On November 23, 1963 the Doctor was born. Fifty years later we celebrate The Day of the Doctor. This fiftieth anniversary special looks into its past, its present and the possible future of the good Doctor. Anytime you deal with time, the subject of continuity is always a factor. Given that Doctor Who is a Time Lord, continuity can be an easy fix.
The Day of the Doctorhas three distinct timelines and serves as a reboot of what we knew and what we thought we knew about Doctor Who. The special begins with the present and current Doctor (Matt Smith) who (no pun intended) is summoned by U.N.I.T. to come to the National Gallery. He is summoned on this day from instructions left behind by Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen as we will learn, turns out to be the Tenth Doctor’s wife. Enter the previous incarnation, David Tennant. Confused yet? Don’t worry you’re not alone.
They are brought together because apparently there has been a riff in the time line. This riff comes from 3D paintings that has been altered at the National Gallery that depicts the last days of the time war. Who has caused this or how it has been done is left the Eleventh Doctor to figure out. With the help of course of the Tenth Doctor.
As this is happening we are introduced once again to the War Doctor (John Hurt) who first appeared during the 7th series finale, The Name of the Doctor. He is hell bent on ending the Time War against the Daleks once and for all by sacrificing Gallifrey, the home world of the time lords and destroying the Daleks. He can do this with a stolen weapon of mass destruction, a galaxy eater. But he struggles with the morality of such a decision. Adding to that problem, this weapon of mass destruction has a conscience and that conscience takes the shape of future companion, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper).
There are consequences in destroying Gallifrey. There is an alternative solution. This is where the Tennant and Smith come into play. They convince the War Doctor to change his mind. It is through them that he sees his future self. He no longer has to live with the guilt of what he was about to do. He becomes more than just a War Doctor. He agrees and one of the biggest highlights was watching the three doctors from three different time periods attack a singular time period to restore its past and its present. All the while setting a different path for the future. They are able “time lock” and save Gallifrey. So now the future is set and the Doctor must now seek out and find Gallifrey.
In the end the War Doctor and Tenth Doctor depart, leaving the Eleventh Doctor to carry on. While in his own Tardis the War Doctor begins the regeneration process that will ultimately lead to the creation of the First Doctor and sets into motion all the adventures that will follow from the past 50 years. Thus bringing everything full circle… mostly. Whew!
Overall, I am very happy with this special. I thought Smith and Tennant were great together. Their banter was terrific if not too short. They look like they’re having fun with this iconic character that both men have played so well and yet so differently. The special concludes with a nod to its history. It becomes a prologue for the future of the series. Every incarnation is shown and is looking out into the unknown of space. A very fitting ending or beginning if you will.
I do believe that long time show runner, Steven Moffat has pulled a “New 52” type of housecleaning ala DC Comics with this special. Is it a good thing? Only time will tell. By doing this, some of the oddities of its past has been corrected or at the very least given a makeover. Much like what has happened with DC Comics, some will embrace it while others may reject it. I for one is willing to embrace it. I always felt that I was missing something from its past. With this, I along with many other Whovians will get a clean slate.
Soon enough we’ll say goodbye and thank you to Matt Smith and hello the twelve doctor, Peter Capaldi.
I look forward to further adventures of Doctor Who beginning with the Christmas special set to air on Christmas Day.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
