Yes, it’s another of those crazy Season 17 adventures out on DVD! Nightmare of Eden has a fantastic title, a fascinating concept but is in the eyes of some let down by some poor SFX and bad acting.
Nevertheless, it’s out on DVD this week (from Monday, April 2nd) and is bags of fun (partly due to the Douglas Adams influence), with Tom Baker at his most bonkers, Lalla Ward curious and inquisitive as Romana and K-9 not quite feeling himself (thanks to being voiced by David Brierley rather than John Leeson).
Originally broadcast 24 November to 15 December 1979, Nightmare of Eden begins with the TARDIS crew helping out with the consequences of a hyperspace collision that results in two spacecraft becoming fused.
However a murder soon occurs, traces of the drug Vraxoin are found and all paths lead to Professor Tryst’s CET projection machine…
As well as being the first Doctor Who script by Bob Baker after he split with writing partner Dave Martin, Nightmare of Eden features some interesting casting, such as David Daker (previously Irongron in The Time Warrior) and Lewis Fiander who delivers one of the series’ most idiosyncratic performances as Professor Tryst.
Special Features
• Commentary with actors Lalla Ward (Romana) and Peter Craze (Costa), writer Bob Baker, effects designer Colin Mapson and make-up designer Joan Stribling. Moderated by Toby Hadoke (again?! -Ed).
• The Nightmare of Television Centre – A look back at a somewhat troubled production with three of the behind-the-scenes crew who worked on it.
• Going Solo – Writer Bob Baker talks about The Nightmare of Eden.
• The Doctor’s Strange Love with comedian Josie Long and writers Joe Lidster and Simon Guerrier.
• Ask Aspel - LallaWard’s appearance on the popular BBC children’s show.
• Radio Times Listings (DVD-ROM)
• Programme Subtitles
• Production Information Subtitles
• Photo Gallery
• Coming Soon Trailer
• Digitally Remastered Picture And Sound Quality
It might not be to everybody’s tastes but Nightmare of Eden is lots of fun and is out now, available from Amazon for a rather trippy £12.97!
This is a total laugh, I’m a big fan of the ‘silly season’ as I call it…
This has always been one of my favourite stories just because it is fun to watch for lots of reasons. The script deals with quite a strong topic for Who i.e. drug trafficking and addiction yet there are enough light and silly moments so that it doesn’t become depressing. It’s the second best story of Season 17 in my eyes (only City of Death tops it) and the last moment with Tom Baker dismissing Trist coldly is wonderful.
Then of course there are the Mandrels! Long regarded as a second cousin to the muppets I think they actually look quite good, but like a lot of monsters the design doesn’t help the actors ability to walk properly. And what is there not to love about Lewis Fiander’s outrageous performance? There’s a lot of to love about Della as well – but for different reasons!
As per usual the Restoration Team have done a wonderful job in sprucing up the picture quality when compared to the VHS release. I would say the extra feature The Doctor’s Strange Love is not much cop but the rest of the bonus material more than makes up for it, especially the commentary where Lalla Ward is for once very complimentary about Tom Baker.
I can’t remember the line exactly but a priceless moment in this is where the Captain of the ship is high on Vraxoin and the passengers are being killed by the Mandrels, to which the policeman (Costa?) says something like “The passengers are being killed!” and the Captain just says while laughing: “Who cares its only economy class!”
Brilliant Story