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The Fifth Doctor is holidaying on The Eye of Orion
when he starts to experience ‘cosmic angst’. His previous
lives are being taken out of time. The First Doctor and his granddaughter,
Susan, are scooped out of time and have to run from Daleks. The Second
Doctor and The Brigadier wind up in the wilderness. The Third Doctor
and Sarah Jane are reunited on the edge of a quarry. The Five Doctors 25th Anniversary edition comes in two versions, the original TV broadcast version from 1983, with special effects that were as good as you can expect from 1983, and the special edition that came out for the 20th anniversary of the 20th anniversary edition with new CGI effects – most noticeable in the black triangles of the time scoop that were now a sort of 3D vortex funnel. 10/10
Disc One Commentaries
10/10 If you then hit the audio button on your DVD player again and you get a very tasty Easte Egg – A commentary by Phil Collinson, David Tennant and Helen Raynor, producer, actor and writer from the current series doing their own commentary. Don’t look for technical information. These three were twelve when the episode was broadcast. Do look for three Doctor Who fans enjoying the whole thing immensely. 10/10
Extras Celebrations is a well made documentary about the run up to the anniversary, the making of the episode, as well as the amazing phenomena that was the Longleat Doctor Who weekend through the memories of those who took part. The only fly in the ointment is Ian Levine, again pretending to be somebody important in Doctor Who history. 10/10 Trailers – interesting in one respect only. They show where
the cliffhanger breaks came when the episode was turned into a four
parter the next year. 1/10 Isolated music score. Yes, if you really have nothing else to listen to for 90 minutes it isn’t too bad. But some kind of digest of the music like the Murray Gold CDs would be better. 7/10 Radio Times Billings – WHY? 0/10 Production Subtitles – an interesting diversion when you’ve explored everything else on the disc. 7/10 Photo Gallery – Almost a still journey through the episode. Plus those awful publicity pics with waxwork Tom Baker. 8/10
Disc Two Commentary Commentary by Peter Davison and Terrance Dicks. This was recorded in 2001 for the 20th anniversary edition, before there was any mention of a revival of Doctor Who. From that point of view it is an historical document now. Peter is far more entertaining that Terrence. He is enthusiastic about Doctor Who as always. 9/10
Extras The Ties That Bind Us is narrated by Paul McGann and explores the continuity of Doctor Who history in the Five Doctors episode. A nice mini-history of the series. 10/10 Five Doctors, one studio – a sequence with The Doctors, assistants, a floor manager in a fetching blue jumper and a whole series of retakes because of missed cues, booms in shot and other perils of making a TV programme that make me glad to be a writer not an actor. 10/10 OutTakes – including the infamous ‘bugger, lost ‘em’ remark from one of the Daleks. 10/10 (not so) Special Effects is a look at how some of the action sequences like blowing up the Dalek were done. The Dalek looks very cheap and ropey in these non-enhanced behind the scenes shots, a reminder of the ‘magic’ of TV. 10/10
8/10 Isolated Music – See Above 7/10 Production Subtitles – Again, you really need to have done everything else before you put this one. 7/10 Coming Soon – Previewing Invasion of Time - It looks pretty good. 6/10 Overall, a good package. The Easter Egg with the modern crowd commentating is an exciting little bonus to an enjoyable DVD. 10 out of 10
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The
Fourth Doctor and Romana are stuck in a time warp and don’t
arrive at all. Throw in Cybermen, The Master and a Raston Robot and
stir the mix. Susan is true to character and sprains her ankle. The
Master shows his true colours and tries to double cross everyone.
The Lord High President himself turns out to be a traitor and comes
to a sticky end and everyone gets sent home by time scoop.
Susan,
the Brigadier, Sarah Jane and Turlough to most of us. An actors commentary
from a group who represented the beginning middle and the then present
day of the series. It is a mixture of anecdotes, embarrassing moments
with their worst scenes and some technical comments about how the
scenes went together. 
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