Hello everyone! 🙂
This is one present I had for Christmas!
I enjoyed watching ‘Downtime’ on DVD. It’s an exciting drama starring Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith; Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier and Deborah Watling as Victoria Waterfield. I’m not sure I fully understand the plot, but it was exciting as I wanted to see this and I’m glad that this is on DVD.
‘Downtime’ is a sequel to the two Patrick Troughton stories ‘The Abominable Snowmen’ and ‘The Web of Fear’. It featured the return of the robot Yeti, monsters that appeared in those two stories. This is a 69-minute drama by Marc Platt and it was directed by the legendary Christopher Barry.
I heard about this drama before when it was released on VHS in 1995. This was made during a time when ‘Doctor Who’ was unloved by the BBC, as it wasn’t on TV. It was produced by Reeltime Pictures (who did the ‘Myth Makers’ interview series of ‘Doctor Who’ stars) and it doesn’t feature the Doctor.
I was thrilled to see Lis Sladen and Nick Courtney again as Sarah Jane and the Brigadier, who I love in ‘Doctor Who’. Deborah Watling was great playing an older Victoria alongside her father Jack Watling who reprises his role of Professor Travers from ‘The Abominable Snowmen’ and ‘The Web of Fear’.
This drama features the first appearance of Kate Stewart, the Brigadier’s daughter, played by Beverley Cressman before being taken over by Jemma Redgrave in ‘The Power of Three’ in 2012. It was nice to see Geoffrey Beevers and John Leeson appear in this, although not as the Master and K-9.
‘Downtime’ has been nice to have as a Christmas present on DVD. I’m hoping more ‘Doctor Who’-related dramas made in the 1990s by Reeltime Pictures and BBV Productions will get released on DVD soon. I’d like to see a DVD release of ‘Shakedown – The Return of the Sontarans’ someday.
I hope to write a complete DVD review of ‘Downtime’ soon.
Bye for now.
Tim. 🙂
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Thanks for your thoughts on this, Tim. I’ve been wondering whether to buy this DVD,I think I probably will, if only to see Lis Sladen and Nick Courtney again. I’ll look forward to your review.
M.
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Thanks M. Glad you enjoyed my review on ‘Downtime’. I’ll need to see it again in order to do a full DVD review of it, but it was good to see Lis Sladen, Nick Courtney and Debbie Watling in it and interesting to see Kate Stewart’s first appearance in a ‘Doctor Who’-related drama (played by Beverly Cressman). Thanks. Tim. 🙂
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As ever Tim, you review with great enthusiasm & give a excellent insightful review that especially helps newer fans who maybe are unfamiliar with these spin off series.
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Thanks Timelord Simon. Very pleased you enjoyed my review on ‘Downtime’. Glad you think my reviews help new fans unfamiliar to these dramas. Tim. 🙂
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Having re-watched Downtime recently, I must confess that I found the plot somewhat elusive too. But like Wartime, AUTON and Daemos Rising, it’s very enjoyable for giving more intriguing depth and dimensionality for the UNIT family. Beverly’s intro as Kate is nice and interesting for Jemma (certainly in Big Finish’s UNIT spinoffs) to build on. I’ll gladly recommend Downtime for the best from Nicholas as the Brigadier. R.I.P., Nicholas, Elisabeth and Deborah. Thank you, Tim, for your review.
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Hi scifimike,
Goodness this review takes me back. And I still haven’t done an in-depth review on ‘Downtime’. 😆 Glad you enjoyed my review and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the story. Like ‘Wartime’, I hope to update my thoughts on ‘Downtime’ for my blog’s 10th anniversary in 2025.
Many thanks,
Tim 🙂
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