4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Realised Stories of the Third Season., January 27, 2011
Even if The Ark doesn't quite fulfil its promise of delivering on the deeper themes at work, it's still entertaining, and what's more, is one of the best realised stories of the third season. Of course, this tale would be outstripped by its more popular stablemate "The Ark In Space", with its similar ideas of Earthlings escaping disaster. But despite this, The Ark is a clever little tale that manages to be boosted by its presentation and (for the time) swanky production values.
1 disc, 97 minutes, 4 episodes, full frame video, English mono audio, English subtitles, $24.98 SRP
Extras:
Audio Commentary with Peter Purves ("Steven") and Michael Imison (director)
"All's Wells That Ends Wells" - A feature on the influence of writer H.G. Wells on the series
"One Hit Wonder" - On what makes a successful monster
"Riverside Story" - Touring old production haunt Riverside Studios
Photo Gallery
PDF materials: Radio Times Listings
Production Notes Subtitle Option
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Concepts, May 3, 2000
By A Customer
The idea of having this story take place over 700 years (or whatever it was) was a clever idea. It really demonstrated how much the Doctor interferes. (The Valeyard should have used this story for his evidence against the Doctor!)
I really liked the invisible people as well. It was entertaining, witty, and a wonderful buy.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Two Stories Pretending To Be One, March 13, 2002
This review is from: Doctor Who - The Ark [VHS] (VHS Tape)
(Note: Warning! Spoilers ahead!)"The Ark" is one of three stories remaining from William Hartnell's third season in Doctor Who. And I must admit it is one of his weakest. Thin on story, especially in the first two episodes, this tale gives us a view of Humanity in the very far future. Millions of years on, in fact. A long time after man has conquered space, the remnants of Earth's native sons are on a huge space craft inhabited by all forms of remaining life on Earth, who flee from the planet's imminent destruction, to colonize a planet they have never even set foot upon.
The Doctor and company arrive with new companion Dodo (picked up in the final moments of the previous story "The Massacre"), who has an illness unknown to Human science of the 57th Segment of Time, the common cold. The illness quickly spreads throughout the population of both Humans and their friendly servants, the alien Monoids, killing a number of both species. After some debate as to whether the TARDIS crew have brought the illness on purpose or not, the Doctor is finally allowed to search for a cure, using Steven (who has also somehow attracted the illness which he should already have an immunity to!) as a guinee pig.
Well, of course the Doctor finds the cure and saves the day. The TARDIS dematerializes and then suddenly RE-materializes in the exact same spot, only 700 years later. Things on the Ark have changed significantly, as now the Monoids have become the masters, enslaving Humanity as the Ark approaches the long sought planet for colonizing. The Doctor and crew must find a way to free the Humans from the Monoids, and prevent the extinction of man.
A very thin story indeed, with the Monoids being very unconvincing villains, as they have limited movement, and end up waddling rather like ducks, which is far from menacing. On the positive side, William Hartnell is clearly relishing his return to being the star/hero of the hour, and delivers a very enthusiastic performance. New companion Dodo doesn't really establish herself so well, however, but Jackie Lane does her best under the circumstances. Unlike the previous story where he took centre stage, Steven is left with very little to do as he contracts the new strain of fever, but gives it his all in the few scenes he has. Over all this is not the best of 60s Doctor Who, but should please die hard fans, and nostalgia freaks alike.
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