The Doctors embark on their greatest adventure in this 50th anniversary special. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.
Doctor Who is not just a TV show, it is a institution. Nothing highlights it more than the fact that this, the 50th Anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor set a Guinness World Record for the largest ever simulcast of a TV drama after being broadcast in 94 countries. Millions around the world tuned in to see the celebrations unfold: Be it at home, in a bar or at a cinema for one of the many special 3D screenings.
The episode wasn’t a full on, overindulgent celebration of the show. Previous multi-Doctor events have fallen into the trap of playing up the novelty aspect of it all. There are moments where novelty is touched on but the story itself is fast paced, addresses multiple story arcs hinted at in seasons past and marks a real turning point for the character of the Doctor himself. Much has been said about this episode changing the dynamics of the show, and in a sense it does.
The episode opens with a touching nod to the first ever episode and soon Matt Smith’s Doctor (Eleven) is dangling from his TARDIS while being lifted by helicopter across London to the National Gallery where an incident requires his attention. This is cut with Ten (David Tennant) in 1562 confronting a shapeshifting Zygon in the court of Elizabeth I. And finally we have the War Doctor (John Hurt), the incarnation the Doctor himself refuses to acknowledge and revealed in last season’s finale The Name of the Doctor. He stands on Gallifrey on the last day of thew Time War with the Daleks, finally declaring “No More” and ready to take terrible steps to end the conflict for the sake of the Universe. The tool for this is ‘The Moment’ a weapon so advanced it has developed a consciousness, the interface takes the form of Rose Tyler/Bad Wolf (Billie Piper) to converse with the War Doctor and permit him to justify his use of the weapon. Before that, she shows him the outcome of his act, upon Gallifrey, the Universe and most pertinently himself, offering a window into his own future so he can see the man he becomes in future incarnations, weighed down by his act of genocide.
This means The Day of the Doctor is a play on A Christmas Carol, accompanied by the ghost-like figure of Rose/Bad Wolf, the War Doctor gets to know his successors while playing a part in preventing a time traveling force of Zygons using relics from Elizabethan England to invade our present day. The Zygons, last seen in 1975 are the result of some marvelous CGI and practical effects married together. Their shapeshifting tendencies playing to some great comedy and shock effect. The last days of the Time War were also impressively, and at times horrifyingly, realized. The episode juggled all this deftly but the real story was that of the Doctor and his decision. John Hurt’s character shunned the his own name due to the acts he committed during the war. Better than anything previously this episode highlights the Doctor’s lonely, guilt-ridden journey through time and space since the loss of his people. This wracked soul is still there deep inside his later regenerations giving us Ten (who regrets) and Eleven (who forgets).
A line from the War Doctor expresses the sentiment “what makes you ashamed of being a grown up?” It is an interesting commentary of the Doctor since his revival, regenerations/actors being younger and younger. The slant on this now is that the last time he was a grown up it involved deciding to destroy two entire species. What happens here allows a measure of peace to descend allowing him to move on and grow up, naturally paving the way for Peter Capaldi. The resolution and reaffirmation of the War Doctor as deserving of the name is incredibly touching. It is not a cheap reset; we do have a game changer on our hands, but one skillfully done. The Doctor and indeed the show is given a new course to follow, hope is imbued, the darkness that has tinged the Doctor for so long is lifted and the effects it will have are going to be very interesting to follow.
As you’d expect, the performances of Tennant and Smith are magical; their interplay and verbal sparring hilarious. Tennant slips back into his suit and converse with ease, his edgy Doctor contrasting with the quirkier Smith. Quips about ‘sand shoes’ and ‘chins’ aplenty but each knowing how to play the part perfectly to remind you they are both different sides of the same person. John Hurt was simply superb in the role as the haggered War Doctor. His withering assessment of his successors’ behavior at times being both funny and on point. It was actually fantastic to have an older Doctor make his presence known again and an acting force like Hurt gave immense gravitas to the role. Seeing a wiser and more mature portrayal of the Doctor has only increased my excitement for the arrival of Capaldi. Clara (Jenna Coleman) endeared herself more to both the audience and two new iterations of the Doctor while it was great to see Billie Piper return in a mesmerizing performance as ‘The Moment’, adding a further layer as to why the Ninth Doctor was drawn to her. Joanna Page’s Elizabeth I was functional but lacked the real authority you would expect from such a figure.
An anniversary wouldn’t be proper without a few nods to the past and they are peppered throughout. The most significant and touching one coming in the closing minutes with a luxurious voice that wraps around you like a long scarf signaling the reappearance of an old and perhaps future face. An incredibly tender moment that hints of magic and surprises to come from a show celebrating its 50th year.
The Day of the Doctor isn’t perfect. It’s a little clunky in parts; the action scene introduction felt a little shoehorned in too. It also seemed to have conveniently been forgotten how the Time War had turned the Time Lords into a menace as deadly as the Daleks, instead here they were portrayed as mere victims. My biggest issue was not something in the episode but rather something missing. There is no Nine due to Christopher Eccleston declining an opportunity to take part. With reflections on the path of the Doctor after the Time War it was sad to miss out on the closest regeneration to the act who showed an incredible raw hurt and devastation over his role. It may have thrown the episode out of balance, the interplay between the serious and brooding Hurt tempered by the performances of Tennant and Smith being of great success here. But a talent like Eccleston would have been welcome. Quibbles aside, the pure emotion and magnitude of the episode sweeps you along and the flaws are largely irrelevant.
There really is nothing comparable to Doctor Who; its history a glorious trove that can be mined from to touch people of all ages and yet time and time again provide original new stories. No show can raise the heartrate with the simple glimpse of a recognizable set of eyes (Thirteen) or an object as simple as a long multi-colored scarf or fez. It is very British but has struck a chord all over the world. The Day of the Doctor celebrates this with aplomb, hitting all the notes you would expect from an anniversary show and even more. John Hurt’s emotional performance really elevates the whole affair and the handling of his role in the Doctor’s past is wonderfully done as is his acceptance and eventual right to stand side by side with his fellow Doctors. The change here means the dynamic of the show has been shifted. The days of the wandering lonely Time Lord have gone; hope is returned, and acceptance too. A Doctor more at peace with himself. Where the show goes from here is still to be determined, but it will be, as always, exciting to find out.
*Great summary image courtesy of HalloweenCostumes.com