This limited edition individually numbered Regeneration collector’s set to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary has brought together all these pivotal stories in which the change occurs into one six-disc collection, packaged in a stunning limited edition collectors’ album.
The most anticipated element of the package must be William Hartnell’s final tale ‘The Tenth Planet’. As well as boasting the introduction of the Cybermen, the story has been without a final episode since the BBC wiped it in the 1970s. The missing footage has been recreated with animation and while it will be available on its own later in the year, we suspect many fans will want to have it now.
Of the other eight stories, Troughton’s ‘The War Games’ is surprisingly good despite its lengthy ten episodes, whereas we find Pertwee’s six-part ‘Planet of the Spiders’ indulgent and overlong. Tom Baker exits in the sombre ‘Logopolis’ while Davison bids adieu in the action packed ‘The Caves of Androzani’. Both are highly entertaining, with the latter often polling high in fan lists of the best ever story.
1996’s TV Movie has a poor reputation with fans, and while there is nothing wrong with either Paul McGann’s performance or the high production values, it suffers from a weak script and an impenetrable resolution – although the visual contrast between the regeneration and Frankenstein is great fun. More recently, ‘Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways’ was a triumphant conclusion to the Eccleston era and Tennant’s fan-dividing ‘The End of Time’ has plenty to enjoy.
Sadly, ‘Time and the Rani’ is not much of a tale, and the regeneration itself is but a pre-credits tease. After his dismissal, Colin Baker chose not to return for a send off story so we are treated to Sylvester McCoy in a blond curly wig as a digital blur affects the change.
Although understandable, it is a shame that there is not a full Colin Baker adventure in the collection. While doubtless no-one’s favourite, his debut ‘The Twin Dilemma’ would seem to have been an obvious choice and with the story continuing straight on from ‘Androzani’, plus dealing with the Doctor’s post-regenerative instability, we feel it merited inclusion.
The accompanying book is beautiful, with stunning black and white stylised pictures that pick out a single element of colour. Author Justin Richards provides the background to each of the stories included, as well as a brief profile of each of the actors to play the Doctor.
Given its RRP of a cool £61.27 (although it is available online for about half that) we wonder if this collection is a little overpriced. Nevertheless, it will doubtless find its place as a must-buy for someone who does not already have these stories, and as an indulgent anniversary treat for those who do.
Released on Monday 24 June 2013 by BBC Worldwide.
> Buy the Regeneration boxset on Amazon.
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