Support NeoGAF

[infiniteloop]

Spoiler Policy !
- Anything officially published by the BBC does not require a spoiler tag. This includes Press releases, tweets, official BBC set reports, trailers etc. Anything from an official BBC source.
- Rumours, unofficial set photos, leaked photos/trailers not revealed by the Beeb should be spoiler tagged. If you're speculating on plot points in pics or trailer, please spoiler tag it. If in doubt, tag it.

It’s Christmas! That means, for the Ninth year in a row, we’re treated to a Doctor Who Christmas Special titled ‘The Time of the Doctor’.

This time, sadly, we say goodbye to Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, who took over control of the TARDIS from David Tennant on January 1st 2010.

We’ll also get a longer look at new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, after his brief cameo in Day of the Doctor last month.

This episode is the 800th Doctor Who episode since it started just over 50 years ago.

Official episode synopsis: "Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe’s deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars - and amongst them, the Doctor. Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe."

When:
[All Times Local]
UK | BBC One | 7:30pm, December 25th
USA | BBC America | 7:30pm, December 25th
Canada | Space | 8pm, December 25th
Australia | ABC1 | 7:30pm, December 26th
New Zealand | Prime | 8:30pm, December 26th

Should be available on streaming services (iTunes, Amazon etc.) day after broadcast.


Cast & Crew:
The Doctor - Matt Smith
Clara - Jenna Coleman
The Doctor - Peter Capaldi

With Orla Brady, James Buller, Elizabeth Rider, Sheila Reid, Mark Anthony Brighton, Rob Jarvis and Tessa Peake-Jones.

Written by current Executive Producer and lead writer Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Sherlock, The Adventures of Tintin).
Directed by Jamie Payne (Doctor Who: Hide, Ashes to Ashes, Call The Midwife)

Trailers:
Teaser Trailer
30 second Trailer

BBC Promo Galleries

What is Doctor Who?
Check out Mr. Sam's great OP for Series 7 thread for a good overview (and thanks for the FAQ banner!)

So, this is the start of a new season?
Nope, this is a one off special. The next season is rumored to start August/September 2014. The BBC has not made an official announcement yet.

800 episodes? I’ll get into this show!
The show was relaunched back in 2005, no knowledge of the “classic” show is necessary. Most streaming services have seasons 1 through 6 of the new show and some older Classic episodes. Matt Smith starts in Season 5, Episode 1 called ‘The Eleventh Hour’.

 

[Hot Coldman]

countdown to tears begins now

 

[Solo]

I will watch this.

 

[infiniteloop]

If anyone has anything they want to add to the OP, please let me know.

Will knock up a fancier banner tonight.

 

[Blader]

New trailer gave me goosebumps.

I'll miss Smith. He's not "my Doctor" but I think he has been the best of the new three and hope he goes out on a strong note. Finales aren't Moffat's strong suit so I hope he delivers a great story this time rather than a laundry list of explanations (much as I want some things answered :lol).

 

[Tizoc]

I will miss this sexy beast...

 

[Kaladin]

It's always the same. Whenever a new Doctor debuts I'm left with a "meh, we'll see how this turns out" feeling and then when it's time for him to go, I'm left with a "but, I'm not ready for him to go" kind of feeling.

 

[infiniteloop]

From the anniversary thread:

 

[Htown]

Matt Smith was utterly fantastic as the Doctor, and I'm surely going to miss him in that role.

I am looking forward to finally seeing what happens at Trenzalore, though I can't imagine how it can live up to the buildup.

 

[APZonerunner]

Ahh, I'm shameless. But not the most shameless. Barely. Hello!

 

[Mariolee]

From the anniversary thread:

Holy crap, I never realized I posted that much.

 

[Joqu]

I started watching Doctor Who just a year ago, with series 1 of the revival, but Matt's episodes were the first ones I was able to watch properly. I really do consider him "my" Doctor due to that. Plus he has been amazing!

I'll miss him. :')

 

[mjc]

Like most other people, I was cautious when Matt started. He's probably my favorite of new Who now...it'll be bittersweet to see him go out. Hopefully Moffat does him justice!

 

[Ser Goje]

I'm looking forward to seeing these sexy beasts again

dat jazz hand

 

[Quick]

As much as it will suck to see Matt Smith leave, the show's gonna be in good hands with Capaldi.

 

[Quick Mustard]

From the anniversary thread:

Oh man, I was this close! This close to being in the list!

Love the title

 

[Vesmir]

No Goodbye Raggedy Man for title? :-(

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Keeping dat GAFWHO feel going! I'm ready to bawl my eyes out. My girlfriend thought she was sad at Tennant leaving? Pffft, she ain't seen nothing yet!

 

[Mariolee]

I'm looking forward to seeing these sexy beasts again

dat jazz hand

I'll always think it's odd how Moffat ignored them for the entirety of Series 7 despite them being so important to Matt Smith's character arc.

 

[The Adder]

Matt has been my favorite Doctor if for no other reason than how well he plays old and weary. I like what 11 is supposed to be and how well Matt plays that, even if seasons 6 and 7 weren't spectacular. And I am hoping 12 is just as interesting conceptually as I am already sure Capaldi has the talent to pull off whatever he will be.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

I'll always think it's odd how Moffat ignored them for the entirety of Series 7 despite them being so important to Matt Smith's character arc.

I'd rather ignore the majority of Series 7 to be honest so it works for me!

In my head;
- Ponds leave
- Doctor meets Clara, has lots of off-screen adventures with her that definitely aren't boring or shit, and actually involve some element of Clara developing as a character
- Name of the Doctor occurs

Head-canon!

 

[APZonerunner]

I'm going to miss Matt, but he's not my favourite like David was when he left, I admit - and Capaldi is much more a known quantity than Matt was at the time, so I'm a lot less nervous about the whole thing. I'm more excited than anything!

 

[Hot Coldman]

I'd rather ignore the majority of Series 7 to be honest so it works for me!

In my head;
- Ponds leave
- Doctor meets Clara, has lots of off-screen adventures with her that definitely aren't boring or shit, including a fucking awesome ghost house episode with psychics and pocket dimensions and tree monsters, and actually involve some element of Clara developing as a character
- Name of the Doctor occurs

Head-canon!

fixed :V

 

[Mariolee]

I'd rather ignore the majority of Series 7 to be honest so it works for me!

In my head;
- Ponds leave
- Doctor meets Clara, has lots of off-screen adventures with her that definitely aren't boring or shit, and actually involve some element of Clara developing as a character
- Name of the Doctor occurs

Head-canon!

Hey. Hide was really good.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

fixed :V

Meh!

 

[Zeppu]

I too, would like to see some more Clara development.

Even in the good episodes of S7b we barely see her being useful or even acting like a person who is travelling through time and space would. Clara's best performance remains in AotD.

 

[acheron_xl]

Hey. Hide was really good.

Really good is a stretch. It was merely good. Perhaps even rather good!

 

[APZonerunner]

I too, would like to see some more Clara development.

Even in the good episodes of S7b we barely see her being useful or even acting like a person who is travelling through time and space would. Clara's best performance remains in AotD.

She's no better in that episode, though, she's just a caricature. At least she has some scant character moments in Cold War, Akhaten, etc.

 

[Zeppu]

She's no better in that episode, though, she's just a caricature. At least she has some scant character moments in Cold War, Akhaten, etc.

True but I have lower expectations for characters who aren't the Doctor's companions.

At least I'm not going into the fact that while she was there to 'save' him she was in fact the reason why the Doctor got sent to the Dalek Asylum in the first place.

Oh well.

 

[Hot Coldman]

True but I have lower expectations for characters who aren't the Doctor's companions.

At least I'm not going into the fact that while she was there to 'save' him she was in fact the reason why the Doctor got sent to the Dalek Asylum in the first place.

Oh well.

She was the one who saved David Tennant from the Great Intelligence. After that she ends up crashing on the Asylum. Running into 11 was a coincidence, she was only ever supposed to protect the Tenth Doctor.

 

[M.Bluth]

I will weep.

 

[UpperCaseN]

links under Trailers are broken? I had to edit the url's to get it to work

 

[acheron_xl]

She's no better in that episode, though, she's just a caricature. At least she has some scant character moments in Cold War, Akhaten, etc.

She still doesn't pass the Plinkett Test to me.

 

[odiin]

I'd rather ignore the majority of Series 7 to be honest so it works for me!

In my head;
- Ponds leave
- Doctor meets Clara, has lots of off-screen adventures with her that definitely aren't boring or shit, and actually involve some element of Clara developing as a character
- Name of the Doctor occurs

Head-canon!

Don't worry. We only have to wait 20 years for Big Finish to get their hands on her and flesh her out properly.

 

[Mariolee]

Reposting from other thread:

Oh neat, you actually see for a split second

Spoiler

old #11. http://i.imgur.com/vRzIdU3.png

Make up could be a bit better. :/ But will have to see in motion.

 

[Fuzzy]

Two more weeks!

Spoiler

Although I always miss the Christmas episode when it airs and have to watch it when I get home that night.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

SO HYPE.

 

[aHebrewMenagerie]

Mmmmm..... That new OT smell. Let's get hyped! Slightly dissapointed my OT title wasn't used, but what are you going to do haha.

 

[Blader]

Hey. Hide was really good.

I liked Cold War and Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS too.

 

[acheron_xl]

SO HYPE.

OH YES!

 

[Mariolee]

I liked Cold War and Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS too.

Journey, I agree with. Cold War...was alright.

 

[aHebrewMenagerie]

Journey, I agree with. Cold War...was alright.

I liked Bells of St John, Hide, Crimson Horror, Nightmare, and the Name of The Doctor(was really good.)

The only real problem with S7 is that its missing its Girl Who Waited/The Doctors Wife. The real standout that when people go 'Which season was that?' you just name the episode.

Also, that trailer is awesome. I love Moffat's strange prophetic rhymes. And I finally had my 'Oh wait, he's leaving' moment. That kinda sucks.

I think someone said this in the 50th OT, but they said Series 7 was the most consistent, unfortunately, it was consistently mediocre. For the filler episodes, I agree, but for the episodes that actual plot points occurred like Asylum, Angels, Snowmen, Bells, and Name were all really good IMO.

 

[paradox121]

I liked Bells of St John, Hide, Crimson Horror, Nightmare, and the Name of The Doctor(was really good.)

The only real problem with S7 is that its missing its Girl Who Waited/The Doctors Wife. The real standout that when people go 'Which season was that?' you just name the episode.

Also, that trailer is awesome. I love Moffat's strange prophetic rhymes. And I finally had my 'Oh wait, he's leaving' moment. That kinda sucks.

 

[cackhyena]

She was the one who saved David Tennant from the Great Intelligence. After that she ends up crashing on the Asylum. Running into 11 was a coincidence, she was only ever supposed to protect the Tenth Doctor.

Huh? I just got done with Tennant's run. Did I miss this?

 

[Blader]

Huh? I just got done with Tennant's run. Did I miss this?

It's a retcon, so no.

 

[Mariolee]

It's a retcon, so no.

Was that in Name of the Doctor? I don't remember that at all.

 

[APZonerunner]

She still doesn't pass the Plinkett Test to me.

Yeah, of course. I just think that the perception (one I keep seeing) that the one in Asylum was drastically better is insanity - if anything, she's worse. She's uber cute though, don't get me wrong, and is entirely serviceable as a one-shot character who dies, which she is. That test -- I think even Amy barely scrapes by it as well, to be honest. She gets by, but so much of her is defined by being left behind by the Doctor as a kid, which is a fun conceit in Series 5 but then she barely really pushes beyond that. That's Moffat, though. I'd argue there's as much actual raw character information about Martha, the weakest of the previous set, in "Smith & Jones" than there is in two and a half series' of Amy. None of them even come close to touching Donna or Rose in terms of being real people, sadly. It's one of the great casualties of them removing the returning home/family element. Brian was great, but came too late.

 

[Slowdive]

Can't wait! This looks like it's going to be such a great episode. Matt Smith is one of my absolute favourite Doctors. Will be sad to see him go, but I'm really looking forward to Capaldi.

 

[acheron_xl]

Yeah, of course. I just think that the perception (one I keep seeing) that the one in Asylum was drastically better is insanity - if anything, she's worse. She's uber cute though, don't get me wrong, and is entirely serviceable as a one-shot character who dies, which she is. That test -- I think even Amy barely scrapes by it as well, to be honest. She gets by, but so much of her is defined by being left behind by the Doctor as a kid, which is a fun conceit in Series 5 but then she barely really pushes beyond that. That's Moffat, though. I'd argue there's as much actual raw character information about Martha, the weakest of the previous set, in "Smith & Jones" than there is in two and a half series' of Amy. None of them even come close to touching Donna or Rose in terms of being real people, sadly. It's one of the great casualties of them removing the returning home/family element. Brian was great, but came too late.

Amy didn't become something resembling an actual human to me until probably Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, which is far too late. Clara probably has a less believable character than Adam Mitchell for chrissakes.

 

[Mariolee]

Yeah, of course. I just think that the perception (one I keep seeing) that the one in Asylum was drastically better is insanity - if anything, she's worse. She's uber cute though, don't get me wrong, and is entirely serviceable as a one-shot character who dies, which she is. That test -- I think even Amy barely scrapes by it as well, to be honest. She gets by, but so much of her is defined by being left behind by the Doctor as a kid, which is a fun conceit in Series 5 but then she barely really pushes beyond that. That's Moffat, though. I'd argue there's as much actual raw character information about Martha, the weakest of the previous set, in "Smith & Jones" than there is in two and a half series' of Amy. None of them even come close to touching Donna or Rose in terms of being real people, sadly. It's one of the great casualties of them removing the returning home/family element. Brian was great, but came too late.

I think Amy definitely passes that Plinkett test. She's headstrong and smarmy, sometimes to a fault as we see with her drama with Rory, and although she doesn't always act like it she deeply cares for each and every person she meets in their journeys.

Clara almost the same way, but watered down. what bothers me is that she really has no flaws, which makes her a boring character.