The venerable science fiction program Doctor Who returned to British televisions in 2005 after a 15-year absence and delighted the majority of fans and critics with its adherence to the adventure and charm of the original series while making admissions for a new generation of viewers (hipper editing and score, CGI effects). Thirteen episodes were generated, all starring Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor and pop-singer-turned-actress Billie Piper as his companion Rose; acclaimed writer/producer Russell T. Davies (Touching Evil, Queer as Folk) oversaw the show as chief writer and executive producer. The new series proved so popular that the BBC agreed to revive the program for second and third seasons--though without Eccleston, who has since been replaced by David Tennant. This six-disc set comes with all 13 episodes plus the battery of supplemental features now customary to all Doctor Who DVD releases.

Eccleston is very engaging in the title role, bringing a manic curiosity tempered by occasional bouts of gravity (which befit a personality with a long and dramatic a lifespan as the Doctor's) that hew closely to the (arguably) most popular Doctor, Tom Baker. Piper is equally adept as department store clerk Rose--she's afforded more of a back story than most of the Doctor's sidekicks have received in the past, and she more than handles her own alongside Eccleston. Highlights among the 13 episodes include the season opener, "Rose" (which sees the return of an old foe, the Autons, and their controlling force, the Nestene Consciousness); the revamped Daleks in "Dalek" and the two-parter "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways"; a trip to Victorian England to aid Charles Dickens in "The Unquiet Dead," and of course, the arrival of the tenth Doctor at the conclusion of the action-packed "Parting of the Ways." The episodes strike the right blend of quirk, excitement, and imagination, thanks largely to the engaging performances and the guidance of Davies, whose admiration for the show and its history is evident throughout.

The Best Who Ever Made

I ordered these DVDs from the UK last year and have watched the entire season (13 episodes) straight through 15+ times. The writing, the acting, and the special effects are all top notch - equal to anything we're seeing here on SciFi (Batllestar Galactica, Stargate SG-1, etc).

If you ever watched the old series - even if you didn't like it - this show is worth it. It picks up where the original series and TV movie left off. Christopher Eccleston (28 Days Later) plays the ninth Doctor and if anyone can be said to "chew up the scenery" it is him. He has boundless energy and an infectious, if somewhat mischievous, smile.

The new companion is Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) and she is not like any companion from the old series. The closest comparison you could make would be to Sarah Jane Smith from the late seventies. However, Rose has more depth and a more participatory role in the series. No longer do the Doctor's companions simply stand there and scream.

Later stories introduce other, equally compelling, companions like Captain Jack Harkness. With a few exceptions all of the characters in the series are fleshed out and have solid motivations.

The stories are clever and some are downright gripping. All of the old series mythos are there (Time Lords, Daleks, the TARDIS, the sonic screwdriver, etc). There are also quite a few new twists and there are a couple of moments in the 13 epsiodes where long-time fans will feel their jaws drop. I smiled uncontrollably through all of them the first time I saw them.

At the price Amazon is asking this is a steal (I paid twice as much to get them from the UK). Highly recommended.

great series a but pricy

I loved watch this series last year and it finaly come to the US on sci fi (but better late then never) I love to get the offical DVD I already got all of season one recorded on DVD from the TV so I can not justify the price(the only reason I did give it 5 stars
one note season 2 started a bit slow but girl in the fireplace comfermed the seson season a true hit

Falls a long way short of Classic Who

I grew up watching Doctor Who and was quite looking forward to Chris Eccleston's interpretation. I wasn't prepared for such poor quality writing, and it became quite obvious that Chris Eccleston didn't really relate to the character. Billie Piper has two facial expressions and is by far the worst companion the Doctor has ever had. The stories are mostly borrowed from such things as Pigs In Space and The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe. There is very little originality, imagination, or respect for the original Who concept. Plus, the monsters are extremely un-scary. Overall, this is possibly the worst season of Doctor Who and is best ignored.