Customer Reviews

Doctor Who - The Colin Baker Years [VHS]

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In 1985, the television programme Dr Who had been running for over twenty years. When Colin Baker took on the role, the future of the show looked rosy. And then, halfway through his first season as the time-travelling Doctor, amid allegations of bust-ups with the production team behind the scenes, and accusations of 'too much horror and violence' in the programme, Dr Who was suspended. Some fans of the show say it never really recovered. The production team's subsequent lack of confidence, together with the BBC's apparent dislike of the show saw its eventual cancellation in 1989. Colin Baker's all-too-breif time playing the Doctor is well documented here. Introducing this video documentary himself, he also adds candid insights into what happened behind the scenes during what was to become known as a fairly troubled time for the long-running show. This video shows Colin as a humourous and likeable actor who was just getting to grips with the role of the world-famous time-lord when it was taken from him. Watching his recollections of Dr Who makes it all the sadder that was not able to remain with show longer.

Doctor Who: The Colin Baker Years looks back thru the era of Colin Baker's (short) run as the Sixth Doctor. It is very enjoyable to watch, as Colin looks back on his time on the show. Unlike previous installments in the Doctor Who "Years" tapes (The Hartnell Years, The Troughton Years, The Pertwee Years, Daleks: The Early Years, Cybermen: The Early Years) where they were showcasing surviving episodes of mostly missing stories from the 1960s (or 1970s for color versions of missing Pertwee episodes), or the Tom Baker Years set (where Tom just watches clips and talks about what he may remember, where sadly his memory was very lacking on recalling anything), Colin Baker remembers as much as he can, and brings lots of those memories to the viewer.

It is sad that during Colin's run on the show, that the series went went through turmoil (behind-the-scenes), ratings dropped/ loss of viewers, and was deemed more violent, to the point that Dr. Who's owners, the BBC (upper management to be precise), lost interest in the show by that time and eventually to the dropping of Colin from the lead part itself after only doing two seasons (with an 18 month hiatus between seasons 22 and 23 not helping, and reducing the series to just 14 episodes for its last 4 years, seasons 23-26). Colin's portrayal of the Sixth Doctor was not well liked back then, and remains something to debate about to this day, and even some of the stories that were produced back then. Colin can't be blamed for this, but he got the axe, and was treated badly by the BBC in a drastic mood for some changes. A dark period in Dr. Who's history from which the series never really recovered from 1984-1986, and even afterward into Sylvestor McCoy's run as the Seventh Doctor (1987-1989).

The Colin Baker Years was a short era indeed, but the look back on this period is a fun watch never the less. Add it to your Dr. Who video library.

A must-have for fans of Dr Who or sci-fi in general, this is a look back at the most unfairly under-rated era of the series. Various clips from the Colin Baker stories are here, together with some footage from Dr Who conventions.

The only downside is the lack of 'Revalation of the Daleks' clips. This was one of the strongest Dalek stories and so its writer refusing to let it be novelized or released on video remains a mystery.

That aside, this is a first-rate release.

If you're a Colin Baker fan, or Who fan in general, then you'll find some enjoyment from this tape. Colin Baker tells us some of more memorable feelings about his role, the show itself, and little of life after Who. He does make a valid point about the cancellation of the show and him getting the shaft. Even reading on events during this time, I just have to wonder what the hell is Eric Saward's problem(this is towards his attitude on no "Revelation of the Daleks" clips, or even an indication if he'll even "allow" the adventure to be released[good thing I have a tolerable copy from PBS airings!]). Very watchable and enjoyable. Colin, you got a big fan here in N'awlins!

I was born the year Colin Baker took the role of the Doctor. My brother was born the exact day the call came from Jonathan Nathan Turner that he would be regenerating. Strange, huh? Well, enough about me, on to the Doctor Who. I found this a most enjoyable programme, I had rented it from a small local store and I must have watched it 5 or 6 times in the three days I had it. It was fascinating. Simply fascinating. I know good ol' Colin isn't very well liked in Whovian circles, but he's one of my favorites.

In my humble opinion the BBC did an admirable job in sacking
Colin Baker as Doctor Who.His representation of the Doctor was
at best abysmal.He seemed totally disinterested in breathing new
life into a character that after Tom Baker had become mundane.
While Jon Pertwee,Tom Baker and Peter Davison contribute their
enrgies into making the Doctor brilliant,witty,thoughtful,comical
irriverent and human:Colin Baker contributed none of the
aforementioned.He portrayed the Doctor as petty,self-serving and
inconsiderate.I wish the BBC in its wisdom would consider some
of the previous actors and their contributions in choosing the
new Doctor for the upcoming 2005 season.Let us hope BBC can do
better than choosing a Colin Baker and his ilk for the Doctor
of the new millenium!!!Long live DOCTOR WHO!!!