I'll bullet point my opinions as 'positives' and 'negatives' as I've written endlessly on these episodes on other threads already
The Day of the Doctor
+ Superb acting, especially from Smith, Hurt and Piper.
+ The Zygons looked brilliantly done.
+ The effects were stunning.
+ It was great seeing Kate Stewart again.
+ Capaldi and Tom Baker cameos were a lovely treat.
- The episode committed the biggest of dramatic ironies and now means that when rewatching Series 1-7, the viewer will always know more than The Doctor. It destroys the emotional resonance.
- Tennant return was untidy whilst his Doctor was reduced to being a caricature.
- Too much focus on the dull b-story that ultimately fizzled out as well.
- Elizabeth I is the latest in a growing line of poorly written historical figures.
- The Moment appearing as Bad Wolf/Rose doesn't make a lot of sense and cost us the chance to see some Classic Who cameos in that particular role.
- Severely lacking Eccleston and McGann. The plot needed them really, more than Tennant. The Night of the Doctor would have worked as a wonderful pre-credits sequence...what a way to kick off that would have been!
- The Doctor has always been upfront about the genocide he committed. So why does it matter that he keeps the face that committed it secret when everyone knows it was him? Awkward storytelling to shoehorn in the War Doctor.
- Generically dull sense of pacing and the story never really feels it's going anywhere for long periods of time.
The Time of the Doctor
+ Brilliant acting from Smith and Coleman.
+ Orla Brady gave it her all as a guest star.
+ The effects were mostly very good.
+ Karen Gillan cameo was wonderful.
+ Naked Doctor (don't count this legitimately
)
- Tasha Lem was a poor concept for a character. You either introduce someone original, or re-introduce someone familiar. Writing an old character we happened to have not seen before is up there with 'The Doctor lies' for ways to achieve 'LAZY WRITING'.
- The Weeping Angels cameo. We had time to include that but not establish Tasha Lem?
- Clara's family were shoehorned in and poorly realised...as were Amy and Rory's relatives.
- Age make-up was very poor in places. It was a shame to lose Smith under it all in his final story.
- Too many coincidences and conveniences in the story.
- Too many great ideas that aren't explored...in the RTD era that truth-field would have warranted an episode of its own and would make for an interesting logical episode.
I come under 'young adult' and I'm from London, by the way
