Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013)

Thanks for the memories!

People are voting emotionally.

How sad is this?

Fantastic!

Was bored so found a random movie TV generator type website (Cant remember what), and this came up. Last episode I watched was Tom Baker as The Dr and a guy who looked like he was out of Cats, all a long time ago. Was bored of netflix so thought bugger it why not. So now Im up to the new season 8. Which is every episode I could find from 1963 to now. The amount of time I've spent watching these episodes is shameful. But Im glad I've taken the time off work for it. Well and truly worth it.

"The Day of the Doctor" is the ideal 50th anniversary special: it simultaneously celebrates the past of the series, while opening new roads for the future. Writer Steven Moffat and director Nick Hurran cover all the bases: this episode is funny ("We're confusing the polarity!"), dark, brain-twisting, and epic. The concept of the "paintings" which are really three-dimensional snapshots of reality frozen in time in which it possible to enter (and exit) is brilliant. The team of the three Doctors is extremely entertaining, while Billie Piper, returning as The Moment (a weapon so powerful it has a conscience of its own), gives what is probably her finest performance since the season 2 finale, "Doomsday". Although the episode is fairly accessible to casual fans, series devotees will undeniably get more out of it - call it a reward for their devotion. ***1/2 out of 4.

After 50 years of highs and lows Doctor Who has survived to give hope that even a man with nothing to loose can help as many people as he can. This anniversary episode serves as a brilliant love letter to the show that has changed so many lives. Almost every object that can be seen throughout the special can be tracked back to a previous episode. The acting is perfect and fans who were lucky enough to be at the right spot at the right time were able to be a part of their favorite show. I could not think of a more perfect way to celebrate 50 years of the greatest show to ever grace our television sets. David Tennant is remarkable, one can not help but smile when he is on screen. All 12 actors to have officially portrayed The Doctor are given screen time, even Peter Capaldi who will take on the role Christmas Day 2013 was given a line and screen time.

A great big treat for anyone who has at least loosely followed the show within it's 50 year history. Moffat has met the incredibly difficult task of catering this story to the casual and the hardcore Dr Who fans with his brilliant and dynamic writing. I feel bad for doubting the man I always thought he was losing his touch with overly clever plots that were making him come across as smug but he nailed it here, with this celebratory milestone. This may also be a contender for the funniest Dr Who episode with the humour mainly provided through the banter of Smith, Tennant and Hurt who have amazing chemistry together and deliver the right balance of humour and drama to this feature length romp. (Actually, thinking about it the 1979 story the City of Death cannot be beaten in the humour department but this is the funniest the revitalised series has ever been.) Overall a great episode that will ensue Doctor Who will go on with it's startling and slightly controversial conclusion that may irritate some fans however the two surprise appearances one of a familiar face, another of a taste of what is to come is the icing on the timey wimey cake.