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And is "Silence Will Fall" the name of the Christmas episode!? So many questions!

It would almost have to be called "Silent Night," right?

 

[maharg]

What a fantastic episode. Though I do agree with the complaints about the reinterpretation of the time war. The way it was described before was beyond epic, so I understand toning it down a bit.

Oh and having Tom Baker come back as a distant future retired Doctor reusing the 4th's face was brilliant. I kinda hope they have more multiple Doctor stories in the future and not just save them for be the big anniversaries. The way everyone played off each other was great.

4/14+ kind of implied he would be meeting past selves again soon, didn't he?

 

[KibblesBits]

They keep showing Susan lately on the show... hmn.

 

[Box of Bunnies]

One day somebody will scrawl "No More" upon their server rack before setting it ablaze, I'm sure.

I just can't understand the kind of person that hears a very good Hartnell impersonator saying "Calling the War Council of Gallifrey, this is the Doctor!" as a bunch of extra Tardises spin in and video communication from all the other Doctors pop up and think "hang on, that doesn't make sense, they shouldn't know about the Time War! I'm gonna go complain on the internet" rather than being left with a big smile on their face.

 

[jstripes]

Oh and having Tom Baker come back as a distant future retired Doctor reusing the 4th's face was brilliant. I kinda hope they have more multiple Doctor stories in the future and not just save them for be the big anniversaries. The way everyone played off each other was great.

Yes. I like the fact that "The Doctor" eventually becomes "The Curator."

 

[odiin]

Mind explaining what Baker's issue was with the series?

I don't think he had an issue with it per se. It's just that he had dedicated 7 years of his life to the series. Much longer than anyone before or since. He probably saw it as his role and his alone yet there were all these little men running around pretending to be him which didn't make any sense in his mind because he was THE Doctor. The one and only, and popular opinion was on his side. I think it probably wasn't until the dhow came back and Tennant got so popular that he finally gained some perspective.

 

[Jorok Goldblade]

I don't think he had an issue with it per se. It's just that he had dedicated 7 years of his life to the series. Much longer than anyone before or since. He probably saw it as his role and his alone yet there were all these little men running around pretending to be him which didn't make any sense in his mind because he was THE Doctor. The one and only, and popular opinion was on his side. I think it probably wasn't until the dhow came back and Tennant got so popular that he finally gained some perspective.

I know the other Baker (Colin Baker) refused to film his regeneration scene, because he took the job intending to surpass Tom Baker's seven year record, but ended up being replaced after the (now pretty standard) three seasons.

 

[LordGouda]

I know the other Baker (Colin Baker) refused to film his regeneration scene, because he took the job intending to surpass Tom Baker's seven year record, but ended up being replaced after the (now pretty standard) three seasons.

He was shafted because of Michael Grade sleeping with his ex-wife, finding Colin's Doctor to be too violent, hating the show and the fans, and dwindling the budget for the show.

Yes. I like the fact that "The Doctor" eventually becomes "The Curator."

Yes, I love it. It makes it feel like there is something to look forward to in his lifetime.

 

[Bluth54]

Oh and having Tom Baker come back as a distant future retired Doctor reusing the 4th's face was brilliant. I kinda hope they have more multiple Doctor stories in the future and not just save them for be the big anniversaries. The way everyone played off each other was great.

Yeah I agree, we really need to see more multi-doctor stories in the future. Maybe not for the first year of a new Doctor, but for year two or three. I'm sure Tennant and Smith will be game for more Doctor Who in the future, seeing as how they wanted to do a split season together after filming the anniversary. I wouldn't mind seeing either McGann or Hurt come back either since we've seen so little of them in live action.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Man, I loved the special!

- John Hurt as The Doctor gave such a magnificent performance. From his exasperation with his goofy older selves to the raw emotion when confronting the Moment and what he has to do... wonderful work.

- I loved all the Doctors working together. Hurt, 11, and 10 had me in stitches. I'd love to see more of this. So good.

- Billie Piper looked smoking hot tonight. I have never found her more attractive before tonight. Maybe it was the crazy hair.

- Peter Capaldi! Whoa!

- The Curator was a nice touch.

- So I guess the search for Gallifrey is next?

 

[GillianSeed79]

Loved the Tom Baker cameo at the end. I only got into Doctor Who when they rebooted it, but after the first season I ended up staying up late every Saturday because they showed Tom Baker Dr. Who in the states on PBS. He's easily one of my favorite doctors. Really liked the episode except for the monster they used in it.

 

[Tdog987]

Congrats

 

[Bobby Roberts]

I was mostly pleased with how FUNNY it was. I thought it was going to be more dramatic/tear-jerky, but it was mostly comedy, with bits of continuity porn and drama mixed in.

I really appreciated that.

 

[CorvoSol]

So I just finished marathoning since the reboot to the anniversary special and wow, just wow. This episode was really great. Hurt really nailed the part, and Piper actually did stellar. Seeing Eccleston, Capaldi, McGann and Baker cameos was also awesome. So many little continuity nods along the way. I really, really loved this. There's been an air of depression hanging over the show since the first episode of the reboot, and I really, really liked that this special focused on giving the Doctor some hope. That line about the sound of hope, even for you just really tied it all together for me.

Really loved this episode.

 

[Mush]

I have no idea what happened and why there were 3 Doctors and how the Time War just ended up being nothing but peeps with guns.

Too much timey-wimey shit.

 

[lastplayed]

Just saw it, thought it was quite good. I never really got into the reboot (beyond the 9th doctor) but grew up watching the 4th to 7th. Was glad too see all the doctors in there at the end.

 

[JoeM86]

The UK overnight ratings are out.

It did 10.18m. Lord knows what the number will be after timeshift.

Was expecting the worst, especially due to cinema viewings.

 

[APZonerunner]

The UK overnight ratings are out.

It did 10.18m. Lord knows what the number will be after timeshift.

Was expecting the worst, especially due to cinema viewings.

Wow! It's probably going to fall short of Voyage of the Damned in the UK, but wow! That's quite a number! That's the best overnight since A Christmas Carol in 2010.

Moffat's in the Daily Mail (lol) talking about a female Doctor again today.

"There is absolutely no reason why a woman can’t play Doctor Who and I am the person who has made that possible."​

Dat ego. He's a nutter sometimes.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Same guy who gave a quote during Capaldi's announcement that essentially said "A female doctor? Sure. When there's a male Queen of England."

This fuckin' guy.

I almost dig the guy for the sheer bald-faced assholery of it all.

 

[Symphonia]

Moffat may come across as an egotistical son of a bitch but after this, who gives a shit? I forgive him for all his sins, as far as I'm concerned. I just hope he can carry this quality of writing over with him into S8.

 

[JoeM86]

Wow! It's probably going to fall short of Voyage of the Damned in the UK, but wow! That's quite a number! That's the best overnight since A Christmas Carol in 2010.

Moffat's in the Daily Mail (lol) talking about a female Doctor again today.

"There is absolutely no reason why a woman can’t play Doctor Who and I am the person who has made that possible."​

Dat ego. He's a nutter sometimes.

Just went to look at the Daily Mail and saw their review. My god their reviewer appears bitter lol

 

[APZonerunner]

Just went to look at the Daily Mail and saw their review. My god their reviewer appears bitter lol

I think an awful lot of people the sort of age of a Daily Mail reader who didn't remain a full-blown fan - the casual viewer of the 60s and 70s, and the more conservative ones, given their paper of choice - look at the show and don't really recognize it any more, and are a bit bitter and rah rah everything was better in my time. Which was fair enough. Mail's a rag anyway, too.

Moffat may come across as an egotistical son of a bitch but after this, who gives a shit? I forgive him for all his sins, as far as I'm concerned. I just hope he can carry this quality of writing over with him into S8.

Oh, yeah. The debt owed to him - and his ego, actually! Is massive. Immeasurable. So good on him.

I sort of never want him to leave, but increasingly that is becoming a very real thing that needs to be thought about. My dream would be that he didn't, but RTD came back and they split Exec Producer/Lead Writer duties, as I think the pair of them together would be a ridiculous force as if you could combine the best bits of their respective eras tonally it'd be the best Doctor Who ever made hands down. They'd cancel out each other's failures and excesses. Who knows if that'd ever actually happen, though. Never will anyway as long as RTD's husband is terminally ill, I suppose. Poor guy.

 

[JoeM86]

I think an awful lot of people the sort of age of a Daily Mail reader who didn't remain a full-blown fan - the casual viewer of the 60s and 70s, and the more conservative ones, given their paper of choice - look at the show and don't really recognize it any more, and are a bit bitter and rah rah everything was better in my time. Which was fair enough. Mail's a rag anyway, too.



Oh, yeah. The debt owed to him - and his ego, actually! Is massive. Immeasurable. So good on him.

I sort of never want him to leave, but increasingly that is becoming a very real thing that needs to be thought about. My dream would be that he didn't, but RTD came back and they split Exec Producer/Lead Writer duties, as I think the pair of them together would be a ridiculous force as if you could combine the best bits of their respective eras tonally it'd be the best Doctor Who ever made hands down. They'd cancel out each other's failures and excesses. Who knows if that'd ever actually happen, though. Never will anyway as long as RTD's husband is terminally ill, I suppose. Poor guy.

I too don't want Moffat to leave, don't want Smith to either as he aces the role. Though, if he does, I can really see Mark Gatiss taking the reins with Moffat writing the occasional story here and there.

Not much would change, really, in that scenario

 

[APZonerunner]

I too don't want Moffat to leave, don't want Smith to either as he aces the role. Though, if he does, I can really see Mark Gatiss taking the reins with Moffat writing the occasional story here and there.

Not much would change, really, in that scenario

I think RTD will come back, to be honest, at least as a writer. He's too much of a fanboy to not want to write once for each Doctor, and he's friends with Capaldi. He had a sneaky way of writing for the Eleventh and getting around it all with Matt's episodes of Sarah Jane Adventures, but for Twelve that isn't there, he'll have to go to the main show. Plus his American excursion is over, ended by his husband's illness, and he's back running shows for the BBC - Wizards vs Aliens, the kids show that replaced the Sarah Jane Adventures & features a lot of old Doctor Who alumni plus another kids show starring Bernard (Wilf) and Freema (Martha). He's in the position to do it again now, and Moffat has asked him back every year. Don't think it'll be next year, but... Series 9, I'm predicting it!

I think Moffat will continue to contribute. Like RTD he's too much of a fanboy not to, and unlike RTD his ego is such that he won't think it might be better for him to stay away a while! Which is fine, really, god love him. Moffat scripts are always welcome, especially when he has an entire year to mull over one or two really good ones.

I think if Gatiss does take over, which I think he will, I'd like to see him step back a touch. More guest writers, less by him - maybe two a year. I actually think he'd be a fantastic show-runner thanks to an encyclopaedic knowledge and brilliant love of the show, but I think his actual episodes can be hit and miss.

 

[Ventilaator]

Moffat needs to leave immediately and come back writing single episodes just so we'd know if this theory is correct

The more restrictions placed upon Moffat, the better he performs.

Give him 7 minutes to show us McGann's regeneration and he'll knock it out of the park.
Give him 45 minutes for a one shot and he'll deliver The Girl in the Fireplace or Blink.
Give him a two parter and he'll do Silence in the Library/Forest of the dead.
Give him complete control of everything and he'll go nuts.

It's art from adversity.

 

[Nicktendo86]

Well not been a fan of the new series but gave this a watch on the iPlayer, what the hell did I just watch? What was the point of all that Elizabeth I bit with that annoying bird from Gavin and Stacey? So is Hurt now a proper doctor and the number of the ones after him shifted up? Are daleks really so stupid as to shot each other until all dead if their target disappears? The humans and those shape changing aliens were negotiating, negotiating what? They have no planet, what are they going to do, agree to just fuck off? Nothing made any sense and pretty much summed up my dislike of the new series.

 

[ramyeon]

Just rewatched and it was even better than second time.

 

[Exterminieren]

The UK overnight ratings are out.

It did 10.18m. Lord knows what the number will be after timeshift.

Was expecting the worst, especially due to cinema viewings.

Most excitingly, although the X Factor dropped a bit, it wasn't a calamitous plummet. There still will be a decent number of people who were casually interested but chose to timeshift Who and watch the live competition as it aired. By the time that was done and I'm A Celebrity had finished afterwards, there was no time for people to watch it on the night, really.

We're in for a monstrous timeshift, even by Who's lofty standards. Voyage of the Damned isn't too far away at all, and there's a legitimate chance that it could end up as the most watched broadcast on British TV this year. What an anniversary present that would be.

 

[paradox121]

Most excitingly, although the X Factor dropped a bit, it wasn't a calamitous plummet. There still will be a decent number of people who were casually interested but chose to timeshift Who and watch the live competition as it aired. By the time that was done and I'm A Celebrity had finished afterwards, there was no time for people to watch it on the night, really.

We're in for a monstrous timeshift, even by Who's lofty standards. Voyage of the Damned isn't too far away at all, and there's a legitimate chance that it could end up as the most watched broadcast on British TV this year. What an anniversary present that would be.

And we've still got the Christmas special to come which always has the chance of being the most watched show of the day. Really has been a great year.

I've been reading a couple of reviews this morning and I thought this quote from Mashable is a brilliant summation of the episode:

For the first 50 years we knew him, the Doctor was running away from his home planet — first as a TARDIS-stealing criminal, then in exile, then running from his responsibilities to help govern there, and finally running away from the memory of having destroyed it. Now, at last, he's running home.

Also, a couple of thoughts running round my head whilst being unable to get to sleep last night due to being comprised of about 90% euphoria:
-The idea of removing the planet and having the Daleks destroy themselves also gives an explanation for why they keep cropping up (Cult of Skaro aside). Entirely possible some didn't get hit and just escaped that way.
-I like that this episode also adds to The End of Time. Not only due to the 'I don't want to go' stuff but also the idea that the High Council was so up themselves they didn't realise they'd already been saved
-'Gallifrey Falls No More' is clearly an anagram for 'ROMANA IS FULL GREY...FLL'. Think about it guys.

Now the not so long wait to Christmas. Only a month and a day!

 

[mclem]

We're in for a monstrous timeshift, even by Who's lofty standards. Voyage of the Damned isn't too far away at all, and there's a legitimate chance that it could end up as the most watched broadcast on British TV this year. What an anniversary present that would be.

It's got a good chance in average-rating terms, but in peak terms Andy Murray will absolutely hold onto it - 17 million viewers for the moment where he won Wimbledon.

 

[BocoDragon]

I got the impression that the

Spoiler

Tom Baker

dialogue was intentionally intended to downplay such literal, continuity-minded questions... But can his appearance really be rationalized somehow as a Doctor? Or was he really just a random museum curator with a huge 4th wall breaking level of *wink wink*.

Either way I loved it. He was my first Doctor, watching the show in reruns on Canadian TV at the beginning of the 90s.

 

[Box of Bunnies]

I got the impression that the

Spoiler

Tom Baker

dialogue was intentionally intended to downplay such literal, continuity-minded questions... But can his appearance really be rationalized somehow as a Doctor?

Yes. Amongst Tom being Tom he basically says that he's a future Doctor, after he's retired from adventuring and settled down, reusing an old face.

 

[BocoDragon]

Yes. Amongst Tom being Tom he basically says that he's a future Doctor, after he's retired from adventuring and settled down, reusing an old face.

Rewatching my recording and I see that now. Good, that makes me happy

 

[DieH@rd]

Just rewatched. One of the timelords in the war council mentioned 13 doctors, Capaldi did not said anything.

 

[8bit]

Some idle thoughts, if that memo hadn't leaked about Matt leaving would Capaldi have appeared in this anyway?

Did Osgood get the scarf from the curator?

And did I hear that Jack was dead?

 

[SlickVic]

Maybe I'm just a sucker for big group reunions in stories, but seeing all the Doctors together and hearing all the different voices gave me goosebumps. Yeah, they may have just been old clips playing, but damn if it didn't feel like they really were all present at that moment. Definitely one of my favorite moments of the entire series.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

How come this didn't link onto the end of The Name of the Doctor?
Clara is suddenly working in a school? What? Didn't she drop dead right before War Doctor was revealed at the end of that episode?
Was what happened between shown is some iplayer minisode-prequel garbage that Moffat and the BBC love so much?

 

[Box of Bunnies]

How come this didn't link onto the end of The Name of the Doctor?

I've seen this mentioned a bit today, and I don't get it. The Doctor going into the time stream was dangerous because his presence would cause things to collapse upon themselves, not because he couldn't get back out. There was nothing to suggest that he couldn't just stroll out after picking up Clara and having the chat about John Hurt.

And did I hear that Jack was dead?

"After his death. Well, one of them."

Dying and coming back is kind of his thing.

 

[ramyeon]

And did I hear that Jack was dead?

Nah, she said it was procured from Jack Harkness "Upon his death. Well, one of them anyway." Or something along those lines.

How come this didn't link onto the end of The Name of the Doctor?
Clara is suddenly working in a school? What? Didn't she drop dead right before War Doctor was revealed at the end of that episode?
Was what happened between shown is some iplayer minisode-prequel garbage that Moffat and the BBC love so much?

Drop dead? She passed out/fainted lol. But yeah there's a time gap and some missing stuff, nothing too exciting I would imagine though. Just them exiting his time stream and leaving Trenzalore. Her reaction upon hearing about the Doctor's call and entering the TARDIS kind of implies they haven't seen each other for awhile.

 

[Shorty11857]

So spoiler free please is this worth watching for someone who thinks Moffat has basically ruined the show? Couldn't make it through the last season but I recorded this so should I watch?

 

[Exterminieren]

So spoiler free please is this worth watching for someone who thinks Moffat has basically ruined the show? Couldn't make it through the last season but I recorded this so should I watch?

Eh, give it a go.

There's a bit of timey-wimeyness in there, but it's largely deconstructed. It's just a big, balls-out celebration, honestly.

 

[Box of Bunnies]

The writing's very Moff-y. I mean give it a go, but you probably won't like it.

 

[JoeM86]

Looking around the Internet, it's astonishing how many people have failed to understand the contents of the episode... It's actually hurting my brain to read comments on some other places.

I can understand people not getting a bit here and there, but some people....

 

[PaulloDEC]

So spoiler free please is this worth watching for someone who thinks Moffat has basically ruined the show? Couldn't make it through the last season but I recorded this so should I watch?

That depends on when specifically you feel like Moffat ruined the show. If you only disliked S7, give it a go.

 

[Lynd7]

Looking around the Internet, it's astonishing how many people have failed to understand the contents of the episode... It's actually hurting my brain to read comments on some other places.

I can understand people not getting a bit here and there, but some people....

Yeah, I am surprised at how little some people actually took in.. A lot of questions make it seem like they didn't even watch it.

If you watch it, its quite easy to follow and understand I thought.

 

[Scavenger]

Might anyone have a non-uk version/link for this youtube video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UVt0NF5j0g

Pity the BBC put it up for UK viewers only :/

Someone uploaded it to vimeo: http://vimeo.com/80165680

 

[APZonerunner]

Most excitingly, although the X Factor dropped a bit, it wasn't a calamitous plummet. There still will be a decent number of people who were casually interested but chose to timeshift Who and watch the live competition as it aired. By the time that was done and I'm A Celebrity had finished afterwards, there was no time for people to watch it on the night, really.

We're in for a monstrous timeshift, even by Who's lofty standards. Voyage of the Damned isn't too far away at all, and there's a legitimate chance that it could end up as the most watched broadcast on British TV this year. What an anniversary present that would be.

A 3m timeshift would be monumental! I don't think it'll beat Voyage on pure UK TV ratings - cinema stuff won't count, after all - but it'll make 12m, I reckon, and be one of the highest rated episodes ever. Still, I hope it gets the 3.3m it would need to beat Voyage of the Damned's record (13.8m).

 

[Exterminieren]

A 3m timeshift would be monumental! I don't think it'll beat Voyage on pure UK TV ratings - cinema stuff won't count, after all - but it'll make 12m, I reckon, and be one of the highest rated episodes ever. Still, I hope it gets the 3.3m it would need to beat Voyage of the Damned's record (13.8m).

The cinema stuff is a tiny slice- it was very popular for what it was, but I'd be astonished if it reached 6 figures.

I think Downton's timeshifted in excess of three million before, and that wasn't opposite live entertainment. I have a funny feeling about this one.

 

[Eteric Rice]

Anyone have a clip of all of the Doctors appearing at the end?

 

[NekoFever]

I love this Tumblr.