saved the day

[rhivolution]

Rather liked Day of the Doctor. Not without its issues; I have come to accept it's never not going to be problematic. But as a whole: very well-constructed, some rather clever takes on Davies-era and old skool Who style, Clara being useful instead of standing around being ~special~, limited angst around Billie Piper's return. A very subtle Scotland joke in there, blink and you'll miss it. And Jemma Redgrave!

And truth is, I probably liked it so well because I remembered why I do so love Ten. I miss being Ten.

Good:
- I am okay with Gallifrey being not-dead. I've seen people unhappy with this and with the ep overall. RP-wise it's something I've grappled with, and this is a good way to resolve the issue without too much jossing.
- WAR DOCTOR. I want War Doctor and Eight series, please.
- The plot construction blew my mind a bit. I want to be able to do that.
- TEN THAT DID NOT SOLELY FALL DOWN INTO MANPAIN
- A fantastic Tom Baker cameo. I like the implications of it canonically.

Mehs:
- I'm not sure how I feel about the fangirl insert. I can't tell if Moff is being snarky or winking at us.
- HOW Gallifrey was saved...clever but a bit of an RTD deus ex machina in execution.
- I thought QE1 had a hate-on for the Doctor (e.g. The Shakespeare Code)?
- Can we make the violence of the Time War stretch out a little more? I know you guys spent all this money on effects but lord.
- Are we gonna be searching for Gallifrey all season? Because yawn.

Ugh:
- Nearly everyone with a speaking part is white. This was a really white episode. Like, one Gallifreyan counselor is a POC.
- Basically Blackadder!Elizabeth I; as her thread in the episode shifts into somewhat serious bsns, that DOESN'T work.
- The usual Moffat sexism (so Whedonesque!) which I am lumping together rn because deconstructing it is for a later time.

But overall, it was a damn sight better than I anticipated and a very good tribute. Worth a watch, says me.

Comments

[eudaimon]

I just finished watching it and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. I agree with the Mehs, though.

I loved the cameo.

And I miss you being Ten too.

[ashkitty]

I liked Blackadder!Queenie, but I can see it not being to everyone's taste. Mostly I really liked this, possibly because I was not convinced it was going to be very good. And then it was. Because they just TOLD A STORY and did not try to be overcomplicated and do too many clever things, it was just a lot of little things that added up to one big one. Plus John Hurt being hilariously snarky. Obviously they know the flaws well enough to satirise them, so WHY DO THEY STILL DO THEM?

[ravenrants]

I think, when Ten said, "Ill be right back," after the wedding, he never came back, hence the ANGRY!QE1 from The Shakespeare Code. At least that's how my fannish head works it.

I'm totally okay with looking for Gallifrey being a tease for Twelve's season. A) Because I can see Capaldi playing the Doctor very Britishly annoyed every time he has to save a world or civilization instead of doing what he WANTS to do. B) I'll forgive anything if it can get me Romana back. C) It's a much better tease than yet another of Moffat's "special" companions who are "destined" to blah, blah, blah.... Don't get me wrong, I liked Amy and there's certainly been worse than Clara, but the idea that they were so integral and involved in the Doctor's lives never sat well with me. I know Clara will carry over to Capaldi, but I hope she gets to grow with him instead of just being even more hyper for Smith to bounce off of.