The episode that explains why Queen Elizabeth was so angry with the Doctor all the way back in the Shakespeare code from series 3

Chris Eccleston not showing up is because he had a falling out with RTD & the BBC when he left the show. You can see clips of him at conventions discussing the situation only as recently as a couple of years ago. Until then we didn't really know the story behind it, but he has stated that his relationship with the BBC has not healed even now, but he has become more warm towards the fans in recent years and even started doing Big Finish. But he has ruled out ever returning to the show on screen again. Moffat did approach Eccleston for the 50th, and had dinner with him I believe to discuss coming back, but ultimately he decided not to. He would have originally played the War Doctor, but as a result we got John Hurt instead, which was quite cool. If you watch the regeneration scene closely in the episode, you can actually see Eccleston's eyes pop in towards the end, but Moffat stated they didn't want to go too far with it because they don't want to disrespect Eccleston's wishes. Fans have made some fan edits of the war/9 regeneration, here are a few: /watch?v=eO3veBHQ7aQ /watch?v=6O4QPXo89VM /watch?v=o0MABc70atg

Incidentally, the Zygon stuff kinda needs to be there - it's the threat of Kate blowing up London (and killing millions in the process) that causes the Doctor to change his mind over destroying Gallifrey. It's a nice little comparison that plays subtly in the background. (Also, Zygons are an old monster from the 70s, so having them here was another nice nod to the fans.)

Clara now works at Coal Hill School - the same school Ian and Barbara worked at, as teachers, and Susan attended, as a student, from “An Unearthly Child.” The police man at the beginning is walking in front of a sign for Totter’s Yard junkyard, which is where the TARDIS was parked in the first episode. At the beginning of “The End of Time,” David Tennant remarks that he “just married Queen Elizabeth” and, in “The Shakespeare Code,” we see an older Queen Elizabeth mad at him for leaving her - now we know why, thanks to Steven Moffat picking up those threads. All of the stuff with Rassilon and The High Council is going on upstairs, which we see play out in “The End of Time,” but here, we see the battle being waged in the basement, with The General and the War Council. These things are happening simultaneously. The Zygons are a classic series monster, opposite the 4th Doctor, in case you want to add “Terror of the Zygons” to your Classic watch list. For more tie-ins to this anniversary special, check out the 7th Doctor story “Remembrance of the Daleks.” You first saw The Black Archive in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode with the Brigadier. This was originally made in 3D and has some awesome 3D effects, including the oil painting and battle sequences.

Exactly 10 years ago today me and my family saw this episode in the cinema, it was the best cinematic experience I had. The audience even cheered when David Tennant's name appeared in the opening credits. Glad you enjoyed it 👍

"Confusing the polarity" has to be one of the funnier lines in the 50th, also Bad Wolf saying the sound of the TARDIS gives hope to anyone who hears it always makes me tear up

That Twelfth Doctor moment blew my mind watching at the time, and seeing it again now after his era just makes it even more powerful -- judging by your love of Who when it's more epic, you're gonna love Twelve.

The Zygon side represented the Doctor seeing others go through what he went through in the Time War at the end, and helped him come to find a way to change it all.

One fan theory is that the curator is a future incarnation of the Doctor (particularly as he did just say “I could retire and be a curator”. The reference to revisiting old faces would be to imply that this future incarnation of the Doctor decided to revisit the 4th Doctor’s face. One of the “old favourites”.

One of the best episodes Moffat ever wrote. An impossible task, really, but he pulled it off.

The Peter Capaldi was a big shock at the time. I watched this on tv then rushed to the cinema to watch it again in 3D! It was superb. Glad you’ve finally got to this momentous episode. 👍🏻

So the curator has that line where he says “perhaps in the future you’ll end up revisiting a few of your old faces” which at the time was just a little nod to say this is Tom baker as the doctor but not the 4th doctor, some incarnation from the far far future… but now, with the 60th stuff, it’s taken on a whole new meaning and yeah, we have ended up revisiting some old faces as we have David tennant as the 14th doctor which is really cool how they unknowingly set up the 60th 10 years before it happened in the 50th

Where has the 10 years gone since I first watched this!?

The moment we’ve all been waiting for!!

Thought I would mention this the in-universe reason for the Doctor not remembering the multi-doctor stuff is because when two or more regenerations meet after the event the Time Lord will not remember it until they reach the oldest version. So in this context the Doctor won't remember until he reaches Matt Smith's incarnation.

Remember seeing this in in the cinemea All the doctors Capaldi on screen early Tom Baker's proper return Great story and love the Zygons

RIP John Hurt... he was an amazing actor

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but initially the only character who was guaranteed to appear in this was Clara! Matt Smith's contract was up for renewal (I think) and the others hadn't signed on yet, so Steven Moffat was left with the very real possibility that the 50th would only be able to include Clara. I really enjoy this special, even the zygon stuff. I love the comparison between the zygons and the doctors, where with the zygons you've got people looking back at someone who looks like them but isn't, but with the doctors they're looking back at someone who doesn't look like them but is. Anyway, onto An Adventure in Space and Time, which I rewatched yesterday for the 60th along with all 4 parts of An Unearthly Child. Hope you enjoy!

The End of Time part 2 mentioned the Doctor absconding with the Moment, a reminder that the two adventures occur simultaneously for Gallifrey. It's nice to see Eleven react to the mention of Bad Wolf Girl, showing that some scars remain. "I didn't know when I was well off." This is what the Brigadier said when he realized he was seeing the Doctor with another face yet again. Dalek Caan decreed No More whilst discussing his visions.

Gosh I’ve seen this a bunch of times and Instill get weepy. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I loved your delight at the surprises!

When Galifery disappears you can see the Emperor Dalek flying away after. He will be going to the events of the Ninth Doctor stories.

you actually got to watch it on the 23rd nice!

Here. We. Go. Geronimoooooo!

Saw this at a comic con with about 2000 other screaming fans and then in the theater in 3D and then again on television. Thoroughly enjoyed each one.

You in the thumbnail says it all lol

So excited!!!

17:12 This is my favourite scene. Capaldi eyebrows are just press you with authority and coldness from eyes.

Most people miss the fact that the museum actually has the tardis behive/circles on the wall.

Chistopher Eccleston will never retuen to the show and made his stance very clear overwide he would have also been here. Great 4 and 8 returned for a bigger part than just archieve footage.

go back to the museum scene, and look at the round things on the wall. With Tom Baker there it begs the question of if the museum IS the tardis Also, quick side note: when a doctor meets their past self, only the oldest incarnation present will remember the events, so in 11s POV, he remembers it all as it happens, and the other doctors forget as soon as they enter their TARDISes

I always love when they bring up the Archives they even mention it a few times and Sarah Jane Smith as well. I think they visit there a couple times as well

To my knowledge David was filming something else at the time and couldn't cut his hair to it's normal "spiky"ness for continuity in that so they styled it as best they could :)

I know you've been told about the fact that QEI was angry at him in The Shakespear Code but there's also another reference to this during "The End of Time" when The Doctor shows up to see The Ood and talks about all the things he did before getting there and says "Got married to Good Queen Bess and let me tell you her nickname is no longer....." (hinting at the fact that she was called The Virgin Queen)

The Curator is apparently the Doctor’s future self

Good on you for recogising the jacket!

FINALLY IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS REACTION!

Idk if you remember but in The Shakespeare Code (S3 E02) Elizabeth I shows up at the end as an elderly woman and tries to have the Doctor executed - while Martha and the Doctor are running away, Martha asks him why the Queen wants him dead, and the Doctor says it's probably because of something he hasn't done yet

Can't believe it's only 2 days until we start getting the 3 new specials

My favorite episode 💯 great reaction 👍👍👍

In expanded media the Curator is a future incarnation of the doctor

That line where the 10'th doctor disses the 11th doctor's tardis desktop is a reference to the classic 1973 story "The Three Doctors" which was the 10th anniversary story. The 2nd doctor says to the 3rd "Oh. I can see you've been doing the Tardis up a bit. Hmm. I don't like it." hence the 11th doctor's reply to the 10th, "Oh, you never do." The hostility between different incarnations of the doctors is an established phenomena, as discussed here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/arF5rdN3x6qzqKc.html In the words of Karkat Vantas from Homestuck, "PAST ME IS ALWAYS SO TERRIBLE, EVEN WHEN I LITERALLY JUST FINISHED BEING HIM."

You can see that the people who saw it in stereoscopic 3D in theaters got their money's worth.

I hope that they make a one-off special for The Curator. Eccleston was supposed to be in it, but turned it down, hence John Hurt. I wished they used the 8th Doctor instead. I hope you react to the 10th anniversary sometime.

Now you’ve seen the 50th, you should probably know that multi Doctor stories are kind of a tradition in Doctor Who. Would definitely recommend watching some of these from Classic Who: The 5 Doctors is my favourite

Even in his own "era" of the expanded universe, The Hurt Doctor would always try to find the Doctory way to get around issues during the Time War, e.g rather using a Planets satalitte network as a shield to save a planet rather than anyone having to die. But always felt he wasnt worthy of the Doctor's "mantle". kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nK14rNB5tN3OhGQ.htmlfeature=shared Like Moffat did a Novelisation of Day Of The Doctor in 2018 & a couple of the changes were adding in that the Elixir McGann Doctor drank in Night Of The Doctor was Lemonade & Dry Ice, making the Hurt Doctor a real Doctor. But also expanded on saving Gallifrey part where after Tennant said Allons-Y & Smith said Geronimo, every Doctor (including the ones we didnt know in 2013 & the ones we've yet to have beyond 2023), landed on Gallifrey and helped to coordinating disaster relief & helping make sure all of the Children were safe in their beds when the transfer took place. (Which tbf sounds the most Doctorish thing, the Doctors could do). Some argued that the saving Gallifrey was Moffat undermining RTD but like the War still happened & Gallifrey is still lost but "as a 50th Birthday present" the Doctor now knows & will remember he didnt wipe out the Timelords & Daleks, but he wont remember if saving Gallifrey worked until the moment where he comes across it himself, since the Curator was the Doctor in the future (meaning like how Hurt & Tennant wont remember the events of Day Of The Doctor, Smith wont remember his talk with the Curator).

Happy birthday 🎂 🥳

Good to see you reacting to this- I can't believe it's 10 years old! I've lost track of your planned watching, but now would be the moment to watch the Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, which is a companion piece to this.

Really excited to see what they do for the 60th like I don’t know how you can top a multi doctor story and showing the time war and concluding the mystery of it after so many years. You can easily forget when you’re fresh watching the show like how you are doing it how long it was since Rose in season 1 in 2005 and the 50th special so the 50th was a nice conclusion of a mystery years in the making. All I can think to do for the 60th is another multi doctor story with 9,11, 12 and the 13th doctor which would be nice to see. Maybe something with Davros and the Daleks. But I just can’t wait to see how they try to top the time war. I have faith in RTD to deliver a solid 60th.

I know the whole War Doctor & The Day of the Doctor episodes was written by Steven Moffat but the one who came up with the Time War was by RTD. So I do wonder if what Steven Moffat wrote was purely his own (The War Doctor, the painting, the Curator, etc.) or if he asked RTD how he envisioned the Time War saga, so he could write them into the show. I also wonder after regenerating into 9th, when did the Doctor decide to be the Doctor again because I had a suspicion that 9th wouldn't go by the name "Doctor" since to him, he had broken the promise, he murdered billions of lives & reading the fandom seems to confirm that: "The Ninth Doctor smashed every mirror in the TARDIS, vowing to never look at what face he was wearing, as he thought about how many children he would need to save to make up for the ones he killed by destroying Gallifrey, (PROSE: The Day of the Doctor) while also vowing to earn back the name of "the Doctor" by making reparations for his wartime actions. (PROSE: A Brief History of Time Lords)" So when does 9th himself say, "I am the Doctor again"?

not sure if you realised but upon binging your reactions, i noticed that in the 'nightmare in silver' episode; porridge references feeling bad for the poor soul that would have to press the button (destroying an entire planet - foreshadowing this episode later in the season 😅)

Just image how awesome it was watching this movie in 3d "So skinny it looks like a special effect" 😅

Great reaction mannn

This episode was very stressful for Moffat… it was the same time that he was also making Sherlock and the tintin movie so he had loads of work to do. On top of this, Matt smith had technically fulfilled his contract, so he wasn’t even sure he could have him in the episode at all, let alone David Tennant and John hurt. There was at one point a possibility and I think a first draft of a script with only Clara and no doctors (which would have been terrible and I’m glad it didn’t happen) So yeah Moffat was saved by Matt smith being a good bloke and signing on for another 2 episodes and then managing to get David Tennant and John hurt all free for the 50th at the same time was kind of a miracle

Im so excited for your reactions to the 12th Doctor 🙏

Shoutout to TheConfessionalDial who created a storyline SHOWING the scene where Matt Smith called ALL the drs together to freeze Gallifrey and it's PHENOMENAL. They found the actual footage used in the episode too and it's mind blowing to watch how they all appear to interact with each other. It's called "Gallifrey Stands". Check it out.

Really can’t wait for you get to capaldi he’s amazing

Watched this in the cinema...3D what an experience.... there's a before scene that u can now watch that was played for the cinemas only... I really enjoyed it... watching it with fans was just brilliant... I liked the zygon story cos its parallel story to the Doctor's decision... so it makes sense why its there... but yes the scenes with the Doctors are so much more fun... and 100% agree about the chemistry between matt and David (david ends up having great chemistry with nearly every actors he works with in any show) i wish they wud work together again... Has anyone suggested the fivish Doctors reboot to u??? That was also a 50th anniversary special made by peter Davison (actor who played the 5th Doctor) its absolutely brilliant and works as a great companion to this 50th... please check it out... Oh and Peter Capaldi... let me tell u ... everyone screamed in the cinema 😂 Well done for getting to watch the 50th on Who's birthday!!!

The weak part of me was the time war, because it looked like a conventional war, not a time war. But then I realized it’s an anniversary and kids are watching. the implied horror of a conventional war was more than enough. In classic who at some point you do see more time weapons or at least the potential. I guess I was expecting to see that if we ever saw the time war. In my head, the Daleks and time lords have gone through all their time weapons at this point. All their tricks. And we’ve degenerated just into awful blows. The Moment! In my head, Rose, the Tardis, and The Moment all combined to be the entity “Bad Wolf”. Because way back in the first series finally, when we see Rose as Bad Wolf, she said she saw all of time and space, and was ending the time war. The curator: I saw this in the theater. Tom Baker was the doctor I watched as a teen in the 1970s. I heard the voice and shrieked in the theater. Fortunately I wasn’t the only one 😂. Overall I’d enjoyed the episode to that point, but when I heard the voice, it cemented the wonderfullness of this in my heart. It’s definitely a show for fans, with nods back to classic (Tom baker and the zygons) and modern (Rose, queen Elizabeth). I thought it implied the Curator was a future incarnation who reused an old face. Without saying anything definite. It was a treat. I assume you rewatched for the edit and saw the credits… right in the beginning: Matt Smith, David Tennant, Billie Piper…. All spoiled. Tom Baker wasn’t in the credits so that surprise was still there. So glad you enjoyed it, despite a few bits you didn’t care for. Overall it was fun.

Such a fun episode!.. Can't wait for Saturday's 60th Anniversary special. Happy Birthday Doctor who 😉🇬🇧

The zygons are another classic monster

Im not emotionally prepared for what comes next 😢

This is my go-to episode if I need cheering up, so I've seen it multiple times. The humour is there, I suspect, for relief from the central theme: The issue of genocide. Where else but here could you sit through a heavy lecture on the morality in Total War and come out wanting more?

Hah does it really count if the only witnesses to a wedding is urself 😅😅

I've just found out they have edited "An Adventure In Space & Time" (Taken something out & put something in) now to you Hamza it won't make a jot but to everyone watching your reaction it will both shock & surprise!! Lets not say anything more in the comments but i'm excited to see those comments!! AAISAT is now avaliable on BBC Iplayer 😮

The Zygon storyline, as well as being an allegory for the Doctors situation, was also a fun little gift to Classic Who fans (including David Tenant!). The Classic Zygon story is one of the more popular of that era. Although this is a great multi-Doctor story, for me 'The Name of the Doctor' is a more appropriate 50th story - it simply concentrates more on the Doctors history (via Clara). DOTD, by contrast, is more concerned with homaging the prior 7 years (throwing in lots of Easter Eggs for those that recognise them)

Other's have mentioned that Ecclestone turned down this story, but the BBC turned down Paul McGann who was Moffat's second choice. They wanted a big name star (hence John Hurt) which is why we then got The Night of the Doctor as a prequel. Paul also led the 40th and 50th anniversary specials on Big Finish :)

The War Doctor's leather jacket is similar to the Ninth Doctor's but not the same jacket as War's was brown and Nine's was black. The War Doctor's regeneration if you look closely at a pause right and the moment before it cut to the next scene you can see Christopher Eccleston's eyes and chin emerging but was cut before we can see it fully as Steven Moffat the showrunner felt it was human decency not to show someone who hasn't really appeared on the show without Eccleston's knowledge apart from the one footage with the other Doctors. The best part out of this whole episode for me was when Tom Baker showed up and had me emotional. The Zygons were there as part of the anniversary as they were really popular villains from Classic Who and were scary unfortunately the problem here is it took the threat away and made them too comedic.

So glad you enjoyed and you make some good points on what works for you and what doesn't. I love this but it also bothers me in equal measure. It's a big anniversary story and there's an interview floating about here when Moffat took over the show and how he scoffed at any more references to The Time War and how it was talked in hushed tones at best and that was the only way it could be referenced, and there was no way it could be realised effectively on screen as they wouldn't be able to do it justice. Then in 2013 he desperately needs a good idea for the anniversary and rather than create something new, he just goes 'oh, you know that really important back story we have that drives The Doctor, gives him that weight and importance and baggage, which is key to his character? I know, let's do that. That whole time war, and let's reverse it so he doesn't kill everyone, hurray, job done!' That's somewhat lazy and uncreative merely taking a fictional backstory well established by the original show runner and merely reversing it. In the end, it does more damage than good. To add insult to injury, he then does realise how key this is to The Doctor and so he adds in a quick line saying how The Doctor won't remember it, so all the angst and logic of Eccleston and Tennant is still valid. A case of having his cake and eating it, sorry, but no. That robs this special of the upbeat ending if he ends up not remembering and it cheapens all of the important character back story we had in the first place. You can't have them angst ridden for his actions and yet saving everyone too. This becomes a problem later on too when he wanted a big speech for the next doctor, in spite of all this, he references the time war as if he'd never saved everyone and it was still a burden to him, which makes zero sense. To me, he was right in the first instance, he can't do the time war justice and he doesn't here either. Sure, a few neat FX shots, but on a budget, framing it merely in the last day, so a moment (pardon the pun) at the end of the war, all because they can't really realise the real scale of such a war. Anyways, blethered on and and for all my issues, I still love it too. Lots to enjoy. I'm contradictory like that.

I absolutely love your reviews im planning on rewatching your reviews from the beginning because there so fun. I would love to see you do a classic series reaction series! I honestly think you would enjoy. Might take a bit of getting used to regarding the longer story format but i think after a while it would become natural. My fingers are crossed!

Loved seeing your reaction to this one! I had the same reaction to you at the time regarding the Zygons. As much as I love the Brigadier I've always found Kate a bit boring and wasn't that into that aspect of the plot but the chemistry between the Doctors is so good! Probably my favourite multi-Doctor story after... a different one (not sure how much of classic Who you've seen so don't want to spoil anything lmao). I never liked Rose with Ten so when I saw Billie Piper back I was so annoyed but I think it worked well here. She and David were *enormously* popular together during their run so getting her back always got the general public on board and boosted ratings, plus for most people watching it had been years since her last appearance so there was a lot of hype. I'm looking forward to when you get to Twelve's eps because he's my favourite "new" Doctor 😊

It never understood this obsession with skipping thumbnails and credits because of "spoilers". If the show creators decided to reveal an actor is in the opening credits then that's how it's revealed.

the 50th anniversary on the 60th anniversary

I’m new to your channel. Are you planning to react to the first of the anniversary specials this Saturday? I’m so excited for this weekend and I really want to find some creator channels that will be watching this Saturday. Definitely a new sub!

Who nose. He certainly does

CAPALDI

Happy Doctor Who day! What a treat after finishing work. Also excited for the colourised Dalek episode coming out tn, actually love that ep so looking forward to a streamlined version 🔥

Originally Christopher Eccleston would have been the doctor who fought in the time war but they could not come to an agreement. From what ive heard it came down to who would direct it. There was a lot of behind the scenes issues on the first season which was what led to Eccleston leaving. Eccleston wanted a director who he had enjoyed working with during the first season (don't know who or if he was even still on the show). Moffatt wanted someone else. They did consider using Paul Mgann the 8th Doctor, but either they didnt think it fit the 8th doctor's character or the BBC wanted a bigger name. i've heard both reasons. Would have been cool to see the 8th doctor. some of the things said in the special seems to be how a lot of people in the fanbase thought of the 8th for a few years because of the mixed quality of the tv movie and some plot points that dont make sense. From what ive heard a lot of fans denied its continuity despite the fact that the 7th doctor regenerates in it.

Five(Ish) Doctors too ?

Nice reaction. Interesting you say you don't enjoy re-watching comedy. I think comedy hold up better on repeat watches than drama, especially where they rely on shocks. (Also, I can't believe you enjoyed Thor Love and Thunder! I HATE that film with a vengeance. Not because of the comedy as such, but because it destroys Thor as a character and makes him a walking joke - but I digress). I agree the Zygon storyline is not the greatest part, but it was done to echo the dilemma about sacrificing millions to save billions. I agree, however, it could have been shorter, to give us more time with the Doctors. As you say, all three are great together, especially Matt and David. Glad you enjoyed it. Finally, I think TOm Baker was playing a future Doctor - which is why he mentions returning to the old faces - but just the favourites!

The Zygons had just one story in the 70s but, like many others, I remembered them with fondness. I think they worked well for the plot. The only things I really didn’t like were the comedically wacky portrayal of Queen Elizabeth (no offence to actress Joanna Page, it’s the writing!) and the very obviously show-bred rabbit, huge with lop ears, waiting for its moment on camera!

The zygon story definitely takes away from the more interesting stuff imo. It’s a shame Christopher Eccleston was too frustrated with the BBC to come back for this episode, but hey we got John hurt and he was great. There are very good edits of the regeneration into eccleston on yt but I’m sure someone has already sent them. I’m actually glad we didn’t get anymore of the Time War, I think the horrors of the time war are cooler when we don’t see them. We got a sneak peek and that was enough for me. Definitely a great anniversary episode.

@HamzaReacts Why don't you ever wanna see Rose again?