Circuit Breaker - The Black Archive Files: What's the deal?

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I often talk about how much care and attention to detail goes into the Classic Series releases to convince us fans to shell out on something a lot of us have already bought at least two or three times. Then comes along a random release out of the blue that makes you ask who does this appeal to? But some unexpected new bonus material alongside some unusual and rare episode variants perhaps gives enough value to justify buying.    Circuit Breaker is the latest multi-platform event from BBC Studios, following on from Time Lord Victorious (2020) and Doom’s Day (2023). This time focusing on the mysterious Fugitive Doctor as played by Jo Martin, who has refreshingly been heavily involved with the entire range. I’ve personally not been following the story that closely, but the premise involves the Doctor teaming up with Osgood who is now working in the Black Archive as objects from the Doctor’s personal timeline have gone missing. This new Blu-ray release features 10 Doctor Who stori...
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Season 2 - Intital Thoughts

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Hurrah! Finally a 60’s set.  It’s about time the black and white era got some of the love. Lee Binding has worked his magic once again, it looks incredible. 9 discs makes it the biggest set yet and a season in desperate need of some new restoration.

Firstly, I’m going to address the elephant in the room, the reconstruction for The Crusade. It’s fine. Of course I would prefer it animated. But even if the animations continue, for me it’s bottom of the to do list. For such a resource heavy story that’s 50% existing, I think there are more effective uses for a budget to tell us a story that has less exposure.

What a trailer though. Probably my favourite yet. Magical to see Maureen O’Brien back as Vicki. Something I’d never thought I’d see. Beautifully written and Directed as usual. Worth the price of the box set alone!

I had strong doubts that William Russell would be well enough to participate in an In Conversation, so I’m glad to be proven wrong.

The Flight Through Eternity documentary (not the first documentary to have that name) is a clever way of filling in all those making-of documentary gaps in one easy production. I hope there are a lot of interviewees.

I’m glad David Whitaker is getting a documentary.  Such an important figure who isn’t talked about enough.  And lovely to see Emily Cook present a documentary about merchandise in the 60’s.  Good stuff.

Behind the Sofa looks a hoot with some of my favourite contributors so far on this one.

There’s lots of other exciting content to look forward to, particularly the convention panel with Jaqueline Hill, Carole Ann Ford, Adrienne Hill and Michael Craze.

There is a little piece of me that’s disappointed there’s not a new cast commentary for The Crusade, or that it has it’s own making-of (something that I thought would be a shoe-in considering the number of people still with us).  But at least there’s something on The Lion recovery.

I for one was perhaps hoping some more gaps in the 60’s set would be filled in by The Collection, but I am still very happy with what there. Roll on DWM with the full breakdown.

Only one Doctor left without a set now…

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