all over it. Then come back here and get your goodies!And what about the purchase? Flawless. Amazon does it right. And if you ever have a problem with a purchase, count on them to be there for you to make it right, they did for me.Happy Travels!

Just brilliant in every way!

Ich mag doctor whoDie ganzen Serien sind superUnd spannend zum schauen

Conseguí en España las tres primeras temporadas en español y después, como en otras series que han sacado a la venta, las dejan incompletas. Así por fin conseguí cerrar el ciclo de este doctor.

David Tennant's last Series as The Doctor Is one of his best yet; if not the best series series wise. I loved all the episodes / stories. Specifically the 2 - part finally of Doctor Who with the 2 spin off shows Torchwood and Sara Jane Adventures playing a big part in the show as well. Loved the bit where The Doctor and Rose make Reference and nod to Torchwood's Gwen and Gwyneth in Doctor Who's The Unquiet Dead. Which was played the same actor- Eve Myles. Also love that every character / actor had appearance from series 1 to 4 of New Who. The one complaint I have about this is minor. It has to do with the specials. As I now have all New Who to date series wise; and going though them I noticed something. There are 4 specials missing. You are are okay with Doctor Who Series 2 complete and Series 3 complete as U have the 2 Christmas episodes/ Stories in them (Christmas Invasion - Series 2) and (The Runway Bride - Series 3) so U don't have to buy desperately. How ever U only get the 1 special in Series 4 Complete set. That being (Voyage of the Damned). So I looked at Series 5 Compete set with Matt Smith The 4 specials are not there either. If you want to have a true complete set of David Tennants run U have to buy - The Next Doctor - Planet of the Dead - Waters of Mars and The End of Time separate. Not in any of the Complete series sets for anyone that may not know. Otherwise it very good.

Series four of Doctor Who sees the return of Donna Noble, the new companion who is travelling with the Doctor this series. Series three is in my opinion the best series of Doctor Who, but series four is definitely a close second. There are so many great stories in this series and I will now give you my thoughts on each of the episodes.Voyage of the Damned – This is a good Christmas special, but not up to the standard of “The Christmas Invasion” or “The Runaway Bride” in my opinion. It was great to see Kylie Minogue in an adventure with the Doctor; there are some funny moments as well. The characters are great, in particular Astrid, Mister Copper and Banacafalata. The plot is okay, the “Host” are good as they generate suspense but there are some flaws and areas that could have been improved. However, it is an enjoyable Doctor Who story. Grade: C- (7/10)Partners in Crime – This episode is a great start for series four, and is a really good way to bring the Doctor and Donna back together who haven’t met again since “The Runaway Bride.” The chemistry between David Tennnant and Katherine Tate is brilliant. This episode is a lot of fun to watch and is very funny. This is possibly one of the funniest episodes I have ever seen of Doctor Who. I loved the characters and the ending is excellent. The plot and the Adipose are the weak parts; it’s light-hearted most of the time. The storyline is bizarre but the entertainment factor overpowers this negative element. The comedy is what makes this episode work though. It’s good to see aspects of Donna’s life and view the introduction of Wilfred Mott who is a significant character for later in the series and the specials. It’s a solid opener for series four. Grade: B- (8/10)The Fires of Pompeii – This is a decent story, not the greatest episode in series four though. The monsters bothered me slightly and I didn’t really like that Peter Capaldi was in this episode, he was to become the 12th Doctor later in the show. I found parts a little boring but I think lots of the dialogue is well written. David Tennant and Katherine Tate give superb performances as the Doctor and Donna. The scenes where they debate Pompeii’s fate and if the Doctor should save people from destruction or not are brilliant. The setting of Pompeii is good; the recreations of the era look very realistic. Overall, I just feel that this episode could have been better. This is the weakest historical episode so far in my opinion since the series has been revived. Some scenes are great and even emotional, but I find other episodes in series four superior to this one. Grade: D (6.5/10)Planet of the ood – This is a good episode. It explores the themes of lying, slavery and profiteering off of others, which are dark themes but the episode handles it very well. However, lots of the characters are underdeveloped as the episode focuses most of its attention on the main plot and the topic of slavery etc. Only Mister Halpen is developed well as a character. Donna’s viewpoint of being disgusted by the ood to caring about the species happens too quickly. There are some great action sequences and well written dialogue but some scenes are put in to waste time, such as the scene where the Doctor runs from the claw. The ood brain aspect is confusing but the ood look good in the episode and it’s well Directed by Graeme Harper. This is a darker episode of the series, concentrating more on the emotional aspects from the series. I would have enjoyed it more if the villains were not one-dimensional characters, being motivated by money and they come across as evil most of the time for no reason. The ood mention at the end of the episode that the Doctor’s song is ending soon, implying the death of the 10th Doctor which I thought was great foreshadowing. This episode has a great atmosphere, it’s chilling and entertaining. Not the best in series four, but very good. Grade: B- (8/10)The Sontaran Stratagem – This is a really good episode, I enjoyed seeing the return of Martha Jones and are there are a few different things going off. The CGI is incredibly well done and the plot is good, even if it is a basic idea. I like the fact that we got to meet Donna’s family as they meet the Doctor (having met him briefly previously), this was something that was lacking in series three as we didn’t see Martha’s family much. What I didn’t like in this episode was the way the Doctor treated people, he is mean much of the time. This is not David Tennant’s fault; the Doctor is just badly written in this episode. The characters are developed well and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this first part which has a dramatic ending. Grade: B (8.5/10)The Poison Sky – This is episode is more of a disappointment after the great set-up in “The Sonataran Strategem.” It’s not bad, but is much more action orientated and there is not much character development. I’m not a fan of the Martha clone element, even if there is a funny scene when the Doctor talks to the clone after he finds the real Martha (with the Doctor knowing all along that the Martha clone was a clone.) The interaction between the two Martha’s is cheesy but emotionally driven. David Tennant’s Doctor could again have been better written and the plot isn’t as interesting. The Sontarans are not the best villains; raging war for no reason is a silly concept towards the end. Some scenes are well executed and I liked that Wilfred Mott, Donna’s Grandfather, appears in the story again. The episode has some good scenes but it’s weaker than part one and is not a strong entry from series four. Grade: C- (7/10)The Doctor’s Daughter – This is the worst episode in series four in my opinion. I find the plot very boring in places and standard, being a basic war storyline and it’s uninteresting. Jenny is one of the more intriguing guest characters we have had this series and there are some funny scenes. I liked the scene towards the end which packed emotion. The episode is a waste of potential for the most part, the acting is great though. The Hath are not a very good species but okay. I know some people who like this and I respect your opinion if you do like it, but for me it’s a disappointing entry into the fourth series. Grade: E- (5/10)The Unicorn and the Wasp – When I first saw this story I really liked it. However, now having re-watched it again, it didn’t have the same effect on me as I knew who the murderer was. It took away the mystery but I still think it is a good episode. Agatha Christie is brilliantly cast and all the characters are good. The setting is suitable and it’s great to watch the Doctor in a detective story. Donna didn’t really do much in the episode; however she did fit into the story quite well. Some scenes could have aimed at being more serious, but the fun side of the episode worked well. The plot is slightly bizarre, but the story is engaging. Screen time was divided well for each of the supporting cast. It is also easy to follow and doesn’t feel overloaded which is good, considering it’s a murder mystery. It could have been more ambitious but the character development is excellent, as is the CGI for the wasp and the direction. It’s a fun and enjoyable episode. Grade: C (7.5/10)Silence in the Library – This episode is one of the best in series four. It has a very intriguing storyline and a lot of suspense which keeps the audience in the moment. The villains are also intriguing and I like the character of River Song. The mood of the story and dark setting help the episode a lot in delivering a spooky atmosphere. The library gives the feeling of no escape for the characters. There are many questions posed in this episode that a viewer wants answering in part two. Series 4 really ups the game from this point onwards. Grade: B+ (8.7/10)Forest of the Dead – This episode is excellent and even better than part one. I liked the emotional side to this episode towards the back end and the alternate reality surrounding Donna. It has a great plot, good characters, great pace and I very thrilling. I loved this one. Grade: A- (9/10)Midnight – This episode is brilliant and definitely my favourite from series four. It’s my third favourite episode out of all the revived Doctor Who, behind “Human Nature/The Family of Blood” and “Blink” from series three. It’s so tense and chilling; the actress who plays Sky is excellent and really creepy. David Tennant is again fantastic as the Doctor. The enclosed setting makes it all the scarier and it has a great cast. The dialogue is superb as well. That’s what makes this episode, the dialogue. It’s wonderfully written by Russell T Davies, he creates conflicts constantly among the characters. This is by far the best RTD’s scripts for Doctor Who; he did an amazing job writing this episode. “Midnight” is original, imaginative and terrific. Grade: A (9.5/10)Turn Left – Another great episode this time giving Donna most of the screen time, the Doctor barely makes an appearance. The absence of the Doctor does not affect the quality of the episode though. I like how Rose Tyler returns and the plot is really interesting. The music is great in this story, the acting is superb and it carries some emotional moments. Katherine Tate’s performance is outstanding in this episode and it really shows how great an actress she is. This episode ends on a dark note and leaves the audience eagerly awaiting the next instalment. Grade: B+ (8.8/10)The Stolen Earth – This is a great episode and sets up everything for part two really well, with a powerful cliff-hanger. It features the return of the Doctor’s arch enemy and their creator, Davros. He has to be the best villain in series four. The Doctor and Rose are reunited and we are greeted to some old faces that have appeared over all the four series. A really strong episode. Grade: B (8.5/10)Journey’s End – This is where all the Doctor’s companions come together to fight the evil Daleks and thwart Davros’s deadly plan. This episode is a great end for series four; I especially liked seeing all the Doctor’s companions in the TARDIS towards the end. It lacked some suspense and a lot of the action took place aboard the Dalek ship, but I really enjoyed this episode. It feels like the end of an era to me. It’s sad what happens to Donna but this episode ends series four very well. Grade: B- (8/10)Series Four is not the best Doctor Who series, but it is good. The second half of the series delivers some brilliant episodes and really boosts the grade up in my opinion. The Doctor is again on his own after this series and there are now only five more 10th Doctor episodes. The end of the Russell T Davies era and David Tennant’s reign as the 10th Doctor is almost upon us…