‘Dr. Who: The Beginning Collection’

It’s been 40 years since the first episodes of this singular time-travel adventure were aired, and, with this three-disc collection the BBC appears to be finally releasing “Doctor Who” on DVD in something resembling a reasonable manner. That is, from the beginning.

In the past, episodes have appeared on VHS and DVD in a way that defies comprehension: one episode from the 1970s here, now an episode from the ’60s, now one from the ’80s. The new release strategy is a good thing for those of us who happen to care about long-term plots. If the BBC follows through with it, the new collection will allow us to experience the world of Doctor Who as something more like a cohesive tale than a shuffled pile of snapshots.

“The Beginning Collection” gathers the first three serials of Doctor Who, which aired in 1963-64 and starred William Hartnell as the time-traveling alien Doctor. The fourth serial, by the way, was destroyed by the BBC in the 1960s, but the telecast is combined with photos from the show to make a 30-minute reconstruction, included as a special feature in this set.

In the first storyline, “An Unearthly Child,” two schoolteachers, concerned about the Doctor’s 15-year-old granddaughter Susan, who happens to be attending school on Earth, push their way into the TARDIS, a space ship shaped like a phone booth. While trying to open the TARDIS door, one of the abductees accidentally sends the ship back to 200,000 BC, where the group becomes caught in a power struggle over the leadership of a tribe of cavemen. “The Daleks” sends them to a war-torn planet in the future, introducing for the first time the Daleks, the plunger-armed alien mutants in giant robo-thimbles who will become the Doctor’s most recognizable nemeses. “The Edge of Destruction” is much more introspective: the TARDIS, as usual, malfunctions, and the Doctor blames his new shipmates for the disaster that has left them unable to leave the degenerating ship. Zany and mildly psychotic antics ensue.

Unlike some other well-known productions—I won’t mention names, but I have one in mind that rhymes with Fine Smelled—there is nothing embarrassingly stinky about the first episodes of this show. The writing is great and the core cast’s acting is rarely less than excellent, which is particularly impressive given that they obviously did not always do a second take when an actor flubbed a line. The BBC has never been known for outstanding production values, and in 1963, the visual effects department appears to have consisted of a bored little man with a black and white kaleidoscope. The effect, however, is more charming than jarring, and the transfers to DVD format are superb.

The release was probably prompted by the resurgence of interest in the show due to the new series playing in America on the Sci Fi Channel, the 2005 debut of which marked the show’s first TV season since 1989. For those who have seen the new show and are interested in where it all began, this set may not provide many answers beyond the origins of the Daleks—it’s doubtful that even the writers had a very clear picture of the Doctor’s background at this point—but it will provide some worthwhile context for the new series.

For those who have seen these episodes before, the special features make it a must-buy. The predictable commentary tracks by the producer, directors, and the surviving cast members are only a small part of the bonuses you’ll find here; there are also documentaries on the creation of the show, photo galleries, the aforementioned reconstruction of the lost fourth episode, and, amazingly, outtakes that have somehow survived the years. For less than $40, there is really no reason for even a casual Doctor Who fan to pass up this collection.