Matt Smith's final hour as The Doctor is less than a month away, with Doctor Who riding high after a 50th anniversary special that delighted the majority of fans and casual viewers alike. How can writer Steven Moffat possibly top 3D spectacylar "The Day of The Doctor"? In terms of scope and fan-pleasing, he probably won't – but let's hope the 50th special's focus on emotion and dilemma will continue. He may not be getting a two-parter swansong, but the Eleventh Doctor deserves a thrilling exit.
The BBC have revealed the Christmas special is entitled "The Time of The Doctor"--meaning the last three episodes of 2013 form a loose trilogy, beginning with "The Name of The Doctor" and continuing with "The Day of The Doctor". The official synopsis is also very intriguing:
"Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe’s deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars. And amongst them – the Doctor. Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe."The 11-second teaser shown after the 50th special confirms this episode is still dealing with Trenzalore (the grave site of The Doctor) and will resolve the 'Silence Will Fall' mystery that still has lots of dangling threads attached. Who or what froze the TARDIS in time back in "The Big Bang", for example? I will be very surprised if Moffat doesn't use this episode to tie everything up, as best he can, and leave Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor with a relatively clean slate.
Oh, and judging from the artwork there's going to be Cybermen, the return of The Silence, and whatever's hands are coming out of the snow? Weeping Angels, right?
Are you excited for the special? Anyone else disappointed it's not called "Silence Night" or "Twelfth Night", because I'm inconsolable, of course.
