The Visitation

There's always been a good word to say about 'traditional' stories. Sure, everyone likes something different, a bold experiment and episodes set in strange white voids. But we're always more at home when Doctor Who does "typical", absurd and mysterious as that concept is. I suppose we can't possibly criticise the series when it's behaving as we expect it to behave, can we? But there are other words that lend themselves to 'traditional' - predictable is one. Dull is another.

Time, then, to dust off "The Visitation" on DVD and flick straight to the format's saving grace - the commentary track. I've never really "got" the story myself; it's SO traditional (and so purposefully unadventurous in the face of the exciting ventures around it, almost a Season 19 'safety net') that I just can't find anything in the tale itself to get worked up about. So it's on with Janet, Peter, Peter, Sarah and (choke!) Matthew, and pleased to see everyone's talking again on the offer of a few quid. You know, I've said it before but I really don't think we appreciate how bloody lucky we are that somebody invented DVD. Every time I hold one of the gorgeous, slim, extras-packed wonders in my hand I consider this. They are, to be honest, a dream come true. When once we could only gyrate in pleasure at the prospect of being able to own whole Doctor Who stories at home to watch again and again, it's somehow appropriate that once the video age had taken hold and was taken for granted, these beauties were the new unlikely dream. If I'd said to you ten years ago that you'd be able to own Doctor Who stories on shiny CD, a format that would never wear out, that's as crystal clear as when the story was transmitted, with all the trailers thrown in, you'd have told me there was more chance of "The Savages" being discovered in Katie Boyle's bottom.

And then there's the magical, unbelievable treasure that is commentary tracks. Let me put this in perspective by re-stating just what these mean. We get to force Doctor Who actors to sit down and watch Doctor Who, sometimes with other actors they don't like. And hear them talk all the way through it! Isn't it wonderful? Only if they were made to get drunk first could this possibly be bettered. "The Visitation" disappointingly has little jibing between the notoriously difficult relationships that were Matthew Waterhouse and everyone else, but there's still no greater treat than hearing what they all think of the programme we love. There's also a little game to be had here in guessing who secretly watches Doctor Who at home. Whilst it would be nice to believe the actors brushed up on the plot as a matter of professionalism, it's obvious that Sarah Sutton has seen this before at home with her kids. Nothing wrong with that, it's kind of nice, although it doesn't explain how Matthew Waterhouse knows all about Kamelion. Then again, he was once seen in HMV buying "The E-Space Boxed Set". Or so I've heard.

I'm certainly glad my association with Janet Fielding didn't last longer than the end of Episode 4. The woman never shuts up, and we got thoroughly fed up of her rattling on about how her hair looks like a dead animal. I'd expect to feel uncomfortable hearing the actors we admire rubbishing our favourite show, as many were during Peter Davison and Mark Strickson's unwisely tanked-up stroll through the locations of "Mawdryn Undead" a couple of years back, but here it somehow works. In fact I found certain moments in "The Visitation" funnier than I would have done (such as the bit where the man is knocked out by the cardboard boxes and the Doctor's grumpy turn in Part 4) purely because I knew the actors would burst out laughing. I suppose it's good to find a group of people getting such enjoyment from Doctor Who.

It all goes to prove that we do indeed live in an age of wonders. Life doesn't get much better than being able to sit down with the Season 19 TARDIS crew and laugh at Doctor Who, find out how much they actually know about the series, and shout at the TV when they get it wrong. And if that isn't enough for you, try the Peter Moffatt interview in which he remarks of "Mawdryn Undead": "Valentine Dyall was wonderful to work with because he was mostly blind."

It's more than enough to keep anyone entertained. And the story itself? "Traditional" and dull, but who cares about that? Stick the commentary on instead, it's much more entertaining...