Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor - Review

After three series, three Christmas episodes (excluding this one) and one of the biggest anniversary events in the shows history, this eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) obviously should be sent off in an epic fashion, as well as tying a few knots throughout elevens run as the Doctor. This episode had to do a lot to send off Matt Smith well, bring in Peter Capaldi perfectly and hold up against its fiftieth anniversary predecessor. Did it manage to do this, lets have a look.

(I won't look at every detail there is in the episode, as that would be a hell of a lot to write.)

Handles

The episode starts off with the Doctor teleporting to different spaceships, including most notably the Daleks and Cybermen. My first nit-pick arises when the Doctor has the sudden ability to teleport into different places. At no point as I can remember that this was explained. It doesn't bother me too much, but it's not explained to how this can happen.

The episode also starts off with the introduction of a new character, 'Handles'. I actually really liked Handles. He provoked a bit of humor in some places. A notable example is the scene about patching the telephone into the main console unit. This is actually where a tiny nit-pick comes in, earlier in series seven, part two. I could remember seeing a hatch and a handle on the inside of the TARDIS, allowing the use of the phone inside. However, either this hatch disappeared or the Doctor is a bit of an idiot. However, it does make for a funny scene, so I'm not complaining too much.

The scenes with Matt Smith naked annoyed me a little, it didn't seem needed. The scene itself embarrassed me a little, especially if I was watching with someone else. I would fear they would question my TV tastes and turn the channel over. However, moving onto a lighter note, I absolutely loved the scenes including Clara's family. It really got touching when Clara and her Gran were telling stories. To be honest, Jenna Louise-Coleman's performance in the episode is great, which really helped to the atmosphere and how she sees the Doctor.

Tasha Lem... I could go on four hours about this. I didn't like Tasha Lem. There was too much flirting between her and the Doctor. For me, her best bits are when she talks to the Doctor about how Bringing back the Timelords would result in yet more war (which is true).

The return of the crack to some would seem forced, but it is explained perfectly, the weakest scars of the universe is the way the Timelords are trying to enter the universe. Its a great way to reference the eleventh Doctor's past.

One of the main issues I had with the episodes was how some of the monsters acted. For example, at the first, the Silence seemed to be creeping up on Clara ready to get her, yet later on we find out they are actually friendly and there is nothing to worry about. Another one is the weeping angels. they hardly do anything and we never see them again after the Doctor somehow summons the TARDIS with the key, which I will return to in a minute. Where do they go, surely they would make there way to Christmas (the village). What happened, did a Dalek get them or something? Another monster issue is a repeated one. Last seen in the absolutely shocking 'Asylum of the Daleks', we see the 'Dalek, eye-stalk out of the head, people'. The most ridiculous idea. How does a flipping eye stalk fit in a human head when there is a skull, and I don't know, maybe a brain in there? Why not go for a classic idea.

Robo-man from 1964
'Daleks Invasion of Earth'

Perhaps a more discrete version of the 'Robo-men', first seen in 'Daleks Invasion of Earth'. Then it wouldn't look as bloody ridiculous and wouldn't be as scientifically ridiculous. As well as all these, there is a wooden Cyberman. Now, I know that the shield lets anything that isn't technologically advanced onto the surface, for example, a Cyberman. However, you can't just make circuits out of wood. Think about it. I know that modern Doctor Who isn't engulfed in scientific explanations. However you can't make science absolutely redundant in Doctor Who!

Now let me return to the out-of-the-blue TARDIS teleport feature of the TARDIS key. This has obviously been used in many episodes before when the Doctor cannot access his TARDIS! (If you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic.) This is one of those times where Steven Moffat has ran out of ideas. I'm sorry Moffat but you can't just do that. Ask another writer for help if you need it Moffat, I'm sure they will gladly help.

Moving on, Clara's Christmas cracker scene with the Doctor is especially moving. There is nothing negative to say about the scene, it's just beautiful. The way Clara begs the Timelords to help tells us a lot about Clara. She feels strongly about the Doctor, and wants him in her life for a lot longer, and so he will. The issue I have just after this scene is when the Doctor shoots out regeneration energy, destroying the Daleks. Some people argue that we have never seen a Timelord gain new regenerations, however I argue that, once again, Moffat can't get himself out of what he has created.

Now, before I talk about the 'big moment', I just want to comment on Matt Smith's acting this episode. He was flawless. This episode by far his best in terms of acting. The whole episode became just that little bit better, because Matt Smith was there, doing beyond his best! This story needed a lot from him, to have to play different ages, he obviously did it superbly.

Now onto the regeneration. The speech the Doctor gave was moving and at more than one point you were sure he was about to regenerate. The shots of a little girl running around the TARDIS were not so well done. You could easily tell that the girl wasn't actually being played by the same girl who played Amelia. The return of Karen also helped spruce up the regeneration. Making it more moving. At moments though, we aren't just sad for the departure of Matt Smith, we are sad for Clara, who is being shattered by what was going on. Then came the sudden change to Capaldi. The transition itself is very different to the previous. A sudden jolt of orange-yellow light meant the regeneration was over. Some criticize the regeneration as less impressive. I for one don't mind. The regeneration has always been changing. The episode has also got criticism from some saying the Doctor shouldn't forget how to drive the TARDIS. I am sorry, but you should know by now that regeneration muddles up the Doctor's brain. The eight Doctor didn't know who he was after he regenerated!

Watch the regeneration from 11 to 12 here:

I would rate Time of the Doctor 7/10: it's alright. Nothing much to say, there is a lot of good stuff, but a lot of bad stuff as well.