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Vincent and the Doctor review
DOCTAH WHO REVIEW... hey, that rhymes!
I have to say I was kinda nervous about this week's episode. While the preview did actually look great, I'll have to admit to not being a great lover of Richard Curtis' writing (with the exception of Blackadder). Although that is mostly because I don't like romantic comedies (unless they have zombies in) which is predominantly what he writes. I am also not usually keen on episode that revolves around a real historical person. Although this was Vincent van Gogh. Someone I greatly admire (I have a print of Starry Night hanging about my computer).
However, despite my concerns, I have to say I was greatly impressed with this episode. Despite the lack of Rory, which I was really worried would effect my enjoyment of the episode too. I did love the brief appearances of the wonderful Bill Nighy. Tony Curran who plays van Gogh is a brilliant actor and a great lookalike! Although I am curious about why they had him keep his accent, rather than using a Dutch one?
I am also really glad they kept the integrity of van Gogh's history (well as much as possible in a Doctor Who episode anyway). I'll admit to being concerned at the start that they were going to make it that van Gogh could see things others couldn't, and that is why people thought he was mad and why he ended up in a mental hospital. Which would have cheapened his history. But they didn't, while he could see the alien when other's couldn't they still kept his real life mental problems in tact. Which is a tough thing to do on a show for kids too.
The alien seemed added as an obligatory part of Doctor Who, while, quite frankly, this episode would have been just as spectacular just being a study on van Gogh... not very Sci-Fi-ey though! Again, not mad on CGI aliens, but I guess it's too awkward to do non-humanoid aliens in any other way. Especially if they need to move around a lot. A sad ending for the alien.
The references to Rory were a nice add on. I was wondering whether there were going to be any, since obviously Amy wouldn't remember him, and the Doctor wouldn't be able to mention him in front of Amy. Although I did keep wondering how this episode would have differed had Rory been there.
The scene where the Doctor and Amy took van Gogh to see the museum of his work was just wonderfully moving. Brilliantly acted by Tony Curran! When the Doctor asked the curator what he thought of van Gogh, while van Gogh was in earshot, was when I started welling up. A very touching scene, made only more moving by the following scene where the Doctor and Amy return in the hopes that maybe van Gogh didn't kill himself after all... only to find out he still did.
Depression, mental illness and suicide are certainly not easy things to pull off for a child friendly show, but I think they got it so very right here. A great tribute to a great artist. This is now one of my favourite episodes of Nuwho ever, and certainly my very favourite of series 5!
So... yeah, I was very impressed with this episode. As you can probably tell. Now I want Richard Curtis to write more! XD
~ Ace.
I have to say I was kinda nervous about this week's episode. While the preview did actually look great, I'll have to admit to not being a great lover of Richard Curtis' writing (with the exception of Blackadder). Although that is mostly because I don't like romantic comedies (unless they have zombies in) which is predominantly what he writes. I am also not usually keen on episode that revolves around a real historical person. Although this was Vincent van Gogh. Someone I greatly admire (I have a print of Starry Night hanging about my computer).
However, despite my concerns, I have to say I was greatly impressed with this episode. Despite the lack of Rory, which I was really worried would effect my enjoyment of the episode too. I did love the brief appearances of the wonderful Bill Nighy. Tony Curran who plays van Gogh is a brilliant actor and a great lookalike! Although I am curious about why they had him keep his accent, rather than using a Dutch one?
I am also really glad they kept the integrity of van Gogh's history (well as much as possible in a Doctor Who episode anyway). I'll admit to being concerned at the start that they were going to make it that van Gogh could see things others couldn't, and that is why people thought he was mad and why he ended up in a mental hospital. Which would have cheapened his history. But they didn't, while he could see the alien when other's couldn't they still kept his real life mental problems in tact. Which is a tough thing to do on a show for kids too.
The alien seemed added as an obligatory part of Doctor Who, while, quite frankly, this episode would have been just as spectacular just being a study on van Gogh... not very Sci-Fi-ey though! Again, not mad on CGI aliens, but I guess it's too awkward to do non-humanoid aliens in any other way. Especially if they need to move around a lot. A sad ending for the alien.
The references to Rory were a nice add on. I was wondering whether there were going to be any, since obviously Amy wouldn't remember him, and the Doctor wouldn't be able to mention him in front of Amy. Although I did keep wondering how this episode would have differed had Rory been there.
The scene where the Doctor and Amy took van Gogh to see the museum of his work was just wonderfully moving. Brilliantly acted by Tony Curran! When the Doctor asked the curator what he thought of van Gogh, while van Gogh was in earshot, was when I started welling up. A very touching scene, made only more moving by the following scene where the Doctor and Amy return in the hopes that maybe van Gogh didn't kill himself after all... only to find out he still did.
Depression, mental illness and suicide are certainly not easy things to pull off for a child friendly show, but I think they got it so very right here. A great tribute to a great artist. This is now one of my favourite episodes of Nuwho ever, and certainly my very favourite of series 5!
So... yeah, I was very impressed with this episode. As you can probably tell. Now I want Richard Curtis to write more! XD
~ Ace.