UNEDITED EXCLUSIVE: Doctor Who Special "Time of the Doctor" REACTION!

I did like this episode but I think it is highly overrated. I thought that up until the very end, aka THE SPEECH, it really wasn't that good and then the worst part was the so-called regeneration. Just having him switch to Capaldi like that was not good. I mean, his whole body is being rewritten from the inside out and POOF he was someone else? Tennant to Smith and Capaldi to Jodie made more sense in how it was done. Just imho.

I absolutely love this episode, and I absolutely love Matt Smith as the doctor. You'll find out that Peter Capaldi is one of the best people to play the doctor in new who. In classic who, the majority of the doctors were played by older men. They wanted to get back to that.

Amy Chlebus

Ooooh I disagree. I hate Clara but this was the perfect send off to my favourite Doctor. The worst finale for me is either season 9 or 6.

Harry Cook

God I did not enjoy this episode at all... I had to keep pausing just to get through it. Probably the worst final story of any doctor in the entire 55 year run for me. I didn't need Amy back for that cameo (easily my least favourite modern era companion) and this story was so confusing and messy.

Mark Ward

Matt said at a convention that she wasn’t, that River was the main love type relationship for Eleven. He also said in an interview, when asked if the Doctor was in love with Clara, said he doesn’t believe he was. I think, and it’s just my opinion, that he interpreted the character a little different than Moffat, who thinks the doctor falls in love all the time. This is where it can get confusing in the actual episode. As a side note, I’m not raging on either actor or writer. The last thing I want to do is start a war over Moffat at this point. Just thought it was an interesting dichotomy.

Vanessa J McNamara

PLEASE rewatch this episode in silence before S8E1!

Personally disagree. I think given the time Moffat had to work with, he did the best job he could with this episode. This whole Trenzalore story was supposed to be the focus in S8 and the arc for S8, but when Moffat couldn't convince Smith to stay on for the next season he had to condense a whole seasons worth of material down to one episode whilst tying up all the loose ends of the previous seasons plots. I think he didn't do a bad job considering

I agree with you about this episode feeling off. I definitely didn't like this episode. Easily one of my least favourites. They were clearing trying to wrap everything up by attempting to tie up loose threads from previous series arcs but it falls apart. The execution isn't great, the pacing and explanations are incredibly rushed and it's not structured well at all IMO. We also have repeats of stuff that has been done before like The Doctor forming an Army, The Angels, Trenzalore returning and the "Doctor Who?" term which I agree is completely repetitive at this point. Clara's family isn't really integrated well either. However, 11's Regeneration scene is genuinely good though. That scene has the right amount of emotion and is definitely the best part of the episode for me. Aside from that though, I genuinely dislike this episode. The contrast with The Doctor facing an army of Cybermen and Clara' Christmas family dinner scenes don't mesh together very well. Tonally, it feels weird and creates a strange juxtaposition as they heavily clash in tone. Sadly this episode just ends up leaving a bad taste in my mouth. It really feels like they put all the energy and effort into the 50th anniversary but they could barely string up a thread for this story. It just feels like a mess overall. Great reaction though. Looking forward to seeing your journey with Capaldi soon.

JY

She is a very cute lamp, though. 🙂

Mr K

How about a Rose/Dalek rewatch now that you've reached the 50th? They both hold up surprisingly well.

Mr K

and some guy called Steven Moffat is Scottish 🤪

Sufyaan Kazi

This episode had a lot of nuances in the dialogue you missed plus you send distracted waiting for the episode that immediately follows Day of the Doctor. As it was Matts last one, the story pivoted on that aspect instead and so tied up loose ends from his era, like what was in his room, etc. Anyway, I'm sure you'll get this episode more on re-watch. Capaldi doctor takes a bit of time to get into, but when it does, wow, like many other commenters have said, WOW, do many of my favourite Who episodes are from his run. Also, Clara steps up to another level. Have fun!!

Sufyaan Kazi

That last point isn't a theory cause it was explained later in 12's era 🤷‍♂️

Matthew Case

67 comments! Multiple viewing links. Think you've got a hit on your hands, Fail. 😂

Mr K

I actually agree. This regeneration/ Christmas episode did little for me, but then again I'm not a huge fan of Matt Smith's run. I remember cheering the first time I saw this. Yet, from an objective standpoint and upon a second viewing, it did actually manage to get me in the feels more than most of his episodes did for me. I highly recommend watching again. Great reaction though and I look forward to seeing your reactions from here (the next doctor is tied with Tennant for my favorite from new Who)!

DaphneQueen

Sorry third comment in a row but whatever 😂. The more I think about it the more frustrating it is actually. Like I love your reactions they’re awesome that’s why I’m here lmao but lately you’ve been missing a lot and always talking over the most important things.. this episode especially. So yeah I’d recommend rewatching it even though it won’t be the same since you kinda ruined it for yourself watching it this time and missing so much but it’ll still be a lot better I think! :)

Aaron Wilson

Also I’m just realizing everyone is saying the same thing 😂 you talked over way too much of the episode this time making it a little annoying to watch at some parts because you missed all the important parts lol

Aaron Wilson

Tbh like 90% of your commentary this episode talked over soooo many important things that would’ve let this episode and all regenerations make a lot more sense, plus probably would’ve made the actual regeneration more impactful in total to be honest... also you guessed some things that just weren’t right but when you go through and edit this video hopefully you catch most of the stuff you missed :)

Aaron Wilson

They literally Mention its a planet 3 bloody times Not the North pole. Says something stupid that doesn't Make any sense and misses the point " PuT Me iN tHe WrITeRS rOoM"

Reading that post, I think it may have come across a little harsh. I did enjoy your reaction. I just get frustrated on your behalf when you miss stuff :P

Dani C

'Your timing when stopping to speculate interrupted a few key things that you were later confused about.' Yeah - along with just missing parts of dialogue completely. It really takes away the emotional punch in places, like when Handles finally reminds the Doctor to patch the telephone through to the console unit - that bit floored me, but if you haven;t heard most of what Handles has said through the episode then it would just be confusing.

Dani C

They weren't backdooring the Matt Smith regeneration. They had a press conference then kicked the front door in. I think you'll like it on a second viewing. Your timing when stopping to speculate interrupted a few key things that you were later confused about. Just unlucky there. His regeneration started on the bell tower, and finished in the TARDIS. AFAIK that's the longest regeneration sequence up until that point. Great reaction. I can't wait to see you react to the rest of it.

Stephen Ray

YES! I love Capaldi. He is my favorite. Fun Fact: He was the president of a Doctor Who fan club when he was younger. Even wrote them letters.

I loved Matt Smith's final speech. I was crying so hard. Also wasn't a big fan of the quick regeneration. But! Welcome to my favorite Doctor! I hope you enjoy him.

This is definitely an episode that works better on a second viewing. But, I also think the Day of the Doctor does as well. There are a lot of lovely touches that get lost as you try to follow a fairly convoluted story - and on a second viewing when you already know where it is going, those lovely touches come through more. Some of the dialogue is brilliant. You seemed to miss quite a lot of points (the reason he was naked - ('of course, I'm going to church' - the instruction to Handles at the start - and his explanation of where he found him - the explanation of what the planet they were about to go to was (a human colony, not the North Pole), most of the explanation of what the message was and why everybody was there, the Doctor's realisation of why the truth field was there when the message was translated - and lots of other dialogue. It's difficult whne you are reacting to stuff because you can't just sit there quietly not saying a word, but if you inadvertently talk over the one line that explains the rest of the scene then it loses its punch. And if you talk over a whole section of dialogue or exposition, you are bound to lose the thread o fthe story. I highly recommend rewatching this one when you aren't reacting :) I do agree that the episode could possibly have had more of a lead in to the regeneration - maybe a two parter rather than a single Christmas episode. Though I think it was always going to suffer a little in the shadow of the 50th anniversary

Dani C

Aww poor Dooski. Hope she's ok and doesn't have to wear the lampshade for too long.

Dani C

when fail pauses the video just before handles says Gallifrey omg hahahaha

Where is the next AOT? Thought was on Tuesday

BlunTastic23

This is such an uneven episode, I agree. Unfortunate because I think Moffat wanted one more season with Smith as others have said, but Smith decided not to renew the contract and try other things. Peter Capaldi (12) is in the argument for the greatest Doctor, definitely keep watching!

i think out of all the modern doctors, 11s goodbye monologue is my favourite. that "i will always remember when the doctor was me" combined with the quick glance at the camera is like a goodbye from matt to the fans as well, and it always makes me tear up, plus amy coming to say her goodbyes as well. but all of that aside, i am SO excited for you to get into capaldi's era. easily my favourite doctor, plus you might remember the actor from "the fires of pompeii" - he was the man whose family 10 saved when donna asked him to. technically there isn't a connection between those two, but i kinda feel like the doctor subconsciously chose a face he already had seen in the past (just my personal theory though...)

I've always enjoyed it, I think it airing OG on Xmas day gave it more charm, there's a lot condensed and MS definitely shouldn't have gone here but it is what it is right.

Cooper Vision

Smith is the GOAT for me, never expected him to be so, it's a combo of his charm as an actor and the stories he gets, Moff wrote better Who with him than Capaldi I feel. I've never watched this episode without howling at the end, the music from TROA, Amy, his speech about all the people we used to be, all brilliant. Looking forward to watching this tonight. Cheers FW34. :)

Cooper Vision

yessss i was waiting for him to get to capaldi for so long. he's definitely my doctor, and no matter what everybody says about the quality of these seasons, his run will always be my favourite (or until there comes another, greater actor who changes my mind again because this is exactly how i felt about tennant before capaldi became the doctor haha)

I felt the same way when this first aired. This is one that actually works better on re-watch. It takes multiple viewings to really soak in everything that's happening. In a perfect world, this would have been a 2-parter.

Trey Moore

Can you not?

Oliver Harrison

I think going into these episodes without any foresight definitely changes how you respond to them. I loved this episode when it first aired but then we had plenty of notice that Matt was leaving and went into the episode expecting it by the end - and the moment in the 50th where Capaldi appears for a moment was so exciting because we already knew it was the next Doctor. I'm not a particularly big fan of this episode overall now but I still think the last few minutes are excellent.

Although there was always the possibility of loopholing this, as we have known since Classic Who, that Rassilon made the Time Lords have an arbitrary cap at 13 lives, and he knew the secrets to immortality. Thus since Rassilon was resurrected during the Time War, this was always a potential solution ever since that moment.

Skebaba

I hate comments like this. So. Much.

Mark McKeown

Peter Capaldi is my favorite doctor, no doubts. At least if i were to give a rating to all of them i would give 10/10 to Eccleston Tennant and Smith and 11/10 to Capaldi :p

DXMember6

Your summary echoes my feelings completely. It's basically an entire season scrunched into less than an hour,and it doesn't work for me. Love the final five minutes,though.

Ian Smith

and here we go. i still miss matt and he left like 6 years ago lmaooo

jade

Welcome to Capaldi. My absolut favourite Doctor. He is amazing in everything. Fantastic actor, wonderfull episodes and he an clara are so loveley. This pair, capaldi and jenna as the doctor and clara feels like love in a very deep way. Can't wait to see youre reactions :D

Saskia Gaber

He wasn't just given a extra regeneration he was given a whole new cycle of regeneration's by the time lord's, so he can regenerate up to 12 more times (quite possibly more), just thought id point that out, Loved that reaction btw :)

Attack eyebrows. 🙂

Mr K

I thought the same, definitely missing quite a bit of dialogue the last few reactions. Still enjoyable reactions though.

Mr K

On the first go I thought it was meh but in rewatches I feel they did a good job wrapping up Smith’s era. Unpopular opinion but on the first go I wasn’t a fan of 11 at all and was excited when he regenerated into 12. That excitement turned into 12 becoming my absolute favorite. Here we go again 😉

Crystal D.

He doesn’t. You can tell by his reactions in The Fires of Pompeii and in the 50th.

Crystal D.

An ok reaction but im amazed you follow most of it with you talking over dialogue that later on you get confused by .how long does the regeneration have to be 😀it started from the tower remember and it was the start of a new regeneration cycle.definitely watch it again. What I’ve read over recent years is smith regrets not doing another season.

King parrott

Mr. Failwhale, you should give a try to Capaldi’s 12th Doctor, defenitely! He is like the best portrayal of the Doctor from both Classic and the New series. A mix of two if you will. He is just great at this role. Pay close attention to how he acts, speaks, answers and just casually behaves. He is all 9, 10 and 11 combined with some of the Classic Doctor traits as well. Somewhat close to a perfect harmony in his character, if a little dark/grumpy. Funnily enough, I never thought anyone could surpass Tennant. “Certainly not this young Smith kid” I thought back in my day. But boy oh boy did he deliver! So I had the exact same thought when Smith was regenerating. And guess what? I was wrong again! This is where the real shit begins. PS. Basically, the reason behind suck quick regeneration being due to 11 unleashing all his destructive regeneration energy onto the Daleks I suppose. That’s what I got back when I first watched it and I’m still sticking to it to this day

I'm exactly the same. Took a while to like it.

Mr K

When Clara went back to the Tardis, the phone was off the hook. I wonder who 11 called in his final moments....

I like this episode but you're not wrong, they tried wrapping everything up too quickly. I believe Moffat wanted Smith to remain for one more season to wrap things up at a better pace, but Smith decided not to renew his contract and opted to leave after this episode, making everything feel rushed and not as well developed.

I didn’t like this episode originally but for me it is now one of the top 5 to rewatch and I love all of it actually

Lucas Pluck

I think you missed the fact that this was the end of the doctor's regeneration cycle. Since the original series he was only meant to have this many regenerations. There had been a lot of speculation as to what would happen after Matt Smith because of this rule. So in this episode when he talks about dying, he means forever, no regenerating. His grave in Trenzalore was meant to be his final resting place.

Matgo Styles

So time lords have a set of 12 regenerations, but there are a couple different ways to get more...Matt Smith is 11 yes, but War Doctor counts, and so does the time Tennant regenerated in season 4's finale. Clara intervened, and the time lords gave 11 a new set of regenerations (he has another twelve, not just one). Hope that clarifies things.

It's definitely a very disjointed episode. I wasn't sold on it for the longest time, but it's actually one of my favourite these days. That tends to happen a lot for me. 🙂

Mr K

Welcome to the GOAT doctor

Is it me or does it seem like he doesn’t know who Peter Capaldi is

I have no name

Welcome to the Peter Capaldi era. IMO the best actor to play the Doctor. He even joined the other Doctors to save Gallifrey in Day of the Doctor! Well , you saw his eyebrows.

Stephen

There's a debate about Tasha Lem possibly being a regeneration of River, or something. There seem to be clues but whether or not it was intended or was an abandoned story idea or just some of us reading more into it, I guess we'll never know.

Mr K

I'm not a fan of this episode as a whole either. At the point of first watching if you are a mega fan of Matt Smith's run, then that loss taints the enjoyment of what became my favourite regeneration in hindsight. We don't know if the next person can fill those shoes. Fortunately Capaldi was immediately brilliant from the first episode and gave Smith a run for his money as my favourite Doctor. "I'll always remember when the Doctor was me." Always gets me EVERY SINGLE TIME! It's a wonderful line for both the character and the actor.

Daryl

Clare & Capaldi are prime DWho. Get ready.

ScotchBeard78

A few more notes: You mentioned the new Doctor's voice briefly before being distracted. Peter Capaldi is, in fact, Scottish. Sylvester McCoy, the seventh Doctor, was also a Scot, but his accent was a lot more mild than Capaldi's. David Tennant is also Scottish, incidentally, but while playing the Doctor he put on an English accent that wasn't ENTIRELY convincing - hence the joke in Day of the Doctor when Ten makes a joke about the War Doctor's accent, and Eleven responded 'brave words, Dick van Dyke'.

Still disappointed that they reused "four knocks", the same piece of music they used for David Tennant's exit.

Mr K

On the first go I really wasn't that sure about this episode, but it's grown on me. Matt Smith hurt his ankle in this. The Doctor was originally supposed to lose his lower leg during a battle to cover for it, hence the cane and "Can't get the parts. Know the feeling." line. But they thought better of it.

Mr K

So glad you've gotten to this point. Peter Capaldi is pretty much my favourite Doctor, classic or new era.

Mr K

I think most of this special is not great - cleaning up some continuity odds and ends that were never really interesting, and the actual story it told was both too large to fit into the space it had available, and also not interesting enough to fill the time it would require. Any time there's a narrator, it's not a good sign. That being said, that regeneration scene is the GOAT, never to be surpassed (although Twelve's gives it some pretty stiff competition). And you're now into Peter Capaldi territory. Capaldi is my personal favorite Doctor between both the new and the classic series, and I'm really excited for you to get into some of the really good shit that's coming up. (As for the Doctor's name, don't worry; it'll never be mentioned again)

That "old man" is the greatest actor this show has featured. Im sure you will enjoy Capaldi he is my favourite doctor. :)

Loved the reaction. Two things! 1. The Time Lords gave him another cycle of regenerations, not just one. Matt Smith says that towards the end when he's about to regenerate in the tardis. 2. The whole name thing they'll never get over but it's definitely not even a thing with future doctors. It's the shows biggest secret and it'll never be told.

So fun fact about that gag with the Doctor shaving his head: Matt Smith had actually shaved his head for a musical of American Psycho, and as they were filming this, his hair was still growing back. So for the entire ep, Matt Smith had to wear a wig, so they decided to throw in a joke about it. What’s even MORE funny is that Karen Gillan, at the time that she filmed her cameo in this, had also shaved her head as well, in this case for Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy. So in that last scene with the two of them, they’re both just wearing wigs. Great reaction as always man!

Alex James

Eleven's hour is over now, the clock is striking Twelve's.

Dannielle

😥😭

guys, what'd you think about this? Especially on the first go

Failwhale34