I bought this BluRay box set principally because I want to build a collection of all the classic series and didn't already have DVDs of any of the stories within. I remember this season from when it was originally aired and as a lifelong Doctor Who fan I desperately wanted to like it, but went away (secretly) thinking to myself that it was all a bit rubbish. Which meant, all these years later, that I wasn't particularly looking forward to this box set but having said that I was determined to get stuck in and revisit Season 24 and hopefully find some merit in it. Unfortunately "Time and the Rani" seemed to confirm my initial suspicions that this era of Doctor Who was indeed "a bit rubbish". It is absolutely dreadful. Sorry there is no escaping that, and honestly it is only worth watching for Kate O'Mara's impersonation of Bonnie Langford, plus some quite nice cutting edge (at the time) special effects. For me, personally, the main point of interest in the story is that Richard Gauntlet, who plays Urak the chief Tetrap, was a schoolmate of mine, but of course we don't get to see his face under all that latex and fur and whatever. Onto "Paradise Towers" then and... Hang on a min, this is actually quite GOOD. I really enjoyed it. I mean, yes it could have done with not being so brightly lit and those cleaner robots weren't the best design ever, BUT this story has gone up a LOT in my estimation. I even enjoyed Richard Briers' over-the-top performance as the Chief Caretaker. The incidental music by Keff McCulloch is rather bombastic in typically tasteless 1980s fashion, but there's even an option here to view the story with an alternative music score by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop's David Snell so I think I'll give that a whirl soon and see if I prefer it. It's nice to have the option. Onto "Delta and the Bannermen" and again, yes, it's not so bad after all. I definitely enjoyed this story so much more than when it was originally broadcast. And a great cast too including Ken Dodd, Hugh Lloyd and Stubby Kaye, not to mention Don Henderson who appears effortlessly menacing as leader of the eponymous Bannermen. Poor Bonnie doesn't get a whole load to do in this episode as they were trying out a potential new companion in the shape of Sara Lloyd as Ray. Personally I think I'd rather she'd gotten the job rather than Sophie Aldred; that might not be a popular comment, but it's my opinion and I'm entitled to it. Speaking of Sophie Aldred, she of course is introduced in the final story of the season, "Dragonfire". Which means of course that it is exit time for poor old Mel as played by Bonnie Langford. Nice also to see Tony Selby back as Glitz; I wish they'd been able to do more with his character in later stories but of course Doctor Who was only a couple of seasons away from a rather lengthy hiatus. Edward Peel (who I always remembered as the one with the dodgy moustache in Juliet Bravo) gives an understated performance as ice cold villain of the piece, Kane, and we get to see his face melting at the story's conclusion which - at the time - was one of the goriest effects ever seen in Doctor Who. And there's so much more. Optional extended versions of all four stories (some would argue that an abbreviated "Time and the Rani" may have been preferable), and quite literally hours and hours of other bonus material from the obligatory Making Of documentaries to relevant clips from other contemporary TV shows and cast and crew interviews. Patricia Quinn's interview on the "Dragonfire" discs is an absolute delight; what a wonderfully larger than life and completely bonkers character she is! My favourite part of these Blu Ray Collection sets are the "Behind The Sofa" featurettes, there being one for each story. This is essentially "Doctor Who Gogglebox" with a bunch of Doctor Who alumni watching and commenting. These are very entertaining, even if for example like me you thought "Time and the Rani" was dreadful, its "Behind The Sofa" installment more than makes up for it. Watching throughout we have three groups of Doctor Who actors including not one, not two, but THREE Doctors! Sylvester McCoy is paired together with his companions Bonnie Langford and Sophie Aldred; Colin Baker shares a viewing with his one-time screen nemesis Michael (the Valeyard) Jayston; Peter Davison appears alongside his co-stars Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding. Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding have done "Behind The Sofa" many times on these box set collections so they must either really enjoy doing them or else are gluttons for punishment. Peter Davison starts off being a grumpy old so and so but soon mellows. Colin Baker and Michael Jayston get on like a house on fire, and Baker - who had been unceremoniously sacked from the role of the Doctor before Season 24 - could well have been snotty about the whole thing, but he takes everything in good humour and at one point when watching "Paradise Towers" exclaims, "I wish I was in this story!" HOW MANY hours of uncut location and studio footage? Wow! I mean, there's no way I'm going to sit through all THAT lot, but it's nice to know that it IS included for the completists. All in all, this was a very worthy purchase, an excellent box set with more Season 24 related content than anyone could possibly need. I really like Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor once he gets past the initial buffoonery of "Time and the Rani". Bonnie Langford may not have been a popular casting decision amongst fandom back in the day, but I find myself really liking her and wishing they'd given her character a lot more to do. During this season she only really comes into her own during "Paradise Towers". Four stars rather then five, I'm afraid, because "Time and the Rani" IS a bit rubbish.
