Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor review

After three seasons and a 50th anniversary special it is time to say goodbye to Matt Smith as the Doctor. When an undecipherable message emminates from a mysterious planet the races of the universe all gather around waiting for something inevitable. Held back by the Papal Mainframe a futuristic, technological, space church holds off all of the Doctor's enemies such as the Daleks and the Cybermen by sealing off the planet with a force field. Joined by Clara, taken from her Christmas party with family, the two adventure down to the planet and decipher what the message is; a question simply asking, "Doctor who?"

For Matt Smith's curtain call this special certainly has everything. Classic villains, tearful goodbyes, dramatic action scenes, goofy shenanigans, and some great interactions between the Doctor and his companion Clara. From the heartwarming reunion with Clara to the nude church, the revelation of the planet, and the Doctor's emotional journey to stay and die valiantly are all wonderful and well written.

Matt Smith undergoes some heavy makeup as his TARDIS takes a bit too long getting back to him. He has to stay in the town called Christmas, which is under the influence of a truth barrier, and is thus stuck as their protector. Moffat struts his stuff as he's paying off mysteries from his first season as showrunner by finally revealing what the cracks in time are. Which, if you've seen the 50th anniversary, you'll have no doubt guessed it's the Time Lords from a pocket dimension trying to communicate with him. And, if you've finished series 7 you'll have also guessed that the town called Christmas is on the planet Trenzalore, the Doctor's burial place. So a lot of dramatics are happening as if Steven Moffat was ending his run on Doctor Who (though his tenure doesn't end for another three series).

Everybody does a good job in this, as always. Matt Smith is lovable, and does a nice subtle progression in age through his performance as he stays on Trenzalore for the rest of his life. His memory fades, his movements are jerky, and his exuberant confidence seems to have whittled away. Clara has a great arc too as she hitches a ride back on the Doctor's TARDIS and comes face to face with an older him. Almost like a child finding out their parents are not immortal, nor perfect, Clara's reaction to the Doctor's age is tragic. Especially when he keeps kicking her back home, and she comes later and later into his life until it's time for the end and goodbyes.

There aren't that many badass "I am the Doctor" scenes here like in previous Moffat finales, and because of that this special feels more like a love letter to what Doctor Who has been for the last fifty years. It's more about the Doctor as a character, his resolve for peace and justice, and how, while a Time Lord, he is just a man at the end of time. The writing is quick and smooth, but lingers on the moments in between, for instance when the Doctor meets Barnable and keeps repeating his name, mistaking him for others in his old age, when Barnable has been dead for generations.

Then once the final plot points fall into place with him gaining a new regeneration cycle, saving the day, and finally young again before his transformation he gets to have the down time a dying man needs. Clara is allowed to say her goodbyes, the Doctor comes to terms with his changing, and in a moment that'll leave fans crying their eyes out the Doctor will come face to face with Amelia Pond again for the very last time right before he violently changes into Peter Capaldi. The emotional width of this episode is expansive.

Overall, this special has everything and is a good send off for Matt Smith. While his era didn't have a great consistency with the writing he was always good in it. He will be missed as we journey into the next phase of the Doctor's life, but for now a big chapter of the Doctor Who revival is closed and 11 has made his mark in some remarkable ways over the years.

8/10