Customer Reviews

Doctor Who - The Sontaran Experiment / The Genesis of the Daleks [VHS]

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These may be two of the best Dr. Who eps of all time. Baker really had begun hitting his stride, moving outside the script from time to time. Elisabeth Sladen was one of the few companions who could actually keep up with him in these deviations, although ultimately all companions are "screamers." If you're looking for their best work together, you might want to find a copy of Pyramid of Mars, but back to the topics at hand...

Genesis is classic BBC story telling at its best, written and performed at a time when many broadcast writers had done (and continued) to write for radio. However, 'Who' was benefitting from some excellent set work, with directors who understood that tight settings with the right props could create a huge image in the viewer's mind when budgets and technology did not allow for the kind of FX we now are used to.

Our heros are forced to challenge their views of right and wrong, and over how far one may have to go to deal with great evil. Secondary characters provide stories of craven collaboration and heroic challenges to authority.

This story also is a good example of why the Daleks became such a fascinating topic over and over again for Doctor Who. Ultimately, they (like evil) never are completely defeated. They have no mercy, only their goal of creating a perfect, Dalek society.

The Sontaran Experiment is a little more of a straight forward adventure yarn, again populated by interesting sub characters. The Sontarans, despite their technology and vast numbers, inevitably succumb to their own rigidity. A much better Sontaran episode emerges down the road, when the Doctor becomes president of Galifry, only to turn the whole plant over to the Sontarans!

These two tales should make almost anyone a fan of Doctor Who, and the whole Tom Baker era represents much of the best of what that show ever offered.

The first story here is The Sontaran Experiment. Sadly, it's rather pointless, and Kevin Lindsay - no matter what Sarah Jane says - looks decidedly different to Linx (his colour, for instance - and his extra finger!!!). The human cast are rathe weak, and Styre's robot looks silly and gets little to do. The fact that story was shot entirely on location is great after the studio-bound Ark In Space. Tom Baker manages well to hide his apparent neck brace (after braking his collar bone somehow, so I'm told) and his performance is brilliant. I suppose it's just an interlude between Ark In Space and the next story, better in every way... Genesis Of The Daleks was a good comeback for the Daleks, after the rather shaky Death To The Daleks. The first Tom Baker story which really caught my attention, it is well written, and Michael Wisher does an outstanding performance as the insane, yet evil Davros. Harry Sullivan is irritating as usual, and Sarah Jane just walks off and befriends the "Mutos" (a rather silly name, like "Norm." Well, I think so....). Tom Baker was really dramatic as the Doctor - a clear sign that he has long since settled into the role of the now superb Fourth Doctor. On the whole, superb.

Can this really be a Terry Nation script?!? Every so often, there is one Who story that has such impact on the series that one has to call it revisionist continuity. "Genesis" happens to be one those stories. A total rewriting of Dalek history is carried out with style. And one of the great things in this story is the Daleks' creator, Davros, who might equal his villiany and popularity with the Master. Michael Wisher's performance as Davros is asstounding and unforgettable. The Daleks themselves aren't involved in a whole lot, but remember, this really is a Davros story. A MUST for all Who fans.

A double-pack featuring two stories from the early Tom Baker years, one of the best eras of Dr Who. The Sontaran Experiment is only 2 episodes long but is well-written, well-made and very entertaining. Genesis of the Daleks is one of the high points of the entire Dr Who series, grittily reaistic drama set in a war-torn environment of mutants, xenophobic armies and twisted nazi experiments. The truth behind the creation of the Daleks is finally revealed and Davros (here played by Michael Wisher) is at his most sinister.

This two tape set is a great place to start into Doctor Who. First, you get the Sontaran experiment. The story is short, interesting, and good enough to "whet the appetite," so to speak. And the Harry/Sarah/Doctor combination is excellent.

Genesis of the Daleks is a fabulous story to be caught up in. An intricate tale that is both brutal and sophisticated. Michael Wisher as Davros and Peter Miles as Nyder play their parts to perfection, able to convey their manipulative characters with authenticity. This is also a great place to learn of the Daleks as this is perhaps, without a doubt, their best story. Buy this one with confidence!

I must admit - I never caught "The Sontaran Experiment". I never much appreciated the Sontarans - these guys have gone a long way towards conquering time itself, yet otherwise involve themselves in a meaningless war with the Rutans. Obvioulsy, the jewel of this collection is "Genesis of the Daleks". This story is part of an arc that began with "Ark in Space" and concluded with the next serial "Revenge of the Cybermen". Returning to the Doctor's TARDIS, the Doctor (Baker) and his companions Harry (Marter) and Sarah (Sladden) are intercepted by one of the Doctor's fellow timelords, and brought to the war torn planet of Skaro. Who fans know that Skaro was the home planet of the insidious Daleks - horribly mutated creatures that live inside machines. Though the Daleks would eventually extend their grip across the universe, they were for once bound to Skaro. Anticipating an era in which the Daleks would attain dominance over the universe, the timelords sent the Doctor on a desperate mission to an era on Skaro that saw their creation. Learn as much as possible about them, inhibit their evolution and, if possible, destroy them. Unfortunately (and as you'd expect for a Who story), are characters become embroiled with the politics of Skaro: between the two warring humanoid races of the planet - the Kaleds and the Thals, and between factions of the Kaleds, the apparent progenitors of the Daleks. We also meet Davros, a horribly mutated Kaled who actually engineers the Daleks. With their planet scarred by every known form of weaponry - including chemical, bacteriological and nuclear - there seems no hope in preventing the Kaleds from mutating into globby things that will need to travel inside the machines that will become the Daleks. However, Davros has a mind and soul to match his scarred body - he also engineers a new form of organic life devoid of conscience or any sense of compassion. Rather than mutant Kaleds, it is these twisted organisms that will become the dreaded Daleks. The Doctor struggles against both Thals and Kaleds, while occasionally making use of both.

This was a great episode that lives up to its hype. Though it loses steam in the latter half - in which the insidious Davros uses every form of trickery he knows to protect his project from doubting Kaleds - it's always riveting in true "Who" tradition. The planet Skaro - burned by centuries of futile war - is a compelling setting, while Davros makes an engaging new enemy - he's something of a Dalek himself. In a powerful exchange between Davros and the Doctor, the two debate the meaning of power over life and death and the morality that must come with it (somewhat prefiguring a similar conversation between Fiennes and Neeson in "Schindler"). Though a kid's story, the dilemma the Doctor faces is very mature - he finds himself empowered to destroy the Daleks before they can threaten the universe - but does he have the right to commit genocide against a then-innocent life-form?

FOR THOSE WHO KNOW NO "WHO" - this is one of the stand-out stories that makes a great entry for those knowing little about the show. "The Doctor" is apparently human, but is actually an alien timelord (over 700 years old, two hearts, and the ability to regenerate every time the role needs to be re-cast). Having a time-spaceship (not seen in this story) the Doctor can travel anywhere in time and space. Though originally a kid show, this era of "Who" coincided with the show's inroads to older American viewers. Though production values are low, they're more than adequate given the crisp writing which puts the shows light-years ahead of the sedate and sterile thrills of "Star Trek" of the late 1980's. Best of all, the story is a perfect highlight for Tom Baker's dramatic range - his ability to go from a child's whimsy to an adult fury. Baker was still new to the role (he held it for about 7 years) and the producers scheduled this and a Cybermen story ("Revenge") to get him up to speed. Toss in Sarah-Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan as prototypical modern-day British who can go anywhere (or time) the Doctor goes, but never seek to understand what they're doing there. This was strangely the last Dalek story for years, and probably the last really good one for even longer.

Contrary to popular belief, the sontaran experiment was always a two parter. Going directly on from Ark in Space, so by extension it became a six part adventure. These two would have been better combined as the Genesis of the Daleks would have been with Revenge of the Cybermen. I noticed this after someone mentioned it to me. Styres mission to Earth was a bit pointless, but then it wouldnt have been too dramatic, now would it?. Exactly why does he need to lure a Gal-Sec mission to an EMPTY planet? Since they are planning to go through Earths Solar system and not the colony worlds. It isnt a gripe at all. I have always liked the single-minded Sontarans.

As for Genesis, like others have said, wall yourselves in your city and ignore the other guys. But of course I loved seeing Davros for the second time, I had seen Destiny of the Daleks first. I thought a great design idea to get Davros and his daleks even closer subtley for the viewers would have been to make the Daleks black and silver like his chair. And yes it could have lost the Muto subplot and the rocket subplot could have been tightened up to make it a four parter. But over-all I was thoroughly creeped out by Davros's ability to turn life and death into a simple dinner time discussion. "Yes I would do it, that power would set me up amongst the Gods!"

Genesis of the Daleks was the episode that hooked me into DR Who twenty years ago when they used to regularly air the show on our local PBS Stations. When I found out they put the tapes on video, I had to go out and own it. This episode will not disappoint. The other story you get with the selection, Sontaran Experiment is strictly for DR Who fans and is a quick two episode story that admitedly drags a little in the middle. If you want to start your Dr Who Collection right, get this video. Enjoy the world of Dr Who!

"The Sontaran Experiment" may not be perfect, but for the first 2 parter since "The Rescue", it succeeds where some four parters fail. There are plot holes and flaws, but the obvious use of no padding really helps. Total location "video" footage helps as well. Kevin Lindsey's reprise of a Sontaran warrior is still unsurpassed. The regulars and the guests are in fine form. A nice follow-up to "The Ark in Space".

Genisis of the Daleks is the gem here, but Sontaran Experiment is very good too(especially Kevin Linsday) Genisis starts a chain of events that leads in to Destiny of the Daleks which is also interesting but only if you watched Genisis first. The delaupidated city in Destiny is in full form here in Genisis with shining black metal corridors, science labs, and the Dalek incubator and all the other stuff a Kaled city should have(mainly people). Davros is introduced as the Creator of the Daleks, though William Hartnel referred to them as "Dals" and "Kaled" is inconsistant with this. Dispite this minor annoyance(which until I watched Hartnel I didn't notice) Genisis is one of the Best Dr. Who stories ever told! On par with Pertwee's Inferno, Troughton's Tome of the Cybermen, and Hartnell's The Daleks. I strongly disagree with those that say that Destiny of the Daleks is not a good story too becasue it was! Destiny was post holicost, Genisis was durning the holicost. Resurrection was just plain bad(you can disagree if you want to, I don't mind!)If you want Tom Baker get this first!