Doctor Who: The Day Of The Doctor Review - 8 Steps On The Road To Recovery

5. The Shame

Day Of The Doctor Edited 1

Shame is a secret thing. It becomes your goal to hide it from everyone, even from yourself, at all costs. It eats away at you, shaping every emotion you feel, every act you take. This is the underlying current of all incarnations after the War Doctor. They harbor a secret €“ and it's killing them slowly. The War Doctor anticipates this €“ is in fact already feeling it €“ as he deliberately parks the TARDIS as far from the place where he intends to use the weapon as he can. He doesn't want his closest companion to see what he has become or to be tainted by his actions. Yet the Doctor cannot truly escape. While he hides from the TARDIS, the conscience of the weapon in the form of "Bad Wolf" €“ the being that Rose Tyler become after absorbing the vortex energy at the heart of the TARDIS €“ is her proxy. The War Doctor is grieving before he ever opens the door of that shed €“ for the lost children of Gallifrey and for the man he will be. His future incarnations internalize that shame and become progressively more child-like, seeking an innocence that no longer exists. It was an interesting choice for Hurt to play the Doctor in this way. He wasn't angry, but sad and resigned. It stands in contrast to the last year of David Tennant's Doctor, whose anger and self-loathing could no longer be controlled.
Contributor
Contributor

Mary Ogle is the author and illustrator of “Orangeroof Zoo” a whimsical tale of magical realism told through the pages of a coloring book for adults. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book cover design, illustration and book layout. Find more of Mary’s work at www.maryogle.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.