Night and the Doctor

"It's like daylight, only magic."

Writer: Steven Moffat 

Format: TV

Released: 22nd November 2011

Series: Series 6 Minisode Exclusives 01-05

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, River, Amy, Rory

Synopsis 

Five inter-linked minisodes with the umbrella title Night and the Doctor. Any questions what the Doctor gets up to whilst she and Rory are asleep and also why she can remember two distinct versions of her life. The Doctor meets his future self on the last night that he will see River Song, whilst meeting three different versions of his wife. Craig is worried about how he'll cope looking after his son on his own for the first time, acting as a prequel to Closing Time. 

Verdict 

Night and the Doctor was a great little series of minisodes and the importance of some of the episodes was enormous! Bad Night and Good Night was all about Amy and how she was confused about remembering two versions of herself after the events of The Big Bang. I liked her seriousness in wanting to know the truth about the Doctor's whereabouts, how he went off to parties with River Song. The Doctor is clearly crazy about her and is failure to lie was so typical Doctor. I really liked how he took Amy back to herself as a child during her saddest memory when she dropped an ice cream. Instead, she could buy her past self another ice cream (and the Doctor of course) and cheer herself up. Lovely. 

First Night and Last Night was nothing short of brilliant. The Doctor swooped River from the Stormcage on her first night of the sentence which I thought was good and the humour about the dress the Doctor wanted his wife to wear was fantastic. When there were three Rivers in the TARDIS that was excellent and the constant question of who else the Time Lord had in his TARDIS was terrific. The moment when the Eleventh Doctor briefly spoke with his future self (same incarnation) was really touching. His future self was taking River to Darillium, it would be the last time he would see her before she set off for the Library, where of course she'd die. An incredible moment.

Up All Night was quite funny with Craig worrying how he'd take care of his son on his own. Not too much else happened but the dialogue was comical and it fed as a good prequel to Closing Time. 

Rating: 9/10