As fans in both the UK and US have now had a chance to eagerly buy and watch the Doctor Who Series 3 box set, an interesting discovery has come to light - the content for each region is not identical! One subtle but important difference is the commentary on the final episode “Last of the Timelords”. 
Essentially the R2 PAL version of the DVD has a newer commentary by Freema, David and John Barrowman whilst the R1 NTSC (North American) version has the older/original commentary by Russell T Davies, Julie Gardiner and Phil Collinson.
So what have those in the states missed? In our opinion, an important bit would be during the moment where Martha Jones rings Tom Milligan to just see if he is okay - David Tennant teases Freema “he’s your boyfriend…” but then asks uncertainly whether Martha Jones does indeed hook up with him, and if it will get mentioned in Torchwood. John Barrowman responds with a quick “no” but then continues with “you’ll have to wait and see”. So John knows, but is not telling! Keep an eye on his interviews! (thanks to Doyle for spotting this)
is there anwhere else i can hear this freema,david, john commentry! it sounds like a dream combination!
Apparantly freema, David and John were singing songs periodically throughout the commentary and they weren’t able to get clearance in NA for the songs in time for the release date. And they couldn’t edit them out , so they put the Julie, Phil and RTD commentary on instead.
Now I want to hear it even more!!!
This makes me sad… but whatcha gonna do? I’m still gonna buy it. Has anyone in the States bought it through Amazon? I heard that if bought through Amazon.com itself, we’d get the Saxon cover. Just curious…
Oh, that’s a shame, David and Freema are always so good in the commentaries. Doctor Who is the only TV series that I really really look forward to watching with commentary right after I watch each episode normally. I just finally found the set here in Canada today, at Future Shop. I’ve always bought them at Walmart before, but they don’t seem to be getting it this time. It is too bad that here in Canada we end up under the US umbrella so often, with regards to theatrical movies, videos games, and DVDs.
I probably shouldn’t say this, but if you’ve bought the R1 set and feel you’re missing a vital bit, you can find the R2 commentary by itself online as an mp3.
I received my copy of the Season 3 DVD set from Amazon. Actually the second DVD set, the first I had to return due to shipping damage. Episode 13 did have the old commentary with the producers not the stars.
I listened to the full commentary with the stars and to be honest, I can see why they wouldn’t release that version in the states. I doubt the singing was the reason for the different commentary releases. I’m not a huge fan of the “current president” (far from it), but the comments DT and JB made don’t belong in a commentary on Dr Who. I tend to think of their comments, like “idiot” referring to “current president” as a negative comment on my country also. I know they were just joking around, but I think the comments were inappropriate for that format and should have been edited out. Maybe they should take a history lesson to learn that there was 1.5 million U.S. soldiers in Great Briton the day before D-Day. Hey I still love DT, JB, Dr Who and most importantly Freema.
Thanks for clarifying matters, klown.
Criticising a leader is not always synonymous with criticism of an entire country, especially one as large and diverse as the United States. Indeed, there are many Americans themselves who would, no doubt, also criticise their own leader in much stronger terms than those apparently used on the DVD.
The problem, surely, is not one of nasty foreigners criticising your glorious leader (which we are all entitled to do
) but that the DVD is a BBC product and, therefore, sanctioned by a publicly funded British organisation that has political impartiality built into its mandate. Under these circumstances, it would be nigh on impossible for the BBC to clear the commentary (and I am surprised that it has been allowed to stay on the European release). I wonder why, though, the potentially offending bits could not just have been edited out. That way, everybody would have got the chance to hear the stars of the show - most of all Freema.
As for history lessons and American participation in wars, well, better late than never, I suppose
j/k, j/k !
No question Bluemoon, everyone is entitled to express their opinion. That’s what freedom is all about. Sometimes it’s difficult to separate a comment on a country’s leader from the country itself, but you’re right, they’re not the same. I just thought that it wasn’t the proper forum for making comments of that nature. Most importantly, it is too bad we in North America don’t get the new commentary with the stars, especially Freema. It was great hearing her comments as well as the others, but I had to listen to the newer commentary without the background video.
For those asking, the Amazon box had the Doctor and Martha running and the inside DVD holder/foldout cover had the Doctor and the Master photo.
I just thought that it wasn’t the proper forum for making comments of that nature. Most importantly, it is too bad we in North America don’t get the new commentary with the stars, especially Freema.
Exactly, which is why it is such a shame that the track could not simply have been edited instead of replaced altogether. Btw, it seems to be have been something of a last minute decision to pull the plug as, if I understand correctly, the written notes accompanying the DVDs mentioned the stars’ commentary while the DVD itself obviously contained the older producers’ one (although, later editions of the DVDs being shipped will have this “error” corrected).
it bothers me when they change stuff! grr not fair!