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Reviews
Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor (2013)
A let down for many. 7/10
The Time of the Doctor, was, in many ways, a solid episode for Steven Moffat. In my own opinion, (although I do not pretend to be an expert) it was executed well. Why then, did the episode leave an almost bitter aftertaste? Perhaps it was the continual repetition of Clara being sent away, coming back, seeing the Doctor is older, being sent away again, and so on and so forth. This, to me, sounds repetitive in a show where repetitiveness or predictability is (or should be) a sin. Maybe it was the far too quick transition from number 11 to 12, with no suspense or build-up to speak of, and when there was, it was a false end. Furthermore, there was no input from Clara during the actual transition, who is supposed to be his companion – one of the many who love the Doctor dearly. She stood there with her hand on her mouth throughout proceedings. However, it is not that which leaves that terrible taste. It was the solution. It was too quick, too rushed, and (this is the clincher) the Doctor had nothing to do with it. It was the Time Lords who saved him. The Time Lords - people who would never do anything that did not benefit them and them only - saved the Doctor because a woman they had never met asked them to. I think it is safe to assume that in the many centuries their would-be gateway was protected by the Doctor, it would have occurred to them that they could save him from aging. And all they had to do was give the Doctor a teaspoon full of Regeneration energy. In doing so, they (Moffat) solved a problem that has been debated since the series began all those years ago – how could the series go on if the Doctor only had 13 reincarnations? And suddenly, without a thought for the consequences, the Doctor has a full cycle of regenerations again. For a series which is known for mind-bendingly convoluted plot lines and 'the box didn't even come into it' solutions, a solution like this is far too simplistic for the viewer to take in.
However, I am judging the episode as a whole, not bits and pieces, and it was a solid episode overall, especially if you enjoy the story behind an episode. In this, Moffat has excelled, with the inclusion of Clara's family, and the Doctor's adopted family – the town of Christmas. When perceived as a whole, the episode was above average. It was enjoyable to watch, especially for a Whovian who understands all the references, but not enjoyable to walk away from.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013)
Out of this World (Pun may have been intentional)
Words cannot describe the feeling felt when The Day of the Doctor ended, but I'll try- It was a mixture of sadness, revelation and.... a feeling I can only describe as basking in the glory of what I just saw, trying to figure out the ramifications of it, and being, as they say nowadays, 'mindblown'.
Steven Moffat, known for his sometimes convoluted, front-flip, loop-the- loop, twisty-turny, timey-wimey plot lines, has really stepped up his game, giving his audience a taste of what fans wish could happen in every episode. The plot line was twisted, the ramifications huge, but not so much that it left anyone confused, or with any plot holes.
The one niggling little concern was the tiny problem with the Zygons. Not seen in their actual form since 1975, the Zygons were, I feel, a major part of the story, with a nice build-up, interesting turns of events, and climaxing with the countdown and 'negotiations' - which then promptly fizzled into nothing. This left me with the feeling that Moffat either ran out of room to write a satisfying conclusion in, or he simply couldn't solve their plot line satisfactorily.
However, besides this one minor flaw, I cannot recall a better episode (from the reboot- the classics are another matter). There have only been 2 that, in my opinion, came on par with this masterpiece. The question now is - with a new window into the universe open, ready for more gripping adventures in time and space, where do they go next? What mysteries will be solved, tombs explored, cities saved and enemies broken?
Who Knows?