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.
Shada was the story that was halted mid production because of a strike at the BBC. It was remade in several variations on audio and DVD with animation. The story itself was a solid but not spectacular episode that was a bit long at six parts but interesting with the Gallifrey lore. 7 out of 10.
Dimensions in Time was a two part Children in Need skit during the show’s fortieth anniversary. They were able to gather together all the surviving Doctors as well as numerous companions for skit. The plot was inconsequential but was enough to provide an excuse to gather all the diverse characters. Fine for what it was 7 out of 10.
The Curse of Fatal Death was a skit on the Comic Relief charity telethon. Unlike the other skits in this volume this was a pastiche and not part of continuity for the show. The skit was written by future show runner Stephen Moffat and did have several elements that would be revisited in the actual program. It was nice seeing Hugh Grant as the Doctor and wondering what it would have been like to see him as The Doctor in the show. Richard E. Grant reprises? predicts? his version of The Ninth Doctor. We also see the first women Doctor with Joanna Lumley. Parody is not my favorite thing when concerning my favorite show so my rating despite the elements cited above is 6 out of 10.
Time Crash was another skit written by Stephen Moffat but this time it was embedded within continuity of the show. This was a nice mashup of the two Doctors with nice interplay between the two. I wish we had more of these short scenes and hope we get them during the RTD2 era. 8 out of 10.
It is a shame the series did not continue into the Jodie Whittaker era of the show
