Doctor Who: The Reality War Review - 4 Ups & 7 Downs

Rumour has it that this weeks regeneration was only added in a reshoot, and, to be honest, it feels like it.

Despite taking up the final third of the episode, the events leading up to Fifteen’s demise felt like a bit of an afterthought. There’s a really bittersweet sentiment in Fifteen sacrificing himself for his daughter, only to have her survive, but at the cost of him no longer being the father. Not hating on that in the slightest – beautifully tragic in true RTD fashion.

What I take issue with is the Doctor suddenly having the power to punch through time and save history, something that seems ludicrous to have kept in his back pocket until now. I also take issue with the fact that, in spite of an extended runtime, the actual regeneration feels so, so rushed. We get a speech from everyone about how the Doctor has saved them, which is a little too inorganic to land (Kate saying ‘we’re all your children’ was too saccharine for my taste), and the entire segment feels like it’s there just because the episode dictates it because that’s what happens when a Doctor leaves.

Then we have the farewell itself, in which Fifteen, not wanting to be alone, despite having loads of mates just a hop away, decides to spend his final moments with Joy from the Christmas special. It works if Fifteen has spent this past series talking to her star, but he hasn’t, so in isolation it’s a little bit of a random choice. We’ve not really placed that level of importance on her.

I found Fifteen’s final words to be a little uninspired too. They were fine enough, but in my opinion by far the least impactful of NuWho. Not everyone needs a grand speech, but it felt a little generic, and very flat from a Doctor who, more than any other, should be going out with pizazz.

All this talk of regeneration leads us on nicely to the elephant in the room...