Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Review

Order this awesome combo pack quickly and you might get the limited-edition commemorative trading card pack, too!

Today is the day you can buy your very own copy of the truly grand episode that is The Day of the Doctor. BBC America is releasing a combo pack today, December 10, that contains 3 versions of the episode. In the box you’ll get a 3D Blu-ray version, a 2D Blu-ray version, and a DVD of the episode, plus a healthy helping of bonus features.

If you’re quick and are lucky enough to get a first-run copy you’ll also get a pack of 12 commemorative Doctor Who trading cards. The cards can be assembled together to form a single picture celebrating the 50th anniversary of the show. I have a pack right here in front of me, unopened and untouched.

I did, however, open the disk box like a kid on Christmas morning and jumped right into watching all the goodies. The first thing I noticed on the Blu-ray set was the sound. Right from the start, when the original theme began to play, I noticed the superb audio quality and the richness of the surround sound. That’s one of my favorite thing about Blu-ray disks, they have unbeatable sound.

It’s not just the audio that was incredible. The 1080p video was crisp and clear with a color depth that exceeded the broadcast quality by a noticeable degree. I can’t speak for the 3D version, but I have every confidence it’s as excellent as the 2D version is.

In case you’re wondering why there’s only 2 disks in the box, both the 2D and 3D versions are on the same disk.

While I’ll probably watch the episode a dozen more times, the included extras were a lot of fun. What’s included is nothing you haven’t seen online, with the exception of Doctor Who Explained, but, again, the quality on the Blu-ray is so much better that you’ll find yourself watching them all over again.

Click here to order your copy of Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special: The Day of the Doctor from the BBC Doctor Who Shop now. And again, hurry if you want to get that 12-pack of collectible trading cards that will only be available for a limited run. The price of $24.98 is about what you’d expect to pay for a movie and The Day of the Doctor is, at 75 minutes, nearly feature-length and far more entertaining than most of the movies you’ve probably seen. Toss in all the extras and you’ve got yourself a real bargain.

Looking for even more things Who and blue for your Christmas shopping? Then check out our handy post: BBC’s Shopping Guide for Doctor Who Fans to see a sampling of the many wonderful things you can buy for your Whovian friends, or yourself.

Here’s the press release from BBC Home Entertainment announcing the Day of the Doctor combo pack:

DOCTOR WHO: THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR

Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and DVD Available December 10

Street Date: December 10, 2013

DVD Suggested Retail Price: $24.98 ($30.98 in Canada)

Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD Suggested Retail Price: $29.98 ($37.48 in Canada)

Length: Approx. 75 mins + bonus material / single disc DVD/ 2-disc BD combo pack

New York – December 2, 2013 – BBC Home Entertainment will release Doctor Who’s 50^th Anniversary Special, Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor, in a Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack or DVD on December 10, 2013.

Bonus features include:

Doctor Who Explained – The entire 50-year history in one 50-minute special

Two mini-episodes – “The Night of The Doctor” and “The Last Day”

Behind-the-scenes featurette – Go behind the scenes at the Doctor Who 50^th Anniversary Special – on set and on location – featuring interviews with Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, David Tennant, Billie Piper and John Hurt. Steven Moffat gives insight into writing the episode, and it takes a look at the monsters that make a return for this very special event

San Diego Comic-Con trailer of Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor

Doctor Who 50^th Anniversary tribute teaser trailer

Doctor Who earned the Guinness World Record for the largest ever simulcast of a TV drama following a massive global campaign which saw the episode broadcast in 94 countries across 6 continents. The anniversary special broke ratings records: BBC AMERICA was the #1 cable network on Twitter on November 23, Doctor Who was #1 on Twitter in all of television, and the series set a record on Tumblr with the highest level of activity of any televised event ever, surpassing the Super Bowl and MTV’s Video Music Awards. And in addition to a theatrical simulcast in 11 markets on November 23^, BBC AMERICA and NCM Fathom Events presented Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor in RealD™3D in over 660 select movie theaters across the country on November 25. Overall Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor was No. 2 at the box office on November 25 and was Fathom’s most successful one-night event ever.

Doctor Who:The Day of The Doctor, written by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, sees the Doctors (Matt Smith and David Tennant) embark on their greatest adventure across space and time. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him. Starring Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman, with Billie Piper and John Hurt, this is the event fans have been waiting for. The special also stars Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, daughter of legendary Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and Joanna Page as Queen Elizabeth I.

Last seen as the Tenth Doctor on January 1, 2010, the special is the first time David Tennant has reprised his role. During his tenure as the Time Lord, Tennant appeared in three seasons as well as several specials. He was first revealed as the Doctor in the 2005 season finale, The Parting of the Ways. Meanwhile Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler for two seasons following the reboot in 2005, will appear in the show for the first time since featuring in David Tennant’s last episode, The End of Time in 2010. Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor is directed by Nick Hurran, executive produced by Steven Moffat, Faith Penhale and produced by Marcus Wilson.