8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
The adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS. Along with a series of companions, the Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help people and right wrongs.
Starring: David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, Christopher EcclestonAdventure | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 88% |
Fantasy | 82% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD HR 5.1
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Question of the hour: is the second half of Doctor Who's sixth series as captivating, thrilling and game-changing as its first seven episodes? Not quite. It's driven by the same madcap energy, backed by the same neuron-firing scripts and sharp sci-fi standouts, and packed with the same impervious performances and brain-tickling dialogue. But it's more episodic in nature, and its climactic finale -- the culmination of two series worth of intrigue surrounding the Doctor's predetermined demise and, really, a question lifelong Whovians have been unconsciously asking themselves for the better part of fifty years -- has to pick up the pace and deliver a story ripe for a two-part mythos-shakeup in just one episode. Even so, I'm finding the worst of the new Doctor Who is often better than the best of other sci-fi series. (Not that Series Six, Part Two has much of anything I'd remotely consider the worst of Doctor Who.) Under the watchful eye of head writer and recently annointed showrunner Steven Moffat, Who has become a must-see series in my inner circle and brilliant business as usual for those who became the titular Time Lord's companions through time, space and public broadcasting long before I did.
Berlin, 1938. Cue paradoxical conundrum.
If you already own Doctor Who: Series Six, Part One, you know exactly what to expect from Part Two's excellent 1080i/AVC-encoded video presentation. As seems to be the case with every Doctor Who release, some viewers will be distracted by the source itself. Noise spikes on occasion, clarity isn't always sonic-screwdriver-sharp, and a few other anomalies may give videophiles pause. However, Part Two simply couldn't look any better than it does here, and fans of the show will be most pleased with the results. Colors are bright and blazing, skintones are precisely saturated, contrast is nice and consistent, and black levels, though not entirely perfect, are quite satisfying. But detail is where Series Six really excels. Closeups offer an array of fine textures and neatly resolved nuances, edges are crisp and refined on the whole, and delineation falls in line (unless Moffat says otherwise). It only helps that substantial artifacting, banding, aliasing and other issues are, for the most part, put to death long before the Doctor arrives at Lake Silencio. Some may dare, but I couldn't ask for much more.
The same applies to Series Six, Part Two's wily DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround track (at 2.0Mbps), as it sounds just as good as its Part One predecessor. Humming power cells make as much sonic splash as lumbering beasties, clunking Cybermen, surging energy blasters, and a crashing TARDIS. The LFE channel pulses with power, injecting welcome low-end oomph when called upon. The rear speakers make the most of the Doctor's latest adventures in time and space as well, especially in "Night Terrors" (with its haunted wardrobes), "The Girl Who Waited" (with its vast inescapable expanses), "The God Complex" (with its cramped and creepy hotel corridors) and "Closing Time" (with its lunging Cybermats and eerie underground lairs). Directional effects are solid throughout, the series' soundfield is fairly immersive, pans are smooth, and dynamics are quite good. Dialogue doesn't waver either. Voices are clean and clear, and lines are rarely lost, even when Nimons attack, giant killer dolls press in, the Doctor invades Nazi Germany, the Silence mount an assault, or when dear River Song finally approaches the Doctor on the shores of Lake Silencio.
The only extras included on the 2-disc Blu-ray release of Doctor Who: Series Six, Part Two are a pair of "Monster Files" (HD, 19 minutes) detailing the Anti-Bodies and the Cybermats. The upcoming release of Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series is set to have a bounty of special features, though, meaning Part Two is best reserved for those who already own Part One or would rather save a few bucks than indulge in a variety of Series Six extras.
Doctor Who is the hardest sell on television. If you thought getting people to watch Firefly or Battlestar Galactica was difficult, just try to get someone to give the good Doctor a chance. Ah well. Doctor Who continually delivers some of the best sci-fi available on any screen, big or small, and Moffat continues to deliver more and more with each passing series (or season, if you prefer). Series Six, Part Two isn't as strong as Part One, but it isn't far off either. Fortunately, the same can be said of BBC's Blu-ray release thanks to a fantastic video presentation and an excellent DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround track. Just a word of warning: if you have any love of special features, you should wait a few more weeks and pick up the 6-disc Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series box set, as it comes loaded with extras that aren't included on the Part One and Part Two standalone releases.
w/ Sonic Screwdriver
2005-2014
w/ Tardis Speaker
2005-2014
2005-2014
2005
2005-2006
The Complete First Series Remastered
2005
Remastered
2005-2006
Remastered
2006-2007
2007
Remastered
2007-2008
2008
Remastered | The Next Doctor / Planet of the Dead / The Waters of Mars / The End of Time
2008-2010
Remastered | The Next Doctor / Planet of the Dead / The Waters of Mars / The End of Time
2008-2010
2009-2010
2009
2009
2010
2010
Remastered
2010-2011
Remastered
2010
2011
2011 Christmas Special
2011
2011-2013
2012
2012 Christmas Special
2012
2013
2013
2014
2014
Keepcase
2014
2014
2014
2015
2015
2015
2016
2017
2017
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2020
2021
2021
2022
2022
The Star Beast / Wild Blue Yonder / The Giggle
2023
1977-1978
50th Anniversary Special
2013
2009
10th Anniversary Collector's Edition | Limited
2014
2018
Collector's Edition
2020
2020-2023
1966-1969
2018
40th Anniversary Edition
1982
1977
1999
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
2015
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2009
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2017
2005
1983
2002
2016