Doctor Who-Series 8 (Blu-ray) (2014)

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General		Extras
Category	Science Fiction	Main Menu Audio & Animation Featurette-Making Of-All epsiodes Audio Commentary-4 eps Featurette-Various Featurette-Three 45 minute specials Music Video
Rating
Year Of Production	2014
Running Time	590
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Multi Disc Set (5)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Graeme Harper Euros Lyn James Strong James Hawes
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Peter Capaldi Jenna-Louise Coleman Samuel Anderson
Case	Slip Case
RPI	?	Music	Murray Gold

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0 English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080i
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     It is hard to believe that any television show could run for 50 years, let alone what started as a little sci-fi series designed for kids on the BBC. This series has enthralled, excited and inspired generations of children and adults alike. There have been spin-off series, movies and more over the years. The new incarnation of the series has now completed its Eighth season. This season sees a new Doctor take the controls of the Tardis and he is certainly a departure from the younger Doctors such as the last two. Peter Capaldi is the new actor in the role and he is a revelation, cranky, less empathetic especially to people's emotions but still the same guy who wants to save the world and protect everyone in it. This is great writing and a great new direction for the show.

     The new Doctor Who series has been going from strength to strength with excellent storylines, four interesting actors as The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith and now Capaldi) plus some excellent companions such as Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) and River Song (Alex Kingston). The second part of the seventh season introduced a new companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman) although the character or variations on the character had appeared in previous episodes. She continues through Series 8 becoming the companion to the new Doctor but not without some reservations on her part. Their relationship is tested during the season.

     This season contains 12 episodes and I must admit after the first two I was a little concerned that it would not quite work, however soon any concerns I had were blown away by how well it was working. Peter Capaldi is excellent as the new Doctor as is the changing relationship with Clara which is really well written over the course of the season. Another great developing overarching storyline is Clara's relationship with Danny Pink (Samuel Anderson). There are some great episodes included in this season such as Robot of Sherwood, which is lots of fun, Listen which is creepy but revealing, Flatline which sees the Doctor in peril and Mummy on the Orient Express which features a cracker concept. Our old friends The Daleks and the Cybermen make welcome returns in this series as does (SPOILER ALERT: highlight with mouse to read) The Master but in a different form. One of my favourite comedic actors, Ben Miller as makes a guest appearance. I found the two part finale episode interesting conceptually but mildly disappointing in delivery.

     The set is spread across 5 Blu-ray discs with the 5th only including extras. The discs are housed in a hard case with a cardboard slipcover.

     A great new season, a great new Doctor. Bravo!

Video

     The video quality is very good, a step up from previous Doctor Who Blu-rays.

     The series is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 1080i rather than full 1080p.

     The picture was quite sharp and clear throughout. Shadow detail was very good.

     The colour is excellent, really showing off the new sets and locations for this series.

     There was some minor motion blur during fast movement and some little bits of aliasing.

     There are subtitles available in English for the Hearing Impaired which are clear and easy to read.

    There are no obvious layer changes.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is very good without being at feature film quality.

     The discs contain an English soundtrack in DTS HD-MA 5.1, plus an Audio Descriptive track in Dolby Digital 2.0 and some commentaries also in Dolby Digital 2.0.

     Dialogue was quite clear however sometimes it got lost in the mix of effects and music, meaning the subtitles were useful at times.

     The music by Murray Gold is excellent as usual adding significantly to the show.

     The surround speakers were well used for lots of directional effects such as lasers, screams and action scenes plus significant atmosphere and music and the subwoofer supported the TARDIS sounds, music and action scenes.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     A big and quality collection of extras. Many of them have HD-MA 5.1 sound.

Menu

     The menu is similar to other seasons of Doctor Who featuring the Tardis in a wormhole and the theme music. Audio Navigation is available as an option.

Audio Commentaries

     Four episodes feature audio commentaries as follows

• Episode 2 - Writer Phil Ford and Director Ben Wheatley - They discuss working together, the design and ideas for the episode, locations, shooting challenges, fans and more in a jokey style commentary. Not bad.
• Episode 3 - Director Paul Murphy - Better than the previous commentary, he is amusing but not silly and covers the story, locations, writing, costumes, casting and more.
• Episode 6 - Director Paul Walker and 2 crew members - Another quite good commentary where they cover the story, effects, locations and quite a lot of focus on each scene.
• Episode 7 - Assistant Director Scott Bates and Director Paul Wilmhurst - They discuss working together, locations, story, shooting issues and the cast. Not bad.

Disc 3

Doctor Who - The Ultimate Timelord (43:06)

     Ex-Doctor Peter Davison hosts this special where he tries to work out what the qualities of the ultimate Time Lord are by interviewing various actors who have played the Doctor, talking to Stephen Moffat and also considering how companions and enemies have an impact on his personality and traits. A little silly at times, however, this is certainly an interesting special which is worth watching for fans. Made to promote Season 8.

Disc 4

Doctor Who - The Ultimate Companion (45:28)

     Ex-Doctor Peter Davison hosts this second special where he tries to work out what the qualities of the ultimate companion are by interviewing various actors who have played the Doctor & companions including current and older ones, talking to Stephen Moffat and other crew members. A little silly at times, however, this is certainly an interesting special which is worth watching for fans

Inside the new TARDIS (1:53)

     Very short featurette on the design changes in the new TARDIS.

Foxes perform Don't Stop Me Now (3:20)

     Music Video for the cover of the Queen song used during the new series.

Casting Peter Capaldi (2:19)

     Stephen Moffat and others discuss how they went about casting Capaldi and why they chose him.

Writing the new series (2:01)

     Moffat discusses the first episode and the tonal ideas they were going for with the new series.

What is Doctor Who? (2:15)

     Basic concept of the show and the character through interviews with cast and crew.

Why watch Series 8? (1:54)

     Promo with cast telling us why we should watch the season we have probably already watched.

Disc 5

Episode by Episode Behind the Scenes (132 min approx)

     Behind the scenes featurette for each episode with interview segments, scenes, shotting footage etc. Worthwhile for fans but a little too much for others.

Deep Breath Q&A (28:24)

     Q&A session with a live audience in a cinema, one of 450 cinemas across the UK where the first episode of the new season was launched. Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Stephen Moffat answer questions from a compere and the audience. There is a focus on Capaldi as the new Doctor but other topics are covered too. Worth watching.

Earth Conquest - The World Tour (46:43)

     A somewhat overlong special about the short world promotional tour done by Capaldi and Coleman for the new Doctor including Cardiff, Mexico, Korea and more. Mostly crowds of fans and short promotional items.

Series 8 Trailers

     Four different trailers for the whole season or individual episodes.

    This season is available globally seemingly in the same format.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is very good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall