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Goodness me, this really is the series that keeps on surprising. Some of the surprises have been good, others have been disappointing, but they’ve all kept the series consistently fascinating. ‘Vincent and the Doctor’ is no exception – I was expecting a fun ‘historical celebrity’ romp in the mould of ‘The Shakespeare Code’. What we got was something altogether more complex, interesting and touching.
To be honest, this episode would have probably been more interesting without the monster. It was perfectly fine, but it was quick and felt a bit pointless. No, it was in the depiction of van Gogh himself that ‘Vincent and the Doctor’ really came to life. When Richard Curtis was announced as the writer of this episode, I expected gags about starry nights and people cutting their ears off, with an overly sentimental scene at the end. Instead, we got quite a dark meditation on depression and genius. There were jokes, but it was mostly unexpected; something that wasn’t quite Doctor Who, but in the best possible way.
I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when I heard that Bill Nighy was going to be in Doctor Who. I mean, now all they need to do is cast Hugh Bonneville in a role and I will be an exceptionally contented woman. When he popped up at the start, resplendent in a mad bow tie, I was delighted, but then a bit miffed – if he was going to get so little screen time, why use such a well-known actor? Then I got it when he returned later in the episode – the speech he gives at the end of the episode could have been sentimental twaddle, but the marvellous Nighy kept it real.
But to credit that just to Nighy would be to do Tony Curran a massive disservice. In the central role of the episode, he was absolutely stunning. Both Matt Smith and Karen Gillan raised their game, Smith letting the joy at meeting van Gogh play out over his superb face. Amy’s rather sweet relationship with van Gogh is deftly played by Gillan, her deep, unknown pain at the loss of Rory giving them a bond. Curran gave the role massive heart. As he stood in the gallery, looking around and taking in the extent of his legacy, his face and eyes shining, I completely forgave any sentimentality. It was one of the most beautiful, moving things I’ve seen in a long time.
‘Vincent and the Doctor’ seems to be a bit of a marmite episode, but I’m firmly in the ‘love’ camp. Sentimental it may have been, but it had such heart and joy (and such Bill Nighy) that I happily forgave it everything.
Next week, the Doctor moves in with James Corden. Really.
BONNEVILLE. YES. If he can play a character even slightly similar to that of the DG in Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story, I may just squee myself to death.
I was very impressed with the last scene in the gallery. It could easily have got soppy and clichéd, but all the actors kept it on the ground and I think it really worked. I agree the monster was a little superficial, but I let that slide due to the excellence of the main storyline - it's not as if I wanted to see the monster anyway. It was just an excuse for them to turn up (rather than just paying a visit for no reason) and led to a beautiful storyline.
Not many kids TV shows can get away with an "If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in tonight's show" warning afterwards.
Very beautifully done. Moffat has really stepped up the scripts. Such a shame Matt Smith has a stupid head.
Moffat didn't write this script I don't think. I was under the impression it was Richard Curtis.
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