My Review of Doctor Who's: "Time Crash"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Graeme Harper

Fifth Doctor: “Who are you?”
Tenth Doctor: “Oh brilliant. I mean, totally wrong, big emergency, universe goes bang in five minutes but brilliant.”
Fifth Doctor: “I’m the Doctor and who are you?”
Tenth Doctor: “Yes you are, you’re the Doctor.”

Okay so given the fact that in the space of three seasons that this show has thrown many a thing that could be deemed fan fiction in our faces, is the meeting of two Doctors really enough to shock us?

After all, we’ve had The Doctor turn human, kiss every single one of his companions (including Captain Jack) and RTD did make a lot of slashers happy by playing up the homoerotic tension between The Doctor and The Master in the last three episodes of the third season as well the fact that we’ve had Daleks versus Cybermen but a collision of Doctors is always going to be something special.

Cohesively, “The Three Doctors” had the strongest of plots with Omega but “The Five Doctors” tugged at certain strings and “The Two Doctors” was also something fun to behold. I would mention “Dimensions In Time” but like many people, I really do want to deny that particular spoof’s existence.

Twenty three years after his departure in “The Caves Of Androzani”, Peter Davison’s dashing, if somewhat mixed Fifth Doctor is back and as a result, we’re treated to seven minutes of sheer geekiness as Davison sparks off brilliantly with David Tennant’s Doctor. In fact, it’s probably the first time since “Last Of The Time Lords” that the Tenth Doctor gets to have a bit of fun.

Of course there’s an element of confusion to be had as well. The appearance of the Fifth Doctor can only spell an array of disaster and while Tennant gets to act like a geeky fan boy (not much acting required), Davison’s Doctor isn’t pleased to see a younger version of him swanning around in his TARDIS and acting like he’s been sleep deprived for a month.

The Doctor is pleased to see his older self but he doesn’t have any problem in giving his fifth incarnation a dressing down. Now for everyone who thinks wearing celery is as lame as having to eat the stuff, there’s a little bit of teasing at the vegetable’s expense.

Teasing aside, there does seem to be a merging of two worlds (TARDISES?) and it’s up to the memory of both Doctors in order to solve things. While the main danger plot doesn’t convince as much, it’s the last moment of the serial that will really hits home for a lot of viewers.

Now we know that writer Steven Moffat and David Tennant are big fans of Peter Davison’s tenure on the series and there’s a nice bit of lip service just as the Fifth Doctor begins to leave. Plus the way this ties into “Voyage Of The Damned” is quite nice. Maybe next time The Doctor will play attention to putting up his shields.

- Although not credited, the last scene in “Last Of The Time Lords” with Martha opens up this scene rather nicely.
- Unsurprisingly enough both David Tennant and Peter Davison are titled in the credits for this. That would be the first time for two men in Doctor Who, credit wise.
- There are mentions of Nyssa, Tegan, the Cybermen, the Mara, Time Lords with funny hats and The Master so this could be set before “The Five Doctors” for the Fifth Doctor.
- Oh and The Master is gay. Not really, but the joke was too good to pass up and come to think of it, the Fifth Doctor had the most interactions with The Master outside the Third Doctor.
- This is also available on the Season Four DVD box-set due out on November 17th 2008. Thank God for YouTube because I actually fell asleep when this originally transmitted.
- This was also directed by Graeme Harper who directed Peter Davison’s departure in “The Caves Of Androzani”.

Quote, Unquote

Tenth Doctor: “Cos you know what, Doctor? You were my Doctor.”
Fifth Doctor: “To days to come.”
Tenth Doctor: “All my love to long ago.”

The more I watched “Time Crash”, the better it seems to get. All these mini-scenes from Doctor Who add to the show and seeing as Steven Moffat himself said this was cannon, I’m more than happy to agree with it. It’s nostalgic without going overboard and it was for Children In Need to boot.

Rating: 9 out of 10.