The artwork on the steelbook is really nice. Fury is a good story as well and the extras package is great. The making of the original story is really interesting. A great package overall.

I managed to obtain one of those elusive and exclusive steelbook editions of Fury from the Deep at not an exorbitant price. The discs are exactly the same for both editions but I do not think you get the booklet. This is a gem in itself, showing where the show was going and the reasoning behind more and more Earth-based stories: Money. The story is an absolute cracker and is gripping and atmospheric, helped immensely by the score and the riveting script. Pat, Frazer and Deborah are all in top format, and well-backed by a supporting cast that relish their roles. A special shout-out to Victor Maddern who shines as a paranoid boss under extreme pressure who cares nothing about anyone except the equipment and his precious gas. We see him later on Jon Pertwee's swansong Planet of the Spiders. The story no longer exists due to the common practice of reusing precious tape, but the animation crew, scattered around the world are well served by a complete telesnap archive, as well as location footage and pictures. I do not understand why people have been so down on the animation. Yes, it is not the usual company, but the style complements the story and animation on a budget has come far far better (Ice Warriors, anyone?). All characters are instantly recognisable and the atmosphere has been well served by use of subdued lighting and camera angles. They have not been slavish to the original telesnaps, but have been allowed to embellish and expand the story universe both literally and figuratively. A good example is in the last episode where the helicopter scene was played for laughs with rather static shots. Animation has made it far more menacing with the Weed always trying to snare the trio as they escape. As I said, Frazer, Pat and Deborah are superb in this story, which also happens to be Deborah's last. There is a lot of hints along the way but the animation manages to deftly capture the emotions of the characters. I heartily recommend this, not only because none of it survives, apart from some censor trims in Australia. All archival footage has been lovingly restored, and I admit even I was chilled by the sequence with Quill and Oak... no wonder it was cut! The animation does not quite pull the menace of that particular scene off, but the full scene is there for all to appreciate a live footage, as well as other trims here and there. The discovery of more archival photos is also a blessing showing how cold it was for all concerned on location. The telecine restoration on disc three is also worth watching and gives you a fantastic insight into the artistic freedom that was made possible through animation. I certainly hope this crew get another go at either Wheel in Space, the story introducing Zoe or the Dalek Master Plan, and I certainly hope they are allowed to animate all the episodes not just the ones that are missing. Restoration of existing episodes has come a very long way, but a full animation would complement animation and restored episodes. Yes, the animation style us certainly different, and yes, they gave taken liberties with the settings and made the cast far more cosmopolitan, but I reckon it is all for the better, making an excellent story even more stellar. I cannot recommend this, or the so-called vanilla edition more highly. If you can get the steelbook, it is definitely worth the extra quid it costs.

I am extremely pleased with this classic that had been junked by the BBC before the video boom. The animation of classic Doctor Who stories has always been contentious, with some abysmal (e.g. The Ice Warriors) to serviceable (Power of the Daleks), but considering their incredibly tight budgets, I believe the animations have been a great success. As for Fury from the Deep, a different company has obviously got a different style. One that sort of works. The moving animation is as smooth as can be, considering and the characters are instantly recognisable. The tension is palpable and the music score underlines the danger faced. Poor Victoria sufffers the most of course, as just a screamer, but Deborah Watling shines as a girl out of time, and even with the animation the love between the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria is very evident. The story is fast paced and exciting, and very enjoyable. The extras are top notch considering how old this story is and it is wonderful to see Frazer Hines and Mad Mike go back to the scene of the crime, so to speak. The steelbook itself comfortably and snugly fits the discs which nonetheless come out easily. The artwork on the book is amazing, and it comes with a very informative booklet on the production of Fury. I thoroughly recommend this or the 'ordinary' release. Now, when is The Dalek Masterplan being done? This release should convince the BBC to pour more money into these endeavours and introduce a new audience to such classics, and I certainly hope this company is hired again. Well done!