Doctor Who - The Complete Specials DVD Review

We've not seen the final episodes of Doctor Who with David Tennant.  In stores today, February 2, 2010, is Doctor Who - The Complete Specials.  I have to admit that I hadn't watched a couple of these even though I did watch The End Of Time, parts 1 and 2.  My reasoning was I didn't want to be done with all the Tennant episodes.   
 
This is a really nice set.  Not only do we get the remaining episodes of David Tennant but there is literally over seven hours of special features.  These episodes also feature quite a few guest stats including Michelle Ryan (The Bionic Woman), David Morrissey (State Of Play, Sense and Sensibility), Lindsay Duncan (Alice In Wonderland, Rome, Under The Tuscan Sun), John Simm (Life On Mars), Timothy Dalton (James Bond), Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show) and Bernard Cribbins (Frenzy). 
 

The DVD set includes five discs, one for each episode. 
 
Disc 1 contains The Next Doctor.  (I gave that episode a review HERE).  It was a surprisingly fun episode with a nice twist.  Besides the episode there is also an episode of Doctor Who Confidential.  IT has a running time of 55:31!  It's an extensive 'making of' feature with the actors, director, write, etc.  We get a brief bio on the Cybermen from Russell T. Davies as well.  There is also Doctor Who At The Proms presented by Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) which runs 59:07.  All the Doctor Who music you could want to listen to.  Good stuff. 
 

Disc 2 has Planet of the Dead.  This is the episode with Michelle Ryan.  It has some moments of suspense and I like the change in local for the episode.  In the special features we get another Confidential episode running at 56:58. 
 

Disc 3 is The Waters Of Mars.  Spooky stuff here.  It didn't quite feel like your typical Doctor Who episode which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  The Confidential episode here runs 58:00. 
 
Disc 4 is The End Of Time, Part 1.  Yes there were some crazy things going on but like the title says, it was the end...for David Tennant.  At least the beginning of the end.  The Confidential episode here (57:05) gives a nice look into the past incarnations of the Doctor.  We see when he was put on trial a few times and the signs of the corruption of Galifrey.  Another feature on this disc is the David Tennant Video Diary - The Final Days (40:37).  You get to see how hard it was on Tennant as he gave a final speech to the crew.  There's also the Doctor Who BBC Christmas Idents.  (One of them seen HERE). 
 

Disc 5 is the last one.  The End Of Time, Part 2.  The Confidential episode here runs 56:56.  It's weird seeing Matt Smith on set in David Tennant's suit.  We also see David leaving the set as the crew continues filming without him.  It just seems so wrong.  Matt Smith seems very confident in taking over the role.  Maybe that's a good thing.  Doctor Who At Comic-Con is also included (21:05) which includes that kiss between David Tennant and John Barrowman.  There are also deleted scenes to all these episodes with an introduction by Russell T. Davies explaining why they were cut. 
 
If you're a Doctor Who fan, there's no question if you should get this.  Besides the final Tennant episodes, there's just so much extra stuff to watch.  We're all hoping that Matt Smith will continue to do the character justice.  I'd give this set a 4.5 out of 5 only because a couple of the episodes let me down a tiny bit.  I would definitely recommend buying this from Warner Video or at your local store right away.