Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Blu-ray Movie Review

"I will not forget one line of this. Not one day. I will always remember when the Doctor was me."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 15, 2014

The Time of the Doctor brings Matt Smith's run as the Doctor to a satisfying, emotional close full of big reveals, memorable moments, quotable quotes and the same quippy, impish playfulness that has defined Smith's tenure. It even ties up a surprising amount of dangling plot threads in an hour. An hour. It just does it while wearing a few hats too many, sometimes one atop the other. Christmas special. 800th Doctor Who episode. Follow-up to the highly praised 50th Anniversary special. Unofficial trilogy capper (Name of the Doctor, Day of the Doctor, Time of the Doctor). A nifty regeneration-cycle reboot wrapped in a mythos-compatible series extension. (Although more contentious fans might replace "mythos-compatible" with "contrived.") A fond farewell to the eleventh... or rather twelfth incarnation of the internationally beloved Time Lord. A brief introduction to Peter Capaldi's wild-eyed Doctor. On and on and on. Writer and showrunner Steven Moffat and director Jamie Payne barely pause to catch a breath, spitting out answers to long-standing mysteries as if they were candy -- the particulars of Trenzalore, the War Doctor retconning, that pesky glowing tear in time and space, the little issue of the Doctor's depleted regeneration energy, the purpose and prophecy of the Silence, et al -- to the point that the Christmas special employs narration to make sense of what should have been a more liberally paced and plotted two-part/ninety-minute send-off.

"Once there was a planet, much like any other, and unimportant. This planet sent the universe a message, a bell tolling among the stars, ringing out to all the dark corners of creation. And everybody came to see. Although no one understood the message, everyone who heard it found themselves afraid, except one man. The man who stayed for Christmas..." Rescuing Clara (Coleman) from a family Christmas dinner, the Doctor and his Companion must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe.

No matter how flawed The Time of the Doctor can be, though, Smith and co-star Jenna Coleman (as well as Orla Brady, playing Church of the Papal Mainframe Mother Superious, Tasha Lem) are fantastic from start to finish, excavating every ounce of punch, power and poignance from a busy, overcrowded episode. There's fun to be had. Laughs to be shared. Time-twisting trickery to be savored. And many a tear to be shed, each earned by the deliriously endearing Smith and Coleman, both of whom show unbridled enthusiasm and passion for their roles. Not that Moffat or Payne completely drop the ball. Time is still a solid special overall. Moffat and company once again deftly introduce intriguing new characters like Tasha Lem that feel as if they've been around for centuries... erm... seasons. And am I the only one who adores the Jarvis-y Cyber-head the Doc dubs Handles? But I digress. It's a solid special; it's just not one of The Greats, especially being the unfortunate episode to follow The Day of the Doctor. Does Time deliver? For the most part, yes. Does it say goodbye to Smith with the same ease, excitement and effortlessness he brought to his initially divisive Doctor? Not quite.

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Doctor Who is on a roll, serving up yet another striking, true-to-its-source 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. The Time of the Doctor is noisier and a bit more problematic than previous Smith-helmed series releases -- with spikes in grain, black levels that range from dusty to deep, and contrast inconsistencies aplenty -- but any perceived loss in quality is purely subjective. Colors are bold and naturally saturated. Detail is excellent, with crisp edges and precisely resolved textures. Moreover, macroblocking, banding, aliasing and other poor sports are nowhere to be found. There's the usual FX-born anomalies Whovians have come to expect, sure. Each instance is easy to shrug off, though, making Time's encode as commendable as those featured on Series 5-7.

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Time of the Doctor boasts a strong, able-bodied DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track designed to please. The soundfield isn't quite as immersive as in seasons past, but then the special is either loud and aggressive (with aliens attacking, Daleks amassing or explosions erupting) or quiet and reflective (with Clara hanging on the Doctor's every whispered word), without much in the way of sonic nuance. Rear speaker activity is more than serviceable, thankfully, with welcome directional prowess and smooth pans, and LFE output leaves its mark, throwing the full fury of its low-end force behind the assault of the Doctor's mortal enemies. Dialogue remains clear, intelligible and carefully prioritized at all times as well, even if the special's narration is sometimes at odds with the on-screen action. All told, The Time of the Doctor fares quite well, without any major issues of note.

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Tales From the TARDIS (HD, 45 minutes): This retrospective 50th Anniversary documentary delves into the history of Doctor Who, tracing on the evolution of the show and the Doctor, the various actors who've filled his shoes over the series' fifty years, and the amount of control and input each actor had into the creation and development of his incarnation of the Doctor. While aimed at newer fans and nostalgic purists, candid interviews with Doctors past and present make this as informative as it is insightful.
• Farewell to Matt Smith (HD, 45 minutes): "Bow ties are cool." A second special, this one focused on Matt Smith's run as the Doctor, his contributions to the show and mythos, initial fan reaction to a younger Doctor, the adventures that have defined Smith's three seasons of Who, and his departure from the role that thrust him onto the international stage.
• Behind the Lens (HD, 13 minutes): "Sit back and enjoy your special Christmas pressie!" Go behind the scenes of the Time of the Doctor for a look at the 2013 Christmas special with members of the cast and crew.

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Time of the Doctor isn't the best Smith-helmed episode or special of Doctor Who, but his hour-long farewell to the series is among the most moving, with an emotional send-off worthy of his puckish tenure as Gallifrey's rebellious Time Lord. The Blu-ray edition proves itself worthy as well, with a striking video presentation, capable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and decent supplemental package. (Although I do wish a more in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the Christmas special had been included.) So goodnight, sweet prince. You will be missed. Now bring on Capaldi. I think I'm finally ready to see what Moffat and company have up their sleeve next.