Rating: 
Summary: Cheeky mock-historical swashbuckling fun
Review: "Next time, I shall not be so lenient!"One of the most enjoyable Doctor Who stories, with no pretensions to be anything other than good clean fun. Several times 'Avengers' villain Peter Jeffrey guest-stars (and steals every scene) as the wicked Count Grendel of Gracht, plotting to usurp the throne of Tara in the series' cheeky re-make of 'The Prisoner of Zenda'. Tom Baker is good value as the Doctor, Mary Tamm's beautifully outfitted Romana is one of the great companions, and the story rattles along at a splendid pace, with some great swordplay with electronic swords and android doubles. One to simply sit back and enjoy - it also inspired the best Doctor Who spin-off from Vigin Books, the 'Decalog 2' short story 'The Trials of Tara', which manages to be even camper than this video version. END
Rating:
Summary: Cheeky mock-historical swashbuckling fun
Review: "Next time, I shall not be so lenient!" One of the most enjoyable Doctor Who stories, with no pretensions to be anything other than good clean fun. Several times 'Avengers' villain Peter Jeffrey guest-stars (and steals every scene) as the wicked Count Grendel of Gracht, plotting to usurp the throne of Tara in the series' cheeky re-make of 'The Prisoner of Zenda'. Tom Baker is good value as the Doctor, Mary Tamm's beautifully outfitted Romana is one of the great companions, and the story rattles along at a splendid pace, with some great swordplay with electronic swords and android doubles. One to simply sit back and enjoy - it also inspired the best Doctor Who spin-off from Vigin Books, the 'Decalog 2' short story 'The Trials of Tara', which manages to be even camper than this video version. END
Rating: 
Summary: Obligitory elements held together by witty dialogue ...
Review: ...true, and rather indicative of Douglas Adam's script editing period. However, this episode like all of Adam's run were very very entertaining because he atleast chose the right elements and the dialogue was so well written that everything else could be forgiven. The sword fight in the end is one of the best ever done on film because of all the force and impact of each thrust and perry and by the end they are tossing barrels at each other and falling down stairs. Over all, 'Androids of Tara' may not be the height of Doctor Who's brilliance, but this fairy tale android story won't fail to continue entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: Probably the weakest in the Key to Time series
Review: Although it gets off to a good start, Androids of Tara just never really comes together. The story is tried and tested - no originality here. It's just a typical person X wants to become king, but person Y is already king, and so hatch a giant, convoluted plot to make person X king. Romana spends most of the time either captured, or reciting her lines often consisting of silly questions, or "explain the plot to the audience" comments. To be fair, theres some well played out scenes, and some good one-liners by Tom Baker. Humour is there, and you get the impression the story isn't taking itself too seriously. The problem is, by the start of Episode 3, you'll probably wish it was all over. Two and a half stars for Androids of Tara.
Rating: 
Summary: "Next time, I shall not be so lenient!"
Review: Don't be fooled by the lack of buzz, or by all the reviews declaring "The Androids of Tara" to be the weakest of "Doctor Who"'s Key To Time season. Granted, the DVD may be the weakest in the new six-disc box set, but the story itself is remarkably witty and something to be enjoyed again and again. As the production notes are sure to tell the viewer several times, this story is "Doctor Who"'s homage to "The Prisoner of Zenda", following the plot twist by twist, and adding only a few modest sci-fi elements (two androids and some electric swords). As Tom Baker points out on the commentary track, visiting guest stars used "Doctor Who" as an opportunity to "do a turn" (or, as the fans say, "chew the scenery"), and this serial's guest villain Peter Jeffrey (playing the aptly-named Count Grendel of Gracht) gives a delightful performance as the scheming nobleman who doesn't kill a soul and is allowed to swim away at the end of the story, uttering the famous face-saving line above. The DVD production is bare-bones, unusual for the high-quality "Doctor Who" line. The text commentary is notably weak, perhaps because it's not written by Martin Wiggins, who did the notes for the first three DVDs in this set. Now authored by Richard Molesworth (who did notes on a few of the earlier "Who" DVDs), the notes are basically endless lists of the supporting actors' other TV appearances -- most of which will not be familiar to the audience watching these US-release-only discs -- and the dates of location filming. It indeed adds a lot to your enjoyment of Part Three to learn that Romana's stunt double rode her horse on the 27th and 28th of July. The notes spend a good amount of time describing the original "The Prisoner of Zenda" (stating three times that the novel was written by Anthony Hope in 1894), but fail to pick up on a deliriously funny blooper in which Jeffrey walks through the walls of a set, Leslie Nielsen style, as Tom Baker ducks through a curtained doorway. The commentary track is recorded by stars Baker and Tamm (Romana), and director Michael Hayes. Hayes dominates the early going by reciting the "Prisoner of Zenda"'s original movie cast, while Baker laughs insanely at the sight of the poorly-costumed miniature bear that menaces Romana in the opening minutes. After a while it's obvious that the three aren't watching the story, and I found myself mentally tuning out. That said, the anecdote about Petter Jeffrey's wart is funny, and, as in every other DW disc released to date, a commentator asserts that the low-rent 1970s production values "stand up rather well today". Charming. But wrong.
Rating:
Summary: "Next time, I shall not be so lenient!"
Review: Don't be fooled by the lack of buzz, or by all the reviews declaring "The Androids of Tara" to be the weakest of "Doctor Who"'s Key To Time season. Granted, the DVD may be the weakest in the new six-disc box set, but the story itself is remarkably witty and something to be enjoyed again and again. As the production notes are sure to tell the viewer several times, this story is "Doctor Who"'s homage to "The Prisoner of Zenda", following the plot twist by twist, and adding only a few modest sci-fi elements (two androids and some electric swords). As Tom Baker points out on the commentary track, visiting guest stars used "Doctor Who" as an opportunity to "do a turn" (or, as the fans say, "chew the scenery"), and this serial's guest villain Peter Jeffrey (playing the aptly-named Count Grendel of Gracht) gives a delightful performance as the scheming nobleman who doesn't kill a soul and is allowed to swim away at the end of the story, uttering the famous face-saving line above. The DVD production is bare-bones, unusual for the high-quality "Doctor Who" line. The text commentary is notably weak, perhaps because it's not written by Martin Wiggins, who did the notes for the first three DVDs in this set. Now authored by Richard Molesworth (who did notes on a few of the earlier "Who" DVDs), the notes are basically endless lists of the supporting actors' other TV appearances -- most of which will not be familiar to the audience watching these US-release-only discs -- and the dates of location filming. It indeed adds a lot to your enjoyment of Part Three to learn that Romana's stunt double rode her horse on the 27th and 28th of July. The notes spend a good amount of time describing the original "The Prisoner of Zenda" (stating three times that the novel was written by Anthony Hope in 1894), but fail to pick up on a deliriously funny blooper in which Jeffrey walks through the walls of a set, Leslie Nielsen style, as Tom Baker ducks through a curtained doorway. The commentary track is recorded by stars Baker and Tamm (Romana), and director Michael Hayes. Hayes dominates the early going by reciting the "Prisoner of Zenda"'s original movie cast, while Baker laughs insanely at the sight of the poorly-costumed miniature bear that menaces Romana in the opening minutes. After a while it's obvious that the three aren't watching the story, and I found myself mentally tuning out. That said, the anecdote about Petter Jeffrey's wart is funny, and, as in every other DW disc released to date, a commentator asserts that the low-rent 1970s production values "stand up rather well today". Charming. But wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Kids love it...
Review: I have yet to play this video to a group of kids OR adults who don't love it. K-9 enthralls youngsters, and the number of riotous one-liners is great. This one just never gets boring. Sure it's cheesy, but it's more FUN that way! Of course Tom Baker hams it up, eyes wide and hair wilder. And for once, just once, the planet is not at risk, let alone the universe, galaxy or time and space itself...
Rating:
Summary: Not the best of the Key to Time
Review: I recently re-watched the Androids of Tara for the first time in several years and I found out just why it had been collected dust in the back of my video collection for so long. Simply put, Androids of Tara just isn't that great a story. It's arguably the weakest of the Key to Time season (Power of Kroll gives it a run for the money in that department), simply because it's too predictable. The search for the Key to Time occupies only the first few moments of episode one and the final moemnts of episode four. It's a book end story designed to get us into the main story--that of Count Grendel and his mechanizations to take power on the planet of Tara. Before you can say "double double" there are androids on top of androids, dopplegangers and the Doctor and Romana embroiled in local politics. The story has potential--but most of it's wasted halfway through. The serial never gels and it feels as though the creative team and the production team were wearying of the entire Key to Time concept by this story. So, if you're a Who completist, check this one out. If you're new to Who and want to see some great Who, look for "Genesis of the Daleks" or "Pyramids of Mars" as examples of how good the fourth Doctor's era can be.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best of the Key to Time
Review: I recently re-watched the Androids of Tara for the first time in several years and I found out just why it had been collected dust in the back of my video collection for so long. Simply put, Androids of Tara just isn't that great a story. It's arguably the weakest of the Key to Time season (Power of Kroll gives it a run for the money in that department), simply because it's too predictable. The search for the Key to Time occupies only the first few moments of episode one and the final moemnts of episode four. It's a book end story designed to get us into the main story--that of Count Grendel and his mechanizations to take power on the planet of Tara. Before you can say "double double" there are androids on top of androids, dopplegangers and the Doctor and Romana embroiled in local politics. The story has potential--but most of it's wasted halfway through. The serial never gels and it feels as though the creative team and the production team were wearying of the entire Key to Time concept by this story. So, if you're a Who completist, check this one out. If you're new to Who and want to see some great Who, look for "Genesis of the Daleks" or "Pyramids of Mars" as examples of how good the fourth Doctor's era can be.
Rating:
Summary: Smoke and Mirrors
Review: I'll confess I'm writing this review from memory (the tape has not arrived yet), but I can say I recall this as one of my favorite episodes starring Tom Baker. The mysterious robot murder-mystery is quite spooky, and the robot masks are great. Really groovy, so check it out.
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