"Arc of Infinity" commentary rec

[dbskyler]

I recently rented "Arc of Infinity" because I was in the mood for some Fifth Doctor, and because I hadn't seen it in a very long time. The episode was on the mediocre side, as I remembered, but the commentary was one of the best I have ever heard.

In point of fact, Peter Davison, Colin Baker*, Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding were hysterical. I highly recommend that everyone go listen to this commentary, even if you didn't like the episode that much. Yes, it's that good.

I think there's definitely something to be said for having actors do a commentary 20 years after they've been employed by the show. You get to hear what they really think! And by the way, do not dare Colin Baker to cluck like a chicken every time a certain feathered hat appears on-screen, because he will. : )

*If you're confused about why Colin Baker did the commentary for a Peter Davison story, it's because this is the story where he plays Maxil, a Time Lord guard. On the other hand, Collin and Peter played off each other so well, I now hope that Peter gets invited to do a commentary on one of Colin's stories just for the hell of it.

Comments

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I so wish I had the dvds just so I could hear the commentaries, they sound like such a hoot - alas, my collection is all Old School in more than one way being vhs...and my libraries are lame. I wonder if they're available any other way?

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I have an account with Netflix, myself -- I think their plans are very reasonable for what you get (e.g., $8.99 / month for unlimited DVDs, one out at a time, and unlimited "watch instantly" on the computer). Of course, free DVDs through the library would be even better, but like you, I can't count on my local library having what I want, and Netflix has a fantastic selection of "Doctor Who."

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I've not watched Arc although I've had the VHS for yonks, I've just never put it in the player...

But now I want to listen to the DVD commentary!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh, you definitely should! In fact, a lot of the Classic Who DVDs have great extras and interesting commentaries, so if you've been sticking to VHS then you've been missing out. This one really was outstanding, though, partly I think because we get both Peter and Colin. For example, there's a moment where either Janet or Sarah (I forget who) mentions how aliens all speak English, and Peter talks about how it's explained in the new series and briefly describes the moment in "Christmas Invasion" where they know the Doctor's awake because the translation starts working. Then Peter says ". . . although I don't know why I'm talking about David Tennant on my show." To which Colin archly replies, "Your show? I didn't realize this was your show." It was very LOL, especially since Peter gets in several digs of his own about Colin being after his job (Colin's character even shoots the Doctor at one point).

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

LOL Priceless!

Actually I've got nearly all DVDs of DW - just a couple of vids that I was given and haven't yet replaced with DVDs. BUT I confess I've not watched/listened to any commentaries on Classic Who. I STILL haven't listened to the commentaries on S3 of New Who! Which is pretty ironic, given it's Martha's season!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Sometimes when you own it, you just don't get around to all the commentaries and extras. I do try to check them out, though. Do you have "Pyramids of Mars" on DVD, and if you do, have you seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1xnU2BNryo

It's one of my favorite extras. They even got Gabriel Woolf to do the voice again!

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

OMG!

"Can someone get Sutekh a straw?" and "Neil" the rabbit were especially priceless... I was nearly crying with laughter watching that...

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Neil is the best part, in my opinion. The whole thing is hilarious, though. : )

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Neil was hilarious!!

I loved him turning out the light - and then the crash! :D :D :D

[velvetfascism.livejournal.com]

I agree, it's an amazing commentary! One of the best. Colin on the hat had me hysterics!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Colin on the hat had me hysterics!

Me too! And then I started watching the way he kept carrying it around, which I hadn't really noticed before, and it was even funnier! Especially with the chicken noises. : )

I swear, I'm now considering buying this DVD just so I can own the commentary.

[thisbluespirit]

Yay! That is my favourite commentary, closely followed by Time-Flight which they clearly recorded at the same time (Peter's "I think I was just hysterical by this point..." :lol:)

But Arc - and I love the bits where Colin & Peter realise that they share Doctorish tricks, too. And Peter's voice-over for the Tegan-returns scene.

I am the lucky one, then - I DO own this DVD set box. (I quite like Arc, too. Tacky 80's Gallifrey, Nyssa shooting people and Davison's very good at being Omega. But then, it takes quite a bit to make me not like DW!)

I have to say the Peter Davison commentaries are just the most entertaining - especially the ones that also include Janet. The only commentary that might beat this is the relentlessly critical one of poor little Black Orchid. :lol: (Peter: "Well, at least we enjoyed making it!"/ JanetL "What do you mean - we were freezing!" / Peter: No, we didn't even enjoy making it..."

Heh, I might have to go rewatch all my Davison commentaries again. :-D

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I haven't heard the commentary for either "Time Flight" or "Black Orchid" yet -- I'll put them next on the list!

But Arc - and I love the bits where Colin & Peter realise that they share Doctorish tricks, too. And Peter's voice-over for the Tegan-returns scene.

Yes! And Peter's comments on "corridor acting" and the wobbly-in-the-Matrix scenes!

I quite like Arc, too. Tacky 80's Gallifrey, Nyssa shooting people and Davison's very good at being Omega.

I too liked tacky 80's Gallifrey (although Peter's comments in the "making of" extra about all the couches were hysterical -- just why were there all those couches scattered around Gallifrey's corridors?) and I agree there were some other good things, including Nyssa and Peter as Omega. I also got quite squeeful when I saw the "Bob's Youth Hostel" sign (where Tegan's cousin's friend stayed) because I've stayed there too! But I had the same problems with the episode that Peter et al. talk about in the commentary -- the randomness of Amsterdam, the coincidence with Tegan, the Ergon (oh dear, the Ergon) . . . and overall I just don't think it "jelled," which is why I consider it one of the more mediocre episodes. It definitely does have good bits, though.

[thisbluespirit]

I'd forgotten the bit in the Matrix "You wait till you turn up, Janet!") I don't know how it works elsewhere, but they released Arc and Time-Flight as a box set of Tegan Tales. (Erm. Yes. I know. Poor Tegan). And it's clear that they recorded the commentaries back to back, with Arc done first with Colin.

I have to say, all the Davison commentaries are entertaining - I suppose it's his tendency not to take it too seriously, nor to be smug about the episodes. And poor, poor Black Orchid. (And Sarah trying to protest that she quite liked it...)

I first watched Arc on a video borrowered from the library, watching in the utility room on a Saturday morning when I was at uni. I have an enduring love for all the episodes I got to see that way - it was such a thrill, after reading the books so many times, being able to see the actual stories. It is flawed, I know, but I can't help enjoying it. (Why Amsterdam? Oh, who cares?) :lol:

[curuchamion.livejournal.com]

Colin Baker sounds a rather fantastic person.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh, he is! I got to see him at a convention once, and he was incredibly nice.

And damn, re-visiting this entry has got me wanting to hear that commentary again.