So, I finally got around to watching DAY OF THE DOCTOR.
Mostly on my mom's insistence. We were intending to watch it earlier and stuff like that, but let's say that real life stuff got in the way. Anyway, how was it? It was really good! Loved it. :)
I was actually really hesitant to watch it because I will admit, I sort of heard some spoilers on Tumblr (note to self: get Tumblr Savior installed on Firefox. For fuck's sake. Just in case of times like this), and there was something in me that, while I was happy with the idea of the Doctor finally making peace with the matter of Gallifrey (because he's been through so much, it's just nice to get some degree of a happy ending), and yet at the same time, there was something in me, admittedly, that was sort of hesitant. Just sort of, "This is such a pivotal moment in the Doctor's life, such a horrible, damaging moment, and you're just going to retcon it like it didn't matter?" I mean, granted, yes, there was a time in the Doctor's life before Gallifrey got burned, I'm not denying that, I'm not saying that there's all there is to the show, and I'm not saying that the show would somehow suffer because of it (although I think it was one of those elements that was handled really well. I mean, I liked how they explored the Doctor still recovering from it, I liked the little glimpses we got of the Time War -- burning Gallifrey, for example, and the matter of Rassilon's madness, * and I liked the themes that arose out of it, such as the themes of nonviolence, compassion, kindness, the matter of just about anyone being important no matter who they are, the matter of our darker nature, etc. -- themes, I think, we need in a time like this); heck, a show doesn't have to be angsty for it to be good. It just has to be good for it to be good, and Doctor Who is very much that, really. But that said, when I watched the episode, I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the interplay between the doctors, from the more humorous moments such as the War Doctor going meta (and I really liked the War Doctor. Honestly, I was kind of scared of him in "The Name Of The Doctor" thanks to...I guess it's the whole impact that's had on Eleven when he sees him, but he was just such a nice, sweet guy -- no less from the Doctor, really. Occasionally snarky, but generally just a very lovely person) in regards to the, um, changes that his future regenerations have -- basically going meta about certain things in the revival series without being obnoxious about it -- to the more serious moments when they're discussing the matter of Gallifrey. Ten's reaction was very much in-character for him, I think; of course he would be pissed at the idea of Eleven basically forgetting how many kids there were on Gallifrey when it burnt. ** Honestly, the three actors really worked very well together, and it was definitely lovely to see David Tennant back after so many years. *** And there's a lot of John Hurt in there too, which was definitely a delight, because the War Doctor was just fantastic. I really liked how they went into the matter of his internal conflict regarding the Time War, his guilt, his pain over it -- it was done so well, by both the writing and Hurt's acting (he's a phenomenal actor) that I really felt for him. He really reminded me of a Time Lord version of Wilfred Mott at some points. Badass, wise, occasionally snarky, and very caring. I know scenes like the flashbacks to the Time War -- which I also loved because not only was it good to see another glimpse of the Time War besides the one in "Night of the Doctor" (which I recommend people watch before "The Day of the Doctor" if only because it explains how Eight transitioned into the War Doctor, and in a really well-done, symbolic sort of way too. Like the Doctor Eight used to be -- and it broke my heart even seeing it because I just remember Eight in the TV movie **** and he was just such a sweetheart. It's hard to imagine him becoming this. ***** -- died and the War Doctor was born in his place. The one who could try and end the war) but just because seeing the people running in the streets in Arcadia, the kids hiding behind the adult Time Lords while one of the Daleks just pointed their laser at the poor things...just ugh. *Shivers* I kind of have mixed feelings about the kids thing in general, because on the one hand, it really does show the horror of the whole situation and how the people on Gallifrey were suffering, but on the other end...I think it was sufficiently horrific for Russell T. Davies to basically put "The Doctor wiped out his own people as well as the Daleks". I don't think he needed to necessarily add, "Oh, and by the way, he killed children". Then again, it does actually have a point in terms of showing how horrific the TIme War, and what the Doctor did -- even if it was to end the War -- was. That and cutting to the kids playing in the fields of Gallifrey -- the fields I can only infer were also where the Doctor and the Master played as kids as the Master mentioned in "The End of Time" -- I think it was definitely the context, and showing how horrific what the Doctor did (or nearly did, at least in this episode, because the Doctors decide to Take A Third Option instead), that really made it work. That and the fact that it was really his home, in the end, and his family, his people -- there should have been another way besides what happened.
I kind of find it interesting, really, in this episode and how the events in "The End of Time" are shown, as well as other information -- in the RTD era (as well as Word of God from RTD himself), the Time War was shown as a major Shoot The Dog moment for the Doctor after Rassilon went mad with power and tried to destroy all of creation. And it pretty much destroyed him. It was definitely painted in more of the gray area for the Doctor -- the universe was saved but at a massive, horrific cost. (And according to Russell T. Davies, the events of the TIme War were jumpstarted during the events of "Genesis of the Daleks" when the Time Lords sent the Doctor back in time -- violating their own rules not to interfere, really -- to stop the Daleks' creation or at least have them evolve into "less aggressive creatures", as the Time Lord who greets the Fourth Doctor says ******. Make of that what you will) In this episode, however...well, for starters, Rassilon doesn't really make an appearance, which I admit is a bit weird because he was planning to annihilate everything in creation in "The End of Time". It's not exactly something that you just overlook. Then again, considering the mention by one of the Time Lord generals about the Council debating in the next room, I'm thinking that "The Day of the Doctor" was just a small piece of the picture. Just like the Daleks ravaging Arcadia. The Time War's just one big puzzle, and I think that's another thing that I really like about it -- it's a puzzle. And I quite like puzzles, to be honest. Solving them in real life or in stories -- they're just awesome. That and I just realized something. This is no doubt me stretching again, but in "The End of Time part two", when the Tenth Doctor is torn between shooting the Master and shooting Rassilon, Rassilon says, amongst other things, "The final act of your life will be murder." And in a sense, I think it got a bit of a mirroring in the War Doctor's choice whether or not to use The Moment. The final act of his life would have been murder if Clara and the Moment both hadn't stepped in, basically, to say, "You don't have to do this." And when they do manage to Take A Third Option, it's beautiful to watch. I think the fact that they managed to get all the doctors (or at least footage of them) in somehow during the climax, including a cameo of the upcoming Doctor, Peter Capaldi is also a major Crowning Moment of Awesome for the special. That and managing to lock Gallifrey away in a pocket universe instead of burn it -- and thank God -- and the shot at the end, with Matt Smith narrating, with every single one of the Doctors looking up at Gallifrey. Also a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming because after all this time and all these years, the Doctor's going home.
Honestly, the special had a lot of lovely moments. Ten and Eleven giving the War Doctor a You Are Better Than You Think You Are speech, basically (doubly heartwarming because they'd previously disowned him as the Doctor -- and understandably so -- and now they're accepting him again), the whole scene with Ten, Eleven and the War Doctor getting Kate Lethbridge-Stewart to not blow up the world and instead make peace with the Zygons (I think there's something about the Zygons and their human counterparts they imitated just getting along. No deaths, no destruction, just getting along with one another), the conversation between the War Doctor and Clara (especially the War Doctor praising his future regenerations, which I think is also heartwarming because...well, he wouldn't have met them if the Moment hadn't showed him what he could become if he pressed the button to wipe out the Time Lords and the Daleks. For all they're both damaged -- the man who regrets and the man who forgets, as the Moment calls them -- their desire to save others and their desire to atone, as the War Doctor puts it, have made so many lives better. ******* He believes that they're better men than he is -- he even says so, when they're about to press the button -- which is heartbreaking and lovely at the same time), Clara ultimately inspiring the Doctors to Take a Third Option, the Eleventh Doctor's meeting with the Curator (also, hi, Tom Baker! :D) and the Moment herself -- first I love the concept of her, the idea of a galaxy-destroying weapon with a sort of sentient presence. She's a bit like Idris from "The Doctor's Wife", but while Idris is a bit more...well, sort of Genki with more serious moments, the Moment is more solemn and more sad, with some lighter (if you pardon the word) moments in between. But they're definitely the same sort of archetype (although they're different in conception too; Idris was forced into a human body, and the Moment was always there) -- advisors to the Doctor with wisdom beyond years and very gentle hearts, who do what they can to assist him. In Idris' case, she's his loyal companion, she's always been. In the case of the Moment, she's a heavily empathetic being, especially for a creature expected to destroy worlds. Sort of like the Doctor, in a sense, she's a very gentle soul who doesn't want to destroy things. In the case of the Moment, though, she finds another way. She coaxes him, guides him -- she sets the whole thing in motion, really. And she has a few funny bits, such as when she's mentioning Rose, the form she's taken and she's confused as to whether Rose is someone from the Doctor's past or future (both, actually), but mostly she's very serious. And I like the detail of the Moment taking Rose's face -- after all, Rose was the first person the Ninth Doctor met who ended up making him better. The Moment, assuming that she saw the Doctor's future, no doubt saw that and how much Rose would mean to him, or had meant to him (past, future again, really) and took that guise because it would...well, it would definitely be a form that the Doctor would be comfortable with, for lack of a better word. I'm thinking that after the War Doctor ultimately regenerated (and I like how he at least died at peace -- knowing that he was the Doctor again, and after he had done what was right), as Nine, he became attached to Rose not just because of...well, her being Rose, really (I mean, she's a tough, brave, kind, strong-willed, smart, vibrant woman. It's really no wonder the Doctor loved her.
********) but because she also looked very much like the woman who had helped him during the time things were bleakest. She helped him in the past and she helped him in the present, in multiple senses of the word.
I also liked the humor in the episode. The opening of the special, for instance, when Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is hauling in the TARDIS (also a moment where I was pretty scared for poor Eleven. I mean, holy hell! D:) and Eleven says, basically, "Can't you knock next time?" That and the interactions between the Doctors, such as Ten and Eleven's first meeting, the War Doctor first meeting his future selves (although there was definitely a sort of sadness in terms of the horrified expressions on their faces, especially considering when you learn why), the War Doctor and Eleven critiquing Ten's TARDIS interior (also, I find Ten sort of cooing at the TARDIS interior as if trying to make the TARDIS feel better *********), Ten's displeasure at Eleven's redecorating of the TARDIS (and I admit, there is a part of me that agrees. I mean, I actually love the new design of the TARDIS, but Ten's TARDIS interior design...I dunno, it's always been a personal preference of mine. I guess it was just something about it that felt very homey and very comfortable, while the interior of Eleven's TARDIS kind of does feel a little too clean and sterile and kind of cold at times. I've gotten used to it, though, and Your Mileage May Vary), etc. Honestly, it was a really great episode. Seriously.
* Because Rassilon, quite honestly, was terrifying. I mean, the Master was bad enough. The Daleks were bad enough. I guess there's just something about the matter of a man who would throw away just about everything just to preserve his own life that's just all the more terrifying. That and Timothy Dalton's performance as Rassilon.
** And I can't say I blame him. Seriously, even that part was just disturbing as shit.
*** Seriously, Nine is awesome, Eleven is too (even if I do have my issues on occasion with him, he's an awesome character and an awesome Doctor), but Ten is definitely My Doctor. I know he's definitely inspired me a lot with what I write, what sort of person I want to be -- kinder, for one thing, more willing to forgive, etc. -- and even how I analyze characters in fiction. I think I'd be hard-pressed to find a character as well-rounded, able-to-go-into-the-gray-areas-and-even-the-darker-areas-without-being-completely-unsympathetic, and even admirable as Ten.
**** Which I liked. It wasn't perfect, and Eric Roberts' performance as the Master was a bit weird (I mean, seriously. Though he had some great bits, like correcting Grace's grammar in the ambulance, and yelling, "This! Is! An ambulance!" at Chang Lee), but Eight was amazing, Grace and Chang Lee were very likable, and it was a pretty entertaining movie.
***** Then again, he went through some shit in the Big Finish audiodramas too, so I guess no surprise there. Still...
****** At least that's what I remember.
******* And it's true, really. The Doctor's done so much good in his lifetimes even with the bad, and he doesn't seem to realize it. It's one of those things that just breaks my heart, really.
******** I know she's another character who's had a massive influence on me in terms of writing fiction, analyzing fiction, being a better person, etc.
********* And considering the TARDIS is alive... *Laughs*
So overall? It was fantastic. Definitely recommended.
I was actually really hesitant to watch it because I will admit, I sort of heard some spoilers on Tumblr (note to self: get Tumblr Savior installed on Firefox. For fuck's sake. Just in case of times like this), and there was something in me that, while I was happy with the idea of the Doctor finally making peace with the matter of Gallifrey (because he's been through so much, it's just nice to get some degree of a happy ending), and yet at the same time, there was something in me, admittedly, that was sort of hesitant. Just sort of, "This is such a pivotal moment in the Doctor's life, such a horrible, damaging moment, and you're just going to retcon it like it didn't matter?" I mean, granted, yes, there was a time in the Doctor's life before Gallifrey got burned, I'm not denying that, I'm not saying that there's all there is to the show, and I'm not saying that the show would somehow suffer because of it (although I think it was one of those elements that was handled really well. I mean, I liked how they explored the Doctor still recovering from it, I liked the little glimpses we got of the Time War -- burning Gallifrey, for example, and the matter of Rassilon's madness, * and I liked the themes that arose out of it, such as the themes of nonviolence, compassion, kindness, the matter of just about anyone being important no matter who they are, the matter of our darker nature, etc. -- themes, I think, we need in a time like this); heck, a show doesn't have to be angsty for it to be good. It just has to be good for it to be good, and Doctor Who is very much that, really. But that said, when I watched the episode, I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the interplay between the doctors, from the more humorous moments such as the War Doctor going meta (and I really liked the War Doctor. Honestly, I was kind of scared of him in "The Name Of The Doctor" thanks to...I guess it's the whole impact that's had on Eleven when he sees him, but he was just such a nice, sweet guy -- no less from the Doctor, really. Occasionally snarky, but generally just a very lovely person) in regards to the, um, changes that his future regenerations have -- basically going meta about certain things in the revival series without being obnoxious about it -- to the more serious moments when they're discussing the matter of Gallifrey. Ten's reaction was very much in-character for him, I think; of course he would be pissed at the idea of Eleven basically forgetting how many kids there were on Gallifrey when it burnt. ** Honestly, the three actors really worked very well together, and it was definitely lovely to see David Tennant back after so many years. *** And there's a lot of John Hurt in there too, which was definitely a delight, because the War Doctor was just fantastic. I really liked how they went into the matter of his internal conflict regarding the Time War, his guilt, his pain over it -- it was done so well, by both the writing and Hurt's acting (he's a phenomenal actor) that I really felt for him. He really reminded me of a Time Lord version of Wilfred Mott at some points. Badass, wise, occasionally snarky, and very caring. I know scenes like the flashbacks to the Time War -- which I also loved because not only was it good to see another glimpse of the Time War besides the one in "Night of the Doctor" (which I recommend people watch before "The Day of the Doctor" if only because it explains how Eight transitioned into the War Doctor, and in a really well-done, symbolic sort of way too. Like the Doctor Eight used to be -- and it broke my heart even seeing it because I just remember Eight in the TV movie **** and he was just such a sweetheart. It's hard to imagine him becoming this. ***** -- died and the War Doctor was born in his place. The one who could try and end the war) but just because seeing the people running in the streets in Arcadia, the kids hiding behind the adult Time Lords while one of the Daleks just pointed their laser at the poor things...just ugh. *Shivers* I kind of have mixed feelings about the kids thing in general, because on the one hand, it really does show the horror of the whole situation and how the people on Gallifrey were suffering, but on the other end...I think it was sufficiently horrific for Russell T. Davies to basically put "The Doctor wiped out his own people as well as the Daleks". I don't think he needed to necessarily add, "Oh, and by the way, he killed children". Then again, it does actually have a point in terms of showing how horrific the TIme War, and what the Doctor did -- even if it was to end the War -- was. That and cutting to the kids playing in the fields of Gallifrey -- the fields I can only infer were also where the Doctor and the Master played as kids as the Master mentioned in "The End of Time" -- I think it was definitely the context, and showing how horrific what the Doctor did (or nearly did, at least in this episode, because the Doctors decide to Take A Third Option instead), that really made it work. That and the fact that it was really his home, in the end, and his family, his people -- there should have been another way besides what happened.
I kind of find it interesting, really, in this episode and how the events in "The End of Time" are shown, as well as other information -- in the RTD era (as well as Word of God from RTD himself), the Time War was shown as a major Shoot The Dog moment for the Doctor after Rassilon went mad with power and tried to destroy all of creation. And it pretty much destroyed him. It was definitely painted in more of the gray area for the Doctor -- the universe was saved but at a massive, horrific cost. (And according to Russell T. Davies, the events of the TIme War were jumpstarted during the events of "Genesis of the Daleks" when the Time Lords sent the Doctor back in time -- violating their own rules not to interfere, really -- to stop the Daleks' creation or at least have them evolve into "less aggressive creatures", as the Time Lord who greets the Fourth Doctor says ******. Make of that what you will) In this episode, however...well, for starters, Rassilon doesn't really make an appearance, which I admit is a bit weird because he was planning to annihilate everything in creation in "The End of Time". It's not exactly something that you just overlook. Then again, considering the mention by one of the Time Lord generals about the Council debating in the next room, I'm thinking that "The Day of the Doctor" was just a small piece of the picture. Just like the Daleks ravaging Arcadia. The Time War's just one big puzzle, and I think that's another thing that I really like about it -- it's a puzzle. And I quite like puzzles, to be honest. Solving them in real life or in stories -- they're just awesome. That and I just realized something. This is no doubt me stretching again, but in "The End of Time part two", when the Tenth Doctor is torn between shooting the Master and shooting Rassilon, Rassilon says, amongst other things, "The final act of your life will be murder." And in a sense, I think it got a bit of a mirroring in the War Doctor's choice whether or not to use The Moment. The final act of his life would have been murder if Clara and the Moment both hadn't stepped in, basically, to say, "You don't have to do this." And when they do manage to Take A Third Option, it's beautiful to watch. I think the fact that they managed to get all the doctors (or at least footage of them) in somehow during the climax, including a cameo of the upcoming Doctor, Peter Capaldi is also a major Crowning Moment of Awesome for the special. That and managing to lock Gallifrey away in a pocket universe instead of burn it -- and thank God -- and the shot at the end, with Matt Smith narrating, with every single one of the Doctors looking up at Gallifrey. Also a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming because after all this time and all these years, the Doctor's going home.
Honestly, the special had a lot of lovely moments. Ten and Eleven giving the War Doctor a You Are Better Than You Think You Are speech, basically (doubly heartwarming because they'd previously disowned him as the Doctor -- and understandably so -- and now they're accepting him again), the whole scene with Ten, Eleven and the War Doctor getting Kate Lethbridge-Stewart to not blow up the world and instead make peace with the Zygons (I think there's something about the Zygons and their human counterparts they imitated just getting along. No deaths, no destruction, just getting along with one another), the conversation between the War Doctor and Clara (especially the War Doctor praising his future regenerations, which I think is also heartwarming because...well, he wouldn't have met them if the Moment hadn't showed him what he could become if he pressed the button to wipe out the Time Lords and the Daleks. For all they're both damaged -- the man who regrets and the man who forgets, as the Moment calls them -- their desire to save others and their desire to atone, as the War Doctor puts it, have made so many lives better. ******* He believes that they're better men than he is -- he even says so, when they're about to press the button -- which is heartbreaking and lovely at the same time), Clara ultimately inspiring the Doctors to Take a Third Option, the Eleventh Doctor's meeting with the Curator (also, hi, Tom Baker! :D) and the Moment herself -- first I love the concept of her, the idea of a galaxy-destroying weapon with a sort of sentient presence. She's a bit like Idris from "The Doctor's Wife", but while Idris is a bit more...well, sort of Genki with more serious moments, the Moment is more solemn and more sad, with some lighter (if you pardon the word) moments in between. But they're definitely the same sort of archetype (although they're different in conception too; Idris was forced into a human body, and the Moment was always there) -- advisors to the Doctor with wisdom beyond years and very gentle hearts, who do what they can to assist him. In Idris' case, she's his loyal companion, she's always been. In the case of the Moment, she's a heavily empathetic being, especially for a creature expected to destroy worlds. Sort of like the Doctor, in a sense, she's a very gentle soul who doesn't want to destroy things. In the case of the Moment, though, she finds another way. She coaxes him, guides him -- she sets the whole thing in motion, really. And she has a few funny bits, such as when she's mentioning Rose, the form she's taken and she's confused as to whether Rose is someone from the Doctor's past or future (both, actually), but mostly she's very serious. And I like the detail of the Moment taking Rose's face -- after all, Rose was the first person the Ninth Doctor met who ended up making him better. The Moment, assuming that she saw the Doctor's future, no doubt saw that and how much Rose would mean to him, or had meant to him (past, future again, really) and took that guise because it would...well, it would definitely be a form that the Doctor would be comfortable with, for lack of a better word. I'm thinking that after the War Doctor ultimately regenerated (and I like how he at least died at peace -- knowing that he was the Doctor again, and after he had done what was right), as Nine, he became attached to Rose not just because of...well, her being Rose, really (I mean, she's a tough, brave, kind, strong-willed, smart, vibrant woman. It's really no wonder the Doctor loved her.
********) but because she also looked very much like the woman who had helped him during the time things were bleakest. She helped him in the past and she helped him in the present, in multiple senses of the word.
I also liked the humor in the episode. The opening of the special, for instance, when Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is hauling in the TARDIS (also a moment where I was pretty scared for poor Eleven. I mean, holy hell! D:) and Eleven says, basically, "Can't you knock next time?" That and the interactions between the Doctors, such as Ten and Eleven's first meeting, the War Doctor first meeting his future selves (although there was definitely a sort of sadness in terms of the horrified expressions on their faces, especially considering when you learn why), the War Doctor and Eleven critiquing Ten's TARDIS interior (also, I find Ten sort of cooing at the TARDIS interior as if trying to make the TARDIS feel better *********), Ten's displeasure at Eleven's redecorating of the TARDIS (and I admit, there is a part of me that agrees. I mean, I actually love the new design of the TARDIS, but Ten's TARDIS interior design...I dunno, it's always been a personal preference of mine. I guess it was just something about it that felt very homey and very comfortable, while the interior of Eleven's TARDIS kind of does feel a little too clean and sterile and kind of cold at times. I've gotten used to it, though, and Your Mileage May Vary), etc. Honestly, it was a really great episode. Seriously.
* Because Rassilon, quite honestly, was terrifying. I mean, the Master was bad enough. The Daleks were bad enough. I guess there's just something about the matter of a man who would throw away just about everything just to preserve his own life that's just all the more terrifying. That and Timothy Dalton's performance as Rassilon.
** And I can't say I blame him. Seriously, even that part was just disturbing as shit.
*** Seriously, Nine is awesome, Eleven is too (even if I do have my issues on occasion with him, he's an awesome character and an awesome Doctor), but Ten is definitely My Doctor. I know he's definitely inspired me a lot with what I write, what sort of person I want to be -- kinder, for one thing, more willing to forgive, etc. -- and even how I analyze characters in fiction. I think I'd be hard-pressed to find a character as well-rounded, able-to-go-into-the-gray-areas-and-even-the-darker-areas-without-being-completely-unsympathetic, and even admirable as Ten.
**** Which I liked. It wasn't perfect, and Eric Roberts' performance as the Master was a bit weird (I mean, seriously. Though he had some great bits, like correcting Grace's grammar in the ambulance, and yelling, "This! Is! An ambulance!" at Chang Lee), but Eight was amazing, Grace and Chang Lee were very likable, and it was a pretty entertaining movie.
***** Then again, he went through some shit in the Big Finish audiodramas too, so I guess no surprise there. Still...
****** At least that's what I remember.
******* And it's true, really. The Doctor's done so much good in his lifetimes even with the bad, and he doesn't seem to realize it. It's one of those things that just breaks my heart, really.
******** I know she's another character who's had a massive influence on me in terms of writing fiction, analyzing fiction, being a better person, etc.
********* And considering the TARDIS is alive... *Laughs*
So overall? It was fantastic. Definitely recommended.