Doctor Who - Series 4 Vol.3 [2008] - DVD (David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Alex Kingston, Tallulah Riley - Dir: Alice Troughton)

This third DVD release from Doctor Who's fourth series since its revival is an absolute cracker. For it just happens to bring together three of the very best episodes from the season, on a disc that's best not to miss.

Things kick off with the excellent Steven Moffat-penned two-parter, Silence In The Library and Forest Of The Dead. Moffat, who takes over the running of Doctor Who for its fifth series, has been widely regarded as writing some of the best episodes of the show since it came back (including the stunning Blink), and he doesn't disappoint here. His story sees the Doctor and Donna landing in the middle of the biggest library in the Universe, a superb special effects creation that covers an entire planet. Yet it also houses a sinister set of foes that quickly send shivers up the spine, and that prove it's wise to, as advised, "count the shadows". To tell too much more would be to spoil some of the surprises, yet with the mysterious character of River Song, the equally intriguing Dr Moon and a small girl's nightmares to consider, there's plenty to unravel.

That two-parter out of the way, the mantle then passes back to Russell T Davies, who pens one of his very best episodes of Doctor Who with the terrific Midnight. It's a deceptive episode, starting off with a low-budget, unimpressive feel, but soon developing into a tightly-constructed, unnerving story, without the comfort of a happily resolved ending.

The back half of Doctor Who's fourth season was, on the whole, of exceptionally high standard, and this trio of episodes is one of the main reasons why. A terrific DVD, that demonstrates a treasure of a TV show doing what it does best. --Simon Brew

Customer Reviews of Doctor Who - Series 4 Vol.3 [2008]

Ms. D. M. Sholl

9th October 2008

Stirring stuff
Silence in the Library and Forests of the Dead is an enthralling 2 parter concerned with the terrible vashda nerada. Shadows that have a life of their own and the mysterious River Song all work splendidly to make this a 'must not miss' volume. Midnight finishes it off very well, the Dr scared? Frightened by the potential violence humans are capable of in disturbing conditions, this gives a completely new angle to the Dr's personality. Ripping stuff.

classic 1965
New York, NY USA
19th August 2008

the best of series 4
These 3 episodes are far and away the best of series four. Great writing and terrific performances.

'Silence in the Library/ Forest of the Dead' is probably the best two-parter yet. It's a tense, chilling story with twists and turns that keeps delivering surprises all the way to the end.

And, for those of us who find Catherine Tate more irritating than a bag of Adipose, there's the pleasure of a virtually Donna-free episode in the form of the excellent 'Midnight'. After the Doctor leaves Donna stuffing her face with chocolates a couple of minutes into the show, she's not seen again until the very end. Bliss!

Mr. C. J. Deacon

6th August 2008

Three Super Episodes!
People who gave this a 1 star obviously don't know class even if it's thrown in their face! These episodes are very good, clever and scary at the same time!
Silence in the Library: The Doctor and Donna arrive in the biggest Library in the world (called 'The Library'!) and they are given one message 'run and count the shadows'. There are no human life-forms on a scanner but there are 100,000,000 life-forms. A group of Archaeologists turn up with a strange Proffesor River Song who seems to know alot about the doctor's future and later lfe. The Doctor explains that in any shadows are the deadly Vashta Nerada, pirahnas in the air which can eat through human flesh in a second! Two people fall victim to them and one of the Archaeologists (Proper Dave) can walk and draw near the group! This is a very mysterious, clever episode which causes great tension. It loses one mark just because I personally felt that it took a bit to long for the Vashta Nerada to make a move. so... 9/10!
Forest of the Dead: Donna who appeared to be dead turns up at a hospital/hotel with the mysterious Dr Moon. Here time skips in what Donna thinks which takes a while to understand. Back at the library the Doctor and the rest are in the mist of Vashta Nerada and are being chased Proper Dave still. Another falls victim to the Vashta Nerada. It turns out that the little girl is the heart of the library and saved all of the people in previous occasions. This is a great epiode, and perfect second part to the first. I loved this episode! 10/10!
Midnight: The Doctor and Donna go to an alien spar and the doctor (on his own) goes on a trip to the planet made out of diamonds called Midnight. Strange thumping occures during the ride and whatever it is, it attacks an innocent woman named Sky. She starts copying what everybody says, then starts saying everything in sync with what everybody says, and finnaly she speaks ahead of the doctor! This is a great phsycological episode which really touches on human behaviour when scared. A great episode, possibly the best. 10/10
A great three episodes so ignore what others say, i would strongly reccommend this! Overall: 10/10

bookwhizz
UK
6th August 2008

Rubbish! - Five stars - Are you MAD?!
These episodes were Rubbish!
They did not apply to me in the slightest!
The only thing good is the cover but other wise, don't bother!
A waste of money!
Avoid it!

tigerthedog2005
Rochdale, UK
27th July 2008

Take a tour across the Planet Midnight...
This is the third instalment of the fourth season of Doctor Who, featuring 3 episodes starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as his companion Donna Noble.

Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead combine to form an excellent two-parter by Steven Moffat, the much heralded writer behind the much-loved `Blink' in Series 3. Moffat gives us more of the same, delivering a typically dark, clever and intriguing plot that fits together like a jigsaw. What I like about these episodes are that they take the viewer on a completely different experience to what we're normally used to from Doctor Who - using the primal fear of shadows and the dark to create a fairly nightmarish and genuinely scary piece of drama. The majority of the tale takes place in the largest library in the Universe, except it is deserted. Along the way, the Doctor encounters the mysterious and enigmatic River Song (played by ER's Alex Kingston), who claims to have a mysterious connection to the Time Lord. The threat comes in the form of the Vashda Nerada - "Piranhas of the air!", who prove effective and original. The story moves along nicely, and although it sometimes tries to be a little bit too clever for it's own good, it's an impressive story. As ever, the performances are good, and it's very atmospheric. 9/10.

Next comes `Midnight', a self-contained little episode that takes place almost entirely on a bus. Yes, you heard me. A entire episode of Doctor Who... on a bus! And as it turns out, despite it's rather simple premise, `Midnight' is far and away the best episode of Series 4 and a contender for one of the greatest episodes ever. As ever, Russell T Davies delivers a superb script, one in which plays to two of his biggest strengths, character and dialogue. `Midnight' is a tightly-written, claustrophobic ensemble piece, featuring a brilliantly sinister performance from Lesley Sharp as the possessed Sky Silvestry. David Tennant is on top form, supported by possibly the best ensemble cast the show has ever had - featuring David Troughton, the son of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton. The threat feels real and genuinely creepy, due to the fact that it works on a psychological level. It's hard to describe the episode without giving too much detail away, but put simply, `Midnight' is a masterpiece of television. I think it's brilliant that an episode such as this went out at 7pm on a mainstream channel on a Saturday evening and was seen by 8 million people. Superb. 10/10

So, a terrifying, intriguing two-parter and one of the best, most experimental episodes of Doctor Who ever made. Highly recommended, especially if you can't hold out for the complete series boxset in November.