The Day of the Doctor Watch-along Thread (Open Spoilers)

[What_Exit]

@glee

Having been old enough to watch the first ever episode live and fascinated enough to watch every episode since, I thought this was magnificent.

The Doctor’s horrific yet apparently necessary role in the Time War has been hinted at for decades. Now it’s been both explained … and changed!

There were so many clever references built in (plus the excellent use of two names for the painting.)

And during the episode I first revised my favourite Doctor from Baker to Tennant - but by the end of the episode Baker had taken the title back.

Also John Hurt is a very good actor.

Wow.

John Hurt is probably the best actor the show has ever had on it as he is one of the all time great actors.

I really enjoyed the episode. Seeing Tom Baker was completely unexpected. He was my Doctor so I loved it. Though Tennant (#11 now I guess) took over that position.

Strange use of Billie Piper but I thought she was quite good. I plan to watch the re-broadcast tonight with the comments.

[DigitalC]

John Hurt basically played the doctor as an old timey doctor who fan who is pissed about all the changes, and pulled it off masterfully.

[Alessan]

@Baron_Greenback

Only you and the 11th Doctor. And Clara, I suppose, and the Bad Wolf.

OK, the Doctors combined resolved the Time War in a different way than before, bit less genocidey.

So what’s wrong with a little tragedy? Why does every story have to have a happy ending?

I’m sorry, but the corruption and fall of Gallifrey resonated with me. Besides making a damn good story, it made sense - both in terms of the doctor’s character, and in terms of the universe. Gallifrey HAS to fall, never to return. If it doesn’t, how can humanity take its place on the galactic stage?

Maybe I’m taking the program too seriously. After all, it’s just a silly kid’s show.

[N9IWP]

At first I thought the curator was going to be Capaldi (I had actually forgot the Tom Baker rumor) – loved the nose bit.

The B story wasn’t great, other than to draw the parallel to the Time War.

I thought it was a cool way to include Billie Piper.

Yes, it was mostly fan service, but the story was better that The 3 or 5 Doctors IMHO.
She probably wouldn’t go for it, but a Carol Ann Ford (Susan) cameo would have been nice
The Doctor always finds another way, even if it takes 400 years…

I really hope we get more of Osgood

Brian

[aceplace57]

We waited 50 years and they give us a 1 hour 16 min episode? With a cast like this I was expecting a movie.

Its getting a limited theater run next week. You’d think they’d at least make it 2 hours.

The tv movie about the beginnings of Doctor Who was longer.

[anyrose]

wish I’d gone looking for this thread two hours ago - but it’s just as well. I wasn’t about to take my eyes for the screen for anything

(now I’ll read the thread. )

[What_Exit]

@N9IWP

At first I thought the curator was going to be Capaldi (I had actually forgot the Tom Baker rumor) – loved the nose bit.

…
I really hope we get more of Osgood

I was thinking Wilfred Mott (Bernard Cribbins) might be the curator, but Tom Baker being so was awesome even if it made no sense at all.

[Cayuga]

@Jennyrosity

“What’s our cover story for this?”
“Derren Brown.”
“Again?”
“We sent him flowers.”

So I did hear it right. Sure didn’t understand it, though. Is it a Brit thing?

[Sherrerd]

So John Hurt’s Doctor is considered “8B”?..in the order of faces shown during the end credits, Hurt appeared between McGann and Eccleston.

eta: …and has anyone recognized who John Hurt’s Doctor was regenerating into? I wasn’t sure if they were superimposing another face, or not, during that very brief sequence.

And in re the earlier comment about the possibility of Eccleston appearing in this episode: I notice that he does NOT appear in any of the documentary/promotional shows broadcast recently. There are comments from both Bakers, and from Davison and McCoy and Tennant—but Eccleston (like Paul McGann) apparently wants nothing to do with the show.

[anyrose]

@Baron_Greenback

I’m quite unreasonable excited about this, three minutes to go

So was I. I started getting butterflies and bouncing in my chair by 2pm

@Baron_Greenback

My holy shit moment was when I heard Tom Baker’s voice.

Definitely. My face hurts from smiling so hard.

@glee

The Doctor’s horrific yet apparently necessary role in the Time War has been hinted at for decades. Now it’s been both explained … and changed!
<snip>
There were so many clever references built in (plus the excellent use of two names for the painting.)

Agreed

@Baron_Greenback

So, the Time War was rewritten by all the Doctors, including Peter Capaldi’s upcoming one, so that Gallifrey is still available in a frozen state somewhere. Seems like Capaldi’s Doctor has a mission then.

@Alessan

But it WAS in a frozen state - and then the Master unlocked it, and then Timothy Dalton came over and chewed all the scenery, and then the Doctor sent it back, which was a good thing, because it had been utterly corrupted by the war, and the Council was planning on ascending to godhood and destroying the universe, and am I the only one who remembers that episode?

BBC America is running it now

@Baron_Greenback

Only you and the 11th Doctor. And Clara, I suppose, and the Bad Wolf.
OK, the Doctors combined resolved the Time War in a different way than before, bit less genocidey.

@Alessan

So what’s wrong with a little tragedy? Why does every story have to have a happy ending?

I’m sorry, but the corruption and fall of Gallifrey resonated with me. Besides making a damn good story, it made sense - both in terms of the doctor’s character, and in terms of the universe. Gallifrey HAS to fall, never to return. If it doesn’t, how can humanity take its place on the galactic stage?

Maybe I’m taking the program too seriously. After all, it’s just a silly kid’s show.

agreed agreed agreed.

I hadn’t heard the Tom Baker rumor, so I was very happily surprised. And while I would have liked a longer episode, particularly to explore a Zygon/Human peace treaty, I am happy with what was presented, and I intend to watch it again at least twice.

[anyrose]

@Sherrerd

So John Hurt’s Doctor is considered “8B”?..in the order of faces shown during the end credits, Hurt appeared between McGann and Eccleston.

eta: …and has anyone recognized who John Hurt’s Doctor was regenerating into? I wasn’t sure if they were superimposing another face, or not, during that very brief sequence.

And in re the earlier comment about the possibility of Eccleston appearing in this episode: I notice that he does NOT appear in any of the documentary/promotional shows broadcast recently. There are comments from both Bakers, and from Davison and McCoy and Tennant—but Eccleston (like Paul McGann) apparently wants nothing to do with the show.

The gap is filled with this minisode that was released earlier in the week

[Galanthus]

Paul McGann was in the after episode party… And there are recent Big Finish audio episodes with him in.

[Jennyrosity]

@Cayuga

So I did hear it right. Sure didn’t understand it, though. Is it a Brit thing?

Replace “Derren Brown” with “David Blaine” and it may make more sense.

[Sherrerd]

@What_Exit

…the curator, but Tom Baker being so was awesome even if it made no sense at all.

Well, it certainly removes all suspense over the Doctor’s potential demise. According to that scene, the Doctor will live long enough to start “re-visiting” old faces. Apparently the limit on the number of regenerations he can undergo is gone.

(Still, I was as thrilled as anyone to hear that unmistakable voice!)

[Jennyrosity]

Christopher Ecclestone was my favourite doctor, but I think his rejection of the show is extremely ungracious, and it makes me like him less.

[Sherrerd]

@Galanthus

Paul McGann was in the after episode party… And there are recent Big Finish audio episodes with him in.

Thanks–I’m glad to learn that.

And anyrose, cool about the minisode!!!

[Baron_Greenback]

@aceplace57

We waited 50 years and they give us a 1 hour 16 min episode? With a cast like this I was expecting a movie.

Its getting a limited theater run next week. You’d think they’d at least make it 2 hours.

The tv movie about the beginnings of Doctor Who was longer.

Length isn’t everything, aceplace

[DigitalC]

@Jennyrosity

Christopher Ecclestone was my favourite doctor, but I think his rejection of the show is extremely ungracious, and it makes me like him less.

Seriously, he really couldn’t give them five seconds during the generation scene at least? didn’t even have to say anything.

[BrokenBriton]

@Baron_Greenback

OK, the Doctors combined resolved the Time War in a different way than before, bit less genocidey.

Or genocidey-widey, perhaps.

[Baron_Greenback]

@Jennyrosity

Christopher Ecclestone was my favourite doctor, but I think his rejection of the show is extremely ungracious, and it makes me like him less.

I liked the John Hurt Doctor’s comment about wanting less prominent ears after his regeneration. Oh well…