Promoted as the test subject for an upcoming line of somewhat more streamlined (in terms of bonus features) classic Doctor Who DVDs, The Sontaran Experiment is pretty unique – it’s the only two-part story in Tom Baker’s era, and one of the only ones featuring location work shot on video instead of film. (The entire story is shot on location, so while much is made of this point by students of the show’s history, I’m not entirely sure that it really mattered, since it would’ve been either all-video or all-film anyway.) With only two 25-minute episodes, this experiment is not unlike the Sontarans themselves: short, to the point, and with little in the way of frills.
The only real bonus feature produced for The Sontaran Experiment is the amusing documentary Sontarans: Built For War. Featuring contributions from the surviving actors and writers who have dealt with the Sontarans in Doctor Who’s long history (though the Sontarans themselves first appeared in 1974), this amusing, not-quite-hour-long documentary explores both the fictional development of the Sontarans and the behind-the-scenes realites of producing the stories that featured them. It’s a neat little piece which isn’t really specific to The Sontaran Experiment, but what the heck, why not? The other Sontaran stories waiting for DVD release each feature significant companion arrivals/departures that would probably dominate any bonus features. In any case, it’s a clever piece with a sense of humor – and for a “feature-light” release, the documentary’s about as long as The Sontaran Experiment itself, so I really don’t feel shortchanged.
There’s a low-key commentary on both episodes featuring Elisabeth Sladen, producer Philip Hinchcliffe (for whom The Sontaran Experiment was his first solo flight as a producer) and writer Bob Baker. The topics range from the health of actor Kevin Lindsay, who portrayed the Sontaran experimenter in question despite his ill health, and the health of Tom Baker, who slipped and broke his collarbone during production (in fact, the fall in question is actually seen in the show itself, though it cuts away to the next scene very quickly).
For a “budget” package, The Sontaran Experiment still manages to outstrip most U.S. TV DVD packages for the sheer number of bonuses for a specific episode.