Doctor Who - The Ark In Space (1974)

12 out of 12 people found the following review helpful:

The Ark in Space

Ryan Crawford from London., 6th August, 2004

Getting away from the largely Earthbound stories of Jon Pertwee's Doctor, new Who star Tom Baker's characterisation seemed to demand more otherworldly SF adventures. This second four-part story for Baker's scarf-wearing and, curiously, bohemian Time Lord followed Robot, which saw the Doctor recovering from his latest regeneration, and introduced new companion character, Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter), a Royal Navy surgeon.

The Tardis appears on a space station in the distant future by accident, when the Doctor tests its repairs after long disuse. The orbital base turns out to be an ark for humans in suspended animation, but finding this out nearly gets inquisitive Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) asphyxiated in an airless processing lab, while a security machine attacks the Doctor and Harry.

When the first batch of the Ark's frozen remnants of humanity wakeup, they seem none too pleased at having slept in the same futuristic white pyjamas for 10,000 years. There's a giant larger-than-life-insect-thingemy bob carcass hidden in the airing cupboard, and a big green blob lurking in the solar power stacks (great use of bubble wrap, BBC!).

So, what should the aptly named commander Noah (Kenton Moore) do now?

Perhaps the best moments of The Ark In Space are its knowing references to Nigel Kneale's The Quatermass Experiment (aka: The Creeping Unknown, 1956), as infected 'astronaut' Noah struggles heroically to control the violent impulses of his lumpy 'diseased' hand. Also, of course, Quatermass And The Pit (aka: Five Million Years To Earth, 1967), from which comes the visual ideas for the Wirrn's race memory flashback sequence as the Doctor wires his head up to study the alien hive mind.

For once, Doctor Who succeeds as genre TV entertainment simply by limiting its narrative ambitions. Merely saving the future for mankind by ensuring a post-cryogenic humanity's resettlement of Earth is enough. It makes a change to have a space story in which neither the physical universe nor all time is at stake. This is vintage Who, that's well worth seeing again.

The DVD has a commendable bunch of extras: interviews with star Baker, and a new exclusive interview with designer Murray-Leach. An entertaining commentary by stars Baker, Sladen, and producer Philip Hinchcliffe, informative subtitles about the production, photo gallery, new CGI effects to replace original 16mm filmed model sequences, and a clever option to play the programme with either. There's also an unused title sequence, 3D space ark schematics, Tardis-cam feature, a trailer and news report, scenes access offers six chapters per episode.

Trivia: Peter Tuddenham, who later did the computer voices for Zen and Slave on Blake's 7, does some of the voiceovers here.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

DVD Classic - you won't be disappointed

Macca1 from Tyne & Wear, 10th January, 2004

'Ark In Space' is well known as one of the seminal Dr Who adventures, and this DVD does full justice to it's status.

The adventure aside, which is as superb a piece of 70's sci-fi as you could hope to find, the additions available on the disc enhance the viewing experience. Modern special effects help to eliminate one of the bug-bears of early TV sci-fi, while the revealing commentaries and extra features provide a fascinating context. A delight for any fan.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Classic Who

Andy Miles from Leicester, England, 8th November, 2006

The Tom Baker version of Who is one of the richer renderings, and is certainly enjoyable. I see what some other reviewers mean about 'bubble rap' now, as some of the 'Blue-Peter' style 'monsters', and green painted bubble rap deformations are fairly laughable, compared with modern CGI special affects, robotic creatures, and the transformation of human actors with prosthetics etc.. It's also interesting to see the set and costume designs with that sort of 60s idea of futuristic, with their clean simple lines combined with outmoded technology like small CRT display screens clunky key boards, and data tape drives. However, as with any other theatrical production, the acting, and the story line allow you to accept it as a reality despite its' not being realistic. It's like looking at a painting, where you can be conscious of the paint, and the image at the same time. It was a thoroughly enjoyable Doctor Who adventure, a must for any Who fan.

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Not bad

screen77 from , 30th August, 2010

I saw the first two episodes of this on television a while ago then missed the rest.One of the better Tom Baker adventures as it does go a little more on the horror side,horror as in Saturday afternoon 5:30ish kids show 1970 something.As the Dr,Harry & Sarah land on what seems to be an abandoned ship,they soon discover that it actually contains the remaining survivors of the human race,all cryogenically frozen.As they start to come out of thier chilly kip it seems they've had an alien intruder aboard.The intruder is also intent on survival as the crew & the Dr find out.The usual crass special effects & look out for the green bubble wrap infection & monster.Considering it was made on an absolute shoestring it's quite good & even better to get away from those earthbound stories which we have far too many in todays Dr Who.

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Not A Good One.

A Customer from Cardiff, 27th July, 2010

This example of early Tom Baker stories does nothing for me at all. Lis Sladen over acts, Ian Marter is simply miscast and brings nothing to the proceedings. Rent only for the extras.

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One of the best

AlecSigil from , 30th April, 2010

Manages to be as frightening as Alien and the Thing with none of the gore or, for the most part, hiding in the shadows. It also highlights the winning formular of The 4th doctor, sarah and Harry, the chemistry between all of them being top drawer througout. The script is by far the most qoutable (and probably qouted within the series) with Tom Baker establishing himself as the best Doctor of all time in only his 2nd episode. The 1st season of Tom Baker is easily the best of the shows history, which makes this episode a close runner for the best of all time. I know Genesis of the Daleks is probably better this doesn't drag in the middle and doesn't really have any cringeworthy bits.

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Classic Dr Who...

A Customer from winchester, 22nd May, 2009

I love Tom Baker as Dr Who!.. Simply some mind blowing acting in this adventure, his monologue walking around cryostasis chamber is simply unmissable! The rubber aliens are just superb and the plot pans out nicely. Its a shame however the ending could leave you thinking 'eh? how could those super intelligent weivels be so gullable?!?!' Definatley one of the better ones however, thoroughly enjoyable!..

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