Doctor Who - The Invasion of Time (VHS, 2001, 2-Tape Set)

Episode after episode of the "Doctor Who" series opens either on the TARDIS or with the Doctor and his companion landing mistakenly on a planet. Not this time. This time Episode One starts with the Doctor aboard an alien space craft. But this is not just any space craft, it belongs to a sinister species known as Vardans. The Doctor, played with his usual mastery by Tom Baker, seems to be taking orders from these mysterious beings. Meanwhile Leela and K9 Mark 1 wait on the TARDIS. K9 is OK with just hanging out but Leela is angry because she doesn't know what's going on and, worse yet, has no one to attack. Fortunately for her both of these issues will be satisfactorily addressed in later episodes.
But first the Doctor must return to his native Gallifrey, where he immediately claims his right to be named President of the High Council. He also bullies his former teacher, Cardinal Borusa, and demands an extravagant makeover of his new office. Has power gone to his head or has the Doctor become a puppet for the Vardans? Also, why does the Doctor order Leela expelled to the wastelands of Outer Gallifrey? Sure actress Louise Jameson had asked to leave the series but banishment?
Seriously, though, for fans interested in the laws and rituals of Gallifrey, "The Invasion of Time" offers a lot of interesting background information. Also it is a pivotal story arc because it bids farewell to both Leela, my favorite of Tom Baker's companions, and K9 Mark 1.
Purely as a matter of personal opinion, however, I would rate "The Invasion of Time" as a very good rather than spectacular offering. Or to put it on a scale of Dr. Who episodes, I found it much better than "The Invisible Enemy" but not as good as "The Sun Makers."
The special effects for the Vardans are unfortunately pathetic, even by Dr. Who standards. They resemble Saran Wrap with light shooting through it. More importantly, several of the middle episodes of the story arc drag slightly. But the pace definitely picks up at the end. Personally I would have liked a bit more wit in the dialogue but I did laugh out loud over one exchange in which a soldier shoots at The Doctor exclaiming, "Die!"
"Not now," the Doctor says. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
If you are a Who fan in general and a Tom Baker fan in particular, you won't be too busy to watch these episodes. There's about 150 minutes worth and most of your time will be well and enjoyably spent.