Doctor Who: The Leisure Hive (1980)

Originally broadcast in 1980, the four-part story The Leisure Hive opened Doctor Who's eighteenth season, Tom Baker's seventh and final season as the Doctor. It also marked the beginning of the late John Nathan-Turner's run as the program's producer which lasted nine seasons through three more Doctors until the end of the original series in 1989. Scripted by David Fisher, The Leisure Hive shows influences ranging from Greek mythology to mafia films such as The Godfather.

The Doctor and Romana (Lalla Ward) travel to Argolis, a planet scarred by a nuclear war which has left the planet's atmosphere poisonous and rendered the survivors sterile. Unable to reproduce, the Argolin have experimented with tachyonics in an attempt to prolong the existence of their race. David Haig is a superb villain as Pangol, and Adrienne Corri (A Clockwork Orange) is also great as Argolin chairwoman Mena.

John Collin plays Brock, a human finaicier who wants Mena to sell the the generator to the Foamasi, the reptilian race with whom the Argolin once fought so bitterly. Pangol has his own plans for the generator, seeking to destroy the Foamasi and reclaim Argolis' past glory.

Lalla Ward joins script editor Christopher H. Bidmead and director Lovett Bickford on the commentary track. Other features include the featurette "A New Beginning," documenting the beginning of John Nathan-Turner's run as DW producer and "Synthesizing Starfields," a music documentary as well as a music-only track and some of the usual features found on a Doctor Who release including a photo gallery and the information text (formerly known as "Pop-Up Production Notes")

The Leisure Hive was a strong opener for Season 18, beginning Tom Baker's last season as well a controversial era for Doctor Who as the start of the John Nathan-Turner era. This adventure was a great start to a very memorable season.

Other Doctor Who releases on DVD:

Pyramids of Mars

New Beginnings (3-DVD set)

City of Death

Genesis of the Daleks