The Time of the Doctor (S07E16)

At last an honorable departure for the latest incarnation of the Doctor. The first time it was forced hurried change and the second time a ridiculous parody of itself. And Moffat almost bit off more than he could chew. The grand finale of the mythological storyline where all possible monsters of the past gang up against number Eleven (or Twelve? I just can’t keep up...) over the course of one single hour. Still, it doesn’t seem like over-cluttering, but more of a fateful culmination of all of Moffat’s more and less successful efforts of the past three seasons. The greatest hitch is the length; in view of its scope, it could have done with a few minutes extra. This way, the time jumps to Trenzalore are a bit rushed and fruitless. But in spite of this it works, primarily thanks to thanks to Moffat saving the day not with epic magnificence which would seem to be the most obvious solution in view of what is at stake and of the Doctor’s adversaries, but through a basically simple but functional intimate tearjerker. (26.12.2013)

The essence of the Eleventh Doctor packed into a single viewing. If Steven Moffat ever faced a real challenge, it was the anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor. And if there was a task before him that could cause a nervous breakdown, it was writing another rule-changing piece that must resolve something, conclude something, set something in motion – and above all, move you. For some, it is an incomprehensible tangle that is only a shadow of the soul that the series had during Matt Smith's tenure. For me, despite the fact that the Eleventh Doctor will never be the hero of my heart, it is (perhaps because of that) a perfectly tear-jerking, nostalgic, and exciting ending. I will always remember... (26.12.2015)