Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
2013 · Directed by Nick Hurran
Original language: English
- science fiction
- adventure
The story
In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London's National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor's own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.
What it’s like
Bright, busy studio light gives way to candlelit Elizabethan interiors and then to the bleak grey-brown of a scorched alien battlefield, so the 50th-anniversary special moves between three looks that feel like three different shows. Handheld cutting and quick reaction shots keep the London scenes jittery and playful, while the Elizabethan passages slow into rich shadow and warm wax glow. The sound is a big, bombastic orchestral score with heroic brass swells, interrupted by sudden silences and the familiar sonic-screwdriver chirps. The vibe is nostalgic, witty and wistful, with a melancholy undertow in its battlefield sequences. It suits a fan's Saturday evening, a comfort rewatch, or a night in with the family. The pacing is brisk and jokey, with the tone turning grave in its final act; the Doctors trade banter and then confront guilt, duty and the cost of survival. Violence is wartime and sci-fi in register: explosions, weapon fire and a few threatening moments, with no gore and little sexual content. It is for longtime fans, anyone who enjoys ensemble time-travel comedy, and viewers who like their sci-fi warm and self-aware.
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