Doctor Who: Time of the Doctor Review

The Time of the Doctor has arrived and now Matt Smith's run has come to a close. Does the Time of the Doctor prove to be a fitting sendoff to one of the most popular Doctors, or is a disappointing end to his run?

Since some readers may have not seen the episode, I will provide warnings before I go into spoiler territory. However, you can watch the entire episode at this link if you have not seen it yet.

Despite being hated by a few, Matt Smith's run as the Doctor has been the most successful and popular runs of any Doctor, and it has given us some of the best episodes and moments of the series. The critical response to the episode has been mostly positive to average, the fan response has been mostly positive as well, and there are a few others that disliked the episode immensely. But, overall, most viewers were pleased. 

Here is a quick non-spoiler review of the episode: "The Time of the Doctor" gives us a fitting end to Matt Smith's run that is equal parts fun and sad. Matt Smith is fantastic as always, and Jenna Coleman as Clara is even more lovable than before. She is actually given something to throughout the episode. However, the story lacks logic and it contains some noticeable plot holes, which hamper it in the end. Now skip down to the Overall rating for my final thoughts if you have not seen the episode yet, but if you have, continue reading for my full spoiler review. 

*Spoilers Ahead*

Since there are so many questions brought up, and so many confusing plot points, I have a series of thoughts in no particular order.

Matt Smith was better than ever, particularly in the dramatic scenes. He played the elderly Doctor brilliantly, and his ending speech literally gave me chills: "We all change when you think about it…and that’s OK as long as you remember the people you used to be. I won’t forget this, not one day. I will always remember when the Doctor was me." Truly fantastic lines to end his run. The old age makeup was rather impressive. It was better than most movies I have seen. The Doctor aging was rather unexpected, however, my theory is that he is aging because he was so close to the rip in time or he was on his last regeneration.

The "Silence Will Fall when the Question is Asked" storyline has finally come to an end, although the inclusion of it was clunky and felt forced. Also the "Pandorica Opens" and the cracks in time story from season five is somewhat explained as being the Time Lords trying to come back. Basically, the episode tried to provide closure to all of the major plot threads of Smith's run, and those aspects felt unnecessarily rushed. There was way too much plot for one episode to cover along with the regeneration of the Doctor in just 60 minutes. The story would have been better served with an extra 20 to 30 minutes, but it still manages to pull it off in the end.

The humor in the episode was absolutely spot on! I laugh a lot during the earlier parts of the episode. However, The Doctor being naked joke was a little too silly and awkward, but it did produce some good laughs. It actually reminded me of the scene I posted below from when Tennant's Doctor was cloned.

The Time Lords using the Doctor saying his name as a locator is kind of dumb. If they heard Clara when she convinced them to help the Doctor, how did they not know the Doctor was there? But after re-watching the episode I figured out that they are asking the question so that the Doctor would tell them when it is safe to return. However, there is another unexplained thing, which is why did the Time Lords place a truth field if they are relying on the Doctor's help. He literally says, "If I give my they will know that this is the right place and that it is safe to come through." Also why did the Cybermen head transmit the message to everyone? 

When the Doctor explains to Clara that he is on his thirteenth regeneration he states, "Number Ten once regeneration and kept the same face; I had vanity issues at the time." When did this happen? If someone knows please comment and let me know. I feel as though I kind of remember that happening, but it has been years since watching those episodes, therefore I am not sure. Also, I assume he is referring to Tennant and not Eccleston if the War Doctor does not count.

With no more generations left how can the Doctor possibly save the day? Space-Magic, yes, it was basically Space-Magic, or a Deus ex machina if you prefer. The Time Lords send him a new regeneration cycle and the day is save. Why? Because Doctor Who is too good of a show to end, and hopefully it will never end for as long as I live. It made it 50 years, and it make it another 50 years. 

Also, what exactly was everyone trying to do and who was fighting who? Was the Cybermen, the Daleks, the Weeping Angels, and whatever else that decided to attack, sole objective to kill the Doctor so that he would not bring the Time Lords back? Maybe The Doctor would have just left if his TARDIS returned as planned. 

The cameo by Amy was a nice and sweet moment that worked very well. On the other hand, why did he see Amy other than she was the first person that saw his face. Technically, she is his mother-in-law, but he still kind of acts like he is in love with her, which is a little weird. Nonetheless, the scene was great. 

The "psycho space-nun," Tasha Lem, first appeared as weird, but later in the episode I really liked her character. She also took a big risk flying the TARDIS when she is partially controlled by the Dalek though, but her comment about flying the TARDIS was quite humorous saying, "Flying the TARDIS was always easy; flying the Doctor I never quite mastered." 

The way Smith left was perfect. Unlike when Tennant's Doctor regenerated, where he complained, "I don't want to go" and that he is not the same person, which is completely inaccurate, Smith gave us hope and reassurance that no matter which incarnation he will always be the Doctor. He went out like a man and he will always remembered. Do not get me wrong, Tennant was an awesome Doctor, maybe my favorite, but in retrospect, the Tenth Doctor acted as if he was actually dying, and not regenerating. He is still essentially the same person with the same memories, just with a different body and some personality differences. 

Now for Peter Capaldi's zany 45 seconds as the twelfth or thirteenth or fourteenth or whatever number you designate him as, Doctor. "Kidneys, I've got new kidneys; I don't like the color!" Despite the limited time we got to see him, I am confident that he will do well. Jacob theorizes that the Doctor has forgotten everything, which is why he is asking how to fly the TARDIS. Right before he regenerated he talked about how he will never forgot, which sets up him forgetting.

*End Spoilers*

Overall: 9.5/10- Admittedly, "The Time of the Doctor" has its problems as it tries to do too many things in one episode and there is little logic behind what is happening some of the time, but despite those problems, the episode nailed it where it needed to most: Matt Smith's saddening sendoff. Everything about the characters worked, and even though the plot did not make sense the entire time, the ambition shown in the episode is admirable and a worthy sendoff from to the Doctor. Additionally, from a personal enjoyment rating the episode would receive a 11/10 (see what I did there?).

Now I will leave you with this cool gif.

Please check tomorrow for my New Year's Blogging Resolutions!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: Day of the Doctor Review

Thoughts: Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. Does The Day of the Doctor live up the absurdly high expectations fans of the series have set? If you have not seen the episode, click here to watch it now in its entirety.
First off, the episode opened with the original black and white opening from the series inception, which is a perfect thing to do for the 50th Anniversary. Second, David Tennant is back and he is better than ever! His brilliant performance in the episode makes me wish he had never left or that we could see more of him somehow. The Day of the Doctor is like a Doctor Who episode on a theatrical budget and the episode was even released in select theaters, in 3D no less. It is basically a movie in both scale and entertainment, and it is better than most of the ones I have seen this year. The Day of the Doctor hit every note from the emotional to the comical, and if you are a fan of the series, you will at least find something to like. What I did enjoy is that the episode did not go for an all out style over substance with the larger budget. But instead, it focuses on what makes the Doctor tick, and why he acts the way he does. Both Tennant and Smith's incarnation of the Doctor are developed and the reasons they act the way they do is revealed and explained. He is a literal "Madman in a Box" because of the inner struggle of trying to forget all of the billions he has murdered to save the universe. This is one of the few times that we get to know more about the Doctor's character as he reflects about his past and future selves. It is basically a character study of the Doctor, which is fantastic.

John Hurt's incarnation of the Doctor, or "War-Doctor" is rather excellent. His performance was incredibly strong in the role and portrayed the Doctor's conflict perfectly. He is the embodiment of every angry classic Who "fanboy," which makes for rather amusing scenes when he berates his future selves for their "wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey" sayings.

My biggest complaint has nothing to do with the episode itself, rather Christopher Eccleston's decision to not to return, and even though John Hurt was "Fantastic!" in the role, Eccleston was originally intended to be that Doctor. Having him in the episode would have made it even better, but that is neither Moffat's or the crew's fault.

*Major Spoilers*
One of the best parts of the episode was when all of the Doctors came to save Gallifrey from its ultimate demise. I literally had chills during that scene and seeing all of the Doctors, both new and old, was absolutely "Fantastic!"
What turned out to be a pleasant surprise is what was not in the episode, rather than what was in it. Thankfully, River did not make an appearance, and while I like the character for the most part, the more I see her, the less I like her. Since "The Wedding of River Song," my patience with the character was wearing thin. Additionally, Captain Jack, Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax, fortunately did not make an appearance, and I was even glad that the other companion did not appear in the episode, since they would only distract from the focus, The Doctor(s). However, having Clara along was great and, as before, I loved her character.

Despite how much I loved the episode, I do have a few minor flaws. The first of which being the Zygons. They were decent enemies and a cool callback to the classic era, but why are they the antagonists of the 50th Anniversary special? Overall, they served their purpose of driving the plot forward. My other minor problem is the "Zygon" leaving the door unlocked was a little too silly for its own good, especially after the Doctors figure out how to make the calculation to disintegrate it, which sets up the final scene perfectly. My last problem are the few plot holes, like what happened to the rest of the Daleks if "The Moment" did not destroy them? Although, if the moment did destroy all of them the first time, how were there still Daleks for the Doctor during the series?

Now for the references and cameos. First off, we have the Osgood woman wearing a scarf that is obvious a reference to Tom Baker's Doctor and Smith even comments, "Nice scarf." Peter Capaldi makes a surprising appearance in the episode. As for Capaldi's future Doctor, I am extremely optimistic and look forward to seeing an older Doctor. As Tennant is leaving he says, "I don't want to go," and Smith tells Clara, "He always says that," which made me laugh hysterically! But the best part in terms of references has to be Tom Baker at the end as the "The Curator." Of course there were other references and such, but there are far too many to mention here.
*End Spoilers*


The Good: David Tennant returns!, Moving story, Great sense of humor, Unexpected cameos, John Hurt is an amazing Doctor, Balances humor and story effectively, References to both Classic and NuWho, Billie Piper gave a delightful performance, Less is more, Meta-humor, Just about everything, Smith and Tennant playing off each other, Fan-service abound, Impressive special effects, Deeper study of the Doctor's character,

The Bad:


Plot: 10/10- While there are some logical flaws, as mentioned above, the story gets it right where it is important, the characters, specifically, the Doctor in all of his incarnations. The reasons why the Doctor is the way he is and how he has changed since ending the Time War is studied in depth. The dialogue is snappy, witty, and often hilarious! Clara was used well, being the only companion to truly be apart of the episode, however she never overshadowed the Doctor(s). Some of the events of "The Name of Doctor" were left unanswered, however we will probably receive our answers in the Christmas special.

Action: 8.2/10- The battle on Gallifrey is quite impressive considering that Doctor Who is usually on a television budget. While there is some typical running around action that we come to expect from Doctor Who, the episode is fortunately more about the characters and less about the spectacle.

Acting: 10/10- David Tennant was fantastic as the Doctor again! He might have been even better than before. Matt Smith is reliably funny and clever as always giving a perfect performance. John Hurt gave a surprisingly fun and strong performance as the "War-Doctor." Billie Piper's performance was delightfully zany and fun as the mysterious "Moment." Joanna Page as Queen Elizabeth I was noticeably weaker than the rest of the cast. For such an iconic historical figure, a better actress should have been chosen. However, the rest of the cast was fine.

Special effects: 10/10- Compared to any other Doctor Who episode, the special effects are stunning and high quality. While not always on par with theatrical films, the effects are rendered very well.

Soundtrack: 10/10- Doctor Who's soundtracks are always amazing, but The Day of the Doctor featured some memorable tracks that I cannot wait to be released on their own. Also, opening the episode with the classic Doctor Who opening was positively brilliant! If anyone knows where I can listen to the soundtrack, please let me know.

Comedy: 10/10- The Day of the Doctor featured many hilarious jokes, inside references, and all around witty and humorous dialogue. Everything was spot on perfect in terms of humor, and never did a joke fall flat.

Would I Watch This Again: While I do not normally rewatch episodes of anything, The Day of the Doctor is an exception to rule because I have rewatched it and will certainly watch and rewatch it many more times.

Overall: 10/10- As a fan of Doctor Who, giving The Day of the Doctor a non-bias rating is nearly impossible, however it completely exceeded all of my expectations for the film/episode and it makes me hopeful for what is to come.

Closing comments: If you are a Doctor Who fan, chances are you have already seen it, if not, what are you waiting for!?

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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who Owns the Box Office!

Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor, made a staggering $4.8 million at the U.S. box office! Even in its limited release of 660 theaters, the Day of the Doctor ranked second at the box office between Catching Fire on Monday, which is quite an achievement. Doctor Who has never been more popular and seeing it performance at the box office is a "Fantastic!" sign for the continuing future of the franchise. Additionally, the Day of the Doctor racked up $204,000 in the U.S. box office and $2.9 million on limited Saturday screenings, which isn't too shabby either. Unfortunately, the Day of the Doctor was not shown in a theater anywhere close to where I live, and I am not even sure if it was shown outside of Atlanta in my home state. What are your thoughts on the Day of the Doctor's success? Please comment below and check back next week for my full spoilery review of the episode.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: Day of the Doctor First Impressions

The long awaited Day of the Doctor 50th Anniversary special of Doctor Who. Did it deliver what we were promised? 

Since not everyone has seen the Day of the Doctor yet, this will be spoiler free. However, in a full review I will discuss the episode in detail.

First impression: WOW! Just wow, Day of the Doctor completely blew me away! It was entirely different than what I had expected and even better than I had expected. David Tennant is back and better than ever. He reminded me how much I still miss seeing him as the Doctor and his back and forth dialogue exchange with Smith was positively brilliant! Why can't Tennant return!? The episode had a few very minor flaws, but overall, it is everything that I could have ever asked for and then some. The episode was chock full of references and Easter Eggs to both Classic and NuWho. The cameos were great and I just loved the episode. The Day of the Doctor has some almost movie quality effects, which are superior to just about everything we have seen previously on the series. John Hurt's Doctor was fantastic! I almost wish we was the new Doctor. Some time in the next two weeks, I will probably have a full review with spoilers, so check back for that. 

Have you seen the episode? If so, please tell me what you think!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Day of the Doctor Countdown!

Today is the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who is upon us and with it, the highly anticipated Day of the Doctor 50th Anniversary special premiering tonight! To celebrate I have several cool Doctor Who related videos, including How It Should Have Ended version of Doctor Who and a video about Doctor Who's iconic theme. Tomorrow I will most likely have a first impressions post with my initial thoughts on the episode. 

Below are two hilarious Doctor Who videos by HISHE. If you have not seen the episode, "Doomsday," spoilers are ahead.

Here is one of my favorite webseries on Geek and Sundry Vlogs. On each episode of the vlog, they make their own rendition of different main themes from various geeky things and give out unique information on the theme's background and inception. 

For whatever reason, you cannot watch this video unless you click on the link to the video and watch it on YouTube. This is a mini-webisode shows us how the 9th Doctor, Paul McGann, turned into John Hurt's "War-Doctor," who is apparently the Doctor from the Time War. Seeing McGann return was nice and this surprising dark tale is a rather cool setup to the Day of the Doctor special later today. 

Will you be watching the 50th Anniversary special? If not tonight, when will you be watching?

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 5 Doctor Who Villains

The Day of the Doctor is almost upon and to countdown its arrival, I have a couple of Doctor Who related posts. The first is today's Top 5 Doctor Who Villains. For my villains list, I will mostly be focusing on the recent Doctor Who series opposed to the classic because I have seen more of it. Additionally, with the exception of a few notable Doctor Who antagonists like The Master, many of the best Doctor Who are not individual entities, rather they are entire species of alien creates and some are more along the lines of horror monster, and those are the ones that intrigue me the most. The creeper villains are the ones that stick with the most growing up watching Doctor Who, therefore this list will consist mostly of the Doctor's more monstrous foes. A quick honorable mention goes to The Master, and while he is a great villain, he has never been my personal favorite. "Allons-y!"

At Number 5: Vashta Nerada

One of the many creepy foes of the Doctor, the Vashta Nerada are notable for taking something already generally considered creepy and making it horrifying, the shadows. We humans have always been afraid of the dark to some capacity and the Vashta Nerada capitalizes on that fear.  

At Number 4: The Silence

Unfortunately, you will not be able to remember the picture I have posted above since it is one of the Silence, but trust me, there is a picture there. Okay, enough with the jokes, the Silence are one of the best villains recently introduced into the Doctor Who lore. They have a genuinely creepy presence, and the concept of forgetting you ever saw them after you look away is the most ingenious idea for a monster since the Weeping Angels. 

At Number 3: Empty Child

"Are you my mummy?" If children weren't already the creepiest thing ever, the Empty Child brings it to a whole other level. Only zombie children come close. When I first saw the episode, "The Empty Child" back in 2005 when I was a relatively young fan of the series, it creeped the living day lights out me. To this day, one of the most memorable Doctor Who experiences is watching that two episode story arc, even if Jack ruins part of it. Steven Moffat's first forte into the Doctor Who universe produced one of his many brilliantly constructed and creepy villains of the series run. 

At Number 2: Daleks

"Exterminate!" Sure the Daleks may look like trashcans with a plunger and whisk attached to the front of them, but they are easily the most iconic and classic of all Doctor Who villains. Being introduced in a story arc of the original Doctor Who run, the Daleks have been the Doctor's greatest foe for decades. We will see the Daleks again in the Day of the Doctor this Saturday.

At Number 1: Weeping Angels

"Whatever you do, don't blink. Blink and you're dead. They are fast. Faster than you can believe. Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. Good Luck." Weeping Angels are hands down the creepiest antagonist in all of the Doctor Who universe. Being introduced in one of the best best science fiction horror stories ever conceived, "Blink," the Weeping Angels have become the most iconic villain of the NuWho era. They are the Xenomorphs (Alien from the Alien film) of the Doctor Who universe and often considered the best of the Doctor's foes. Sure, the Statue of Liberty being a Weeping Angel and "Angel Bob" are a bit ridiculous, no other of the Doctor's villains have made so many suspenseful and heart-pounding episodes of the series. Plus, they are "The only psychopaths in the universe to kill you nicely." You can read my full review of the iconic Doctor Who episode, "Blink," by clicking here on the link.

What did you think of my list? There are many honorable mentions that could have made the list like the Cybermen and the Clockwork Droids. What are some of your favorite Doctor Who villains? Please comment below.

Note: While I use the term "creepy" multiple times, I have rarely been truly "scared" by anything in movies or television, including Doctor Who, however many of the villains above do create genuine suspense and thrills. 

Check back tomorrow for more Doctor Who posts!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.