Doctor Who The Complete History was a series of hardback volumes which came out every two weeks and covered 3-4 stories each. These were in-depth volumes covering the production of each episode from the first in 1963 to the end of the Peter Capaldi era of the show. In addition to the extensive production notes there were also merchandise and publicity updates and actor profiles. The quality of each volume was exceptional overseen by several different editors. The volumes were only available in the UK and Ireland so were difficult to obtain in other locations. I am more of a Watsonian fan but if you are a Doyalist you will greatly appreciate these books. Even so I give the entire series a solid 8 out of 10. I will rate each episode covered below.
The Voyage of the Damned was the highest rated NuWho episode up to that point, the presence of Pop superstar Kylie Minogue I am sure contributed to this. Kylie turned out to be a good actress and was a very likable and attractive pseudo-companion. The episode was a wonderful romp through the damaged ship much like the Poseidon Adventure. The mix of different characters and personalities was quite enjoyable. This was the a continuation of the Doctor’s age controversy where he states his age as 903 when in fact he was much older according to the lore. 8 out of 10.
Partners in Crime sees the return of Donna Noble after her turn in the Christmas special The Runaway Bride a year earlier. The duo proved so popular that they were to return in a series of audio adventures and the 60th anniversary specials. The story was another light hearted fun romp with the uber cute Adipose introduced. 8 out of 10.
The Fires of Pompeii sees early appearances of future Doctor Who luminaries Peter Capaldi and Karen Gillan. The episode showcases Catherine Tate‘s acting chops and has a riveting performance by Phil Davis as the soothsayer Lucius. The Pyrovile monster was not well realized but the dynamic towards the end of the story between The Doctor and Donna was exceptional. Luckily The Doctor did not run into his Seventh persona who was there during the audio adventure The Fires of Vulcan. 8 out of 10.
