Doctor Who: Name, Day, Time Review

Hello! As promised yesterday, I'm doing a review for what many Whovians have called 'The Triolgy of the Doctor', which is basically Name of the Doctor, Day of the Doctor and Time of the Doctor. For many of these episodes, I lacked doing in-depth reviews, and I just thought 'what the hay', so here we are. There's a little bonus at the end, by the way. Geronimo!

 Spoilers follow

Name of the Doctor

The Name of the Doctor  was the epic season finale of Doctor Who's seventh season of the revived series. In it, the Doctor had to face his future, and find out what was so special about the Impossible Girl, Clara Oswald. 

 The episode found the Doctor's allies, the Posternoster gang, kidnapped by the Great Intelligence as bait for the Doctor to go to Trenzalore, the one place he must never go because-surprise-it's where he's buried. He and Clara (along with a ghost version of River Song) embark on a journey to save his friends, and stop the Intelligence. 

     The episode also introduced in full, this time, Trenzalore, which was mentioned a year previously in the October episode/season finale, The Wedding of River Song. It revealed that it was where the Doctor was buried. It also showed us his grave, which was a 'wound in space and time' according to the Great Intelligence, and was the Doctor's timeline, in all it's wibbly-wobbliness. It also explained how Clara was impossible, simply because she chose to save the Doctor over and over again, through echoes of herself, and that she scattered herself all over time and space to put right what the Intelligence had tried to undo. It also gave us the farewell scene between the Doctor and River, which I think was very much deserved for the characters, as they never really got a proper goodbye. 

 I think this is one of the best season finales Doctor Who has had, and it's one of my favorite episodes of the season. I love that it shows all the Doctors, and that it also gives us the goodbye scene between the Doctor and River. It's a great episode, and it's a great revelation over who Clara really was all that time. And I loved the scenes with her and the past Doctors. 

 The episode started off with some funny scenes, and quickly went into a bitter sweetness that really fits Trenzalore, or it seems to as the episodes it's in has this same formula. 

    Great episode all around, and it begins the things that are really important to this 'of the Doctor' arc: one: the Doctor's name. Two: Trenzalore. And, three: Ghosts. More on that later. 

 Overview: 4/5

The Day of the Doctor

 The Day of the Doctor was the special for the greatest anniversary for Who ever: The 50th. It saw the return of familiar faces abound, and brought in new ones for us to become acquainted with. It saw the return of two fan-favorite Doctors, and a whole lot more. It also showed the Time War in full, after a mere glimpse of it in The End of Time. To be honest, I think this episode will go down as one of the best Doctor Who episodes ever, really. It's full of banter between the Doctors, bickering as well, chock full of references to the past, and opens up a whole new future for the Doctor, and finally gives him a destination. The episode saw the return of UNIT, and Kate Stewart, daughter of the Brigadier, and introduced us to Osgood-a Whovian. I cannot love this episode more, really. I watch it a lot, it hilarious and makes me laugh every time. It's funny, it's occasionally dramatic, and epic. There's not enough words to describe this episode, because it's pure awesomeness, and it's pure Doctor Who. And the scene at the end with all of them, all thirteen of them-it makes me grin every time I see it. Awesome. Just awesome. Need I say more? Well, I'll say this: No More.

Overview: 5/5

The Time of the Doctor

Ahh. The episode that shall not be named, yet I did just name it, so...

The Time of the Doctor was the final episode featuring Matt Smith's Doctor (Eleventh. Or Twelfth. Or thirteen. Oh, I done lost count), and introduced us to Peter Capladi's Doctor (is it Fall, yet?). How can I describe this episode? Well, one, technically two, words: heartbreaking. Really. I'm not ashamed to admit that I ball my little eyes out every time I watch it. I literally pace around my house trying to work up the courage to watch it when I want to watch it. But, don't let my pain fool you. It's a great episode. I've heard a lot of complaints towards this episode, but I only have one: it's sad. Really sad, it beat Doomsday on my 'Saddest Doctor Who Episodes' List. Time is number one on the list. Doomsday is number two. 

Anyway, this episode is just spectacular, and gives us answers to questions we've had for a while. It's got a bunch of nice call-backs to Eleven's era, and is just wonderful and devastating all around, really.

 Overview: 4/5 (I debated 3/5 for the sadness this episode puts me through, but...)

Bonus:
The Night of the Doctor

The Night of the Doctor was a prelude/prequel to The Day of the Doctor, and featured the return of Paul McGann, who played the Eighth Doctor in the television movie, Doctor Who, and numerous audio adventures. It also saw the previously unseen regeneration from Eight to the technical ninth incarnation of the Doctor, alias the War Doctor (John Hurt), who previously appeared in the last few moments of Name and was featured in Day. I wish I could say I was surprised by the appearance of Eight, but that morning I decided to go to Tumblr first, and not news, so I knew what happened. That's the first and last time I've ever done that, just so you know. The mini-episode is nearly seven minutes long, and is a great mini-episode, and is, according to most Whovians, the best prequel ever. It's definitely what Whovians wanted, and it was great to see Eight again.
Overview: 4/5

  

Arc of the Doctor:
The question to this really is, what makes this an arc, besides the titles ending with 'of the Doctor'. All of them have to do with the Doctor's secrets. It starts in Name: the Doctor knew what Trenzalore was all this time, and never told us. Not once. Then, again, when attempting to get in his grave, it was his name, which later played a very great detail in this arc. Then, at the end, we find out that the Doctor had a secret incarnation which he never told anyone, and hid so well that it appears he forgot about it himself. Or attempted to. But what really plays very much a part of this arc? Two things, but both are all but excluded in Night-ghosts and the Doctor's name. We'll start with ghosts. The first part of this arc, Name, had River Song in ghost form. Only a couple of characters and the audience could see her. Then, in Day, we had the Moment, which took the form of Rose Tyler, whom only the War Doctor and we could see. Then, finally, in Time  we had Amy Pond showing up to say one last goodbye to her Raggedy Doctor. Once more, only a certain character (The Doctor) and we could see them. I'm kind of curious if this will mean anything for the first episode of series eight.
     The second major thing that connects this arc is the Doctor's name. It's supposedly his greatest secret. But, according to the Doctor in Name '[his] name is not the point. The name you choose is like a promise you make. He's the one who broke the promise'. His name plays a large part in this episode, being the key to open his tomb, and also finding out that it doesn't really matter to the Doctor. It doesn't play as large a part in  Day, but we learn the Doctor's promise: 'Never cruel or cowardly. Never give up, never give in.'. In this episode, he also saves Gallifrey. Then, we reach Time, which the name takes a very big part in. His name is the key to bringing the Time Lords back. But he can't say it because the Time War would start again. Luckily for him, because he's out of regenerations, Clara convinces the Time Lords to help him because the only name he really needs is the Doctor. Because that's who he is.

        Overview:

 So, that's the 'Of the Doctor' post that I promised, that was supposed to be up last night, but was delayed by a Netflix marathon.....that website is very bad for me, anyway, here it is. Hope you enjoyed, it was fun to write! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a marathon to get back to...
 Name, Day, Time, Night Overview:
Out of Ten? Eleven.

-Tegan

New Edits: Into the Vortex

So, over the year I've been trying to recreate the Vortex in the season five Doctor Who promotional pictures
 and I've finally re-created it!

 It's not exactly perfect, but I love it, this actually just happened accidentally, I was attempting to make something else for a background, and clicked a couple of buttons, and I realized how much it looked like the vortex in the promotional for season five, that I decided finish the back ground. I then added the 'bubbles' as I call them (the ones with the monsters) and then added the cast of characters!

The Doctor

Like in Season Five Promotional, I added monsters to it as well, but I added ones that have some connection to the characters.

With the Doctor is was obvious which ones to go with-Daleks, Silents, and the Great Intelligence.

Amy Pond

There were two obvious villains to put in this picture for me: Madam Kovarian (not sure if that's how you spell her name) and the Weeping Angels. Then it dawned on me; Handbots, (from The Girl Who Waited).

Rory Williams

Okay, I'll admit, I had some problems figuring out who to put in this picture with Rory. Finally, I decided to go with the Cubed Guys (as they kidnapped Brian, there's a connection for Rory), Weeping Angels, and The Robots from Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

Clara Oswald

The was the first one I did. It was again obvious who'd be in it; Miss Kizlet, the others were harder, but I think the picture works!

The Team

This one was hard. I had to figure out which villains both Amy, Rory, and Clara had met with the Doctor, and I knew Daleks of course, and-sadly-it took me a while to remember Amy and Rory had met the Cyber Men as well...but I still had one spot left! What would it be? I couldn't add Silurians or Sontarans, as Clara's only met friendly ones, and it dawned on me! The Dream Lord and Mr. Clever (Cyber Doctor as I call him), aka POSSIBLE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN AMY'S CHOICE AND NIGHTMARE IN SILVER!!

darker versions of the Doctor, and I finally had the picture! 

-Tegan

Doctor Who: Journey to the Center of the TARDIS Review

 Another Saturday, Another Doctor Who episode, another review!

Overview:

The TARDIS is near destruction! Clara is lost inside, and the Doctor and his allies have only thirty minutes to save Clara before the TARDIS explodes!

Review:

 The episode had a lot of references, especially towards the last couple of seasons. I enjoyed this episode, and there was just enough wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff to confuse you, not too bad but just enough!

Spoilers! If you have not seen the episode, and don't want to be spoiled, continue after this bit.

References:

I believe I spotted the Doctor's cot that he gave Amy and Rory to use for Melody.

The Doctor had one of the toy/clay/paper TARDISes that Amelia made when she was little-it could be the one from The Wedding of River Song

I believe I saw 7's umbrella.

The Crack from Season Five was seen

End of Spoilers

While I enjoyed the episode it did not beat Hide at favorite episode. 

The episode did blend humor and horror and shock together brilliantly.

Stars: Four out of Five

Episode List:
Bells of Saint John
The Rings of Akhaten
Cold War
Hide
Journey to the Center of the TARDIS
The Crimson Horror
Nightmare in Silver
The Name of the Doctor

(uh oh, we only have three episodes left! But it just came back!)



Videos:
Behind the Scenes of Journey to the Center of the TARDIS
Doctor Who: The Crimson Horror Next Time Trailer


Note: I will try to get my art posted this week!

-Tegan

Doctor Who: Hide Review

I have been waiting on this episode of Doctor Who for awhile, and it most certainly delivered. It blended humor and horror together brilliantly, and more.





Caution: This review may hold spoilers for 'Hide'. 

The jokes, the jumps, the scares, the laughs was filled in today's episode of Doctor Who. This episode took us to sights that were amazing, and delved deeper into the characters we all know and love. And it was amazing.


Overview:
A Professor and a Psychic are on the hunt for a ghost, but when the Doctor and Clara arrive a question arises; is it really a ghost?



                                                             Review:
           As you may know from some of my past reviews, I haven't been very impressed by some of the episodes this season. However, the newest episodes (Cold War and Hide) has come to a turning point where it's just plain terrific episodes! Though the episodes seem to have turned more towards horror and fear, they still blend in humor perfectly. It was a perfect episode, and it truly delivered as the episode I was looking forward to the most.


Next Week:
Journey to the Center of the TARDIS- this episode certainly looks very interesting, and a question begs to be answered, Will Clara find out about the previous versions of herself?

Episode List:
Bells of Saint John
The Rings of Akhaten
Cold War
Hide
Journey to the Center of the TARDIS
Crimson Horror
Nightmare in Silver
The Name of the Doctor



New Theory on Clara:
Clara Oswald is Oswin Oswald. And I'm not saying that it's like Clara Oswald is Victorian Clara Oswald, I mean Oswin Oswald is a future version of Clara Oswald. Somehow, maybe on an adventure with the Doctor, Clara ends up joining the Crew of the Alaska, but under the alias of Oswin Oswald.

            When the Alaska crashes, Clara goes to investigate but is captured (we never actually see any Daleks surrounding her) by [insert your chosen villain here]. Somehow she is connected to some incredible power,(most likely something to do with the Great Intelligence, she screams "Where Am I?" much like those who were uploaded to the Wifi Cloud thing repeated the words "I don't know where I Am." In Bells of Saint John) and she creates copies of herself and scatters them throughout time. Specifically, where she knows the Doctor will find her; she would know to send a copy of herself to the Victorian era, as she's met Vastra, Jenny and Strax (which will be seen in The Crimson Horror).
             She then sent another copy of herself to the Asylum, but this version is a human who was converted into a Dalek. Clara can somehow, to put it bluntly, switch bodies with her copies, however cannot switch with Victorian Clara-most likely, Victorian Clara may be too far back in time for Clara to switch with) and switches between being imprisoned by [insert chosen villain here] and being a Dalek. However, Clara can
 send messages to Victorian Clara-I'll get to that in a minute-. While Clara is Dalek Oswin she creates a world inside her head-due to being captured in one life and being a Dalek in the other-.  When the Doctor shows up, Clara hacks the Dalek mainframe, and changes the voice, where it'll sound human. However, when someone comes face-to-face with her, they can hear her voice for what it really is; a Dalek.
         When Clara sees Amy and Rory, she sends a message to Victorian Clara, 'Pond' which was used in the Word Test in The Snowmen. Clara makes sure to seem human, but has flaws with this plan (the souffle), so the Doctor will attempt to rescue her, and find that she's a Dalek-which shatters the world she created inside her head.-and she created subtle hints so that the Doctor will realize that it's her in Victorian era too (She sends messages such as Souffles, and "Run You Clever Boy, and Remember") and so he'll try to find Clara again, and they would start travelling together, so she knows that he'll try to find and save her from who-or what-ever captured her.

Phew. Long theory, but let's put it in a nutshell:
Clara Oswald is Oswin Oswald
Clara-under the alias of Oswin-joins the Alaska, but when it crashes, she is captured.
She is uploaded to something similar to the Wifi Cloud.
Clara then creates two other versions of herself, Victorian Clara, and Dalek Oswin.
Clara can switch bodies between herself and Dalek Oswin, but can only send messages to Victorian Clara.
Clara creates a happier world inside her head.
She hacks into the Dalek mainframe, and changes her voice to where it sounds human, but when someone sees her, the illusion is shattered.
Clara creates hints so the Doctor will realize Dalek Oswin and Victorian Clara are the same person, so he'll try to find Clara again, thus they start travelling together, and then the Doctor could save her from whatever captured her.

Phew. The things that you come up with when you're tired... anyway, at least I was smart enough to write this theory down this time.






Videos:
 


-Tegan