Doctor Who: The Complete
David Tennant Years
(2005 – 2010/BBC DVD Box Set)
Picture: B
Sound: B Extras: A Episodes: A
This massive twenty-six disc DVD boxed set collects every
David Tennant Doctor Who episode and special in one amazing package. While the BBC authored a strong revival of
the Doctor Who franchise in 2005 with Christopher
Eccleston as the 9th incarnation of the Doctor, it was David Tennant’s 10th
Doctor who made the show a sensation.
The unique mix of joy and sadness Tennant infused into his portrayal of
the character, and his tender and sometimes romantic relationships with his
companions gave the character a pathos he never really possessed before. Doctor
Who: The Complete David Tennant Years is the largest and most complete BBC
home video release of literally hundreds on both sides of the Atlantic they
have issued to date on their most successful fictional franchise.
The Tennant years cover the 2005 Christmas Special, and
also include three seasons covering 2006 - 2008, and a series of specials that
spanned 2009 and ushered in Matt Smith as Tennant’s replacement for 2010 and
moving forward. Tennant fans will likely
consider watching any of these episodes like visiting an old friend, and it’s
quite easy to just pop a disc in and watch a random favorite episode (as I did
with “Girl in the Fireplace” before
settling down and hosting a good old-fashioned marathon, watching the episodes
straight through in chronological order.
Wrapped in a lovely container shaped like a book, and protected by a
semi-clear plastic sleeve (adorned with images of the various companions), this
set will make a worthy addition to any collector’s Who shelf, and the
quality digital transfers will allow fans to part with their older boxed sets
to make room for this one!
Although I find myself more than pleased with Mr. Smith’s
work on the new episodes, after watching Mr. Tennant again in episodes like “Human Nature” and “Doomsday” I can’t help but feel pangs of regret that he is
gone. That wonderful mix of madcap and
maudlin allows Mr. Tennant to play the funny moments for all they’re worth, and
really twist the emotional screws when the story inevitably turns sad and
goodbyes must be said. The parting of
Rose (Billie Piper) and the Doctor at the end of “Doomsday” provided a romantically gut-wrenching scene of loss and
loneliness--a seemingly perfect picture of love unrealized that only worked so
well because Mr. Tennant and Ms. Piper possessed such perfect chemistry.
Loaded with all of the extras from the “Doctor Who
Confidential” series of featurettes, this set will also provide plenty of
production background for new and old fans alike. With the holidays coming, this boxed set
would make an ideal gift for a Doctor Who completest, or
a fan who never got around to collecting the previous boxed sets. This boxed set collects the Who
career the Doctor who stayed on just long enough, and who knew just when to
make his exit. In spite of this
knowledge, fans of Mr. Tennant’s work on this most storied of television shows
will always be left wanting more, much like his fictional companions!
- Scott Pyle
