Arc of Infinity
(DVD)

 

Starring Peter Davison
4 Episodes
1983
98 minutes (color)
Single Disc



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Peter Davison

Nyssa
Sarah Sutton

Tegan Jovanka
Janet Fielding

Written by
Johnny Byrne
Directed by
Ron Jones

Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Jan 3, 1983 - Jan 11, 1983

US DVD Release Date
November 2007

Warner Home Video
#E4190

U.K. Cover




 

 

 

Cover Blurb
 

 

Traveling with Nyssa in the TARDIS, the Doctor is attacked by a malign entity - a being of pure anti-matter seeking to cross the dimensions.  Although the invader is successfully repelled, the TARDIS is immediately recalled to Gallifrey, where the High Council of Time Lords sentence the Doctor to be executed to prevent any further attempts at bonding.

It seems there is a traitor on Gallifrey.  And what links the Renegade and the disappearance of Tegan's cousin in Amsterdam?  Two fates intertwined must battle for the future of the entire universe...

 

 

 

 

 


 

DVD Features

  • Antimatter from Amsterdam:

 A thirty five minute long documentary that delves into the making of this story.  Contributors include Peter Davison (5th Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Ian Collier (Omega), Paul Jerricho (Castellan), Colin Baker (Commander Maxil) and Alistair Cumming (Colin).  Additional insights are provided by script editor Eric Saward, and writer Johnny Byrne.
 

 

  • The Omega Factor:

 The character of Omega is the subject of this fifteen minute documentary.   Interviews include Bob Baker (co-creator), Johnny Byrne (writer), Stephen Thorne (first actor to play Omega) and Ian Collier (second actor to play Omega).  Additional comments from Big Finish writer Nev Fountain.
 

 
  • Under Arc Lights:
 Eleven minutes of behind the scenes studio footage.
 

 
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes:
 Nearly three minutes of brief snippets of both deleted as well as extended scenes that were part of the initial filming but were left unused in the transmitted version.
 

 
  • Outtakes:
 Thirteen minutes worth of flubbed lines.
 

 
  • Continuity:
 Original continuity announcements are included.
 

 
  • CGI Effects:
 This option allows you to view the story with 18 newly created special effects shots.  If this option is not enabled then the default version is the original.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 There are two options:

Option one is a commentary track provided by Peter Davison (Doctor #5), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), and Colin Baker (Commander Maxil/6th Doctor).  This commentary should prove to be highly entertaining.

The second audio option is the isolated soundtrack.  With this feature you will hear Roger Limb's musical score sequentially as it appears in the episode (rather than edited together as in the case of "The Five Doctors Special Edition" DVD).  This does mean that there are long gaps of silence in between music cues.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Lots of rare and never before seen photos taken during the production of this story.  Very nice.
 

 
  • 1983 Doctor Who Annual:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of  the 1983 Doctor Who Annual (a mixture of Doctor Who fiction as well as science based reading for young Doctor Who fans).
 

 
  • Radio Times Listings:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of some of the original Radio Times press clippings.
 

 
  • Coming Soon:
 A new feature for the DVD range.  A specially made trailer for the upcoming release of the Jon Pertwee classic "The Time Warrior."
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There are no easter eggs for this release.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
   

 

 

 



Additional Notes

  • "Arc of Infinity" begins the 20th anniversary of Doctor Who.  Each story within this season features the return of one of the Doctor's former adversaries.
     
  • This adventure marks the return of Omega, last seen in the 10th anniversary story "The Three Doctors."
     
  • Michael Gough guest stars as the Time Lord Hedin.  Fans may remember him as the Celestial Toymaker in the Hartnell classic "The Celestial Toymaker." 
     
  • Tegan, written out of the final story of the previous season, is returned back to the TARDIS crew by the end of this adventure.
     
  • The character of the Castellan would return at the end of the season in "The Five Doctors." 
     
  • While the character of President Borusa would also return for the 20th anniversary show, the actor playing him would not.  The explanation given during "The Five Doctors" was that the president had regenerated since last seeing him.
     
  • Watch closely for Commander Maxil.  He is played by none other than Colin Baker (who would later go on and take the role of the Doctor the following year).
     
  • This story (along with the next story "Time-Flight") was sold as part of a box set in the U.K.  However, it was sold separately for the Region 1 release.
     
  • As with all of the U.K. DVD releases to date, the Doctor Who Restoration Team did extensive work on this story to create the best possible transfer.  More information on the restoration of this story can be read at their website HERE.