Doctor Who Reaction: 50th Anniversary "The Day of The Doctor"

By: Steven Moffat

**Spoilers**
If you have not yet seen this episode, please go and do so before proceeding.

              Doctor Who is the longest-running sci-fi show in all of television history. It's unique design and set-up make it perfectly suited to running as long as people are willing to keep making it. For many it is a lifestyle - dictating favourite quotes, teaching morals, and reminding us of history and literature. This year on November 23rd this extraordinary show celebrated its 50th birthday with a special episode created just for the momentous occasion. I watched it and it is only now that I find myself able to quite put my thoughts to paper.
                 
               So was this episode everything that it was built up to be? No - of course not! Nothing ever can live up to the hype and expectations. That's just humanly impossible. Did it do its job of celebrating the anniversary of a cultural phenomena that has lasted half a century? You bet it did!

             I love that we actually got to see the 10/Elizabeth I wedding that has been alluded to so many times over the years (even if I did think that the resolution of her arc was a bit rushed) and I was so, so excited to see the pictures of Susan Foreman, not to mention the fact that Clara was teaching at her former school. I squealed like a little girl whenever the titles started up (and whenever 10 put on the fez) and had a soppy grin on my face the whole way through.


What I liked:

- Rose Tyler (or rather: Bad Wolf) was AMAZING! Whenever I first heard that Rose was coming back for the 50th I groaned and instantly ranted to my brother about how annoying this was going to be. I am not a Rose Tyler fan. I don't passionately hate her but I just find her whole character arc to be handled very poorly. But here - I love that they explained a bit more about Bad Wolf (because I always wondered what that was and where it came from) and that she was quite likable. There was a certain Idris madness about her. but also you could see all of Rose's good qualities (like the friendly smiles and passionate good intentions). If this Rose Tyler had appeared in her original series I think I might love her. As it is, Bad Wolf/The Moment didn't convince me to love Rose...but did I ever enjoy watching her here!

- 10 & 11 arguing with the War Doctor. I could just watch these guys bicker all day, really I could. I also loved the little clip we got of Capaldi as the 13th Doctor and I fangirled so hard whenever all 13 of the Doctors appeared on screen with their 13 TARDIS'.

- Gallifrey is back! Much as I enjoyed The Doctor's arc before, I can't wait to see how this new story will unfold.

- Daleks were not overused, Zygons looked great, the Time Lord Council's costumes are as stupid-looking as ever (and I've seen The Master from the television movie!).

- 10 in a fez.


- TOM BAKER SHOWED UP AT THE END!!!!



What I didn't like:

- It was over too soon. Now I know that sounds rather corny and typical, but I feel like there were some elements that could have benefited from a slightly longer running time. The Queen Elizabeth plot, for instance, was resolved far too easily and too reminiscent of Davies Forced Exposition. But overall they did a wonderful job with the time they had.

- None of the Classic doctors (aside from Tom Baker) appeared in anything but stock footage. This was supposed to be a 50th-Anniversary, not the anniversary for the revived series. 

- Christopher Eccleston was not in the episode. Don't get me wrong - I respect the man for having a stance on something and refusing to compromise what he believed to be a right decision. That being said...couldn't we at least have had a regeneration scene? 

            And that is all I have to say about The Day of The Doctor. It was a great experience, a roller-coaster ride of emotions, and an episode that I know I will watch over and over again. It was funny, touching, sad, and hopeful and it did its job of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of a wonderful show about as close to perfectly as we could hope for. Bravo, Steven Moffat! I give it a 4/5.



What did you think? Do you agree with my rating? If not - what would you say differently?