5x10 Vincent and the Doctor (Grading/Discussion) SPOILERS!!

[Count Zero]

Having suffered from depression myself, the only doubt I have is whether taking Van Gogh to the present to see how highly regarded he is was a good idea. Self esteem building aside, if I were Van Gogh I doubt I would ever be able to paint again having heard the art critic (based on Brian Sewell?) praise my work. How could I live up to that - every brush stroke would have to be second guessed...

I hald expected there to be less paintings in the room when the Doctor and Amy returned to the museum at the end of the episode.

Question, I've always heard van Gogh's name pronounced as 'go', is that pronunciation just an American thing?

I don't know. But I do know that I've heard the British laughing at the pronunciation (us being such great linguists and all... )

I've always heard it pronounced as van Goch (like the Scottish word Loch). Unfortunately, I can't read Mirrorball's phonetic spelling above to find out whether that's right.


Well, that was the first 'Excellent' of the season for me. I had tears in my eyes for the last 15 minutes. I thought the idea that no one except Vincent can see the alien, not even the Doctor, was great. Oh well, everything I would have wanted to say about the episode has already been said. It was moving, yet also humourous and entertaining.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

poor CGI.

No. This one was really well done. Compare the Crafiys to Lazarus and see the astounding difference in quality.

Likening it to Primeval is frankly a joke.

 

[Gov Kodos]

That was a wonderful episode, and Tony Curran did a fabulous job as Van Gogh. He portrayed the mood swings of Van Gogh's depressions beautifully. I especially loved the scene of the three in the field watching the stars all holding hands with the other for their own private needs to one another. An excellent episode, I almost felt let down by how prosaic the next episode previews felt.

 

[jamestyler]

I won't say too much as I'll just be echoing whats been said already, but I quite enjoyed this and even my girlfriend sat down to watch it. I think Matt Smith has sold her on Doctor Who.

 

[Neroon]

One question at the moment. What was the title of the song played when the Doctor brought Van Gogh forward into the present to see his paintings?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlete_%28band%29

Chances by Athlete


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmDZI_IgRtE

Thank yo VERY much for this! That's one unintended benefit I've received from watching the show. Getting to know new music and new artists

 

[thestrangequark]

Well, I had to take a walk after watching that one -- three hours, I ended up in Manhattan!

It has already been said in the thread -- the humor, the sadness, the acting; Van Gogh was so accurately manic-depressive! Certainly one of my all-time favorite Who episodes.

 

[Demonland]

I thought that was just brilliant. The whole Van Gogh bit was just enthralling. The Doctor and Amy were great. What a sad story. I almost feel as if meeting the Doctor and Amy and the future that they showed him somehow contributed to his depression even further. Imagine how Vincent would have felt in the days and weeks and months after his incredible chance encounter with the Doctor and his beautiful assistant. He fought aliens and travelled in a Time Machine (which was impossibly bigger on the inside) and saw his work finally appreciated only to have to go back to being ridiculed, despised and lonely once again. Maybe his meeting with the Doctor had such a profound affect on him and after that he just couldn't bare to live such a mundane, unappreciated and lonely existence and he just wanted to be free.

Anyway loved the 1st and 2nd Doctor cameos. Loved the TARDIS becoming a 19th century bulletin board and it was great to see it burnt to shreads on re-entry (how did Captain Jack survive the trip).

All in all one of my favourite New Who stories ever.

 

[jamestyler]

Loved the TARDIS becoming a 19th century bulletin board and it was great to see it burnt to shreads on re-entry (how did Captain Jack survive the trip).

Jack can survive anything. Even listening to Dirk Bennedict.

 

[Cyke101]

(how did Captain Jack survive the trip).

Well, technically he didn't, he was revived soon after the Doctor and Martha landed. But the guy's effectively immortal and in the same episode, we saw him unbothered by radiation that vaporized a poor fella.

And Jack's the only one in the show's history thus far to "survive" a trip in the time vortex unaided.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Loved the TARDIS becoming a 19th century bulletin board and it was great to see it burnt to shreads on re-entry (how did Captain Jack survive the trip).

Jack can survive anything. Even listening to Dirk Bennedict.

Surely that would finish even Jack off?

 

[Chaos Descending]

Something very important about this episode, the Doctor is able to fly the TARDIS to the exact point in time and space he wanted. A sign for sure that he has gained greater control over the TARDIS as the years have gone by.

The Doctor has always had the ability to do so.

Any time he's been unable, whether stated on screen or not, it' because he's been working an angle.

He's been able to pilot the TARDIS with pinpoint accuracy far too many times for there to be any other explanation.

 

[Australis]

Wow, people! Watch the first 30 seconds again! Something's rushing at Vincent in the wheat, and it ain't crows!

I think there's going to be a big reveal in Ep 13.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^There's always the opinion that the TARDIS makes choices to take him to places where he's needed too.

 

[David cgc]

"A horse and a man, above, below. One has a plan, but both must go..."

 

[Demonland]

Wow, people! Watch the first 30 seconds again! Something's rushing at Vincent in the wheat, and it ain't crows!

I think there's going to be a big reveal in Ep 13.

chronologically does this take place before or after the Doctor meets him? I realise that talking chronologics in a show about time travel is silly.

 

[Rowan Sjet]

Wow, people! Watch the first 30 seconds again! Something's rushing at Vincent in the wheat, and it ain't crows!

I think there's going to be a big reveal in Ep 13.

I'm pretty sure that was supposed to be hinting at this week's monster, nothing else.

 

[Classic Fan]

It was good, but not the best. Typical Curtis though, and it was fab but it had its flaws.

Usual monster of the week, Doctor digs out something of old to find/see it with.

Although cleverly handled, making it the possible reason for Vincents documented madness, but never gave a reason as to why only he could see the beastie.

As is the norm with Curtis, we have brilliant character studdies and interations in circumstances that are so common place but, in the case of his Who ep its a bit other wordly, but it works.

The developing relationship bewtween Amy and Vince was a nice but unneccesary touch, especially when he picked up on the residual mourning for Rory, even though he had been un-written from time.

And the part when he painted over the sunflowers to sketch the monster was brilliant, with the doctor and Amys reaction, priceless scene.

and it had probably the best ending to an episode, with Amy wanting to save Vincent from suicide, but not succeeding, but she changes one thing, he still repaints sunflowers but with an added message to Amy, great and touching.

not sure if the visit to the museum in the future was need, Van Gogh didnt need to go to 2010 to see his fanbase, he just need a friend to believe in him, and he found that with the Doctor and Amy, but alas, it was there. The Ep couldve gone along that line of the friendship developing rather than running away from monsters.

But, saying that, it was a good delve in the psyche of one the best artists, which i studdied in art, or the world.

 

[cultcross]

I thought that was just brilliant. The whole Van Gogh bit was just enthralling. The Doctor and Amy were great. What a sad story. I almost feel as if meeting the Doctor and Amy and the future that they showed him somehow contributed to his depression even further. Imagine how Vincent would have felt in the days and weeks and months after his incredible chance encounter with the Doctor and his beautiful assistant. He fought aliens and travelled in a Time Machine (which was impossibly bigger on the inside) and saw his work finally appreciated only to have to go back to being ridiculed, despised and lonely once again. Maybe his meeting with the Doctor had such a profound affect on him and after that he just couldn't bare to live such a mundane, unappreciated and lonely existence and he just wanted to be free.

This was my take on it when I was watching the scene in the museum - imagine going back to his life after that! That's what I loved most about that scene, actually - it was at once wonderfully fulfilling - he will be remembered, and as a genius - and horribly depressing - he will never know anything of it, never feel gratitude or acceptance. A very conflicted thing for someone to go through, I think.

 

[timelord1010]

I loved the episode but gave it a "Good" rating. I would have given it a excellent if the monster didn't look like a giant chicken

 

[Brent]

Something very important about this episode, the Doctor is able to fly the TARDIS to the exact point in time and space he wanted. A sign for sure that he has gained greater control over the TARDIS as the years have gone by.

The Doctor has always had the ability to do so.

Any time he's been unable, whether stated on screen or not, it' because he's been working an angle.

He's been able to pilot the TARDIS with pinpoint accuracy far too many times for there to be any other explanation.

Well no, in the original run he specifically states he has no control over where the TARDIS goes. This has lead to many companions getting stuck with him, and him not being able to return them home.

It is a common theory though that over time, the Doctor has gained greater control of the TARDIS, able to pin point where he wants to land, and this episode that has really come true he's able to go to the past, the future and the past again exactly when he wants to.