Doctor Who: 11 Greatest Matt Smith Stories

3. Vincent And The Doctor

A mosh pit of schmaltz is a bit of a cruel way to describe this episode but there is a cavalcade of emotions contained in-between it's opening and closing credits. Vincent Van Gogh is a tragic figure, manic depressive and unappreciated in his own time, so writer Richard Curtis makes the most of his stint at the TARDIS controls by indulging his history-fanboy side and letting the painter know how much he would be appreciated in the future. That is why this episode works so well, it is the result of love. Richard (Blackadder) Curtis clearly cares passionately about Van Gogh and history in general. In addition to making this episode a fanboy-squee-fest he still finds time to tackle an important discussion about manic depression. Van Gogh is not portrayed to be mad in his depression, just rather passionate at times and isolated in others. The episode handles the issue sensitively and it is clear that as much research went into Van Gogh's mental condition as went into his surroundings. The episode is a thing of beauty, cheesy at times but it has its heart firmly in the right place. An unforgettable moment which defines the optimism that prevails in the episode (despite the dark themes) is when Amy, the Doctor and Vincent are lying together upon a hill, looking up to the sky and before their eyes the sky changes to how Vincent sees it. Wind and movement and color all exist in everything and Vincent and the Doctor takes it upon itself to remind us all of that.