Vengeance on Varos
(DVD)

 

Starring Colin Baker
2 Episodes (45 minutes each)
1985
89 minutes (color)
Single Disc




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Colin Baker

Peri Brown
Nicola Bryant

Written by
Philip Martin

Directed by
Ron Jones
Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Jan 19, 1985 - Jan 26, 1985

US DVD Release Date
March 2003

Warner Home Video
#E1718

U.K. Cover




 

 
Cover Blurb

On the planet of Varos, prisoners and guards alike are subject to the severest forms of punishment, which are then broadcast to the masses as entertainment.

For the Doctor, Varos is the only hope for him to locate the rare mineral Zeiton-7, which powers his ailing TARDIS. But when he and Peri arrive, they are caught up in events beyond their control...

Freeing the rebel leader Jondar and incurring the wrath of the sinister alien Sil are just the beginnings of their ordeal. Hunted through the concealed terrors of the Punishment Dome, The Doctor becomes the subject of Varos's latest TV entertainment. But this is one show where he is not expected to survive beyond the cliffhanger...


 

 


DVD Features
  • BBC1 Trailers:
 Two trailers from 1985, one from episode 1 and the other from episode 2.
 

 
  • Extended & Deleted Scenes:
 10 extended or deleted scenes totaling a little more than 10 minutes.  All 10 scenes play as one long continuous clip.  There are some really neat scenes that didn't make it into the final version.  Neat feature.

1. More banter between Etta and Arak before Arak tries to lie down.
2. The Doctor and Peri argue about the Doctor's chameleon circuit fix.
3. The Governor and Chief discuss voting and dying.
4. Another Governor and Chief discussion about bending the truth.
5. Quillum and the Chief discuss Areta's fate.
6. Back story about Varos while the Doctor and Jondar are in prison.
7. Short clip of Quillam checking the transmogrifier.
8. Another short bit of Etta and Arak complaining.
9. The Chief and Quillam discuss the chaos in the Dome.
10. Final scene with the Doctor and Peri back in the TARDIS.
 

 
  • Behind the Scenes:
 Several takes of the same scene early on in episode 2 showing the process of recording for television.  It can be a bit dry at times (especially for the more casual viewer), but for many longtime fans of the show it is very informative.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Under this feature you have two choices.

The first choice is a fantastic commentary provided by Colin Baker ("Doctor #6"), Nicola Bryant ("Peri") and Nabil Shaban ("Sil").

The second audio option allows you to watch the story without special effects or music (only dialogue).
 

 
  • 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 Richard Molesworth of the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
 

 
  • Continuity Announcements:
 A BBC1 announcer giving a short intro before each episode begins.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Color stills showing many publicity stills from the production of this story.  Many of the pictures are rare or even never before seen.
 

 
  • Who's Who:
 A feature unique to the North American DVD releases.  It lists short biographical information on many of the actors involved in the story.
 

 
  • Outtakes:
 A small, 3 minute collection of bloopers and outtakes are provided here.  Mildly interesting.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 None.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • "Vengeance on Varos" was the second story in Colin Baker's first season.
  • Season 22 had a slightly different episodic format than the rest of the series.   Episodes were 45 minutes long (effectively making two shorter episodes into one longer episode).  It was felt that longer episodes could foster better story writing.   However, the format was abandoned after this season and the series went back to the traditional 23 minutes/episode format.
  • "Vengeance on Varos" introduces the popular villain Sil who would later return again in the season long story "The Trial of a Time Lord."
  • "Vengeance on Varos" was criticized at the time of  its original transmission for the very thing that the story was criticizing itself, mindless violence on television.
  • Watch for the humorous subplot involving the characters of Etta and Erak (played by Shelia Reed and Stephen Yardley).
  • This is the first DVD release featuring Colin Baker as Doctor Who.
  • The U.K. release of this title has an error with the technical notes.  They stop working part way through episode 2.  This glitch has been corrected for the North American release.
  • The commentary is provided by Colin Baker (6th Dr.), Nicola Bryant (Peri) and Nabil Shaban (Sil).  It is regarded as one of the more entertaining commentaries recorded to date.