Product Details

• Actors: Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Matthew Waterhouse, Janet Fielding
• Directors: Ron James
• Format: Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Worldwide
• DVD Release Date: August 5, 2008
• Run Time: 49 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0017XOFFK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,344 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Doctor Who: Black Orchid (Story 121)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

DOCTOR WHO:BLACK ORCHID - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Whew! This TARDIS crew CAN get along!!, June 5, 2008

By 

The Cougar (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who: Black Orchid (Story 121) (DVD)

If it weren't for this story, I would be left scratching my head and wondering why the hell these four individuals (they were barely a TARDIS team) would hang around each other for so long. Adric just becomes an obnoxious brat with the Fifth Doctor, Tegan just wants to go home, and Nyssa gets shunted to the sidelines every damn time. With the Sixth Doctor and Peri, there were moments in every story where you could tell they were close friends, which is absent with this team.

Except for this story.

Black Orchid, a two-parter that's a bit of a diversion, but it was needed, in my opinion, before the emotional-roller coaster known as Earthshock. A light-hearted adventure that you can sit down and relax to after doing a long shift of work, or even if you've come from a night about the town (like I did on the day I bought this.) The Fifth Doctor and Nyssa, the best Fifth Doctor combination, both get to shine here, Nyssa with Sarah Sutton's double role with Ann, finally giving Nyssa something to do in a story, and the Fifth Doctor, who shows off his amazing cricket skills, bringing a team back from a pathetic score (though I don't think even the Fifth Doctor could help England against Australia!)

And where the TARDIS crew get along? The scenes at Cranleigh Manor are easily some of my favourite of the Fifth Doctor era, where Tegan shows Nyssa some of the Earth dances and cheering on the Doctor in cricket, and Nyssa just looks more amused than ever at these bizarre rituals. Not to mention where they both gently mock Adric about his constant eating (how large are Alzarian stomachs anyway?) Adric for once is actually likeable.

Surprisingly, there are no science fiction elements whatsoever, a throwback to the early Doctor Who days where sci-fi and history genres went hand-in-hand, it's more like a murder mystery, a whodunit, where the Doctor becomes trapped while getting ready for the costume ball at Cranleigh Manor, and someone takes his place wearing the clown costume, "Attacking" Ann, and killing a servant who tries to help her...

All in all, one of my favourite Davison stories, and one you can watch and just enjoy.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Historical Doctor Who with no monsters? ...Sort of., May 10, 2008

By 

Kevin J. Loria (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Doctor Who: Black Orchid (Story 121) (DVD)

In this short adventure with the fifth Doctor, the Doctor and his over full TARDIS end up in the Edwardian English country-side for this almost purely historical (the first story to due so possible since the 2nd Doctor meets the Highlander, please correct me if I'm wrong on that score).

The Doctor lands the TARDIS at an Edwardian train depot, where he is mysteriously expected by some local chaps for a game of cricket. Only happy to oblige, the Doctor tags along with Adric, the boy genius, Tegan, the walking mouth, and Nyssa, the smart & cute orphan from Traken. This case of mistaken identity leads the crew into a manor mystery Agatha Christie-style and a fancy-dress ball. Nyssa meets her Earth-twin and a twisted "monster" who may not have her best interests at heart.


As is the way of things in the 5th Doctor's era, the incidental companions end up learning of the Doctor's true origins or of the TARDIS. This plot device has been replaced in the new series by the Doctor's psychic paper, so he doesn't have to waste precious story-time with answering questions about "how he got there."


What keeps Black Orchid from being a neat historical adventure?
As is the way of things in the 5th Doctor's era, the incidental companions end up learning of the Doctor's true origins or of the TARDIS. This plot device has been replaced in the new series by the Doctor's psychic paper, so he doesn't have to waste precious story-time with answering questions about "how he got there." This nearly pointless visit to the TARDIS takes away from the mystery of the period. Another mistake is the overly ambitious make-up team that in the lack of an alien, they must compensate with latex.


What makes Black Orchid work? The beautiful location footage, which is always a staple of the series, the cricket game footage is really charming and are the costumes of the period and the fancy-dress as well.
Some of the dialogue is clunky, but overall consistent with the theme.
The story is a short 2 parter (thus the low selling price) which the new series has proved is the way of things for the 21st century viewer, so this one may be more accessible for fans who are just discovering the original shows.

As far as the extras go, the cast is really down on this particular story. Their personal experiences relayed during the audio commentary are some of the most negative & abrasive you will hear tied to a DVD, but train-wreck fascinating.


Possible Doctor Who drinking games.
Drink when....

The Doctor is completely at a loss for what is going on.
Adric eats.
Someone confuses Nyssa and her Earth twin
The TARDIS is gone.
A mysterious onlooker looks on.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well... the Price is Right, May 28, 2010

By 

Oliver "The Fart-full Dodger" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who: Black Orchid (Story 121) (DVD)

Not one of the more fondly remembered stories of the series compounded by the fact you're only getting two episodes from a time when they had far less experience doing either hour-long or non sci-fi Who stories.

Thankfully, there are a few selling points to recommend this title. One of these is the remastering team once again doing an amazing job on restoring the visuals. The outdoor scenes almost look like they were shot on 35mm film now, as opposed to 16mm that was likely used for most of the series's outdoor moments. They could have easily done a cheap job just to get it out there for completionists, but they brought their A-Game to this story and it shows.

Extras include a rather amusing commentary track by the cast, who have less than fond memories of shooting the story (especially the gals, who had to wear some semi-revealing costumes outdoors during an English October), and manage to have a laugh at its expense looking back. Also is another chapter of the interesting "Stripped for Action" series focusing on the comic book/strip at the time when it changed over from Baker to Davison's doctor. Interesting of note here is the interview with Dave "The Other Guy Responsible for Watchmen" Gibbons, who had an impressive run as the artist, and who apparently had a great deal of trouble at first capturing the Doctor's likeness, as previous Doctor's were easily caricatured, where Davison's face required far more subtlety. Some Blue Peter, info-text, a look at the restoration process, Now and Then showing how the locations have changed, and a really odd but interesting addition where Barry Took reads angry fan letters over the shows rescheduling at the time. I think the story and extras would have likely done better going into a two-disc set with "Visitation" rather than devoting a whole DVD package to it, but it's clear that the DVD producers were doing their best to give fans some value for their money.

All in all, the story is a mixed bag with just enough extra trimmings to make it palatable.