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TARDIS Guide

Overview

Released

Friday, July 13, 2001

Written by

Colin Meek

Directed by

Dan Freedman

Runtime

150 minutes

Location (Potential Spoilers!)

Earth, Gallifrey

Synopsis

“Even Time Lords die...”

When a dissident Time Lord group inadvertently caused the destruction of an entire civilisation through interference, its members vowed to repent by serving the Universe not as gods of Time but as mere men. Many years later, this peaceful resolve is severely tested when two of their number are killed -- and the Doctor's seventh incarnation becomes embroiled in the struggle against the apparently unstoppable General Tannis.

Plagued by ominous portents, the Doctor and his companion Antimony must race across the Universe, taking in the Santine Republic, the Great Orion Nebula and the frozen heart of the Canisian Empire. Meanwhile, the mysterious Minister of Chance battles his own inner demons, and former TARDIS traveller Ace finds herself in training for a destiny she never dreamed possible. Matters reach a terrible climax when Tannis' next target for subjugation is identified. Exactly how much is the Doctor prepared to sacrifice in order to save Earth?

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3 reviews

peak who i fear


I blame Joseph Campbell.


This review contains spoilers!

Alternative universe Doctor Who? An interesting concept, although in 2002 Dan Freeman may attempting to end the series with The Doctor's death, continuing with his own Ministry of Chance series, which did eventually come to fruition (and based on this I would like to check out).

The main thing you'll have to overcome with Death Comes to Time is the unconventionally cheap and limited "animation" which is not really animation in the true sense, though is oddly narratively relied on at some points so has to be considered as slightly more than just still artwork. It looks dreadful but any fan who has sat through all the telesnap reconstructions will probably still get a kick out of it. I'd liken the story to being more like a Big Finish full cast audio drama, but with dash of poorly realised visuals.

The story is massive, giving us both intimate moments between characters (Stephen Fry's Minister of Chance is a particular delight) and huge space battles. It expands and changes the role of the Time Lords in a pleasing way and feels a lot more modern in terms of story telling than the classic series. It changes the show in a positive, propulsive way.

If I was going to kill The Doctor though, ending on Sylvester rather than the incumbent Doctor seems like a rogue move... I'd also have given Sylvester more to do in his "final story". Seen as alt-universe Doctor Who though I probably feel less precious and more excited by the whole thing.

Watching all these wilderness years productions its hilarious how many variations of Ace's post-season 26 character arc there are. I much prefer this to the mercenary storyline we've previously been presented with!


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