Doctor Who: Earthshock (1982)

The four-part Earthshock originally aired in March 1982 near the end of Doctor Who's nineteenth season. This story was, for me, the high point of Peter Davison's first season as the Fifth Doctor. Earthshock ranks behind only The Caves of Androzani among Davison's greatest DW outings.

Set in the 26th century and opening on Earth, Earthshock marks the return of the Cybermen to Doctor Who after an 8-year absence from the show.

Producer John Nathan-Turner had the return of the Cybermen kept secret until the program aired. The Doctor, joined by companions Adric (Matthew Waterhouse). Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) and Tegan (Janet Fielding), arrives in a cave system where the time travelers examine some dinosaur fossils. Meanwhile, a military force led by Lieutenant Scott (James Warwick) is investigating the disappearance of a team of paleontologists and geologists.

The public remained unaware of the Cybermen's involvement until the end of Episode One, when the CyberLeader (David Banks) commands the sentinel androids on Earth to take out the Doctor, his companions and the soldiers who are attempting to open the steel hatch which conceals a bomb. This bomb could, as the Doctor points out, "make life intolerable" for those who survive the explosion.

The script is well written by Eric Saward, who took the reins as DW's script editor following this story. And director Peter Grimwade manages to get some great performances from his cast. In addition to the principal cast, several supporting actors also contribute some outstanding performances including James Warwick as Scott, Clare Clifford as Kyle, Beryl Reid as Captain Briggs and Alec Sabin as the traitor Ringway.

The bonus features include a making of featurette ("Putting the 'Shock' into Earthshock"), a 1982 BBC review program looking at some of DW's most memorable monsters ("Did You See?") and a CGI effects option. Peter Davison is joined by Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse on the commentary track. The ever-popular pop-up production notes option is also present, as well as a photo gallery and a music-only option.

In addition to being one of Peter Davison's best stories as the Doctor, Earthshock is possibly the best Cyber-story, and it is definitely of my all-time favorite Doctor Who stories. I recommend this DVD for fans of the Classic Series as well as New Series fans who have only seen the Cybermen in Season Two with David Tennant as the Doctor.

Other Doctor Who DVD releases you might enjoy:

The Tomb of the Cybermen(Early Cyber-story starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor)

The Five Doctors (Twentieth anniversary story from 1983)

Doctor Who: The Beginning Collection (First three adventures from the Classic Series

Doctor Who: The Complete Series One(Season One of the New Series)