"Terminus"

Terminus
Disc 2 of the "Black Guardian Trilogy" Box Set
(DVD)

 

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


"Black Guardian Trilogy" Box Set



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Peter Davison

Nyssa
Sarah Sutton

Tegan Jovanka
Janet Fielding

Turlough
Mark Strickson

Written by
Steve Gallagher
Directed by
Mary Ridge

Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Feb 15, 1983 - Feb 23, 1983

R1 DVD Release Date
November 2009

Warner Home Video
#3000024263

U.K Boxset Cover


U.K. Cover


 



Cover Blurb
Still under the malign influence of the Black Guardian, Turlough sabotages the TARDIS, placing the Doctor and his companions in grave danger.  Nyssa disappears through an unstable interface with a nearby space liner, and the Doctor begins a desperate search for her aboard the ship. 

When the liner docks at Terminus, a space station at the exact center of the universe,  the horrific truth starts to emerge.  It may already be too late to save Nyssa's life, and the existence of the entire cosmos is now in peril.

 



 

 

 

DVD Features

  • Breaking Point:

 The making of "Terminus" is the subject of this featurette.  Includes interviews with Peter Davison (5th Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Mark Strickson (Turlough), and Martin Potter (Eirak).  Also included are Stephen Gallagher (writer), Fionna Cumming (director), Alec Wheal (camera), Scott Talbott (sound), and designer Dick Coles.
 

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

 
  • Unused Model Shots:
 Over three minutes of unused takes of model shots.
 

 
  • Origins of the Universe:
 More science than science fiction, this featurette explores the scientific theory known as The Big Bang.
 

 
  • Original Storyboards:
 Actual storyboards used to develop effects shots back in 1983.
 

 
  • Continuity Announcements:
 Continuity announcements from the original broadcast in 1983.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Once again we are treated to many rare production stills and quite a few behind the scenes ones as well.
 

 
  • 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.
 

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

 
  • Audio Options:
 The first option is to listen to an audio commentary.  The participants on this commentary are Peter Davison (5th Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Mark Strickson (Turlough), and Stephen Gallagher (writer).

The second audio option is the isolated soundtrack.  With this feature you will hear the score composed by Roger Limb presented sequentially as it appears in the episode.  This does mean that there are long gaps of silence in between music cues.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There are two.  Scroll down further for more details.  For a full list of ALL known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 
     



 

 

 

 

Easter Eggs

#1. COUNTDOWN CLOCK
 

 

Go to the first page of the 'Special Features' menu.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of 'Audio Options'.

 

 

 

#2. TARDIS INFORMATION SYSTEM

 

Go to the second page of the 'Special Features' menu.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of 'Menu'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • "Terminus" is the fourth story of the 20th anniversary season of Doctor Who.   Each story within this season features the return of one of the Doctor's former adversaries.
     
  • This adventure is the second in a trilogy of stories centering around the Black Guardian's attempts to destroy the Doctor as revenge for thwarting his plans to control the Key to Time.  The first story in this trilogy is "Mawdryn Undead" while the final one is "Enlightenment."
     
  • This story also sees the departure of the Doctor's companion, Nyssa. 
     
  • For some strange reason (I can't imagine what) Nyssa's clothing in her final story continues to fall off of her throughout the story.  She is left with nothing but her slip by episode 3.  I wonder why Adric or Turlough never had that same problem?
     
  • Terminus suffered greatly from behind the scenes difficulties with costumes, sets, and props. 
     
  • This is the second and final story written by Stephen Gallagher.  His first was "Warriors' Gate" two seasons previous. 
  • As with all of the DVD releases to date, the Doctor Who Restoration Team did extensive work on this story.  More information on the restoration of this story can be read at their website HERE.