I hope you guys enjoyed the video! If it’s a tad less polished than the previous two, then I apologise. I’d planned on finishing with The Doctor Falls video, and had a lot less time to work on this than I’d hoped. But I suppose that’s rather fitting for a look at Twice Upon a Time. I’ve never related more to Steven Moffat in my life.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. As of 2021, Twice Upon a Time was the last good episode of Doctor Who before we got the terrible 11th and 12th seasons of Doctor Who.
2:29 My interpretation of the end of time has always been that Ten was simply a very human doctor. He grew "too close" to the people around him and got caught up in their views of death, and he got attached to his current form. So when he knew something was going to happen to him that would typically kill a human but for him would simply cause a regeneration he reacted like a human would - he genuinely believed he would actually die. I haven't explained this very well, but I hope I've given enough for the zero people who see this to figure out what I mean.
I also look at his time as “John Smith”. He was scolded so hard from for doing that, it must have left a mark on him and made him paranoid about what regeneration really was. Also, god complex lol.
1:56 "I can't keep doing this, Clara. Burning the old me...to make a new one." Best. Arc. Ever. 12's suicidal, weary-of-life nature is so well-earned. He lost his best friend, his wife, his oldest friend, and his newest in the space of just a few years. I wouldn't want to come back either. How perfect for his successor to be so full of life and absent of agnst! Oh...Series 12 happened. I was blissfully ignorant for a second there.
I nearly included that clip from Heaven Sent but the Heaven Sent clips were giving me copyright trouble in the last video, so I rewrote it. It’s very clever though
@@Joe_Brennan_ In a way Clara and the 12th Doctor were canon ... so he should remember her because the very beginning of the impossible girl story was about the Doctor remembering her.
@@BriZ3l21 - very true. Also 12 immediately remembers her as the Diner TARDIS dematerialises and he sees the waitress's face painted on his own TARDIS. It's written in the script, but no one watching the episode released that he remembers Clara so Steven just went with it and gave him his memories back here. I seriously do not understand the memory removal scene in Hell Bent given Steven would - TWO SCENES LATER - undo it. And it confuses me even more so that people never picked up on the fact that 12 does indeed get his memories back.
@@nightowl8477 you see ... the 11th was drawing her when he first met her as Clara that we know ' I guess ' and in hell bent she was a painting ' on the Tardis ' ... and when first the 11th reg to 12th .. he said to her that you look at me but you can't see me ... umm that's really what happened in hell bent ... he looked at her but he couldn't see her ... so in a way it should be like that
I'll still always be convinced this is Twelve's mid-regeneration dream sequence, a way to ease the trauma of his three friends dying at his hand. It's a cute episode though, with loads of ideas and themes that could fill an entire series, let alone crammed in one episode.
The dream-like fairytale framing means you can just write this off as a hallucination, or at least a cutesy retelling of real events. Allows for all sorts of headcanons
@@Joe_Brennan_ Didn't they already do something like this before, where Mat Smith is reversing through his timeline watching what he has done through his life. This kinda reminds me of that.
Just think of this as a Bonus Capaldi episode and then all is right with the World again. I agreed with everything you pointed out except one thing, the Doctor gets to remember Clara again, and I loved that. Memories are all we have in the end, and the Doctor should have his.
Maybe you’re right, I am usually inclined to prefer happier endings. I think my disappointment really just stems from my appreciation of that ending in Hell Bent. I’m sure I’ll get round to properly discussing that story and ending at a later date
I've always thought this special was so underrated, and I'm glad to a positive review! I'm not a huge fan of the sillier christmas specials of the Moffat era, so this one felt right. It's got unforgettable moments, like Lethbridge-Stewart asking "What do you mean, one?" (I was so happy to see you mention it!), or Capaldi's delivery of "Do you know how many of you I could fill? I would shatter you", which makes me cry every single time XD. Even though The Doctor Falls is for sure a superior episode, I will never lament that it wasn't 12th's last, because he deserved a more hopeful send-off. Also, "Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind" might as well be how one might describe 12th. ♥
You hit the nail on the head with this. Not perfect, but...still, we got a lot of nice bits and it had potential. Plus, one more turn for Peter Capaldi. I love the end with the WWI scene. Beautiful.
apparently in the novelisation, the first doctors' misogyny is revealed/presented to be him teasing and trying to embarrass the 12th i really like this idea, it doesn't walk all over the "time lords past gender binaries" thing while keeping up with the first doc's clear disdain for the modern show, *and* makes those scenes even funnier with that headcanon in place
thank you so much for this, now the episode isn’t spoiled for me at all, i didn’t know episodes in the show had novelisations could you explain that more
@@matthewrickard5050 same for me, as soon as i heard about the novelisation's interpretation i breathed a sigh of belief at being able to interpret the episode in a really fun new way the novelisations are published by the bbc for a large range of select episodes, they're great because they have so much more space to fill out blanks that 45-minute episodes don't have the leeway to do. often they're written by people with some contacts to the original writer, but it's hard to say what's original and what was just lost in translation from page to production.
I think I agree about the Clara scene from a story angle, but I've always viewed it as Moffat leaving as clean a slate as possible for Chibnall. But, that scene of Capaldi with his arms still hugging after Bill and Nardole disappear... still hits just the right way.
I guess that makes sense actually, leaving future writers with one less thing to worry about when it comes to the Doctor's history. Still, I reserve the right to be a tad grumpy
I really want to do one, but it'll probably be further down the line. I've just spoken a lot about him in the last three videos that I'm afraid I'd be repeating myself
9:15 I think that's part of the point. The Doctors themselves are horrified by what they see, but Bill (and the audience, thanks to the music) views his exploits as triumphs. Everyone can see that the Doctor is a force for good except him; it's a thematic callback to the Series 6 arc and an idea that Moffat seems to like a lot.
... What kept Doctor Who, the show, alive? What keeps any of us alive - after we're gone? ... Memories. What a wonderful legacy. Twice Upon a Time is a big ''thank you! for all the memories!'' the Doctor Who show provided us all with. Darn cleverly done, rush job, low budget, intimately set. Deeply felt. Like in the olden days. They've addressed a couple of issues you mention in the Cornell novelisation, it's fairly packed and well written. 1st Doctor's response is explored more in depth. Also, the parallels. There's a few! Worth reading. Here's the extended Rusty scene: Rusty harbours a strong ... dislike for his own kin, he's now a psychologically damaged Dalek who, with some ''help?'' in the past, expanded consciousness beyond the programming and genetics - regained his memories of a star being born (power of memories) - while falling into the reversal ideology - ''kill all that's not a Dalek'' burned into ''kill all Daleks'' through the fusion with Doctor's memories (of everything popping into existence & strong hate - which became one of his fears, whether he's a good man) - Rusty as he has been for billions of years at that point, his decision and credo, in essence, have been shaped by memories themselves and logic derived from them: ''Because helping me, in any way, does something wonderful. It hurts the Daleks.'' Another pause. The Doctor was pretty sure he really could hear the cogs whirring. ''Your logic is ... ingenius.'' He grinned. ''And just a little bit evil.'' ''I approve.'' The Doctor now felt able to approach. He went to the Dalek, and took his sonic sunglasses from his pocket. He tapped them against the Dalek's sucker arm, and heard the sound of vast quantities of information flowing into the creature's cyborg brain. He felt it was about time that Rusty came out with its standard catchphrase about him once again. ''You would make a good Time Lord,'' said Rusty. The Doctor winced. Now /that/ was just plain /mean./ * And possibly below the belt - I like that Rusty popped up and had a say. And tell him off a bit, just in case: what's in a perspective: what's worse than a good Dalek? A good Time Lord? Thank goodness he's just an idiot. What a save. Anyway, unlike with Me, whom he checked upon from afar, the Doctor left Rusty to fend for himself entirely. He grew enough not to repeat that same mistake later with Grant. Dalek philosophy is now meaningless and pointless to Rusty, but he's caught in this vicious cycle of cancelling the Daleks. And here's the meanie Time Lord who put him in this position. Primum non nocere - firstly, do no harm - yeah, Rusty's arse. (Not that he couldn't say: Enough of this! I'm packing my bags and going to the Bahamas! Come on, Doctor! Why didn't you include that one in the flashback?! ;P) A bit sorry to see him still exterrrminating through the aeons, though. Then again: what's a Dalek equivalent of ''just being happy'' ... Personally, I got warmth from Bradley's Doctor - but also grittiness, sense of adventure, a twinkle, packed in one. He's not trying to be Hartnell's Doctor - just being 1st Doctor. Moffat, and let's face it: this episode is VERY moffaty ;) - inserted those ball-knobs in there for a purpose: for one: they're cheap CGI (which is a bit of a clue to what was coming), and also - whenever he got the chance, he lists all Doctor's incarnations, hammering them in: 50th, Husbands of RS, Name of the Doctor, here, .... Minus a couple of bazillion that exist now. He made sure to tie Classic Who to Reboot Who - and especially interesting is that all of Capaldi run - has to deal with death and passing, giving a sense of finality to the show (if one so chooses - as I think I have: judging by the initials of this episode and unreliable yet fun and completely incorrect Urban Dictionary guide, TUAT stands for a female getting on your nerves (which is in 55% incorrect as it's Chibnall's writing I really can't stand, not only Whittaker's delivery --- and I had hopes. ... Just a shame ...)) ... But I love Twice Upon A Time. Very best thing about it? The Captain's family won't have to rely on the memories - to be with their husband and father ...
The death of Davros and the Master in this series & all the nods to the dawn of doctor who with that style of daleks/ cybermen/first doctor really does make it feel like an ending. It could have closed here. Not saying it should have but would neatly have tied it up. Similar to how the Simpsons could have ended at Holidays of Future Past but didn't
Hold on, when did Davros die? I know Missy, who's the final incarnation of the Master (go fuck yourself Chinballs), was killed by John Simms' incarnation but Davros' last appearance was in the Season 9 two part opening episodes and I don't remember him being killed in those. In fact, the Doctor made a point about Davros' chair making him almost immortal.
"We get a weird looking cameo from Jenna Coleman" Yeah that shot has always reminded me of some of the scenes in Infinity War and Endgame where people are standing in front of a green screen and them and the lighting looks all weird and shoved into the rest of the movie.
She looked ethereal. The lighting actually added to the scene because Clara wasn't really there. She was an illusion who represented the Doctor's long buried memories of her.
The crowd cheering over Nardole was when I gave this video a like. Also I guess that's two awkward long pauses with Clara at the end and 1 in the beginning with "have you no emotions........................ sir?"
Everything after the Christmas Armistice is just perfection. Doctor Who distilled. It's everything I love about the show. The set-up is pretty great too; 12 gets to reflect on both his past and future, though there really was no need for Bill. Let her have a cameo with Nardole and Clara, that's all she needed. Then we could have spent more time developing Soldier-Whose-Name-I-Can't-Remember! If I'm being honest, I don't think the Testimony plot could ever have worked - and I actually stand by the "There isn't an evil plan" 'plot' point. Just a bit dull, really. But I imagine the original cut of the scenes with Rusty was amazing, finally reflecting on the "Am I a good man?" Arc, and tying together the loose strands of 12's very jumpy character journey. I honestly think the original 90-minute cut might have made for one of the greatest stories of all time, not just in the show itself but of television. It's a shame. With that half an hour gone, everything before the resolution is just a mess of nothing. No substance. You can get away with no plot, but you gave to have _content_ for Christ's sake! Bloody BBC. They gave Russell eighty minutes! Ah, well. Rachel has confirmed that they shot the original footage, so that 90-minute cut does exist, and maybe one day I'll get it. Who's to say?
@@frogoat - Steven wrote the script as 90 minutes - they then shot 90 minutes of footage. At the last second, the BBC insisted on it only being an hour, so Rachel - sadly with o help from Steven - had to cut out 30 minutes of footage, which is unheard of. I like to think most of issues with the script would be remedied with the original, more appropriate, runtime.
19:19 - "his death would rob the universe of all the things his future self would accomplish" - shows an image of whittaker... maybe he should have refused to regenerate after all :/
I loved Twice Upon a Time and Capaldi was given the magnificent send off he deserved. Good insightful essay, however, with a deeper insight into 12's arc and the Doctor character throughout. Thank you.
I always felt that the Tardis getting bigger, embodies the growth and progress both the Doctor and indeed, his closest "companion" have made. And I think it's brilliant they showed the two Tardises right next to each other to indicate just how long of a way the Doctor has come. It's the perfect epitome imo. That's my subject take on it at least!
this ep IMO both serves as a farewell to the 12th Doctor and offers a full-circle moment that ties back to the very first incarnation of the Doctor, portrayed by William Hartnell. This episode is not only a fitting send-off for Capaldi but also an important reflection on the journey of the character, both in terms of personal growth and in the historical context of the show itself. a reflection on who they were, who they are, and who they will become. By bringing the First Doctor into the final moments of the 12th Doctor’s era, the show creates a beautiful sense of closure, completing a narrative arc that began in 1963 with William Hartnell. It is a full-circle moment that reminds us that, no matter how many faces the Doctor wears, the essence of the character-and the adventure-remains timeless.
Now rewatching most of the Capaldi era in 2021 I’m growing to like his Doctor more and more. When I first saw him as the doctor in 2014 I wasn’t as impressed since Matt Smith had been terrific but now I see why you like him so much
"Twice Upon a Time" has a special place in my list of favorite DW episodes! I was having a private celebration of the holidays with my husband. I got carried away and got stuck in a k-hole. Through the fog and confusion, I heard the voice of, not one Doctor, but two (hubby had changed the channel on the TV)¡ I was saved! It was the last Christmas I spent with him before he passed away. 😶
I loved TuaT from the very start; I think its great parts far outweigh the tasteless jokes. I can't believe I missed the (hopefully intentional) callback to Deep Breath you mention at 13:42. That's one of my favorite Capaldi scenes! 17:33 was literally me in the theater lol
@@Ben-vf5gk - I think thematically New Year specials are a thousand times more appropriate for the show, yes. Christmas is a time of remembering, reflecting, looking back. But Doctor Who is a show sustained on forward momentum. A New Year's Day Special, looking into the future, just makes more sense tonally. Additionally, there are only so many Christmas-themed stories to be told. But New Year's? Steven and Mark put out a gothic horror the other year. And the year before that, Chris put out a sci-fi blockbuster. Point being: anything goes on New Year's. There's so much variety, so many different stories allowed to be told. It's liberating for future Who writers. Having said that, the 25th of December, 7PM, BBC 1 is hands down the _best_ time slot in the entirety of British television. And for over a decade, it was Doctor motherfucking Who's. I get why people miss it. We got a big dick moment every year. But Chris did the right thing. I'm referring to the joke about Jenna's pause though.
Awesome video Joe. While I'm not a big fan of TUAT, I would agree that it certainly had a lot of potential and its a shame that many of it's best ideas are painfully underdeveloped. You certainly have a talent for these types of video essays, and I look forward to your next video
I think there’s a lot of good in this episode, in particular in examining the psychological toll such a long life and such a drastic change in identity takes on someone, and the juxtaposition between the First and Twelfth Doctor. But yeah, all the interesting things are not fleshed out enough. So...lots of good, lots of potential, if it had been planned I think it could have been great but due to the fact it was rushed out it wasn’t nearly as strong as it could’ve been.
Capaldi is my favourite of the new doctors. This video touches beautifully on why that is. But oddly I loved this episode the first time i watched it. And generally, even his bad stuff bothers me less than most doctors because he's just so good at selling it. I really miss him.
My favourite scene from this special is where Bill asks One why he ran from Gallifrey to begin with. It's such a lovely exploration of that character, and his evolution, and it shows the humble beginnings of what would gradually grow into the definitive force of good, fighting evil throughout the galaxy. It's almost fitting that even all those decades later, both in and out of the show, the doctor still doesn't entirely realise he is the exact person he set off to find in the first place. The one awkward sexist joke scene aside, I feel William Hartnell would have adored the exploration of his doctor's character in this story. (I may be somewhat biased there though because I do adore David Bradley as One lol)
i personally feel that had this been written so that the story happens prior to world enough and time and the doctor falls, and the regeneration speech is told by capaldi to the first doctor, then at the end of the doctor falls he regenerates in the tardis after bill brings him there....
fun fact about the regeneration scene: peter capaldi says “never be cruel. never be cowardly.” this is a reference to the parody movie that Steven Moffat wrote back in 1999. In the movie, a companion says “he was never cruel or cowardly”
Moffat: Makes loving references to the Brigadier in Six Stories which had me saluting the screen in four of them in beautiful tributes to Doctor Who's Greatest Companion Chibnall: Abolishes UNIT for literally no bloody reason (The Pertwee fan in me is not over that)
Chibnall again: Abolished Christmas Specials, made the companions nothing more than question machines and made the Doctor hypocritical and some sorta Space Jesus God Destined amalgam
@GamingWithChu agree to disagree... you enjoy Chinball, go right ahead.. I don't want to take away from anyone's fun. But if i start listing the problems i have with the Timeless Children (and legitimate plot holes and thematic betrayals that are engraved), it would be a very long essay indeed.
@GamingWithChu since you've suggested me a video (which I've watched but do disagree with), watch this one... by B-WHERE (it's the channel name) "The Timeless Children Ruins Doctor Who"
@GamingWithChu for you it doesn't. Cool. But for many, including me, it does... it's fine. Some people hate The Hybrid arc, some love it. Some people hate Bad Wolf, Some love it.. that's great. Makes the show more engaging and always relevant.
As someone who is not very fond of this episode, when you were like "It may sound like I was complaining for twenty minutes", I was a little surprised, because to me it mostly sounded like praise.
that bit at 9:14 where I actually do film the scenes with door knobs was so awkward. Crouching on my knees holding an ipad to the doorknob, balancing the phone with my chin, trying not to be in shot. Makes me laugh though
I always assumed the 4th wall breaks were him just talking to the TARDIS. He looks at different places, and the TARDIS is all around him, so the camera view was to immerse us as a companion despite us really playing the TARDIS. And despite the lengthy rubbish* over his name, this WAS the most theatrical of the lot lol
What I noticed is that the shepards boy is linking heaven sent and twice upon a time because in heaven sent the doctor sort of just gives up and wants to rest/lose/die but then becomes compelled to fight through the eternal battle of hitting the wall, and in twice upon a time the doctor just wants to rest/lose/die but then becomes compelled to keep fighting the battles and wars and to carry on for many doctors to come. With every punch and hit on the wall comes a new doctor
I think this was a rather nice episode for Christmas. As Moffat said, there is not really a big treath, so it's more like having a fun last adventure with the Twelfth Doctor and a bit of a nostalgia trip by including the First Doctor. I'm a fan of it, to be honest. As for the Rusty bit, I don't know about everyone else, but my brother was with me when I watched the episode in cinemas in Belgium and he is a fan of the Rusty character, so this made his day. And he figured out that 12's speech perfectly summarizes what 13 becomes in terms of personality.
Before I watched this video, I would have said that Capaldi's era should defintely have ended with The Doctor Falls - I've always liked bits of Twice Upon A Time (mainly, somewhat ironically, the bits focusing on the Twelfth Doctor), but The Doctor Falls would have been a much better ending. Now, though... well, I still think The Doctor Falls would have been a better ending, and I will always wish that Capaldi's final line had actually been "Pity, no stars - I hoped there'd be stars." but I'm a lot less resentful that this episode exists (although Chibnall didn't help by immediately undoing the main reason it was made).
I think this was a rather nice episode for Christmas. As Moffat said, there is not really a big treath, so it's more like having a fun last adventure with the Twelfth Doctor and a bit of a nostalgia trip by including the First Doctor. I'm a fan of it, to be honest. As for the Rusty bit, I don't know about everyone else, but my brother was with me when I watched the episode in cinemas in Belgium and he is a fan of the Rusty character, so this made his day. Also, my brother made the realization that what the Doctor says in his speech at the end are exactly what 13 became, so that was a fun easter egg.
I know this is years late, but I took clara’s long puse as her own way of responding to the 12th Doctor, since he actually had a long pause as well when he was responding to Clara.
And capping off the fantastic regeneration scene, the transition of 12 to 13 was AMAZING; then she's thrown out of the disappearing Tardis - WOW! And it's been all downhill since. Chibnall, ugh - Whitaker deserved better. I SO miss Capaldi!
@@Joe_Brennan_ It can, and when I came to review the novelisation I was still a lukewarm, but it's really grown on me. (Oh and for hot takes? Capaldi's run is arguably my favourite of the revival. Including Hell Bent. Men have been killed for less.)
I need to rewatch it in its entirety, at the time I felt like it struggled to find its footing. But every story I revisit, I find a new respect for. I'm planning on having a look at Face the Raven, Heaven Sent and Hell Bent in the future on the channel, I'm excited to dive into them
Hell Bent, for example. I think people expected it to be a story about Gallifrey and a triumphant return. Instead, it's a story about the Doctor desperate to save one friend. The Doctor is keen to return home, until Heaven Sent happens and he remembers why he left.
I think the interactions between The Doctors would have been better if they're feelings were switched. The first is more willing to regenerate but is scared, and 12th being so battered by everything that has happened in his life and just wants to stay as is. The ambiguous conflict would also help if the whole scene about the doctor's future as The War Doctor was left out and more emphasis was put into the Conversation between Bill and the 1st Doctor, showing that even after every regeneration and differences in his life he had brough so much to the universe as if he never really changes.
Capaldi is my doctor, which i realised probably after i followed the entirety of his run. Rewatching this episode felt less impactfull than the doctor falls, but i loved the bonus of my favourite doctor and the full fledged farewell he got: unbuttoned sleeves, the first doctor figuring out the answer the long way round, goodbye to river as the doctors ring drops, goodbye to murray as his controbution to a masterpiece plays, goodbye to moffat as he goes full circle, goodbye to the tardis as the books get burned... And goodbye to a good era of doctor who. I wish so badly they stayed for 1 more season as i loved the s10 tardis crew with missy. Atleast we can be happy we got these masterpieces and a bonus for christmas before chibnall came.
I've really enjoyed your videos on these episodes and I agree that while Twice Upon a Time is certainly the much more flawed and messy part of an otherwise brilliant and tragic trilogy, I have a soft spot for it and have come to forgive its poorly handled stuff for the lovely small moments and clever ideas that it delivers. I think in light of the recent two series (which at best have never really clicked for me and at worse have really disappointed me), I've come to appreciate these episodes and series 10 as a really special point of Doctor Who. I'd be interested to hear your views on more of Capaldi's episodes - potentially the series 9 finale (again I feel I've softened to Hell Bent a lot more over the intervening years!)
I’m really glad you enjoyed the videos! They’re the first of this kind I’ve ever made so I’m still learning. I’ll definitely have a look at the Series 9 finale at some point. But not for a little while, as this Series 10 trilogy was quite a demanding project. I think I’d have to include Face the Raven as well, so it’ll probably end up just as long as this. I’m really excited to revisit them, but will need some shorter videos first 😂
I always enjoyed Twice upon a time. Sure, the joke about the first Doctor being sexist got boring quickly and was overplayed, and Bill coming back was a tad unnecessary, but other than that it was a fun adventure, and as you say, it was a good epilogue to the twelfth doctor’s run. I remember hearing some negative reviews of it at the time, and I didn’t understand why people were so down on it.
I adored Peter Capaldi as our Doctor and was so sad to see him go. I am a woman, but I still did not like a woman Doctor. It just didn't work for me. I was a child when Doctor Who began in 1963 (the same day C.S.Lewis and John F. Kennedy died) and I loved the old curmudgeon of a Doctor. I actually thought he was MY grandfather, who was Irish, with a great Brit accent and peculiar ways. My Dad loved it too...and gave me my first "sonic screwdriver"...it was a gauge for measuring tire pressure, but for me, a delight. I would lie awake at night hoping to hear the TARDIS in my backyard. Thanks for sharing this, what a true delight!
The only problem I have with World Enough / Doctor Falls, is that they acted like time was speeded up at one end when it was actually slowed down at the other by the black hole. The far end was out in REAL TIME where the civilization that built it had plenty of time to find out what happened to it. Not to mention all the other effects they left out, like tidal forces that would have ripped it apart. Pretty good story, but it was only there to kill the Doctor and Missy.
@@Joe_Brennan_ That was the excuse to frame it that way, but the whole premise was that all those generations happened too fast for anybody to react. They didn't even tell us why the original team never came back "up" when you could do it instantly. Plus the TARDIS went into the gravity well with no problem but THEN couldn't move, when the timestream around the black hole was supposedly the problem. I got more but I'll stop,.
@@Joe_Brennan_ Oh that's wild. Idk if the entire article was in that screenshot but I read down to "Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie's charm". It was tough, lots of trial and error with quick pausing but, I grew up watching The Goodies on DVD and I have experience frame-by-framing for analysis
If you’re interested, here’s a link to the whole thing. It’s not my best work but it can be quite funny. portsmouthpoint.blogspot.com/2018/07/rip-doctor-who-1963-2017.html
@@Joe_Brennan_ I understood everything he said until he brought the children up, I was absolutely bewildered and bamboozled almost ruined the regeneration for me. To this day when he brings up that line I still haven't got a single clue what he's talking about lol
That's funny, my opinion on this episode has gone in the complete opposite direction. It used to be in my top 3 Christmas Specials, then I started to dislike it on my third watch last year. Hopefully I can love it again when I rewatch it this year.
About 200 years. 24 years on Derilium (Husbands of River Song), 70 years at the university (Pilot), and 100 years stranded on Sto after a Weeping Angel encounter (Comic Story: A confusion of Angels)
I want a series 10 soundtrack release and they made a new suite for the first doctor's regeneration called vale une/vale unus there's sort of a version on youtube
Technically the 12th Doctors era ended with The Doctor Falls, Twice Upon A Time is the epilogue paying homage to not just Capaldis era, but the origins of the show itself, as you said giving the first Doctor that triumphant farewell he ALWAYS deserved, repairing the 12th Doctors battered soul from all the losses he suffered through, hot take right here but in my opinion, THIS episode is the greatest regeneration story of any Doctor ever
I enjoyed "Twice Upon a Time" when I first saw it, not the least because, when I saw Bradley in "Dinosaurs on a Space Ship", I felt he'd be perfect to play the first Doctor. Of course, like the idea of making good movies out of the superhero comics I read as a kid, I thought Bradley playing the first Doctor was extremely unlikely. 😄
i always thought puddle bill was glass bill. real bill died the moment she when her cyber body finally gave up. and heather was just testimony coming to get her. testimony is heaven. it collects you just before your death and stores you.
I’m there for the emperor dalek, I’d like to see how his character will develop and maybe even some foreshadowing to the time war, this universe has so much weird and wacky potential compared to anything else I’ve ever watched!
Peter Capaldi's version of the Doctor is one of my favourites - which is strange, considering I disliked a lot of the episodes (due to plot, writing, pacing, direction etc) of his run. Would loved to have seen more of him and in better episodes than some of the ones that were inflicted upon him (and us). _Twice Upon A Time_ is actually one of the episodes I like. Yeah, it's got a few flaws and seems muddled and rushed but it does have an overall goodness about it. Yeah, the soldier being a Lethbridge-Stewart was fairly obvious but a nice touch. Invoking the Christmas Armistice brought tears to my eyes. I like the fact that it didn't attempt to outshine the action and sacrifice of the previous episode and went with a more personal self-questioning plotline.
I hope you guys enjoyed the video! If it’s a tad less polished than the previous two, then I apologise. I’d planned on finishing with The Doctor Falls video, and had a lot less time to work on this than I’d hoped. But I suppose that’s rather fitting for a look at Twice Upon a Time. I’ve never related more to Steven Moffat in my life.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. As of 2021, Twice Upon a Time was the last good episode of Doctor Who before we got the terrible 11th and 12th seasons of Doctor Who.
That Ethan Hunt / Capaldi Hair Breakdown tho
I'll take any opportunity I can to talk about Ethan Hunt
2:29
My interpretation of the end of time has always been that Ten was simply a very human doctor. He grew "too close" to the people around him and got caught up in their views of death, and he got attached to his current form. So when he knew something was going to happen to him that would typically kill a human but for him would simply cause a regeneration he reacted like a human would - he genuinely believed he would actually die.
I haven't explained this very well, but I hope I've given enough for the zero people who see this to figure out what I mean.
I also look at his time as “John Smith”. He was scolded so hard from for doing that, it must have left a mark on him and made him paranoid about what regeneration really was.
Also, god complex lol.
1:56 "I can't keep doing this, Clara. Burning the old me...to make a new one."
Best. Arc. Ever. 12's suicidal, weary-of-life nature is so well-earned. He lost his best friend, his wife, his oldest friend, and his newest in the space of just a few years. I wouldn't want to come back either. How perfect for his successor to be so full of life and absent of agnst! Oh...Series 12 happened. I was blissfully ignorant for a second there.
I nearly included that clip from Heaven Sent but the Heaven Sent clips were giving me copyright trouble in the last video, so I rewrote it. It’s very clever though
@@Joe_Brennan_ In a way Clara and the 12th Doctor were canon ... so he should remember her because the very beginning of the impossible girl story was about the Doctor remembering her.
@@BriZ3l21 - very true. Also 12 immediately remembers her as the Diner TARDIS dematerialises and he sees the waitress's face painted on his own TARDIS. It's written in the script, but no one watching the episode released that he remembers Clara so Steven just went with it and gave him his memories back here.
I seriously do not understand the memory removal scene in Hell Bent given Steven would - TWO SCENES LATER - undo it. And it confuses me even more so that people never picked up on the fact that 12 does indeed get his memories back.
@@nightowl8477 you see ... the 11th was drawing her when he first met her as Clara that we know ' I guess ' and in hell bent she was a painting ' on the Tardis ' ... and when first the 11th reg to 12th .. he said to her that you look at me but you can't see me ... umm that's really what happened in hell bent ... he looked at her but he couldn't see her ... so in a way it should be like that
I'll still always be convinced this is Twelve's mid-regeneration dream sequence, a way to ease the trauma of his three friends dying at his hand. It's a cute episode though, with loads of ideas and themes that could fill an entire series, let alone crammed in one episode.
The dream-like fairytale framing means you can just write this off as a hallucination, or at least a cutesy retelling of real events. Allows for all sorts of headcanons
@@Joe_Brennan_ Didn't they already do something like this before, where Mat Smith is reversing through his timeline watching what he has done through his life.
This kinda reminds me of that.
Just think of this as a Bonus Capaldi episode and then all is right with the World again. I agreed with everything you pointed out except one thing, the Doctor gets to remember Clara again, and I loved that. Memories are all we have in the end, and the Doctor should have his.
Maybe you’re right, I am usually inclined to prefer happier endings. I think my disappointment really just stems from my appreciation of that ending in Hell Bent. I’m sure I’ll get round to properly discussing that story and ending at a later date
@@Joe_Brennan_ You may require 3 videos again, that story is pretty much a Pseudo-Trilogy as well.
We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, yeah.
I've always thought this special was so underrated, and I'm glad to a positive review! I'm not a huge fan of the sillier christmas specials of the Moffat era, so this one felt right. It's got unforgettable moments, like Lethbridge-Stewart asking "What do you mean, one?" (I was so happy to see you mention it!), or Capaldi's delivery of "Do you know how many of you I could fill? I would shatter you", which makes me cry every single time XD. Even though The Doctor Falls is for sure a superior episode, I will never lament that it wasn't 12th's last, because he deserved a more hopeful send-off.
Also, "Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind" might as well be how one might describe 12th. ♥
You hit the nail on the head with this. Not perfect, but...still, we got a lot of nice bits and it had potential. Plus, one more turn for Peter Capaldi. I love the end with the WWI scene. Beautiful.
Thanks for watching!
apparently in the novelisation, the first doctors' misogyny is revealed/presented to be him teasing and trying to embarrass the 12th
i really like this idea, it doesn't walk all over the "time lords past gender binaries" thing while keeping up with the first doc's clear disdain for the modern show, *and* makes those scenes even funnier with that headcanon in place
thank you so much for this, now the episode isn’t spoiled for me at all, i didn’t know episodes in the show had novelisations could you explain that more
@@matthewrickard5050 same for me, as soon as i heard about the novelisation's interpretation i breathed a sigh of belief at being able to interpret the episode in a really fun new way
the novelisations are published by the bbc for a large range of select episodes, they're great because they have so much more space to fill out blanks that 45-minute episodes don't have the leeway to do. often they're written by people with some contacts to the original writer, but it's hard to say what's original and what was just lost in translation from page to production.
I think I agree about the Clara scene from a story angle, but I've always viewed it as Moffat leaving as clean a slate as possible for Chibnall.
But, that scene of Capaldi with his arms still hugging after Bill and Nardole disappear... still hits just the right way.
I guess that makes sense actually, leaving future writers with one less thing to worry about when it comes to the Doctor's history. Still, I reserve the right to be a tad grumpy
can we get a full vid about Nardole? i think that would be quite neat
I really want to do one, but it'll probably be further down the line. I've just spoken a lot about him in the last three videos that I'm afraid I'd be repeating myself
Nardole is my favourite character of the new series. Bill and Donna tied for second.
Sadly this is where Dr.Who ended for my family. But at least we can always go back and rewatch 12 amazing doctors and there adventures.
Annnd I'm crying again!
Gods we miss you Peter!
12 was such a gift!
What a great review.
Thank you!
Thank you for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it
9:15 I think that's part of the point. The Doctors themselves are horrified by what they see, but Bill (and the audience, thanks to the music) views his exploits as triumphs. Everyone can see that the Doctor is a force for good except him; it's a thematic callback to the Series 6 arc and an idea that Moffat seems to like a lot.
Says he promises to make it shorter. Ends up being just over a minute shorter
I didn't LIE...
... What kept Doctor Who, the show, alive? What keeps any of us alive - after we're gone? ... Memories. What a wonderful legacy. Twice Upon a Time is a big ''thank you! for all the memories!'' the Doctor Who show provided us all with. Darn cleverly done, rush job, low budget, intimately set. Deeply felt. Like in the olden days. They've addressed a couple of issues you mention in the Cornell novelisation, it's fairly packed and well written. 1st Doctor's response is explored more in depth. Also, the parallels. There's a few! Worth reading.
Here's the extended Rusty scene: Rusty harbours a strong ... dislike for his own kin, he's now a psychologically damaged Dalek who, with some ''help?'' in the past, expanded consciousness beyond the programming and genetics - regained his memories of a star being born (power of memories) - while falling into the reversal ideology - ''kill all that's not a Dalek'' burned into ''kill all Daleks'' through the fusion with Doctor's memories (of everything popping into existence & strong hate - which became one of his fears, whether he's a good man) - Rusty as he has been for billions of years at that point, his decision and credo, in essence, have been shaped by memories themselves and logic derived from them:
''Because helping me, in any way, does something wonderful. It hurts the Daleks.''
Another pause. The Doctor was pretty sure he really could hear the cogs whirring. ''Your logic is ... ingenius.''
He grinned. ''And just a little bit evil.''
''I approve.''
The Doctor now felt able to approach. He went to the Dalek, and took his sonic sunglasses from his pocket. He tapped them against the Dalek's sucker arm, and heard the sound of vast quantities of information flowing into the creature's cyborg brain. He felt it was about time that Rusty came out with its standard catchphrase about him once again.
''You would make a good Time Lord,'' said Rusty.
The Doctor winced. Now /that/ was just plain /mean./
*
And possibly below the belt - I like that Rusty popped up and had a say. And tell him off a bit, just in case: what's in a perspective: what's worse than a good Dalek? A good Time Lord? Thank goodness he's just an idiot. What a save. Anyway, unlike with Me, whom he checked upon from afar, the Doctor left Rusty to fend for himself entirely. He grew enough not to repeat that same mistake later with Grant. Dalek philosophy is now meaningless and pointless to Rusty, but he's caught in this vicious cycle of cancelling the Daleks. And here's the meanie Time Lord who put him in this position. Primum non nocere - firstly, do no harm - yeah, Rusty's arse. (Not that he couldn't say: Enough of this! I'm packing my bags and going to the Bahamas! Come on, Doctor! Why didn't you include that one in the flashback?! ;P) A bit sorry to see him still exterrrminating through the aeons, though. Then again: what's a Dalek equivalent of ''just being happy'' ...
Personally, I got warmth from Bradley's Doctor - but also grittiness, sense of adventure, a twinkle, packed in one. He's not trying to be Hartnell's Doctor - just being 1st Doctor. Moffat, and let's face it: this episode is VERY moffaty ;) - inserted those ball-knobs in there for a purpose: for one: they're cheap CGI (which is a bit of a clue to what was coming), and also - whenever he got the chance, he lists all Doctor's incarnations, hammering them in: 50th, Husbands of RS, Name of the Doctor, here, .... Minus a couple of bazillion that exist now. He made sure to tie Classic Who to Reboot Who - and especially interesting is that all of Capaldi run - has to deal with death and passing, giving a sense of finality to the show (if one so chooses - as I think I have: judging by the initials of this episode and unreliable yet fun and completely incorrect Urban Dictionary guide, TUAT stands for a female getting on your nerves (which is in 55% incorrect as it's Chibnall's writing I really can't stand, not only Whittaker's delivery --- and I had hopes. ... Just a shame ...))
... But I love Twice Upon A Time. Very best thing about it? The Captain's family won't have to rely on the memories - to be with their husband and father ...
The death of Davros and the Master in this series & all the nods to the dawn of doctor who with that style of daleks/ cybermen/first doctor really does make it feel like an ending. It could have closed here. Not saying it should have but would neatly have tied it up. Similar to how the Simpsons could have ended at Holidays of Future Past but didn't
Definitely agree
Hold on, when did Davros die? I know Missy, who's the final incarnation of the Master (go fuck yourself Chinballs), was killed by John Simms' incarnation but Davros' last appearance was in the Season 9 two part opening episodes and I don't remember him being killed in those. In fact, the Doctor made a point about Davros' chair making him almost immortal.
"We get a weird looking cameo from Jenna Coleman"
Yeah that shot has always reminded me of some of the scenes in Infinity War and Endgame where people are standing in front of a green screen and them and the lighting looks all weird and shoved into the rest of the movie.
She looked ethereal. The lighting actually added to the scene because Clara wasn't really there. She was an illusion who represented the Doctor's long buried memories of her.
The crowd cheering over Nardole was when I gave this video a like. Also I guess that's two awkward long pauses with Clara at the end and 1 in the beginning with "have you no emotions........................ sir?"
Nearly pointed that out, but I felt like I was becoming too nitpicky. Don't want to become a Doctor Who Cinemasins
Everything after the Christmas Armistice is just perfection. Doctor Who distilled. It's everything I love about the show. The set-up is pretty great too; 12 gets to reflect on both his past and future, though there really was no need for Bill. Let her have a cameo with Nardole and Clara, that's all she needed. Then we could have spent more time developing Soldier-Whose-Name-I-Can't-Remember!
If I'm being honest, I don't think the Testimony plot could ever have worked - and I actually stand by the "There isn't an evil plan" 'plot' point. Just a bit dull, really. But I imagine the original cut of the scenes with Rusty was amazing, finally reflecting on the "Am I a good man?" Arc, and tying together the loose strands of 12's very jumpy character journey.
I honestly think the original 90-minute cut might have made for one of the greatest stories of all time, not just in the show itself but of television. It's a shame. With that half an hour gone, everything before the resolution is just a mess of nothing. No substance. You can get away with no plot, but you gave to have _content_ for Christ's sake! Bloody BBC. They gave Russell eighty minutes! Ah, well. Rachel has confirmed that they shot the original footage, so that 90-minute cut does exist, and maybe one day I'll get it. Who's to say?
What do you mean by a 90 minute cut? Is there a version I'm unaware of somewhere?
@@frogoat - Steven wrote the script as 90 minutes - they then shot 90 minutes of footage. At the last second, the BBC insisted on it only being an hour, so Rachel - sadly with o help from Steven - had to cut out 30 minutes of footage, which is unheard of. I like to think most of issues with the script would be remedied with the original, more appropriate, runtime.
12 having the whole 'be kind' thing really speaks to me. Genuinely makes me cry the more i think about it. Why not. Be kind.
19:19 - "his death would rob the universe of all the things his future self would accomplish" - shows an image of whittaker...
maybe he should have refused to regenerate after all :/
probably
I don't know, her first season was a bit hit and miss but it wasn't terrible.
Capaldi is absolutely the best Doctor. He embodies everything the character should be
Both onscreen and off
Yeah
Peter Capaldi is my David Tennant
Sadly they cucked him and you could sense the wistful sadness of an actor forced into mediocre demeaning writing
I prefer the 9th
I loved Twice Upon a Time and Capaldi was given the magnificent send off he deserved. Good insightful essay, however, with a deeper insight into 12's arc and the Doctor character throughout. Thank you.
2:43 Actually the script originally has him look at his hand at that moment at it's glowing with regen energy, so it was definitely deliberate
I'm actually really glad that didn't happen in the final episode. I prefer the subtlety. Thank you for letting me know!
Da
Fa
Da
Daem
I always felt that the Tardis getting bigger, embodies the growth and progress both the Doctor and indeed, his closest "companion" have made. And I think it's brilliant they showed the two Tardises right next to each other to indicate just how long of a way the Doctor has come. It's the perfect epitome imo. That's my subject take on it at least!
this ep IMO both serves as a farewell to the 12th Doctor and offers a full-circle moment that ties back to the very first incarnation of the Doctor, portrayed by William Hartnell. This episode is not only a fitting send-off for Capaldi but also an important reflection on the journey of the character, both in terms of personal growth and in the historical context of the show itself. a reflection on who they were, who they are, and who they will become. By bringing the First Doctor into the final moments of the 12th Doctor’s era, the show creates a beautiful sense of closure, completing a narrative arc that began in 1963 with William Hartnell. It is a full-circle moment that reminds us that, no matter how many faces the Doctor wears, the essence of the character-and the adventure-remains timeless.
This is the best finale to all Doctor Who.
Wonderful video. This story as a three parter with the S10 finale, it really is possibly the best story in Who’s history!
I've always felt that the 12th was talking to the tardis during 4th wall breaking scenes
Now rewatching most of the Capaldi era in 2021 I’m growing to like his Doctor more and more. When I first saw him as the doctor in 2014 I wasn’t as impressed since Matt Smith had been terrific but now I see why you like him so much
"Twice Upon a Time" has a special place in my list of favorite DW episodes! I was having a private celebration of the holidays with my husband. I got carried away and got stuck in a k-hole. Through the fog and confusion, I heard the voice of, not one Doctor, but two (hubby had changed the channel on the TV)¡ I was saved!
It was the last Christmas I spent with him before he passed away. 😶
I loved TuaT from the very start; I think its great parts far outweigh the tasteless jokes. I can't believe I missed the (hopefully intentional) callback to Deep Breath you mention at 13:42. That's one of my favorite Capaldi scenes!
17:33 was literally me in the theater lol
I still get chills when I watch that scene between Bill and the First Doctor talking about why he left Gallifrey.
Alright, I subbed for that last joke.
I’m glad it worked then, at least once
Tbf... are we really losing much by ditching Christmas Specials? Are we tho?
@@Ben-vf5gk - I think thematically New Year specials are a thousand times more appropriate for the show, yes.
Christmas is a time of remembering, reflecting, looking back. But Doctor Who is a show sustained on forward momentum. A New Year's Day Special, looking into the future, just makes more sense tonally.
Additionally, there are only so many Christmas-themed stories to be told. But New Year's? Steven and Mark put out a gothic horror the other year. And the year before that, Chris put out a sci-fi blockbuster. Point being: anything goes on New Year's. There's so much variety, so many different stories allowed to be told. It's liberating for future Who writers.
Having said that, the 25th of December, 7PM, BBC 1 is hands down the _best_ time slot in the entirety of British television. And for over a decade, it was Doctor motherfucking Who's. I get why people miss it. We got a big dick moment every year. But Chris did the right thing.
I'm referring to the joke about Jenna's pause though.
Awesome video Joe. While I'm not a big fan of TUAT, I would agree that it certainly had a lot of potential and its a shame that many of it's best ideas are painfully underdeveloped. You certainly have a talent for these types of video essays, and I look forward to your next video
Thanks for watching! I'm so glad you enjoyed it
Awesome vid Joe, keep it up bud! Love you lots ❤️
Really bloody love the subtle bit of the 9th doctor's theme immediately post regeneration 👌
Great analysis. I liked that episode the first time I saw it but you bring up some great points. Well thought out and very interesting.
The joke about losing the Christmas special had me lolling.... good work! Funny fella, ye be
I think there’s a lot of good in this episode, in particular in examining the psychological toll such a long life and such a drastic change in identity takes on someone, and the juxtaposition between the First and Twelfth Doctor. But yeah, all the interesting things are not fleshed out enough. So...lots of good, lots of potential, if it had been planned I think it could have been great but due to the fact it was rushed out it wasn’t nearly as strong as it could’ve been.
Capaldi is my favourite of the new doctors. This video touches beautifully on why that is. But oddly I loved this episode the first time i watched it. And generally, even his bad stuff bothers me less than most doctors because he's just so good at selling it. I really miss him.
HE’S BACK
The 12th Doctor will always be my favorite Doctor in the whole show
I think this would work really well in black and white
Fantastic video 👌🏼
Thank you!
I enjoyed your video. I've loved this episode since it first aired.
Thank you! I'm glad I enjoy this episode now too
This is an amazing video
I always loved this ep this and WEAT/DF are all in my top 15 dr who eps all amazing
just wanted to say I really like your videos.
Glad this episode is getting the love it deserves.
My favourite scene from this special is where Bill asks One why he ran from Gallifrey to begin with. It's such a lovely exploration of that character, and his evolution, and it shows the humble beginnings of what would gradually grow into the definitive force of good, fighting evil throughout the galaxy. It's almost fitting that even all those decades later, both in and out of the show, the doctor still doesn't entirely realise he is the exact person he set off to find in the first place.
The one awkward sexist joke scene aside, I feel William Hartnell would have adored the exploration of his doctor's character in this story. (I may be somewhat biased there though because I do adore David Bradley as One lol)
Oh my god you mentioned this minutes after I wrote this comment god
That's what I get for commenting before the end of the video lmao
i personally feel that had this been written so that the story happens prior to world enough and time and the doctor falls, and the regeneration speech is told by capaldi to the first doctor, then at the end of the doctor falls he regenerates in the tardis after bill brings him there....
fun fact about the regeneration scene: peter capaldi says “never be cruel. never be cowardly.” this is a reference to the parody movie that Steven Moffat wrote back in 1999. In the movie, a companion says “he was never cruel or cowardly”
Moffat also worked that into the 50th Anniversary.
Moffat: Makes loving references to the Brigadier in Six Stories which had me saluting the screen in four of them in beautiful tributes to Doctor Who's Greatest Companion
Chibnall: Abolishes UNIT for literally no bloody reason (The Pertwee fan in me is not over that)
Chibnall again: Abolished Christmas Specials, made the companions nothing more than question machines and made the Doctor hypocritical and some sorta Space Jesus God Destined amalgam
@GamingWithChu agree to disagree... you enjoy Chinball, go right ahead.. I don't want to take away from anyone's fun. But if i start listing the problems i have with the Timeless Children (and legitimate plot holes and thematic betrayals that are engraved), it would be a very long essay indeed.
@GamingWithChu since you've suggested me a video (which I've watched but do disagree with), watch this one... by B-WHERE (it's the channel name) "The Timeless Children Ruins Doctor Who"
@GamingWithChu for you it doesn't. Cool. But for many, including me, it does... it's fine. Some people hate The Hybrid arc, some love it. Some people hate Bad Wolf, Some love it.. that's great. Makes the show more engaging and always relevant.
@GamingWithChu it ruins the show
I’m watching 14:34 knowing full well that I think about the potential that rusty had on a day to day basis.
Guess he returned specifically for you then haha
@@Joe_Brennan_ I was unmeasurably happy seeing him again 🤣
As someone who is not very fond of this episode, when you were like "It may sound like I was complaining for twenty minutes", I was a little surprised, because to me it mostly sounded like praise.
LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FILMED USING DOOR NOBS
that bit at 9:14 where I actually do film the scenes with door knobs was so awkward. Crouching on my knees holding an ipad to the doorknob, balancing the phone with my chin, trying not to be in shot. Makes me laugh though
I always assumed the 4th wall breaks were him just talking to the TARDIS. He looks at different places, and the TARDIS is all around him, so the camera view was to immerse us as a companion despite us really playing the TARDIS. And despite the lengthy rubbish* over his name, this WAS the most theatrical of the lot lol
Yeah, the Doctor was talking to the TARDIS. And the TARDIS was responding to him too.
What I noticed is that the shepards boy is linking heaven sent and twice upon a time because in heaven sent the doctor sort of just gives up and wants to rest/lose/die but then becomes compelled to fight through the eternal battle of hitting the wall, and in twice upon a time the doctor just wants to rest/lose/die but then becomes compelled to keep fighting the battles and wars and to carry on for many doctors to come. With every punch and hit on the wall comes a new doctor
I think this was a rather nice episode for Christmas. As Moffat said, there is not really a big treath, so it's more like having a fun last adventure with the Twelfth Doctor and a bit of a nostalgia trip by including the First Doctor. I'm a fan of it, to be honest.
As for the Rusty bit, I don't know about everyone else, but my brother was with me when I watched the episode in cinemas in Belgium and he is a fan of the Rusty character, so this made his day. And he figured out that 12's speech perfectly summarizes what 13 becomes in terms of personality.
Love this episode, it just feels magical to me
Before I watched this video, I would have said that Capaldi's era should defintely have ended with The Doctor Falls - I've always liked bits of Twice Upon A Time (mainly, somewhat ironically, the bits focusing on the Twelfth Doctor), but The Doctor Falls would have been a much better ending.
Now, though... well, I still think The Doctor Falls would have been a better ending, and I will always wish that Capaldi's final line had actually been "Pity, no stars - I hoped there'd be stars." but I'm a lot less resentful that this episode exists (although Chibnall didn't help by immediately undoing the main reason it was made).
I'm really glad you've become less resentful towards it, just as I have
I think this was a rather nice episode for Christmas. As Moffat said, there is not really a big treath, so it's more like having a fun last adventure with the Twelfth Doctor and a bit of a nostalgia trip by including the First Doctor. I'm a fan of it, to be honest.
As for the Rusty bit, I don't know about everyone else, but my brother was with me when I watched the episode in cinemas in Belgium and he is a fan of the Rusty character, so this made his day. Also, my brother made the realization that what the Doctor says in his speech at the end are exactly what 13 became, so that was a fun easter egg.
I know this is years late, but I took clara’s long puse as her own way of responding to the 12th Doctor, since he actually had a long pause as well when he was responding to Clara.
I'm so glad Rachel Talalay is returning to direct the 60th anniversary!
That ending slayed me.
Best regeneration story ever.
I changed my mind and enjoyed the 12th doctors run a lot more when I rewatched it recently tho I was about 13 to 17 when I first saw it
Good stuff Joe. Can you send a link to the interview of Colin saying "sorry Peter you're talking rubbish"?
I took it from here, he was criticising Peter Davison's reaction to the reveal of Jodie Whittaker
th-cam.com/video/zvCS4SYu6bs/w-d-xo.html
@@Joe_Brennan_ what a lovely bloke Colin is. (shit pant)
And capping off the fantastic regeneration scene, the transition of 12 to 13 was AMAZING; then she's thrown out of the disappearing Tardis - WOW! And it's been all downhill since. Chibnall, ugh - Whitaker deserved better. I SO miss Capaldi!
Agree almost 100% with all of this.
I’m so glad, defending Twice Upon a Time can sometimes feel like a hot take
@@Joe_Brennan_ It can, and when I came to review the novelisation I was still a lukewarm, but it's really grown on me. (Oh and for hot takes? Capaldi's run is arguably my favourite of the revival. Including Hell Bent. Men have been killed for less.)
I need to rewatch it in its entirety, at the time I felt like it struggled to find its footing. But every story I revisit, I find a new respect for. I'm planning on having a look at Face the Raven, Heaven Sent and Hell Bent in the future on the channel, I'm excited to dive into them
@@Joe_Brennan_ Yeah, it works better binge-watched in many ways. You can see the thoughtlines better.
Hell Bent, for example. I think people expected it to be a story about Gallifrey and a triumphant return. Instead, it's a story about the Doctor desperate to save one friend. The Doctor is keen to return home, until Heaven Sent happens and he remembers why he left.
I think the interactions between The Doctors would have been better if they're feelings were switched. The first is more willing to regenerate but is scared, and 12th being so battered by everything that has happened in his life and just wants to stay as is.
The ambiguous conflict would also help if the whole scene about the doctor's future as The War Doctor was left out and more emphasis was put into the Conversation between Bill and the 1st Doctor, showing that even after every regeneration and differences in his life he had brough so much to the universe as if he never really changes.
Was robots of Sherwood bad? I quite enjoyed it
Capaldi is my doctor, which i realised probably after i followed the entirety of his run. Rewatching this episode felt less impactfull than the doctor falls, but i loved the bonus of my favourite doctor and the full fledged farewell he got: unbuttoned sleeves, the first doctor figuring out the answer the long way round, goodbye to river as the doctors ring drops, goodbye to murray as his controbution to a masterpiece plays, goodbye to moffat as he goes full circle, goodbye to the tardis as the books get burned... And goodbye to a good era of doctor who.
I wish so badly they stayed for 1 more season as i loved the s10 tardis crew with missy.
Atleast we can be happy we got these masterpieces and a bonus for christmas before chibnall came.
I've really enjoyed your videos on these episodes and I agree that while Twice Upon a Time is certainly the much more flawed and messy part of an otherwise brilliant and tragic trilogy, I have a soft spot for it and have come to forgive its poorly handled stuff for the lovely small moments and clever ideas that it delivers. I think in light of the recent two series (which at best have never really clicked for me and at worse have really disappointed me), I've come to appreciate these episodes and series 10 as a really special point of Doctor Who. I'd be interested to hear your views on more of Capaldi's episodes - potentially the series 9 finale (again I feel I've softened to Hell Bent a lot more over the intervening years!)
I’m really glad you enjoyed the videos! They’re the first of this kind I’ve ever made so I’m still learning. I’ll definitely have a look at the Series 9 finale at some point. But not for a little while, as this Series 10 trilogy was quite a demanding project. I think I’d have to include Face the Raven as well, so it’ll probably end up just as long as this. I’m really excited to revisit them, but will need some shorter videos first 😂
@@Joe_Brennan_ Fair enough! I look forward to whatever comes next! :)
THIS EPISODE WAS GOOD BUT IT WAS MUCH BETTER WITH YOU TALKING OVER THE TOP OF IT.
I always enjoyed Twice upon a time.
Sure, the joke about the first Doctor being sexist got boring quickly and was overplayed, and Bill coming back was a tad unnecessary, but other than that it was a fun adventure, and as you say, it was a good epilogue to the twelfth doctor’s run.
I remember hearing some negative reviews of it at the time, and I didn’t understand why people were so down on it.
I adored Peter Capaldi as our Doctor and was so sad to see him go. I am a woman, but I still did not like a woman Doctor. It just didn't work for me. I was a child when Doctor Who began in 1963 (the same day C.S.Lewis and John F. Kennedy died) and I loved the old curmudgeon of a Doctor. I actually thought he was MY grandfather, who was Irish, with a great Brit accent and peculiar ways. My Dad loved it too...and gave me my first "sonic screwdriver"...it was a gauge for measuring tire pressure, but for me, a delight. I would lie awake at night hoping to hear the TARDIS in my backyard. Thanks for sharing this, what a true delight!
Yes I know, I knew the jfk assassination happened on the 23rd though now it says 22nd
@@TheRealUnkn0wn_289 I think you have to account for the "time lapse" (no pun intended) because Brit time is different time than USA.
I'm a fan of this episode. He was my Doctor too.
The only problem I have with World Enough / Doctor Falls, is that they acted like time was speeded up at one end when it was actually slowed down at the other by the black hole. The far end was out in REAL TIME where the civilization that built it had plenty of time to find out what happened to it. Not to mention all the other effects they left out, like tidal forces that would have ripped it apart. Pretty good story, but it was only there to kill the Doctor and Missy.
I guess they only acted like it was slower at the bottom because the explanation we got was from the perspective of those at the top
@@Joe_Brennan_ That was the excuse to frame it that way, but the whole premise was that all those generations happened too fast for anybody to react. They didn't even tell us why the original team never came back "up" when you could do it instantly. Plus the TARDIS went into the gravity well with no problem but THEN couldn't move, when the timestream around the black hole was supposedly the problem. I got more but I'll stop,.
Did anyone else pause during the article screenshot to read it?
You might be the first, no one has commented about it before
@@Joe_Brennan_ Oh that's wild. Idk if the entire article was in that screenshot but I read down to "Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie's charm". It was tough, lots of trial and error with quick pausing but, I grew up watching The Goodies on DVD and I have experience frame-by-framing for analysis
If you’re interested, here’s a link to the whole thing. It’s not my best work but it can be quite funny. portsmouthpoint.blogspot.com/2018/07/rip-doctor-who-1963-2017.html
I absolutely love Twice Upon a Time
Just get rid of the children line in his regeneration and it feels really nice
Sometimes... when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, children will hear your name
@@Joe_Brennan_
I understood everything he said until he brought the children up, I was absolutely bewildered and bamboozled almost ruined the regeneration for me. To this day when he brings up that line I still haven't got a single clue what he's talking about lol
I agree about Bill, though. I loved her and it's a shame it undercut her loss so much.
The best Doctor last words were Chris Eccleston's.
The long hair look has a Jon Pertwee look.
you think Capaldi's hair-volution is awesome ? check out Tsukasa from Kamen Rider DCD :P
That's funny, my opinion on this episode has gone in the complete opposite direction. It used to be in my top 3 Christmas Specials, then I started to dislike it on my third watch last year. Hopefully I can love it again when I rewatch it this year.
After watching this I got a thought. How much time takes place between the end of season 9 and twice upon a time
About 200 years. 24 years on Derilium (Husbands of River Song), 70 years at the university (Pilot), and 100 years stranded on Sto after a Weeping Angel encounter (Comic Story: A confusion of Angels)
I want a series 10 soundtrack release and they made a new suite for the first doctor's regeneration called vale une/vale unus there's sort of a version on youtube
We just NEED that soundtrack in general. Bill's theme cannot go unreleased forever
Technically the 12th Doctors era ended with The Doctor Falls, Twice Upon A Time is the epilogue paying homage to not just Capaldis era, but the origins of the show itself, as you said giving the first Doctor that triumphant farewell he ALWAYS deserved, repairing the 12th Doctors battered soul from all the losses he suffered through, hot take right here but in my opinion, THIS episode is the greatest regeneration story of any Doctor ever
So I was away for a couple of weeks what did I end up missi-
Oh fuck no
Peter Capaldi is my favourite, I miss him soooo much
3:47 same with my hair
People claim the episode is rushed yet have no idea how long would be spent on an episode normally anyway?
I enjoyed "Twice Upon a Time" when I first saw it, not the least because, when I saw Bradley in "Dinosaurs on a Space Ship", I felt he'd be perfect to play the first Doctor. Of course, like the idea of making good movies out of the superhero comics I read as a kid, I thought Bradley playing the first Doctor was extremely unlikely. 😄
I liked it, I never understood all the hate. I love Moffats era. My favourite by a long margin.
To be fair that horryfingly bad Xmas special of 2013 was not Matt's fault but Moffat's. I'm still so mad my Doctor got so shafted in his last episode.
i always thought puddle bill was glass bill. real bill died the moment she when her cyber body finally gave up. and heather was just testimony coming to get her. testimony is heaven. it collects you just before your death and stores you.
Are you excited for time lord victorious?
The concept intrigues me, but no individual piece of media has caught my attention yet. Fingers crossed something great comes out for it
I’m there for the emperor dalek, I’d like to see how his character will develop and maybe even some foreshadowing to the time war, this universe has so much weird and wacky potential compared to anything else I’ve ever watched!
Peter Capaldi's version of the Doctor is one of my favourites - which is strange, considering I disliked a lot of the episodes (due to plot, writing, pacing, direction etc) of his run. Would loved to have seen more of him and in better episodes than some of the ones that were inflicted upon him (and us).
_Twice Upon A Time_ is actually one of the episodes I like. Yeah, it's got a few flaws and seems muddled and rushed but it does have an overall goodness about it. Yeah, the soldier being a Lethbridge-Stewart was fairly obvious but a nice touch. Invoking the Christmas Armistice brought tears to my eyes.
I like the fact that it didn't attempt to outshine the action and sacrifice of the previous episode and went with a more personal self-questioning plotline.