“The Day of the Doctor” was a day to remember

By Zachary Hertz,

HUB Staff Writer-

In December, Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat made a promise. Moffat, who admitted “I have lied my arse off for months [about the special],” told fans that the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special would be “full of tremendous surprises”. But this time, the Man Who Lies has stayed true to his word.

The anniversary special, titled “The Day of the Doctor,” opens in modern-day England. Clara (played by Jenna Louise-Coleman) and the Eleventh Doctor (depicted as usual by Matt Smith) are summoned to London’s National Gallery. This time, the Doctor has been summoned by Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), the daughter of Classic Who hero Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The Doctor is asked to investigate mysterious happenings involving paintings in the Gallery, and from there, the adventure begins.

Grab your fezzes and sonic screwdrivers, and hop into your TARDISes, because the special is unforgettable. It surpasses other Moffat-written episodes, even the recent episode “The Name of the Doctor.” Be ready to hang onto your seats during a 75-minute spectacle. In short, prepare to be wowed.

The Day of the Doctor is described by Moffat as “the day everything changes.” Moffat added, “Doctor Who is rarely about [the Doctor]. This one is.” If you are looking for the Doctor, as the Tenth Doctor (played by returner David Tennant) says, “You’ve certainly come to the right place.”

Through clever use of a fez, the special brings together the Eleventh Doctor, the Tenth Doctor and the War Doctor (John Hurt) in a wonderful Whovian melting pot. The dialogue between the Doctors flows naturally, bringing out the character of each as they react to each other.

Smith and Tennant’s Doctors create some of the best dialogue, bringing an energy to their characters that amplify off the other. At times they finish sentences together and mimic their gestures, but at other times they stubbornly argue.

Tennant said, “I think that’s what’s been quite interesting to find the moments when our two Doctors intersect and the moments when we do things rather differently. I think the fun is in the sort of gap between the two really. We’ve been finding moments when they quite enjoy recognizing the same thing or having the same thought. And they switch between praising each other’s ingenuity to trying to undermine at every possibility.”

And with the spotlight on the Doctor, Hurt’s War Doctor steals the show. As Moffat says, “[Hurt is] amazing. It’s not an original observation, but he’s a very good actor.” Another truth from the Man Who Lies.

Hurt captures the essential humor of the Doctor,  and portrays a grizzled but practical War Doctor. The War Doctor manages to act older than his regenerations, and is constantly exasperated by childish behavior from his older selves. During a confrontation he chides the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors for pointing their screwdrivers at the enemy, saying, “They’re screwdrivers! What are you going to do, assemble a cabinet at them?”

Despite these lighter moments, Hurt has all the depth of a true Doctor. He philosophizes and analyzes situations. When faced with a choice, the War Doctor reflects, claiming that “Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flames, whatever the cost.”

Today was the Day of the Doctor, but it is worth mentioning Louise-Coleman’s portrayal of Clara. Louise-Coleman hits the emotions that are precisely needed for Clara to serve as a foil to the Doctors, and she is truly the hidden star of the episode. Clara is the true companion, the voice of humanity among the Doctors.

Also, in the spirit of time travel, there is a simultaneous cameo and blast from the past that you cannot miss, a spectacular appearance of a man who arguably led this show to where it is today. It leads to a touching dialogue yet some more mystery. Contrasting this is a small nod to the future, for fans who pay close attention to eyes.

Watching The Day of the Doctor is an unrepeatable experience. The episode puts together the humor, the acting, the costumes, the plot, (all the elements fans love about the show) and it wraps them up into an anniversary gift to the fans. Let me be the first to wish “Doctor Who” a very happy 50th anniversary. The fans couldn’t have gotten a better present.