Doctor Who Series 7, Episode 13 Review: The Name of the Doctor

What did you think of this episode?

• Sonic!
• Good!
• Bumpy-wumpy!
• Exterminate!

I don't like these one part finales, I am a cliffhanger whore, I live for a good old Doctor Who shit hitting the fan, multiple fans and shit actually, ends of part one of a finale. Maybe that's just me? Some of my favourite episodes are part ones of finales, The Stolen Earth is pure theatre, The Pandorica Opens was fantastic, and more recently, The Legend of Ruby Sunday was an absolute blast.

To go from the disaster that was Nightmare in Silver to the finale didn't feel right. It didn't feel right last year with Closing Time, it never feels right. I need the World/Universe/reality ending before I get the last episode of a series.

The Name of the Doctor was a good episode of Doctor Who, but it just didn't feel epic enough for me. Maybe I will forever have RTD to blame for this, his finales threw the kitchen sink at the viewer, then a dishwasher for good measure. I will forever judge finales because of his.

"Okay, so that’s where I end up. Always thought maybe I’d retire. Take up watercolours or beekeeping or something. Apparently not."

The only real danger we got was very near the end, when the Great Intelligence changed the Doctors wins, but this was for all of two minutes. Then there was a danger Clara was a goner, but this was for all of two minutes as well.

Where did the Doctor get that bloody leaf from? I thought I had seen the back of it when Mr. Akhaten God gobbled it up.

I enjoyed the conclusion to the impossible girl arc, I thought it was clever, and seeing the different Doctors was a thrill - even if some of the scenes looked a tad ropey. However, I just don't think we had had enough Clara for her to be making so many major decisions. Only last series we were told the TARDIS stole the Doctor, now it seems Clara picked it for the Doctor - Clara has been the main companion in seven episodes, now she has woven herself through the Doctor's life and become a vital part of it.

Did she really achieve this in so little time? Did she go on a journey like previous companions to get to this point? I think Clara doesn't get a whole lot of love, and this is probably why. When you compare her to Rose, who grew with the Doctor through time and space, and most importantly in front of our eyes on screen. I don't think we got that with Clara.

"Conference call. Sorry, Archie. I’m going to have to ask you to render me unconscious."

Now what I did like was the Whisper Men, and I really feel like they could get more use out of them. They were creepy, and a great villain. Unfortunately, their presence was somewhat brief and overshadowed by the larger, more convoluted plot. My favourite scene is probably when the Whisper Men interupt the conference call, Jenny, Vastra and Strax return again which is a bonus, and when Jenny starts to realise what is happening to her it is a tragic - but quickly undone - moment.

Jenny and Vastra's dynamic is always enjoyable to watch, and they always make a scene better when they are in it. River Song felt a bit of a needless addition though. Her story was pretty much done by this point, and we could have had more Clara development in her place.

"I don’t know where I am. I don’t know where I’m going or where I’ve been. I was born to save the Doctor. But the Doctor is safe now. I’m the Impossible Girl, and my story is done."

So it led to everyone stepping in the Doctor's grave, and I don't know, it just felt too easy for everyone. Too easy for the Great Intelligence to fuck up the Doctor's victories, too easy for Clara to turn those defeats back to victories, and a bloody leaf to rescue Clara who was meant to be split into a million different pieces.

I mean seeing John Hurt and revealing him as a Doctor was cool though. Did anyone say 50th birthday party? So to sum it all up I can think of no better way than saying this was a bloody good episode, but not a great finale.

RATING: Good!

BEST LINE: "But not in the name of the Doctor."

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