★★★
BBC, 700 min., not rated, DVD: 5 discs, $74.98; Blu-ray: 4 discs, $89.98
Under the guidance of showrunner Steven Moffat, Doctor Who has morphed into a more cosmic show, with epic storylines weaving plot threads throughout entire seasons. The ninth opens with a visit to the planet of the Daleks to honor the dying wish of the creator of the Dalek race, a mission of mercy that lands the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in an elaborate trap, after which his companion Clara (Jenna Colman) joins forces with his nemesis Missy (Michelle Gomez) to save him. The Doctor and Clara travel through time and space for adventures that take place under the sea, in old England, in a battle against alien invaders in the time of the Vikings, and in a hidden "trap street" in London where alien refugees find new life in human form. And the pair stop a plot involving millions of shapeshifting Zygons peacefully living amongst the humans. As fans know, this is the final season for Clara, which ends with the Doctor in a showdown with the Time Lords on their hidden home world, Gallifrey. This set also includes the 2014 Christmas special "Last Christmas," with guest star Nick Frost as Santa Claus, and the 2015 Christmas special "The Husbands of River Song," a colorful interstellar caper with River Song (Alex Kingston) meeting the Peter Capaldi incarnation of the Doctor for the first time (timelines are complicated when you can jump from one era to another). Compiling all 14 episodes from 2015, extras include episode commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, interviews, and deleted scenes. Recommended.
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