This might be Steven Moffats best writing in the history of Doctor Who, and he did well. However, if you watch this again and ignore the nostalgia. It's sad to say this episode is not as good as you think. Let me first say, yes, I still enjoy all the doctors appearing and saving Gallifrey, yes, I still enjoy the Tenth Doctor meeting the Eleventh Doctor.
However, here's the issue with most of Moffat's writing. He largely copies his writing from great comedic scenes and elements from the classic series. Most would argue and say, "well, it is a continuation of the classic series right?"
Yes, it is a sequel series to the classic series. But that does not mean we want the same story. For example, the Tenth Doctor saying "You've redecorated, I don't like it!" Its a copy of the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and while I understand the whole the Doctor is the same person, having Tennant say that just breaks the personality of his Doctor's character. Have you noticed that when Davies writes an episode he makes the Doctor act different than the way Moffat makes him? The Tenth Doctor never said Timey-Wimey on any of Davies episodes, but he says it on Moffat's. Or on Moffat's episodes, the Doctor always gets super jealous of any guy who is a love rival for a women he likes, on Davies ones he teases like the Ninth Doctor, but he never gets jealous. Or when the Tenth Doctor says "Good to know my future is in safe hands!" That is something that was already said by the First Doctor on the Five Doctors.
There is also another forced joke when the Eleventh Doctor and Tenth Doctor joke about the "round things" in the TARDIS. And say that they never figured out what they are. This is another example of a forced joke by Moffat. In the classic series, it was established that the circles were dimensional stabilizers, by the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker). The fact that the Doctor himself cannot remember what they are used for is just bad writing. That's like saying someone does not know how to turn on their car. What about when the Tenth Doctor says "ITS A MACHINE THAT GOES DING!" Funny, but not in the Tenth's personality of humor.
The backstory of the War Doctor can be praised. Jon Hurt is an interesting casting (May he Rest In Peace), and it is nice to finally see the origin of the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston). But he wasn't given a good story much, he deserved more.
Tom Baker making a cameo was also decent to me, I'm glad they could bring him back, and kept his eccentricity.
Still, overall, this episode is Moffat's best, but not the best episode in the history of Doctor Who, or the best crossover episode. The nostalgia has unfortunately died off, and we're left with the crumbly remains of what could've been the best episode ever.
However, here's the issue with most of Moffat's writing. He largely copies his writing from great comedic scenes and elements from the classic series. Most would argue and say, "well, it is a continuation of the classic series right?"
Yes, it is a sequel series to the classic series. But that does not mean we want the same story. For example, the Tenth Doctor saying "You've redecorated, I don't like it!" Its a copy of the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and while I understand the whole the Doctor is the same person, having Tennant say that just breaks the personality of his Doctor's character. Have you noticed that when Davies writes an episode he makes the Doctor act different than the way Moffat makes him? The Tenth Doctor never said Timey-Wimey on any of Davies episodes, but he says it on Moffat's. Or on Moffat's episodes, the Doctor always gets super jealous of any guy who is a love rival for a women he likes, on Davies ones he teases like the Ninth Doctor, but he never gets jealous. Or when the Tenth Doctor says "Good to know my future is in safe hands!" That is something that was already said by the First Doctor on the Five Doctors.
There is also another forced joke when the Eleventh Doctor and Tenth Doctor joke about the "round things" in the TARDIS. And say that they never figured out what they are. This is another example of a forced joke by Moffat. In the classic series, it was established that the circles were dimensional stabilizers, by the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker). The fact that the Doctor himself cannot remember what they are used for is just bad writing. That's like saying someone does not know how to turn on their car. What about when the Tenth Doctor says "ITS A MACHINE THAT GOES DING!" Funny, but not in the Tenth's personality of humor.
The backstory of the War Doctor can be praised. Jon Hurt is an interesting casting (May he Rest In Peace), and it is nice to finally see the origin of the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston). But he wasn't given a good story much, he deserved more.
Tom Baker making a cameo was also decent to me, I'm glad they could bring him back, and kept his eccentricity.
Still, overall, this episode is Moffat's best, but not the best episode in the history of Doctor Who, or the best crossover episode. The nostalgia has unfortunately died off, and we're left with the crumbly remains of what could've been the best episode ever.