The Day of the Doctore Review Thread (Spoilers?)

Discussion in 'Doctor Who' started by Brefugee, Nov 23, 2013.

?

So what did you think?

Poll closed Dec 21, 2013.
  1. Brilliant: Geronimo.

    188 vote(s)
    77.7%
  2. Very Good: Bow Ties are Cool!

    38 vote(s)
    15.7%
  3. Ok: Come along Ponds.

    10 vote(s)
    4.1%
  4. Passable: Fish Fingers and Custard.

    5 vote(s)
    2.1%
  5. Terrible: Who da man?

    1 vote(s)
    0.4%
  1. Haggis and tatties

    Haggis and tatties Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Oh, the 3D was simply stunning in this episode, nice little extra for those with 3D TV'S.
     
  2. Timelord Victorious

    Timelord Victorious Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Not to mention in cinemas. Really enjoyed the 3D! it was almost on the level of Avatar.
     
  3. G2309

    G2309 Captain Captain

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    Brilliant, what a tribute to what cam before. A fantastic script all character driven. They linked all the Doctors in a great way considering the age or death of previous Doctors. I had wondered if Tom Baker would be in it as the oldest surviving Doctor. But wondered how considering his age. Though I'm not sure how they did it here either. Just wonderful.
     
  4. Emperor-Tiberius

    Emperor-Tiberius Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    The Day of the Doctor was, overall, lovely. Everything to do with David Tennant and Matt Smith was absolutely fantastic, and Tennant was like he never left. Smith delivered on all fronts, and John Hurt did really, really well - despite not having a WHOLE lot to do, although that was expected as a one-off Doctor. Really, their interaction was the absolute highlight of the whole thing, and everything up until the twist with the Moment was straight perfection...

    ... but, the twist was iffy, to me. I thought it kinda undermined the journey the Doctor went through from series 1-4B. And I never thought Eleventh forgot about the Time War... just that he moved on, as all people eventually do when given the space and the time to do so (no pun intended). Sure, its great that he wanted to do that, but really, it was just forced.

    And to me, it undermined completely the Hurt Doctor. Here's the Doctor at his darkest, and when he makes the decision that will haunt him for three more incarnations. At the very least, I was hoping he'd sacrifice himself for his future selfs, so that they and his past selves can save Gallifrey effectively while preventing the Daleks (or anyone else) from finding out the truth of Gallifrey's dissapearence. That way, he could still have a redeeming (for his wartime activities) ending. His regeneration in his TARDIS doesn't really make sense.

    Overall, I really liked it. Its wonderful, until the Zygon threat is dealt with (offscreen, sadly). And the absolute fankwank that is all the Doctors around Gallifrey was fantastic (which reminds me, was the First Doctor's dialogue newly recorded material from John Guilor?). But IMO, this is not anywhere near Moffat's best work - Empty Child, Blink, Eleventh Hour, and yes, even Night of the Doctor... Which reminds me - that prequel WAS better than the actual special, wasn't it?

    Still, a really fun evening. Can't wait for the XMas special - or as it may be called, Silence Will Fall (sounds like a good title).
     
  5. JoeZhang

    JoeZhang Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Leaving the meta stuff aside, I thought it was pretty obvious who the general audience were suppose to take it to be:

     
  6. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    At this point both sides were pretty much exhausted but the Dalek still had a large conventional force.

    We still number the Master. We are currently on his Sixth KNOWN incarnation.

    Hurt is "The War Doctor" but it's clear that he doesn't call himself the Doctor at this point. There are still technically 12 Doctors but the individual himself has 13 lives.
     
  7. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    "The Time Lord as thirteen lives, and the Master had used all of his. But rules never meant much to him."
     
  8. Starkers

    Starkers Admiral Admiral

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    Loved it, although frankly I'm still processing it :) It probably wasn't perfect, but near as damn it, and what was best of all was that it wasn't remotely what I was expecting. Loved Hurt, loved the Smith/Tennant double act, loved the glimpse of Capaldi, thought Clara was fab and...I have to say, Billie Piper was great, so glad she wasn't Rose.

    Anyway, a great example of celebrating the show's history whilst looking forward, and the search for Galifrey will be interesting. A nice touch that the first Doctor ran away from home, and the (technically) final Doctor is going to try and find his way back.

    I did worry for a moment that Moff was going to really pull the rug out from under us and effectively rewrite history, luckily whilst everything has changed, really nothing has. That is clever writing. Shame we didn't get to see the full regeneration from Hurt to Eccleston but you can't have everything.
     
  9. Pavonis

    Pavonis Commodore Commodore

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    So, all 13 incarnations showed up to save Gallifrey - at least 10 of them must forget that they were there.

    I wonder if we'll get an episode with Capaldi's Doctor showing his arrival at the last day of the Time War from his perspective.

    Oh? I never hear him referred to by number. Simm might be the Sixth Master, but he's not the sixth incarnation of the Master - he might be the 14th or the 400th. Who knows?
     
  10. Darth_Daver

    Darth_Daver Captain Captain

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    Um, I got that exchange, but not what it meant.

    A future incarnation of the doctor that looks like one of his old ones?
     
  11. DWF

    DWF Admiral Admiral

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    I absoluted loved it, Tennant and Smith worked rather well together alomost like how Troughton and Pertwee played off each other. I loved all ther nods and referecences to the past. And oddly enough this really felt like John Hurt's story and he was wonderful in it. I liked they were all going to press the button then found another way and yes they did change history but did in such a way that it appeared as though things happened as they originally did. I also loved seeing all of the Doctors acting together to say Gallifrey. And Tom Baker's cameo was awesome. And I do think that John Hurt's sonic screwdriver will be yet another toy, it's almost like lightsabers red, green and blue. Billie Piper was wonderful too and we saw her as both the personality of the Moment and as Rose Tyler.


    I saw it at a local theater and the audience reaction was incredible and I have a ticket for the big theater showing so it'll interesting to campare the two experiences. But the theater was packed and we saw more than just the special, they showed The Last Day and The Night Of The Doctor as well and several music videos and costume contests.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2013
  12. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    That's the joke behind MISTER SAXON. It's an anagram for MASTER NO. SIX. But you are correct, that's why I said KNOWN incarnations.
     
  13. Yminale

    Yminale Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    It means in the case of regenerations THERE ARE NO MORE RULES! Female Doctor here we come. :guffaw:
     
  14. Chris3123

    Chris3123 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    BBC has put a deleted scene up on the official website. I was able to find it on Youtube:

    [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzEQ7kqTec[/yt]
     
  15. Pindar

    Pindar Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Fantastic, seeing it on the big screen was a treat and the 3D was pretty good.

    The bit with Strax doing the no phones and be quiet bit at the start of the screening was a hoot.
     
  16. Lonemagpie

    Lonemagpie Writer Admiral

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    Oh fuck- watch the Five-ish Doctors on Red Button, and then re-watch Day Of The Doctor...
     
  17. The Nth Doctor

    The Nth Doctor Infinite Possibilities... Premium Member

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    "The Day of the Doctor" was very enjoyable with lots of laughs and great performances by Smith, Tennant, Piper, and especially Hurt.

    What I loved:

    The Ninth Doctor (Hurt really is the Ninth, more on that later) constantly critizing The Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors' sonic screwdrivers, youthful antics, kissing, and timey-wimey.

    Tom Baker's surprise appearance as The Curator despite being very tongue-in-cheek in Baker's usual way. I wish Baker hadn't let the cat out of the bag in the last few days (or at least I wish I hast read it) but it was still very cool to see. I was amused howost of the audience didn't react to his voice but started screaming when they saw his face). However, as enjoyable as this moment was, I really wish it was William Russell instead.

    Speaking of which, the little nod to Ian at the beginning of the episode. I had really hoped he would walk into Clara's classroom. Alas.

    Billie Piper was quite good as The Moment's personality, nicely quiet and subtle. I guess it helps she wasn't Rose. ;) that being said, I don't see why we needed her back as oppose to Louise Jameson, Catherine Tate, or Emma Campbell-Jones (Cass in "The Night of the Doctor").

    Jemma Redgrave was wonderfully fierce as Kate and continues the spirit if the Brigadier.

    The Doctor's solution of the duplicates by making them not know which was human and which was Zygon. If only all peace treaties were so easily achieved.

    A bit fanwanky but it was cool to see that all of The Doctors were involved in making Gallifrey disappear, including a cool, if weird cameo by Capaldi. How all of The Doctors suddenly get involved isn't really explained but I'll let it slide.

    Likewise, a bit fanwanky, but the closing shot was cool but it naturally lacked Capaldi. They don't want to reveal his costume just yet.

    I doubt this was part of the global broadcast but the theatrical release had two wonderful shorts prior to the presentation. The first, Strax telling viewers all the things they should and shouldn't do during the show. The second, The Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors preparing us for the 3D experience (and The Twelfth Doctor letting slip that the 100th anniversary features 57 Doctors).


    What I didn't quite like:

    The scientist with the scarf and inhaler. I didn't really see the need for the character other than too make fun if eccentricity fans. Good for a gag or two, but tot need more than that for a character and she didn't get that. No fault of the actress. She did fine with what little she got.

    The Zygons were largely underutilized and used mostly as a case example for The Ninth Doctor. They looked incredible so I hope we'll see them again.


    What I'm not sure how I feel about:

    So The Moment and the actions of The Ninth Doctor happened...and yet didn't happen. In a way, this felt like a case of having the cake and eating it, too. Yes, all the drama of the Eccleston and Tennant seasons are still "valid" because of the amnesia, but now Thera the easy out if him not actually doing it. I'll have to give this a couple of more viewings to let this really sink in.

    And if course that leaves the case of the numbering of The Doctor incarnations. By the the end of the story, The Ninth Doctor is accepted by The Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors and make a point of calling him "Doctor," thus mooring the case if "Well, he doesn't view him as 'The Doctor' so he doesn't get counted." I guess this was Moffat's big game-changer (and not the possible return of Gallifrey). I'm already trying to get into the habit if renumbering but I know this is going to be hotly debated for years to come.


    Overall, the episode is far from perfect and I could easily over criticize it like all the previous anniversary and multi-Doctor specials, but I'll accept it for what it is: a wonderful celebration of a great series.

    That being said, I still prefer Big Finish's The Light at the End even though I know many people don't seem to enjoy it as much as I do.

    Lastly, I can't believe I typed this whole thing on my mobile. It'll be good to be back to my computer tomorrow at long last.
     
  18. Haggis and tatties

    Haggis and tatties Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Good stuff, now i want to watch it again, just trying to figure out how i get it in 3d on the iplayer, normal version is there but that does not seem to offer a 3d option.
     
  19. Starkers

    Starkers Admiral Admiral

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    My favourite bit? Confusing the polarity! :lol:
     
  20. Marc

    Marc Fleet Admiral Premium Member

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    Probably a lot easier for the daleks to rebuild their forces (cloning kaled mutants, rapid growth in vats, slave labor to produce the raw materials etc).

    Think that attack on Gallifrey was the final stage of the war (think the Germany army marching in France in 1940 after marching through half of Europe).

    From the Night on the Doctor and the comment about the Zygon's home planet burning in the early days of the war, its raged across the universe with many civilizations caught in the crossfire and destroyed.