The Day of the Doctor

"Today this war will end."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 23 November 2013

Series: 50th Anniversary Special

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara, Tenth Doctor, War Doctor

Synopsis

In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London's National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion.

Verdict

The Day of the Doctor is just an unbelievable piece of television. What an incredible way to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this truly spectacular show we call Doctor Who. Honestly, right from the off Steven Moffat just gets everything right. From the original theme tune as the opener and starting in similar vain to An Unearthly Child, the tone for brilliance is set right from the very start. I have watched this episode no more than three times and I’m not sure why because after watching I thought that this was even better than I remembered. It’s right up there when it comes to my all time favourite stories. It has to be in the discussion. I think the directing is sensational and it truly does feel like a movie with the constant jumping back and forth between what we saw at the end of The Name of the Doctor with the reveal of the War Doctor. That is also evident with the opening titles and the Doctor hanging from the TARDIS as it’s brought in by UNIT. That’s hilarious and baffling at the same time because how often would they have found the TARDIS just lying dormant as the Doctor was out tackling an alien menace! Nevertheless, it was fun stuff. I think the format of the episode is perfect and the way we jump into seeing the War Doctor on the final day of the Time War is sensational. He’s had enough and it really is time to end it all. He’s a lot older than what we see in The Night of the Doctor which I think is really important in establishing just how long the Time War has lasted. It’s taken its toll. I think seeing the Daleks within the Time War is great and I’m a big fan of their silvery toned appearance. They’re battle weary and that’s fantastic. Placing the importance on the number of children on Gallifrey as the Doctor decides to destroy it for the sake of the universe is so powerful and it says a lot that by this point the Eleventh Doctor has forgotten. The Tenth Doctor had not and it shocked him to see where he had go to at that point in his future life. I think the humour that comes from the Tenth Doctor being with Elizabeth I is terrific and it ties up the loose end left during The Shakespeare Code conclusion very nicely. The Zygons are a fine choice to have return for the anniversary and having them in conflict with UNIT was fantastic. Osgood debuts here in a lovely way and I love her scarf. I think the Black Archive at UNIT is marvellous and seeing the images of precious companions is some montage and way to pay homage. Yates and Sara Kingdom?! I love it. I think the moment all three Doctors come together is sensational and I like how the War immediately cottons on to how he is viewed by his future selves with dread. The Moment’s conscience showing the form of Rose is good stuff and the Tenth Doctor getting that brief reaction from the Bad Wolf comment is excellent. The chemistry between Tennant and Smith as the Doctors is off the charts with how good it is. A multi-Doctor classic for sure. Seeing the War Room on Gallifrey is a real treat as at this point in the modern era we had only seen glimpses of life on the Doctor's home planet. I think the way the story builds towards the Doctors coming together to use the Moment and then Clara's being there to prompt them into altering their past and save Gallifrey is just tremendous. That sequence of including each incarnation of the Doctor is possibly my all time favourite in Doctor Who. It is delightful. It's just a huge celebratory moment and the shock of the Twelfth Doctor getting included before he'd even debuted on screen is sublime. My partner watching alongside me audibly gasped at that moment as she had no memory it was coming and it was a lovely reminder of how I reacted back on broadcast. Beautiful stuff. With Gallifrey saved and the War and Tenth Doctors back into their own time stream, with the former sparking a regeneration and that quick glimpse of the Ninth Doctor to tie everything up, one final treat arrives in the form of the Curator. Such a stunning moment again and another shock with Tom Baker back for the celebration. It's just so good and it's lovely to know that Gallifrey does survive out there. It worked. One final thing before I leave, the War Doctor's TARDIS interior is absolutely stunning. Maybe my favourite! Overall, the perfect celebration. 

Rating: 10/10