In a recent poll in the fantastic official Doctor Who magazine, fans of the show both new and old were asked to vote for their favourite stories right from the birth of the programme in 1963 through to the modern day of David Tennant.
This particular story found itself languishing in the bottom ten tales. However "Time-Flight" is used to criticism from fans ever since it was aired in 1982 but does the DVD release show that sci fi fans have been a little harsh on this particular tale? Well yes and no.
Time-Flight Doctor Who DVD- The Story
The story itself, written by Peter Grimwade, is ambitious to say the least. Concordes are going missing once they take off from Heathrow, being transported through time to prehistoric Earth. The reason....well that is a bit harder to fathom but the Master is behind it (shouldn't be a spoiler for any worthy Who fan!).
The Master is also trying to harness the power of an ancient gestalt race called the Xeraphin as his TARDIS is damaged after escaping from a previous encounter with the good Doctor ("Castrovalva").
Time-Flight Not So Special Effects
Unfortunately Grimwade's plot has far too many grand ideas for a normal Doctor Who budget, never mind the story that finishes off a season when the allotted purse is nearly empty. As a result the production sees some of the worst special effects ever seen in the series long history. Stock footage of Concorde is used but once it lands it is represented by a poor model shot form a distance and a large prop of one of the wheels for close ups! Prehistoric Earth is a few polystyrene boulders and an unconvincing back drop. And the creatures the Master controls, the Plasmatons, to put it crudely look like turds.
However I am one of those loyal Doctor Who fans who will always argue till the end of time that this added to the classic series charm and I truly believe that. Where the story falls down somewhat is its incomprehensible plotting. The Master is disguised as an oriental sorcerer, a reason for which is never given. A character called Professor Hayter is killed and then re-appears later in the story without warning with only a very fleeting explanation crowbarred into the narrative. More worryingly The Doctor seems all too ready to give up the fight with the classic cheesy cliff hanger line "It appears the Master has finally defeated me", only to shrug off this defeatism pretty quickly in the next episode. We also have the ever rubbish Adric making a re-appearance as a ghostly apparition when it was thought he had finally been disposed of for good in the last story ("Earthshock").
Having said all this there are still plenty of things to enjoy. Peter Davison is excellent as always in the lead role, giving it everything. Anthony Ainley's portrayal of the mystical Kaled is certainly amusing in its eccentricity and the surprise leaving behind of Tegan at Heathrow gives the end of the tale an unexpected twist.
Time- Flight Doctor Who DVD Special Features
Peter Davison is one of my favourite Doctor Who associates to have on a DVD commentary. He always conveys a sense of fun and never takes himself or the work too seriously if the particular story does not warrant it. Therefore his jolly japes with Janet Fielding (Tegan), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) and Eric Saward (Series Script Editor at the time) are a joy to be hold. The cast clearly had a riotous time when they filmed this story and although they cringe at some of the things they see on screen they are never too ruthless. There is however a sense of what might have been from the team had the budget been available.
There is a short featurette on Janet Fielding’s feisty Australian Air Hostess Tegan Jovanka who accompanied Peter Davison' Doctor for nearly his entire era. This documentary is appropriately called Mouth on Legs and is an enjoyable, albeit brief, look at this oppinionated travelling companion.
The Deleted Scenes, out takes- and Jurassic Larks featurette give a good sense of the fun that was being had behind the scenes and should be treasured as genuine Doctor Who bloopers are rarely available.
There is also an interview with this stories writer Peter Grimwade, whose real legacy with the programme lies in the stories he directed. Often regarded as a director who was very focussed and assertive, that intensity is seen in flashes in this sit down interview. An interesting man to say the least.
As Peter Davison himself says stories of this nature should be viewed as of their time. Meaning it is well established the special effects were not great. However where "Time-Flight" really falls down is that the story telling is a little two convoluted with elements that find themselves in a narrative cul-de-sc. The story is also dated greatly by the inclusion of now defunct Concorde travel.
"Time-Flight" - conclusions
However in my opinion the adventure still has real charm and the DVD has some great additions, particular the rare outtakes. The Davison era is one I hold in very high regard from the Eighties and all stories have value so one should not hesitate to add this release to their collection.
Currently this story is not sold separately and is part of the "Tegan Tales" box set along with "Arc of Infinity".
