Doctor Who: The Dominators (Story 44)

I've seen "The Dominators" exactly twice. Once was this week after I got my copy. The other time was way back when, in the late 1980's. I didn't remember much about the story, but I did remember those shoulders (oh, god, those shoulders!), and the Quarks. I also remember it being not very good. Turns out memory can play tricks on you. Yes, the shoulders are still horrible, and the Quarks are still... well, quarky. But the story is much better than I'd remembered!The TARDIS drops our travelers on a merry little island that was once used to test a nuclear bomb. So horrified was the race that built it that they immediately stopped making any weapons and became total pacifists. Now into their little paradise arrive the Dominators, a group that controls the better part of ten galaxies, has several robot servants and really needs a fashion designer. Of course Jamie, Zoe and the Doctor are there to put a stop to the Dominators plans to... er... dominate.Watching it now, I was impressed by the layers to this story. The Dominators could have easily been very two-dimensional, but they are surprisingly interesting, especially the power-play that goes on between the commander and his boom-happy subordinate. I also liked that the pacifist people basically shrug and say, "Well, they're not much we can do about this. We're totally $%!#ed." Plus of course Jamie and the Doctor are always great to see up on scree. Yes, even in the otherwise dismal "The Two Doctors".What doesn't really work in this story are the Quarks. Oh, they aren't bad or anything. Their design is interesting, and they obviously have some real firepower. But... those voices... and they're just so darn CUTE! Apparently they were designed as a new enemy whose popularity would rival that of the Daleks! Well, I think we all know how that turned out.I liked this story enough that I'd really like to see a new series follow-up. Imagine what Moffat could do with the Dominators and the Quarks. He specializes in taking the cute, the ordinary and the harmless and making it deadly and scary. I'm sure he could really work wonders with this!In addition to the story, you get the usual raft of extras. There's audio commentary, text commentary, behind-the-scenes stuff and a new feature called "Tomorrow's Times". The concept of that (showing contemporary media coverage of the series), is a very good one. The execution, with Caroline "Liz Shaw" John sitting there and acting like a news-reader... well, it needs some work.Other than that, this is a really great buy!

This is a five episode Patrick Troughton story for a really good deal. Product came in perfect condition. Very happy.

A fun story from the classic series with some fun robots! Sadly nothing like the modern series with Jodie Whittaker, but that's a high standard to meet. Troughton has a similar warmth and energy to him, and his performance is very reminiscent of Whittaker's awkward eccentricity and charm. Jamie is no Yaz, but he does fill the role of attractive companion/love interest excellently.The Quarks are, of course, a classic "monster," and they wholeheartedly deserve that status from fans! The Dominators themselves were somewhat tedious villains, bringing the story down to 4 stars from 5 for me. While the plot was interesting, watching characters escape and be captured again, only to escape once more was too repetitive. While this doesn't quite live up to Chibnall's era on the show, I would love to see the Quarks face the Thirteenth Doctor!

We are now one story away from completing all of the 2nd. Doctors Last Season.From (The Know All, and See All Of Doctor Who DVD's In The USA) Steve Manfred's Website:Doctor Who: The Dominators: starring Patrick Troughton as Dr. Who, Frazer Hinesas Jamie, and Wendy Padbury as Zoe.All 5 episodes of the story, digitally remastered and restored. Graphical menus, episode and scene selection features, and subtitles for the hearing impaired.Optional commentary track by actors Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, Giles Block (Teel) and Arthur Cox (Cully), and Make-Up Designer Sylvia James. Moderated by Toby HadokeInformation Text subtitles option. Displays pop-up production trivia throughout the story."Recharge and Equalise" A 23-minute making-of featurette featuring interviews with co-writer Mervyn Haisman, script editor Derrick Sherwin, actors Frazer Hines, Giles Block, Arthur Cox, and Felicity Gibson (Kando), production designer Barry Newbery, and sound effects/music composer Brian Hodgson."Tomorrow's Times" A 13-minute featurette resembling a newscast where Caroline John (Liz Shaw in the Third Doctor's era) reads to us press reviews from the newspapers of the late 1960s assessing the Patrick Troughton stories.Photo Gallery. 6 minutes of still photos taken during production of the story.PDF Files: Place this disc into your computer and you'll have access to PDF files containing the original 1968 Radio Times TV listings for this story.Coming Soon trailer for the DVDs of Revenge of the Cybermen and Silver Nemesis.

I'm really glad I watched this story now when I'm older. The idea and concept this story represents is very interesting. What would happen to a completely pacifist society if they were invaded by a "dominating" race. Well The Dominators answers this question for you.If you can get past the cheap sets and lame special effects (and lets face it, if you buy a classic who story and are surprised by this you really have no idea what your purchasing) then the story itself is really well worth a watch. The dialog is great and The Dominators themselves are for a 60's villain pretty imposing. The major drawbacks to this serial were the costumes and the Quarks. Just really lame work even by Doctor Who's standards of the day.Still this serial is one of the few surviving stories from the Troughton era, and though it would be wonderful to see Power of the Daleks or The Highlanders we have to appreciate what is available. The documentary is funny and it amazes me how these actors recall so much from the time of production. I have to dissagree with the original author of the script though, he lamented that this story survived over others, I think The Dominators is a fine example of a story that although may go over the heads of some children it is definately something that you can appreciate later on watching again as you get older.

Das Schöne bei den "Extras" zu der Neubearbeitung der alten BBC-Serien ist, dass man unumwunden zugibt, wenn man nicht so dolle Sachen produziert hat - einige der Mitarbeiter sind hier wieder sehr offen zu diesem Thema.Die Peacenik-Diskussion in dieser Geschichte - Planet von Pazifisten trifft auf Kriegstreiber (in ähnlicher Art und Weise im gleichen historischen Rahmen aufgenommen bei Star Trek, wobei hier die Pazifisten nicht so farbenfroh sind), ist eigentlich interessant und erzählerisch gut umgesetzt. Die Bedrohung, die hier aufgebracht wird, soll später einmal Mister Eccleston auf der Erde in einem sicheren Raum in Downing Street No. 10 wieder begegnen.Aber die Darstellung der Pazifisten und der Roboter namens Quarks, die als Ersatz für die Daleks gedacht waren, ist einfach abgrundtief und trotz vieler Special Effect wirkt das Setup durch diese beiden Aspekte eher hölzern.Neben dem Produktionsextra gibt es noch einen netten Beitrag zum Presseecho der Troughton-Jahre, das sehr deutlich zeigt, wie sich im Laufe der späten Sechziger die Wahrnehmung von Doctor Who - und von Fernsehen im Allgemeinen - gewandelt hat. Vielleicht nicht unbedingt eine Folge, die man gesehen haben muss.

Classic Who from the late 60s. One of the few surviving 2nd Dr stories remaining intact. BBC have restored this old found video using a VidFire process that makes it very watchable, unlike the old VHS releases. Has many special features, features Companion Jamie Mckrimmon (Frazer Hines), Quarks (only appearance), and the Dominators

Der Doktor, Jamie und Zoe landen auf einem Planeten der angeblich radioaktiv verseucht sein soll, doch die Tardis kann keine radioaktivität feststellen.Die Dominator Aliens saugen diese radioaktivität ab, doch sind sie nicht so wohlgesinnt wie man deshalb vielleicht denken mag.Es liegt nun am Doktor und seinen Freunden herauszufinden was die seltsamen Dominators im Schilde führen und dies zu verhindern falls nötig.Leider zieht sich die Story doch etwas in die Länge. Für Fans und Sammler super; zum Neueinstieg nur Bedingt geeignet.

I have this serial on vhs and am waiting to get the DVD of the serial. I just don't enjoy this serial as much as the other Doctor Who's I've watched but am looking forward to watching it on DVD when I get it.

The DVD case had broke a bit, but that's no problem, the DVD itself was fine, and a lovely episode indeed!