The Night of the Doctor | Doctor Who - BBC

[@CJMarkus]

I love how the reflection shows a younger John Hurt, it goes to show just how long the Time War lasted.

[@vsarachnos5414]

Not only that but the way the stress effected him

[@SamuelBoshier]

I agree, but I really struggle to see it as anything other than Martin Freeman.

[@brendannahor1460]

Didn't the "Time War" Last 400 years? 🤔

[@CJMarkus]

@@brendannahor1460 Something like that, yeah, but I'm pretty sure Time-Lords age differently

[@danielnotgay2748]

@@brendannahor1460 i think it would have lasted different amounts of time for different people. The nature of a war between time travellers means there is no single timeline where all the fighting is happening but countless one's constantly re-writing each other.

[@finndexter2639]

This man, was cheated a role he was born for. I wish more than anything Paul could have had at least 2 series as the Doctor.

[@DoctorDodge]

+Jonathan Jmaster Check out his Big Finish stuff. He's done over 10 seasons as the Eighth Doctor now.

[@erikw.s.5209]

+James Aggas Yeah, Big Finish and books are cool and all, but... you know, I want to see him in an episode again.

[@mr.barcode3186]

They could do an episode in Series 10 with him and Capaldi. You know, sort of like they did "The Two Doctors". *EDIT:* Well, that was a let-down! :(

[@ZakJordan98]

The Chimes Of Midnight is my favorite story with his Doctor

[@DoctorDodge]

It's absolutely amazing, isn't it? A very brilliant story, and combines a lot of Doctor Who's very best elements. A pity that Robert Shearman hasn't written more for the series, really.

[@TheUnknownAK]

I love how in this 6 minute video you can fully accept Paul as one of the Doctors. You don't even need a series to see him as The Doctor

[@Lemmy15]

Seriously, he's so utterly believable...almost as tho he's been playing the part for years and years. :P

[@Crrrow]

Yes but I still WANT a series as him as the doctor. even if it's a miniseries.

[@charlieblockclocksnow]

@@Crrrow you should listen to big finish. His first ones are 2.99 each for 2 hour stories. It's definitely worth giving it a go

[@Crrrow]

@@charlieblockclocksnow I have actually gotten into big finish stories since writing this, Impressive work by those folks I have to admit, so many stories that feel like shelved episodes found in a musty basement of the BBC.

[@jazzcat412]

He was one of the best doctors

[@custard_timelord2896]

"Keepers of the flame and utter boredom" "Eternal Life!" "That's the one"

[@maxredjasper55]

This was the perfect exchange! Wish we had more of this doctor and writers.

[@dernlui1842]

@Harry Pujoles you're*

[@DoctorWhoKage]

Sounds like something Spider-Man would say if he encountered the Sisterhood of Karn.

[@julieeverett7442]

@@DoctorWhoKage i think Spider man would freak to meet Time Lady witches

[@lavasqrl702]

It's pretty much the same

[@nanaasmah938]

This right here PROVES that Pal McGann deserved much more time as the Doctor than he received.

[@Uzala]

+Nana Asmah As I recall, McGann was very good in the DW radio adaptations.

[@BrianBrecker]

bigfinish.com

[@TheAwesomeChaos531]

They should go back and make prequels!

[@BrianBrecker]

Hotelious They're actually making the Time War box set in 2017, finally connecting a direct bridge of canon between classic and nuwho.

[@TheAwesomeChaos531]

Brian Brecker YES! WILL IT BE ON AMAZON?!?!?!?!??!??!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!?!

[@j0doe1]

"I'm the Doctor, but probably not the one you were expecting." Such a genius quote for this episode. It works within the context of the story and it also works for a fourth wall break because the audience were probably expecting a different Doctor.

[@z00ts00t77]

Indeed, I was actuallly expecting a different doctor, maybe Seuss, Zoidberg, Evil, Legg, Octagon, Zhivago or even Pepper. I can't tell you how disappointed I was when some random Time Lord just turned up. What's his Doctorate in anyway, cheesemaking?

[@davos6129]

He´s a doctor of everything.

[@mujiescomedy279]

TGC Productions I'm pretty sure they had already told us he was showing up

[@ZakJordan98]

I was expecting The War Doctor, which yes we did get but i was so surprised about this

[@thethreerailwayengines825]

Mujtaba Walji They told us the War Doctor was showing up, but not Paul McGann

[@GeorgeMillerAtkinson]

If you’re a Whovian, these six minutes were probably the most sublime moments you’ve experienced in the last few years of Doctor Who. McGann appeared out of nowhere and instantly he was The Doctor. There was no question. No ‘who is this guy?’ He inhabited the role completely.

[@utopistmsoc]

If you are a Whovian, you know who Charlie Pollard and LUCIE freaking MILLER are. Oh Lucie,, so many memories.

[@SamuelBlack84]

They'll have to find a reason why he didn't mention Helen or Liv Chenka

[@ireactions9131]

@@SamuelBlack84 I've thought about this for years. Why didn't the Doctor bring up Sam, Fitz, Compassion, Trix... ? I've concluded that Moffat felt it only made sense to mention companions the audience had most likely heard of and that's the ones with whom McGann had significant time performing. As for why the post-Night companions aren't mentioned... I think Eight is thinking about the companions he didn't get to see off to happy lives. Charley abruptly vanished on him (their final adventure was erased from his memory)? C'rizz, Lucie and Tamsin died. He was separated from Molly and she had aged by the time he caught up. I guess that means Sam is resurrected at some point and Helen, Liv and Bliss have happy endings!

[@SamuelBlack84]

@@ireactions9131 Interesting, I could breve that. Nicola Walker who plays Liv is cute 🙂

[@HellsGayngel]

If you're a Whovian you would know Paul McGann didn't just appear out of nowhere. He was the 8th incarnation of the Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who television movie which was intended as a revival of the series but was unsuccessful until the 2005 revival and also was the Doctor in the Big Finish audio dramas.

[@SleepyHeather]

Fitting that this Doctor started his life in a morgue not knowing who he was and ended it in a crypt forgetting all he is.

[@ksaraf23]

More like he was forced to cast it aside for the good of the universe.

[@Ava217_]

Do you want me to cry because I will

[@CtrlOptDel]

“It’s like poetry. It rhymes.”

[@etazeta674]

It would have been kinder if he had forgotten. He proceeds to go through hell unimaginable, doing deeds so vile even the Master would play no part, while remembering times where winning meant more than saving a handful, trying to convince himself that he killed the Doctor the day he regenerated and saw himself as a demon loosed upon the universe, even if those next to him understood that a demon doesn't crave a cup of tea and a moment of peace. I'd say the root of much of his suffering came from remembering

[@garethspotfur1]

I love how he names his Big Finish audio companions, making them canon.

[@joearber2550]

They were canon anyway

[@MrGreaves]

@@joearber2550 it wasn't confirmed before this

[@nicolebee3283]

@@MrGreaves it was canon just never directly canon inside the show just contracts and stuff saying it's canon

[@MrGreaves]

@@nicolebee3283 thats what the main comment means though I think. Of course the big finish plays are all canon to some extent but the canonical nature of them within the show was never explored before this

[@damianbrophy3994]

In the day of the doctor novelisation he also names Fitz making the EDAs cannon.

[@Mr_M_]

Cass: "Where are we going?" Doctor: "Back of the ship!" Cass: "Why?" Doctor: "Because the front crashes first, think it through" Man this guy was cheated out of having his own season, god I wish I could see more of him.

[@jaded6530]

Mr. M I Big Finish

[@williamolson5728]

That is soooo something The Doctor would say

[@spamus5243]

Fun fact: Between radio broadcasts and audiobooks, he's clocked more hours as the Doctor than any other actor to play the role.

[@richardkirkland6805]

@@spamus5243 I believe he's also the first Doctor to be in a feature film.

[@Erikjust]

@@richardkirkland6805 The first official Doctor yes. There was the two movies from 1965 amd 1966 with Peter Cushing as Dr. Who... yes Who was actually his last name in that movie.

[@J_C_CH]

“You have just under four minutes” “Four minutes? That’s ages! What if I get bored? I need a television, a couple of books, anyone for chess? Bring me knitting” This one line convinces me that Paul would’ve been perfect as The Doctor. Such snarky humour in the face of death is just half of who The Doctor is.

[@oasis4life014]

So underated Paul is

[@skeekie]

And if you check the time stamp of the video when she says that line you will see we indeed have like 3minutes 50 seconds :)

[@gamesystemaddict3949]

He's so great in big finish! Love him

[@scotcarr3390]

McGann's Doctor is still recovering from his death & emergency resurrection, not to mention his guilt over Cass' demise. Smarting off at the Sister Superior of Kahn (sp?) was likely pure instinct. Though it allows us to see the brass of McGann's Doctor. Also, when he said "I'm one of the nice ones" show the contempt he has for his fellow time lords. We don't need Hurt's War Doctor to see just how much the Time War has already broken him.

[@AspectRatioYT]

Adding: "The front crashes first, think it through"

[@DavidJWGibson]

I freakin' LOVE that Moffat bothered to give the 8th Doctor a regeneration. This blew my mind when it first aired. I watched it blind and was wholly unprepared for McGann to appear. In under 10 minutes he nailed his performance and you fell in love with the 8th Doctor and wished he'd had more appearances.

[@J4D3R053]

McGann has done a ton of audiobooks with Big Finish Productions detailing his adventures as The Doctor, def recommend checking them out

[@NiallHosking]

This turned me from being meh about the 8th Doctor from The Movie to a full-on fan. Then I watch his brother in Call the Midwife and want even more of the Paul Doctor.

[@neroph0bia898]

I can't recommend his audio dramas highly enough. Chimes of midnight, Scherzo, and his exploits in the time war series are particularly good. If you want more of paul, that's definitely what you're looking for.@@NiallHosking

[@kasegiyabu5030]

The big mistake was writing the 1996 movie for American audiences. Doctor Who can in no way be 'yankified'. It needs to stay British, quirks and slightly dodgy writing included. McGann was unfortunate to have his first outing ruined by a hack. It's a shame, as he would have made an excellent Doctor.

[@maryfrump7937]

I loved him in the movie. I was so happy to see him again.

[@JackWolf10]

In approximately 36 seconds (0:40 - 1:16) Paul was instantly able to engage me fully and cement his presence as the Doctor. It felt so natural and perfect. Paul desperately needs more screen time. A prequel series would make my dreams come true.

[@archive9796]

Why ? There's big Finish

[@MinequestLeon]

ITM 31, why do we read books about WW2 even though we know how it ended.

[@k.jamescarters9557]

JackWolf he is probably too old to play the same character but they have a lot of radio plays he did (some of which are truly amazing) which I suppose could be created in animated form if the right quality of art presented itself

[@overexaggerationstudios9031]

wE mEAN lIVE aCTION

[@ravingmonkey216]

Please no! Tennant was worst doctor.

[@Beeromancer]

When he yells “Get out!” I get chills every time. Also saying “Will it hurt?” “Good”. Just those simple lines shows how it’s killing him to become the War Doctor. Paul McGann is criminally underrated.

[@samatjorobekov]

Will it hurt? Yes, John Hurt :)

[@HamTransitHistory]

Then you want to watch McGann in Hornblower (Mutiny and later episodes), he does a lot of yelling in that.

[@RobRutherford]

@@samatjorobekov I can't believe how many times that pun snuck past me.

[@quintuscrinis]

Also just realised that this scene explains why all the regenerations since the revival have looked the same with the organge light from the hands and head. It's a reminant of being revived by the elixr of the Sisterhood of Karn. The master also must have beem revived in a similar way when "The time lords reserected (him) to be the perfect soldier" given we see in later episodes that the sisterhood of Karn were allied with the Time Lords and on Galifray during parts of the war.

[@TheCountZopolai]

I read a review once that called Paul McGann a 10/10 Doctor in a 4/10 movie, and it was a crying shame it stopped him getting a series of his own. I think that's absolutely bang on the money.

[@connorscoolcorner1695]

After all these years, still arguably amongst the finest 6 minutes of Dr Who to ever be produced.

[@marionbaggins]

YEASH!!!!

[@dredd1981]

Really hope disney+ give McGann his own spinoff

[@rachelar]

No, jodie whittaker, surely!

[@mx.noname4710]

So true, bestie

[@jupiterwarrior2645]

@@rachelar

[@TheCriticalDrinker]

My god, when I think about the years of wasted potential here, when I think about everything McGann could have done with this role and how this six minute minisode is superior to all of series 11 put together, it makes me genuinely sad. McGann was born to play the Doctor, he really WANTED to be the Doctor, and I truly wish he'd been given a real chance.

[@agentother1476]

In his adventures we come across the Eleven a crazed Time Lord with 11 personalities of his past incarnations and the Doctor fight against the natural predators his species call the ravenous and he came across river song a few times as well along with Missy, the War Master and Eric Roberts the master

[@FlowerWho92]

Here here, I'd drink to that sentiment. His audiobooks are great if you're in need of something to lessen the bitter taste of the recent series.

[@NomisArchives]

I'll drink to that. The best Doctor that sadly never truly was.

[@NomisArchives]

@@Reppter66 I mean of TV

[@ppmv4285]

Funny seeing you here. And I agree.

[@OneFluffyHat]

"Physician, heal thyself" is perhaps the rawest line Moffat has ever written.

[@HOTD108_]

It's such a sick burn to refer to a line that existed thousands of years before Moffat was even born as his best work lmao.

[@Hagg-o-tron]

The expression is thousands of years old. It even pops up in the bible.

[@joecolman1968]

I feel like the Doctor came to realise in that moment that he'd been wrong to sit on the sidelines while reality burns. He delivers that line almost with disgust at himself

[@FandeJay]

"You're the sisterhood of Karn! Keepers of the flames...of utter boredom. -Eternal life! -That's the one..."

[@System509]

Paul McGann. Criminally underused doctor.

[@leewhitworth9142]

I've seen Paul McGann in real life at last years London Comic Con. His line was absolutely huge! And right next to him was Sylvester McCoy; whose autograph I got XD

[@archive9796]

How ? He's got Over 100 audios

[@ciaran2745]

@@archive9796 I think they mean actual TV appearances. His audios are brilliant but I will forever be asking for an 8th Doctor spin-off show until the day I die.

[@archive9796]

@@ciaran2745 no one cares It was 3 years ago

[@wnyduchess]

@@archive9796 seethe

[@MessengerOfEntertainment]

6:37 really tells you how long the War Doctor fought for. He’s pretty young in that mirror and Time Lords age very slowly. A neat detail to fill us in on some backstory.

[@jessetorres8738]

While there is some debate amongst the fandom, the general consensus is that the Time War lasted at least 400 years, & while it started during the end of the 8th Doctor's life (which he mentioned to Cass), The War Doctor was alive for the majority of it & regenerated into the 9th Doctor once it ended in The Day Of The Doctor.

[@funnyfunnyvalentine7991]

​@jessetorres8738 It was long before his end, he had a long time on the sidelines

[@vocalman81]

Only surpassed by the Siege of Trenzalore.

[@OhShiitakeMushrooms]

There needs to be some kind of a spin-off mini-series with the 8th doctor that takes place between the 1996 movie and his regeneration in the early days of the time War.

[@eccremocarpusscaber5159]

I really hope you did get into big finish. There’s nothing left on tv.

[@themole4369]

Looks good but horribly expensive. Doctor Who: Time War 1 costs £34.99. If I wanted to to listen to all these episodes it would be hundreds of pounds. :(

[@Freezenification]

@@themole4369 There's a bundle where you can get Time War Volumes 1-4 for £80. Still expensive but not hundreds!

[@thecagedsong]

Most are on Spotify now

[@Freezenification]

@@thecagedsong Not really most. There are a good chunk, but a small percentage of the total - and definitely no 8th Doctor Time War ones.

[@lilyday162]

Paul McGann is THE most underrated doctor ever. I love the way he acts as the doctor and I wish we had some of his episodes on DVD instead of the bloody TV MOVIE GOD

[@IOmoon6221]

+Lily Day Big Finnish.

[@lilyday162]

yes ive heard some great things about the big finnishes and dark eyes especially cant wait to eventually pick them up

[@malickfan991]

+Lily Day if you like him onscreen you should check out some of his Big Finish audio stories: www.bigfinish.com/ranges/released_reverse/doctor-who---the-8th-doctor-collected

[@spinningninja2]

+Lily Day Hush... hush... we do not speak of the movie...

[@Lam_Fran]

+spinningninja2 yes we do, its not bad, the "we dont talk about X" its when is something awful between something good

[@peteraaron2047]

This is even sadder when you understand that Cass was the Eight Doctor’s companion until the Time War changed reality itself. He remembers, but she doesn’t. That’s why he tries to save her so desperately. That’s why he’s so heartbroken to see what this war has lead into. That’s why he embraced the role of a warrior.

[@neo-warkid4edwards222]

not only that but her prejudice against Time Lords is more justified than you think since it was THEM that shot her ship down IN THE FIRST PLACE

[@MeghanTheShade]

Cass wasn't a companion..he even says so. She's just a random person fighting in the Time War.

[@jakerobinson9475]

⁠@@MeghanTheShadeBig Finish has her as a companion. They haven’t explained yet why they don’t know each other in this, but given how chaotic the Time War is and because it’s happened before, I expect their relationship was erased with neither being able to remember it. So it’s extra tragic because the two are friends but don’t know it.

[@bbcseriesfan]

Met Paul at ComicCon last year. I can say with utter honesty that EVERYBODY getting within three meters of his charming aura got smitten.

[@lavasqrl702]

I did the math, Americans, it's 9 feet.

[@Barely_Edited]

Verified, met him and he’s an absolute charmer

[@Mrs_Christa]

@@lavasqrl702 I’ve never even met him in person and I’m head over heels already 😂😂 I’ll have to test that theory if I ever get to though!!

[@Mrs_Christa]

I get to meet him Friday so I’ll let you know the results 😆

[@multiplefandoms3164]

​@@Mrs_Christa Awesome for you.

[@Sabrecho]

"Where are we going?" "Back of the Ship." "Why?" "Because the front crashes first. Think it through..." :)

[@TheJML9999]

Captain:Ensign what is the last thing that goes through a Captain's Mind when his ship plows into a planet Snarky Ensign: The Impulse engines Captain

[@james8194]

12 and 8 should have a Two Doctors episode.

[@zinki120]

want a two Doctor episode between 12 and 8th, go check out a movie called Hotel. it is comedic film starring paul Mcgann and Peter Capaldi and ms. delphox actor, Keely hawes, all trying to save the hotel, the President from terrorists.

[@SuperRider108]

How, interesting....

[@zinki120]

+SuperRider108 It is interesting and funny as well. Just go on youtube and search "peter capaldi hotel paul mcgann" and you will see a list of videos that pertains with the "Hotel" movie.

+James 12 and 8 should have a Two Doctors *season* culminating in 8 discovering the extent of the Time War and arriving at this point.

[@its-morbintime]

+James What I'd really like to see is 12, 8, 7 and 6 for "The 4 Doctors"

[@TERMINATIONBLISS08]

According to the Curator, The Doctor will revisit old faces I’d be ok if Paul McGann was the 14th Doctor

[@iarargarcia]

Oh, I would be more than ok with that 😂

[@mdbruffy]

Definitely!

[@Αφροδιτη-ψ9ο]

Or at least give the man his spin off .

[@valley_robot]

Please for the love of god ,someone read these comments and make it true

[@thickthickitythickface]

That'd be a dream come true.

[@someoneghvjvj1808]

God despite the fact that Paul McGann had just this and the movie he was able to perfectly portray the eighth doctor which is a true testament to his talents as an actor

[@DoctorDodge]

Well, partially. Don't get me wrong, McGann's absolutely brilliant, and is my favorite Doctor. But there's also the fact that in some ways, he hasn't stopped playing the Eighth Doctor - not since 2000, when he started working on the audios a few years after the movie. That's why he slips back into his old role so easily - to him, he's never left it.

[@julieeverett7442]

actually hes had over 10 years of audio work as 8th, hes been doing this for a while!

[@TheJeremyHolloway]

Uhm, McGann knocked his Eighth Doctor portrayal out of the park in the 1996 TV Movie. He's always been THAT good. But the actual truth is, PAUL MCGANN IS THE DOCTOR. He's just stuck on Earth so he created this identity of an actor named "Paul McGann" who sometimes portrays a fictionalized version of himself for spending money to get by and acquire the next piece of hardware to repair the TARDIS with and be back on his way...

[@JamesPlaysGames95]

i like how he "salutes" all his former companions from the audio stories. that means they are now cannon ;)

[@xer0]

They are now artillery?

[@zach6844]

***** basically it means they are part of the shows history now.

[@xer0]

zach6844 Thanks Zach6844, I think we all knew what he was trying to say.

[@zach6844]

oh okay :P

[@tomgardner5559]

literally just started listening to the McGann/Lucie audios, fantastic stuff! Now that they are all canon, I would like to see perhaps a meeting between Capaldi and McGann. Be nice to see Sheridan Smith on screen as well.

[@chikowashere]

I just noticed that the reflection is of a young John Hurt. So, in TimeLord years, he probably spent like 300 years ripping the Daleks a new tin butthole before we saw him again walking in the desert as an 'old' man.

[@PassiveSmoking]

Yeah, I noticed that too. In fact it could possibly be his longest-lived regeneration. Most of his egenerations don't live long enough to age physically and we know that a regeneration ages really slowly (Matt Smith's Doctor didn't noticeably age in 200 years).

[@badbeardbill9956]

Yeah but Matt Smith's Doctor spent a few hundred extra years on Trenzalore.

[@Alpha-ew3wv]

Bad Beard Bill the eleventh doctor lasted for around 1000 years ish

[@jackohare5428]

Matt Smith But he just repeated over and over. Biologically he was only there for, what, 3 days? Two running around the castle and one dragging himself upstairs. Those set of days just repeated for billions of years

[@Mrbluefire95]

Loki 541 John Hurt spinoff is impossible. He is dead.

[@TPJH850]

He did so much in 6 minutes. Just goes to show how great he is at being The Doctor.

[@jeffwalker7185]

Despite only having two onscreen appearances as The Doctor, McGann is technically the actor who has occupied the role the longest - from 1996 to 2013. He kept the role of the Doctor going during the time Doctor Who was off the air for new episodes. I would love to see him return as the Doctor on TV.

[@ryuucld384]

Well, if the Curator could be counted, then that record would go to Tom Baker--incidentally the Doctor where the Sisters of Karn made their first appearance during the episode "Brain of Mobius". But I agree with your assessment on how long McGann held it. This makes a beautiful sendoff for his role to Hurt taking over. Only for Baker to show up at the end of the "Night of the Doctor"/"Time of the Doctor"/"Day of the Doctor" 50th anniversary sequence brings all this full circle. The staff in show's production really did their homework putting this thing together!!❤

[@mrboost4186]

​@@ryuucld384I think by that logic Peter Davison would win out. His 41 years (1981-2022) to Tom's 39 (1974-2013)

[@coypandora0795]

@@mrboost4186he was in time crash though

[@degiguess]

instead of calling him "The War Doctor" they should have called him "The Warrior" cause he said "i don't suppose there's any need for a doctor anymore... make me a warrior now"

[@IOmoon6221]

+! “Guy With an Anime Avatar” ! He's called "The Warrior" in the transcripts.

[@Daioblis]

+! “Guy With an Anime Avatar” ! Funny. I always thought he should be called "The Warrior" too.

[@Daioblis]

+Ionut Maris STOP FOLLOWING ME.

[@IOmoon6221]

***** *never*

[@Daioblis]

+Ionut Maris You little.... Dalek..

[@Bondoz007]

What an incredible gift to the fans that Paul McGann participated in this. And fullfilled and THEN surpassed all our expectations. It still gives me goosebumps.

[@guyhenry8680]

It would be funny if he had to wait behind her for a while before he could make that cool entrance: The Doctor: "Right I'll wait here for the right moment to come in and save her." Cass: "... stop talking about Doctors." The Doctor: "Now's my chance to be cool..."

[@ExoScreenager]

I have massively got into the Eighth Doctor Big Finish stories lately and Paul McGann really does deserve his own TV series. He's just so good. In a little under seven minutes he absolutely proves that.

[@craigs3007]

It's amazing what happens when you put someone into a role because they are the right person for the role. Unfortunately, the modern trend is to put people into a role to be "stunning", "brave", "representative", and to tick boxes.

[@beckiejbrown]

Wish the BBC had recast him and gone back on themselves.... this would have been brilliant. Such a shame now. x

[@archive9796]

Why recast McGann ???

[@archive9796]

Also this is brilliant

[@mystics1ay3r17]

@@archive9796 I think they mean cast him as the doctor again and continued from the point of the movie instead of starting with Christopher Eccleston.

[@DapperLink123]

Technically, Paul McGann was the Doctor for 17 years and never had a regeneration until the 17th year. ... TAKE THAT TOM!

[@utopistmsoc]

Well, according to Big Finish he is a liiiiitle bit older (jeje, he spent 600 years in one of those).

[@DapperLink123]

I was referring to real life's time,

[@utopistmsoc]

EpicNintendoguy2 Ah, OK.

[@ErinTheFennec]

@@arjujannaka9807 Colin Baker had a regeneration scene in the big finish story "The Last Adventure" which basically fills in the time between his trial and his regeneration.

[@ejoarkhamgamer567]

Michael Jonathan remember the TV Movie, he got shot and injected with drugs (at a hospital) that killed him and then he regenerated

[@Drp_br_]

“I’m the Doctor... but probably not the one your expecting!!” That line is deserving for McGann “Doctor no more...” And thus a warrior was born, RIP Hurt

[@scotcarr3390]

Hurt was a great actor & does not get enough love on my side of the Pond. Maybe "Alien" & "1984", but that's it. The Beeb should find a ringer to play the War Doctor & just do right for both the War Doctor & McGann's Doctor. Bite the bullet & give a wad of quid to Ecclston so he'll do an arc alongside them. If BBC keeps making new "Doctor Who" series, they'll have to find ringers for the older Doctors when they do big anniversary shows anyway & the precedent is already there. Hurndall & Bradley did turns as Hartnell's Doctor.

[@alecbormia4523]

@@scotcarr3390 I don't think Eccleston will ever come back, at least to the tv show. Especially with RTD at the helm again.

[@scotcarr3390]

@@alecbormia4523 A fella can dream, no?….😝

[@alecbormia4523]

@@scotcarr3390 yeah but Eccleston has been pretty open about how he had some really negative experiences with upper management when working on dw and that he wouldn’t want to come back bc of that. He didn’t want to come back for the 50th when it was someone else completely in charge I think RTD being back just solidifies it never happening again. At the very least we’d have to wait until RTD departs again. At least he’s done some Big Finish stuff.

[@aliveandwellinisrael2507]

This special had a few good jokes, like that one and the whole "Baby don't Hurt me, No More" meme

[@danielgertler5976]

100% we need McGann in the 60th anniversary special.

[@applejuice5272]

YES!!!

[@minstrlmummr]

Yes please...

[@jm5887]

I certainly hope so if there's a doctor who deserves it it's definitely Paul Mcgann. I've always wondered why for the Christmas specials they didn't use old doctors

[@c.lvr2602]

Well it wasn't the 60th but you got your wish last night

[@TomtheMagician21]

Please yes

[@Geekus]

McGann expertly plays an absolutely vital moment of the Doctor’s life. This short is the transitional moment from classic to modern, from the adventuring traveler to a desperate warrior. He wouldn’t become the War Doctor all at once, he has to dramatize that initial willingness to go into the darkness in his incarnation before he takes his first step away from his Doctor promise. Eight may not have destroyed the Time Lords and Daleks, but he turned the corner and laid the foundation for the modern Doctor’s long and difficult road from traumatic catastrophe to redemption.

[@splurgabonnnephlhogg3000]

It’s canon that the doctor can regenerate into an old face. Paul For the 14th Doctor. Please

[@HarryJamesPotter7]

Oh yes!

[@Goat4459]

Yes please

[@obi501]

With a different writer

[@Violet-Intents]

Omg don't tease me with such a great idea!

[@Goat4459]

@@Violet-Intents lol

[@klystron2010]

"Will it hurt?" "Yes, and so will all the puns in the comment section."

[@davincent98]

Like a Burst from the chest

[@jamesdeegan211]

I love this. The 8th is so underrated and needs more screentime. Needs a Spin off

[@Theseamus2000]

He gets a couple seasons on the audio drama "big finish" one may turn their head away from them but they're actually pretty quality, Some really good stories though one or two of them get surprisingly dark

[@thedude4k]

@@Theseamus2000its good to know he got to do something but i still wish theyd just let him do one mini season like 6 episodes or something and give him a real arch with a companion

[@jonathanklein383]

It wouldn't be a spin off. Just out of sequence. But yes!

[@marjan2]

"Will it hurt?" Yes, it will be John Hurt :D

[@Tomfoolery1972]

"Good" 🤣😎

[@x-venturegaming9951]

Yes, it will John Hurt! 😂

[@xbigsoup]

"You're the Sisterhood of Khan. Keepers of the flame of utter boredom." Fucking loved that.

[@caitlinmackey2993]

***** I don't know why but I am laughing so hard at ur comment XD

[@BFMachine]

Paul McGann is officially the sexiest Dr Who even at this age.

[@hollyhummingbird3729]

+BFMachine So true. Far more handsome than Tennant.

[@erikw.s.5209]

+Arkham Analysis Dude... He looked the same in the movie. He will look the same when we finally get a miniseries with him.

[@carucath97]

+Billie of Oakdown Which by the looks of things will probably be in about 16 years time... (I find it strange that he's the same age as Peter Capaldi - Peter is handsome but he definitely looks like he's in his late fifties)

[@christianalanwilson434]

You are not wrong.

[@RealGateGuardian]

Please, William Hartnell was way sexier :p

[@TheTurdle]

I love how the line "You have a little under four minutes." comes at 2:49, the video lasts 6:49.

[@NickPiers]

You know, after seeing this, I kinda wish that we could've seen THIS Doctor team up with Smith and Tennant. Just skip the War Doctor bit altogether and make him the Doctor that they wanted to forget. Don't get me wrong. I loved John Hurt as the War Doctor. He was brilliant. But he wasn't a Doctor that fans knew or grew up on. For a 50th anniversary celebrating all previous Doctor Who, there was nothing of his to look back on. He never had his own run as The Doctor, not even a movie (or a LONG series of subsequent audio plays) like Paul McGann. At least with McGann, we have a history to look back on. Plus, as evidenced from this brief look at him here, he could've been brilliant. Again, loved John Hurt and through sheer will and performance, he made me believe he was a past incarnation. But after this little mini-episode, part of me still kinda wishes they gone with McGann.

[@DoctorDodge]

***** I'm kinda conflicted about it. On the one hand, yes, it would've been nice to have McGann interacting with Tennant and Smith, absolutely. And it would've been great for him to get even wider recognition that a full-on anniversary episode would've brought. On the other hand...I really don't mind that his send-off was this episode and not Day. Partly because it is a send-off and allows me to accept Hurt's Doctor a whole lot more - because like you, I really loved Hurt as the Doctor, but I would've been a lot less accepting if once again we were denied a regeneration scene for McGann - but also, this story just seems much more appropriate as an ending. Broken, beaten and ready to give up, a depressing ending is much more fitting for the Eighth Doctor than the bittersweet-yet-hopeful one War got in Day. Odd, I know, but considering McGann's journey in the audios, a dark ending just seems to really fit his character. And giving up the name of the Doctor is a definitely dark. Plus, the best part of course is that it fully embraces the audios as canon. When he saluted his companions, it really got to me - I knew I wasn't just watching the Eighth Doctor regenerate, but also that it was the same Eighth Doctor I had been following for years in his brilliant audio series. That was the moment when tears came to my eyes. A great way to end his Doctor I thought, even in just 6 minutes.

[@marionetamtz]

Well. The War Doctor was supossed to be Eccleston but he refused to do the part, so they invited John Hurt and changed the story, and it was after that that they decided to do a mini-episode were we could see the regeneration between the eighth and the War Doctor.

[@acrowbar2394]

+Mario Martinez I would've loved to see 8, 9, 10 and 11 together. All of them would be cool of course but only 8, 9, 10 and 11 still look like the proper age. We all saw how weird it was when 5 met 10 in that minisode. It was cool but still, seeing an aged version of a past Doctor would be weird (this being subverted by the Curator cuz that's a future incarnation).

[@AvengerVincent]

I'd be kinda meta if eight was the one they wanted to forget... Everyone hated the idea of the doctor being half human....

[@acrowbar2394]

Super Legend of Metroid That was retconned in all the expanded universe things I believe. Either way, it was weird for them to have that in the movie, right? It's never mentioned again after that, except in that one "joke" at the atomic clock ceremony.

[@BudCharlesUnderVlogs]

Please give us a Paul McGann spinoff series... It would be so awesome!

[@ItsMrE.K.]

yeah but it wouldnt be spinoff then

[@brendanmccabe8373]

It’s called big finish

[@alexinabox6931]

Sorry, he's said he won't do another series. But he said he may come back for short episodes or big finish.

[@Ordoabchao-x9k]

Hello, I'm from the future. Unfortunately it cannot be.

[@JacktheRah]

I would really like to see more of him. He is an interesting Doctor compared to 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. (And yes I am one of these "fans" who only watched new who but I like it). With modern stuff giving him a chance. Like in Day of the Doctor or any other Old Who episode where there were multiple Doctors. I really think he has great talent and would stick out.

[@DAN44100]

Thumbs up for a Paul McGann mini series.

[@NellieKAdaba]

Yes

[@kanaric]

I would love this.

[@Terri_MacKay]

YES PLEASE!!! :)

[@Yetaxa]

*coughsbigfinishcoughs*

[@Terri_MacKay]

Yetaxa His Big Finish audio episodes are pretty awesome, but it would be nice to see him on screen again. I've always loved the Eighth Doctor, but even I was surprised by how much love him and this minisode got. I think a mini-series would be great!!

[@williamcox955]

Such an amazing short, and a real testament to Paul McGann. The fact that he has had so little tv Time is criminal.

[@Yetaxa]

He had little TV time and yet he had far more novels, comic adventures and audios than any other doctor It's ironic, the 8th doctor has the most total adventures of all

[@jwg5774]

Blame FOX for first failing to properly advertise the TV movie and cash in on the US Who fan base, second choosing to air the movie opposite the series finale of Roseanne, and thirdly deciding not to back a full series even though the BBC wanted to after British viewing numbers proved there was still an audience for Doctor Who.

[@thezacmurphy]

@@jwg5774 not the series finale for Roseanne but, if only to underscore the infinite lack of foresight of Fox, the episode that aired the week after the episode where Dan had his heart attack. an two episode arc that gathered 20 and 21 million viewers respectively. I understand you don’t move with your May Sweeps programming once it’s announced, but how do you hear that happened on the most popular shows in the country and go “hey maybe we delay our incredibly expensive TV movie by one day, people are probably gonna tune into that one next week” 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@DannyBrown169]

Well what we need is a spin off 8th Doctor series not Class

[@Camime]

We do, it's called BigFinish

[@DannyBrown169]

Camime I know he does big finish, thats why I want a tv spin off

[@MissTomi]

Do i get a free virus too?

[@NotInTheBox]

Free viruses with every download!

[@troopcaptain]

+Danny Brown Amen!

[@andiroidYT]

Dear BBC, Go to Big Finish, get the very best of Eights stories, and turn them into a full TV series. 'Doctor Who: Eight', there's the title. You spent a lot of cash and talent on Torchwood, and this would be a hell of a lot better. DO IT BEFORE MCGANN IS TOO OLD TO PLAY THE PART. Next to Tom Baker, McGann was born to play this role. DO IT. NOOOOWWWWW.

[@DoctorDodge]

The problem is that an Eighth Doctor live action series based on his very best stories would cost a lot of money, especially something like Dark Eyes. Not just for the post-production, but even the production itself. The BBC spends money on shows like Torchwood and even Class because they're usually set just on modern day Earth, so production wise, it's a lot cheaper than stories set on alien worlds or even historical England. The BBC also seem reluctant to fund just one series of Doctor Who a year, so I can't imagine see them funding two, even one with a past Doctor. Still, I'm not entirely against the idea of Big Finish's very best brought to a new audience. How about just animating the original audio stories? That way, you don't even need to worry about voice acting, and it'd still be cheaper than live action.

[@rassilontdavros3004]

+James Aggas Maybe they could animate them. Hey, they're doing "Power", anything is possible.

[@DoctorDodge]

RassilonTDavros Exactly. Animation is the best way to go for something like that. (Having said that, I want them to animate all the remaining missing episodes first, as they were designed to be visual in the first place. I'm really excited about Power of the Daleks.)

[@rocklobsterjwt]

RassilonTDavros that's my thought too!

[@RettinalView]

andiroidYT I actually would rather them take the time and make him more special. Make him "The Movie Doctor" and just make another 7 movies with him (totals to 8). I think that would be cool and it means they could work on it in segments and not all at once kind of like Sherlock.

[@jameswoodworth7768]

I met Paul McCann at Chester comic con , he was such a nice guy , no one had yet gone up to his table to purchase an autograph or picture and although I wasn’t paying for anything he had a full on conversation with me after I told him he was my favourite doctor and even took the time to talk to me after his Q and A

[@nathanielm4033]

McGann should have a series. He's just amazing in this brief clip. Such an unusual and complex performance. And Moffat's dialogue is just perfect.

[@gregrushin8706]

Paul McCann would be such a good doctor in modern times.

[@jplegend98]

his big finish auidos are great.

[@tregard]

I can only pray one day Netflix will pay for a McGann series of Doctor Who

[@DoctorDodge]

+tregard In the meantime: thank god for Big Finish.

[@LinkingYellow]

"I'm a doctor, but probably not the one you were expecting." He was talking to us. lol.

[@Jenrafoxfairy]

talk abt breaking the forth wall.

[@kendraressler4497]

5:33 I love that he mentions Charley, C'rizz, Lucie, Tamsin, and Molly. Acknowledging them means the Big Finish audio adventures featuring the 8th Doctor are Canon. Although one wonders what happened to Dr. Grace Holloway from the 90s movie...I guess she didn't have as much of an impact? But then again Mary Shelly was not mentioned either and she was a Big Finish companion although rather briefly.

[@tenshiigarashi4063]

The BBC doesn't own the movie-exclusive characters. It was a joint venture.

[@ozancandemirsk9423]

@@tenshiigarashi4063 Yeah but that doesn't mean he couldn't have said Grace as well. Not owning the character doesn't mean they don't use the name Grace.

[@JSYBen]

@@ozancandemirsk9423 I haven't heard any of the Big Finish audios. Does Grace ever make a reappearance? If not, he barely knew her I suppose.

[@RoninDave]

Again I'll say it - McGann deserves his own spin-off series that can prelude and/or include the Time Wars. It can be a darker series showing the once noble Time Lords falling into pride and despair in their war with the daleks while the Doctor remains true to his principles

[@woohooboy]

Given all the subsequent drama involving Christopher Eccleston and his attempts to distance himself from "DW", it makes you wonder why the BBC didn't approach Paul McGann when the show was revived ten years ago as he has stated that he would have played the part but since he wasn't contacted about it nor offered anything, it really was a missed opportunity as most fans would attest to. McGann was/is great in the role. Adventureous, witty, brave and quirky, he has all the necessary elements that embody the Doctor. I don't see any reason why Moffat couldn't include him in "The Day of The Doctor". Wonderful as John Hurt was, McGann deserved to be in that production and whilst I'm grateful he got this short feature, he should have shared the limelight with David Tennant and Matt Smith.

[@BadwolfGamer]

+woohooboy The BBC are so great at messing stuff up at times but whose to day their won't be a series featuring the 8th doctor one day?

[@gooseholla1]

When I first heard Doctor Who was coming back, Christopher Eccleston was on Jonathan Ross' show and I was like "..... not doctor who material" Why did they choose him to reboot an entire franchise?! It just didn't really work, and then to leave after the series was ended and needed to refilm end cos he feared being typecast... haven't seen him in much of anything else since Doctor Who anyway!!!

[@RealGateGuardian]

From what i found google searching the reason Paul wasn't contacted is because they needed a fresh start. As the Doctor Who movie from 1995 (I think) was luke warm received, BBC felt Paul McGann was a risk. As for why Eccleston distancing himself from the Franchise, they signed him to one contract. He thought they'd make him an extension however he found out they wanted David Tennant since day 1 of the continuation. He felt jilted & extremely slighted by BBC & Moffat hence why he wants to distance himself.

[@RealGateGuardian]

@skdc8595 nope, blaming Moffat for Colin Baker quiting too :p

[@WindspriteM]

i think the whole point of filming "night of the doctor" was in order to give McGann more screentime as the doctor at all, people on the doctor who staff who cared made this short episode after all technically speaking, he was contacted for this, because Night of the Doctor was aired on BBC *before* Day of the Doctor (hence that title) in order to promote it, so they can't have considered him that much of a risk because at least they allowed him on set the thing is, only once Night of the Doctor aired, people at the bbc realized how popular McGann actually still was. there was a petition with like, 20 000 signatures or so, but Moffat didn't want to take on that project (saying: "one doctor at a time") and we have to keep in mind, that producing live-action tv is a pretty tough job and you wouldn't want to add up on that load if you didn't plan on it, so even if disappointment is natural, it's justified why they didn't do it. at that point Capaldi was already casted. and later on, Chibnall was dead set on casting a woman, so it's too late to complain about it, but it's still fun to listen to the audioplays

[@its-morbintime]

I actually think Paul McGann should've been The War Doctor. I love John Hurt as an actor but I think, as fans who had seen the movie that he made, to see him go from one of the more quirky incarnations and then turn into a dark, almost traumatised incarnation due to the terrors he had seen the Daleks unleash on his homeland. And I actually think Paul has the chops as an actor to pull that off. Not only that, but with the inclusion of Hurt's Doctor, that is now 2 Doctors that have been in the role for less than 2 hours of a runtime each.

[@Gambit771]

Completely agree he shouldve been the war doctor

[@its-morbintime]

Gambit771 Not only that but I think it would've been a nice little nod to an actor who did play the part but never actually went anywhere with it. I mean it WAS the 50th anniversary of the show. I mean, he was at that point, the only Doctor to be in the part for less than a season (I'm not counting the animated films) and it would acknowledge the old as well as the new, outside of that Tom Baker cameo and the saving of Gallifrey.

[@coopercostantino17]

He would make a good one but that would be impossible because he can't regenerate into him self again. David tennant did that but it was because he had a piece of himself. So he couldn't even if he the writers wanted him too.

[@stonebaxter]

Cooper Costantino No, the point is that this little minisode doesn't kill Eight and he goes on to be the Doctor that fought in the war, probably finally being killed when Gallifrey is destroyed and regenerating into Eccleston. THAT would have been WAAAY better than the mediocre fluff we got about John Hurt in the "8th Anniversary" episode they made. What a tragic waste the day of the doctor truly was. Just more mindless eye-candy for the shippers and their "boyfriend incarnations".

[@brch2]

Cooper Costantino Says who? There is nothing ever said that indicates he can't regenerate into an old form, at least that I've heard. And in fact, Moffat opened up the possibility of him eventually regenerating into old forms, with the implication that the Curator is a future incarnation of the Doctor regenerated back into the form of 4. There is no reason whatsoever that if they refuse to show us more of 8 onscreen that they can't make McGann the 13th Doctor.

[@SpyroCynderFan]

It's so crazy. Not seeing Paul McGann on screen for 17 years, only to finally get his regeneration scene is just so amazing.

[@lyricbot8513]

Charlie, Lucy, Molly, those audiobook callbacks gave me chills

[@STH151NicoleFan]

This was such a sad moment. Everyone who would ever want to see "bigger on the inside" would be excited and really WOULD love it. Only to see The Doctor, doing what he always does; trying to help, and to hear him say "Yes, come on you'll love it!" only for the one he's trying to help to turn away in pure anger and disgust just because of what he is and would rather die as he continues to try and help...I about cried.

[@mystery4561]

Same. Cass Is a terrible character. I understand where she is coming from but still.

[@Jmcinally94]

It really showcases how out of hand the the Time Lords had gotten when she says nobody can tell the difference between them and the Daleks at this point.

[@dreed100]

@@mystery4561 She is not. Time Lords and Daleks almost eradicated the whole universe. To her, two almost omnipotent beings are battling each other for some reason, and regular people, humans, catkind, Ood, Silence, Vashta and so on are mere bugs which are being wiped out with little fight... She has markings of a companion. To join Doctor on his wacky adventures. Only though, she knows that universe, through whole time is at brutal war caused by Doctors species.

[@DoctorDodge]

I've watched this so many times now. Seeing McGann finally playing the Doctor onscreen again was great, especially at tying up his story. But what made the regeneration of "my" Doctor incredibly emotional? When he called out to his companions in the audios. Knowing that this was the Doctor I had been following for over 10 years in audio format really did bring tears to my eyes. Thank you, Steven Moffat, for FINALLY giving us the regeneration scene us Eighth Doctor fans deserved (and for making it WAY better than Tennant's, too. ;)).

[@Terri_MacKay]

It's good to know that I'm not the only one that has watched this over and over. The first time I watched it, my head almost exploded from sheer happiness when Eight appeared. And what an appearance...he shows up for 6 1/2 minutes and gives us the darkest moment the show has ever had. There are just no words for how much I LOVE finally seeing Eight be made a part of the show. I loved when he called out the names of his companions as well because it leaves no doubt whatsoever that his audio episodes are canon, now that they have been referenced in the show. By the way, am I right in thinking that there was a little homage to Eight in "The Eleventh Hour" when Eleven stole clothes from the hospital lockers? I've always thought of that as a little tribute to McGann's Doctor.

[@DoctorDodge]

Terri MacKay It's just amazing, isn't it? It's also a more worthy on-screen "ending" for the classic era than the TV movie and Survival, imo, especially with its last 3 words of "Doctor no more". I've gotta admit, I'm really liking how Moffat seems to be tying the classic and the new series more and more, especially for the 50th. And I agree with you that the hospital scene in the Eleventh Hour is a homage to Eight as well as Three. What is it with Doctors and clothes in hospitals? ;)

[@Enivri]

Doctor: will it hurt? Sister of Karn: Yes, John Hurt

[@vthings001]

In a mere six minutes McGann shows us everything his Doctor could be. Witty and sarcastic as any other but he does it with charm and gravitas. His take on the character is just as unique as the rest.

[@andreacorposmae4202]

@miguel889 Oh so bored today

[@FishietheGreat]

...everything his Doctor has been since 1996, but especially since 2001 with all the Eighth Doctor Audio adventures he's had! McGann has been the Doctor A LOT, just not onscreen - in your ears.

[@propertyofranger]

FishietheGreat . And in addition to the amazing Big Finish audio adventures, he's also the most published of all Doctors with over 80 novels and hundreds of comic strips spanning ten years of publication. Pretty impressive!

[@FishietheGreat]

propertyofranger Yes, he's considered the most prolific Doctor, even above the New Who Doctors, and it really is impressive! I mentioned the BF audios because McGann is in them, and it seems like so many people here are loving Paul. The novels are the easiest to get ahold of, though.

[@rockinrodney5000]

"Will it hurt?" Yes, Paul, you will turn into John Hurt.

[@danielappleton153]

& he will appear in " Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls ". Not 1 of my favorite Indiana Jones films. :)

[@DarthRushy]

Daniel Appleton But better than the Temple Of Doom.

[@E101ification]

This mini-sode was almost perfect; only thing I would've added to it, is when she's disgusted at the fact he's a Timelord, he should've said "Actually, I'm half human...", and when she shuts the door between them he could've said something like "Well, that USED to work....". It would've been funny, as well as explaining - and fixing - the inconsistency in the TV Movie that never made sense, by being a simple lie he tells people to gain their trust.

[@AndyG94]

You need more likes :)

[@aaronchidester806]

didn't they say he used a broken Chameleon Arch to pull that off? So he was made partially human to trick the Master

[@E101ification]

That was retconned into it in the comic series, but in the Big Finish audios - which thanks to this mini-sode, we know are now canon :) - they never explain it, they just ignore it and pretend it was never said, which at the time was probably the best way to go about it, I just think the scene in this min-sode would've been a perfect way to rectify it.

[@aaronchidester806]

Very true. That would have been great if they had put that in.

[@nickasaro8789]

How is this one of the best Doctor Who stories ever at just 6 minutes? It’s amazing!

[@davidyoung5114]

I've been hoping that they'd do a McGann/Capaldi Children In Need episode, like 2008's TIME CRASH. We need more Eighth Doctor on screen!!!

[@davidyoung5114]

I just heard that the War Doctor has returned to Gallifrey for the last time...John Hurt passed away today. G A L L I F R E Y S T A N D S !!!

[@ReaMbo87]

According to Gallifrey Base: "Earlier today there was a meeting held with lots of very important BBC Worldwide people to discuss the hugely positive and unexpected response from Night of the Doctor. I think it genuinely took everyone by surprise. It was mainly to discuss what options there are going forward with this, creatively. More web exclusives, a dvd, a special, I don't know exactly, with McGann or possibly other Doctors."

[@BlueHooloovoo]

I can see it now - 'Doctor Who: Chronicles of the Eighth Doctor'. Make it happen BBC.

[@kutless45]

Here you go: www.bigfinish.com/ranges/released/eighth-doctor-adventures

[@stevegovea1]

I agree!

[@l3uzzworthy]

Truett Edgell Um great link truett. Never even heard of these and ive seen every dr who ever produced. thanks ill have to order these now you realize ? lol ;)

[@kutless45]

Manuel Sacha I agree 100%

[@martinwinters571]

l3uzzworthy They're REALLY good.

[@aschen]

I'm just glad they canonized his audio with the companion names

[@jlantern100]

The moment Paul McGann came on screen like it was no big deal, I literally went "HOLY S***! 8th DOCTOR IS BACK!" Thanks and applause go to show for giving us an early surprise before day of the doctor. Looking forward to the special next week.

[@scotcarr3390]

I remember when Fox Network screened the TV movie. I think I was in the minority that liked it & most of that comes from the stellar job McGann put into playing the Doctor. Now, I WOULD like to see McGann have a longer run in the future, but it has to be done right. This one miniepisode, plus his voice performances for Big Idea, were so crucial that he absolutely needs an arc worthy of that quality. Maybe not a whole season. Maybe him & Eccleston having a side story showing the Doctor trying to stop the Time War & then helping as many people caught in the middle as he can. If Eccleston could be convinced to come back for a stretch trying to atone for past mistakes. Considering how much fan goodwill has been squandered in recent series, the Beeb should bite the bullet & give Eccleston a blank check to do another series alongside McGann. Find a ringer for John Hurt & go to town...😎

[@Lanthiriel]

Just a lament that Paul McGann did not have more screen time playing the Dr. This wee bit of an ep is *so* powerful. *sigh* Just missing what we never got to see. He is fantastic.

[@DoctorDodge]

Just be glad for the plenty of stories we got to hear, at least. :)

[@Lanthiriel]

James Aggas Actually I haven't heard any of them. :) I'm hoping they can be found online? Possibly??

[@DoctorDodge]

His earliest stuff is pretty cheap to download. Here it is in order: www.bigfinish.com/ranges/all_reverse/monthly-series?filter%5B1%5D=8+-+Eighth&filter%5B2%5D=&filter%5B3%5D=&filter%5B12%5D=&free_search=&release_number=&release_start_month=&release_start_year=&release_end_month=&release_end_year= I hope you enjoy them, as he really is my favourite Doctor because of his performance in those stories.

[@Lanthiriel]

James Aggas Thank you so much James, that's really nice of you. :) I'll look into these.

[@DoctorDodge]

Lanthiriel Anytime. As a MASSIVE fan of Eight, I'm always eager for others to discover just how much of a brilliant Doctor he is, outside of the movie and this brilliant minisode.

[@DerrickMims]

My favorite moment is when he lists his Big Finish companions. That means they are canon! Happy chills every time.

[@mcyeddi]

When I first saw this short when it released I barely knew Paul McGann as The Doctor. Now having listened to most of what he has to offer as The Doctor in Big finish audio dramas, he's become one of my favorite doctors. And while I hope he continues to do audio dramas for years to come seeing him come back to do a tv special or have his own prequel series, even if only for just a few seasons, I would be so ecstatic to see that happen. The audio dramas are amazing but 8 deserves more. Hell, make another movie! Make him the movie Doctor as well as the audio drama doctor!! More screen time with 8, please!

[@SomeOrangeCat]

I feel like Big Finish gave him and Colin Baker a well deserved fair shake. Writing the kinds of stories they deserved!

[@mcyeddi]

@@SomeOrangeCat Mhm! Admittedly I'd not heard much of Collin Bakers stuff, but I've heard his episodes with Charly Pollard and his two from Classic Doctors New Monsters. Also his one ep with David Tennent. But they're definitely doing great with him. And he's doing great as well. Love the blue coat.

[@AtarahDerek]

Of all the mini episodes they've done so far this one is by far the best. Which it should be, as it precedes the best episode they've done yet.

[@IrishDan89]

50th anniversary episode was poor, steven moffat is a poor writer in comparison to RTD

[@DoctorDodge]

IrishDan89 I like RTD's early stuff, but I think he got progressively worse by the end, especially Journey's End and The End of Time. Moffat's not perfect, but I've enjoyed his episodes a lot more compared to RTD's overall.

[@IrishDan89]

how often would you rewatch a rtd episode? alot, how often would you watch a moffat episode? rarely

[@DoctorDodge]

IrishDan89 Personally, I tend to rewatch Moffat's eps a lot more compared to RTD's. Not saying that RTD didn't write great eps - Parting of the Ways, Midnight and Waters of Mars are CLASSIC examples - but overall, I would rewatch episodes of Moffat's like Empty Child, Blink, Time of Angels and A Good Man Goes to War a lot more compared to RTD's eps. Neither are as great as the late Robert Holmes, of course.

[@IrishDan89]

true but i mean from whos era as head writer, ever since rtd left very few of the episodes are worth watching again

[@Merglet]

If they actually go ahead with an 8th Doctor series, I might never recover, because McGann is freaking GOLDEN in audio.

[@douglaslancaster9988]

Is there talk of this happening?

[@Merglet]

@@douglaslancaster9988 The Mirror had an article mentioning the rumour that something might be cooking for the Eighth Doctor. I'm hoping it comes true!

[@douglaslancaster9988]

@@Merglet ahh dude would be awesome mate

[@GiloTintin]

"I'm a Doctor, but probably not the one you were expecting..." = massive smile across all of time and space

[@christianalanwilson434]

Time Lord trollface

[@jeremythomaswebb1485]

There were two cheers of joy the day this came out. One when Paul Mcgann first appeared on screen and the second when Paul mentioned all of his big finish companions solidifying Big Finish as part of the official doctor who continuity.

[@WhiskeyBrewer]

I have been hoping for McGann to appear on screen again as the Doctor for so long and even though this was so short, im glad he did it. another awesome face is that Moffat has now made the McGann Big Finish audio adventures Canon as all the people he named were his companions in those. This better be on the DVD of THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR

[@Gredran]

I know everyone wants more McGann, but I feel like this video is really good at showing the range of his Doctor. He may be my new favorite for how awesome he made 6 minutes of screen time

[@S3anyBoy]

"Is it always like this?" "If you're lucky"

[@dlarge6502]

More 8th Doctor on screen would be great! But dont forget McGann has all those Big Finish audio adventures as the 8th Doctor. He mentions all his companions from those audio dramas in this episode

[@JamesDMcGuinness]

I'm sorry but this was just too good to say that's it for the 8th Doctor. I MEAN COME ON!! Steven or any other writer please give Paul a TV Series about the start of the time war to this moment it would be worth it and I think better than the show today... :P

[@DoctorDodge]

I don't think Moffat&Co want to touch the Eighth Doctor because of how damn good a job Big Finish are doing with his character. Especially Dark Eyes - that series is EPIC!

[@alucard624]

James Aggas Then they should just go ahead and film the audio adventures that he did then already.

[@DoctorDodge]

alucard624 The problem with that is is that a lot of the audio episodes have such a huge scale that the special effects budget would have to be as large as a Hollywood blockbuster to put on screen convincingly. Better solution: just listen to the actual episodes that have already been made.

[@alucard624]

James Aggas Or they could animate a few of them to keep them within a realistic budget but still adapt them properly.

[@DoctorDodge]

alucard624 I can see that happening, especially with Dark Eyes. I'm skeptical even that could happen, as we barely get 1 series of Who on telly these days, but still the most likely option for more visual Eight. For the moment though, at least the audios we do have are beyond brilliant. Dark Eyes 4 especially was absolutely amazing.

[@WalshieYT1]

Years later and I still find myself coming back to this. I wish Paul had more of a chance to absolutely masterfully play the doctor on screen.

[@BrunosGeekReviews]

This is an amazing piece of storytelling. So much is accomplished in under 7 minutes, it's utterly amazing! Thumbs up to Moffat for his accuracy regarding the Eight Doctor's characterization. His wit and romantic ideals (not leaving the girl) are all established quickly, which makes his final decision to stop being the Doctor even more tragic. (You can tell that if this brave girl had not come to despise the Time Lords, she would have been his next companion and things would have happened very differently!) And thumbs up for making the audio dramas official canon by mentioning the companions from Big Finish, that was a class-act that the naysayers should keep in mind next time they discuss the current showrunner. As for McGann, he does not waste a single second of this chance he's given to portray once more his version of the Doctor in a format other than audio-only, he is completely captivating through the whole thing. He goes through an incredible range of emotions in very little time, and the gravitas of his final moments make it, in my opinion, one of the very best regeneration scenes ever.

[@Sephvion]

"keepers of the flame... of utter boredom." Love that line. It is a shame Paul isn't in Doctor Who episodes. Seeing him here intrigues me and I would love to see him on screen as the Doctor (aside from the movie).

[@ZlothZloth]

I was actually hoping to see a movie or mini-series about the Time War with him as the Doctor.

[@eveningtsar]

Man, they even showed a young John Hurt - he must have been the Doctor a long time. For a long war. . .

[@julieeverett7442]

if memory serves the time war went for about 400/500 years

[@AstraIVagabond]

@@julieeverett7442 From his perspective, after all is said and done. It's impossible to say how long the Time War objectively lasted because... _well._ I love RTD's (pre/re)interpretation of it, where he wrote: "[The Doctor] wonders what age he’s finally reached. The Time War used years as ammunition; at the Battle of Rodan’s Wedding alone, he’d aged to five million and then regressed to a mewling babe, merely from shrapnel. Now, the ache in his bones feels… one thousand years old? Well. Call it nine hundred. Sounds better. "

[@vullord666]

A theory I really like is that the Doctor reset his age with his War incarnation (not seeing himself as the Doctor). Meaning that the time war lasted as long as War is old (900+ years). I like it because it clears up that annoying plot inconsistency of the 9th Doctor saying he was younger than the 8th Doctor did (or even just expecting me to the believe that the Doctor went through 8 bodies in 300 years (the first Doctor lived to be 600 something)). It still doesn’t solve the plot inconsistency of the 12th Doctor saying he’s only over 2000 and putting a 1500 year difference between him and the first (when it should be more like 2500 and he should he calling himself 3000 having accepted his war incarnation and acknowledging that he never stopped being the Doctor).

[@vullord666]

@@AstraIVagabond see I would have liked that IN THE SHOW, so I wasn’t confused as hell the entire revival with the Doctor’s age making negative sense. Even just an “I don’t know anymore” would have been better than him saying 900 all the time like it made any sense.

[@DoctorWhoKage]

@@julieeverett7442 it went on for 400 years...in linear time.

[@gpgara]

'I'm The Doctor, but probably not the one you were expecting.' BIGGEST UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DECADE. Moffat, I bloody love you. That was a very, very nice surprise.

[@BELLASUSERNAME]

[@Jotari]

This is a tightly plotted episode. They really cover a lot of ground in six minutes. It feels rushed not because its paced poorly but because the situation demands there be little time. I'm really quite fond of this short. So fond of it that, despite believing it was paced remarkably well, I still wish it was an entire full episode. The TV movie wasn't a particularly fantastic piece of Doctor Who but the one thing I really liked about it was Paul McGann's depiction of the doctor. I would have really liked to have seen a full episode showing him avoiding (and showing the audience) the affects of the time war, culminating in this prologue. Or maybe this prologue be the half way point in the episode and have the second half give us some idea of John Hurt's Doctor. But I guess actors are only so available and most of the budget was being saved up for the Day of the Doctor.

[@DoctorDodge]

+floooooooooooooooood In 2017, an audio series will be made featuring the Eighth Doctor and set in the early days of the War, which I'm really looking forward to. In the meantime, not only is Eight still featuring in his own audio series pre-War, at least, but next month, John Hurt's War Doctor is getting his own audio series as well, which I'm massively looking forward to.

[@Jotari]

Featuring the voice of John Hurt?

[@DoctorDodge]

floooooooooooooooood Amazingly, yes.

[@aureliagrey8072]

All these years later, still waiting for a Paul McGann miniseries.

[@eichelbergergary]

With RTD back, and talking about a multi-verse, I believe we are going to get it after all.

[@TakittixD]

True. I would love for new fans to discover this Doctor. It's hard explaining why he's my favourite Doctor without so much trouble

[@Gemma-Majoran]

So glad Paul got to Be the doctor on radio. Common misconception that he's only narrating audiobooks, but big finish is actual full length episodes without visuals!

[@Kernage]

I need more 8 in my Doctor Who. I've only seen him for 6 minutes and already I want him to have his own season or two...

[@Yetaxa]

Big Finish. He's had 8 seasons of audio episodes with them and more!

[@paypay7477]

***** No that was a movie.

[@NateSean]

***** Strangely enough, The Movie was supposed to be a pilot for a new series, but Paul McGann didn't want to relocate his family to Canada.

[@Yetaxa]

Nathanielle Crawford the 'movie' was indeed a pilot for a new series, but the reason the series never happened was due to poor ratings in the US, primarily.

[@joelainsworth739]

We definitely need a Paul McGann series. Or at the very least a Twelve-Eight crossover episode!

[@TTTEproductions]

So many great things about this... 1. McGann is BACK 2. BIG FINISH AUDIOS ARE CANON NOW (He mentions the companions) 3. The Sister Hood of Karn 4. The Regeneration

[@JimmySteller]

I can respect Eccleston's reasons for not coming back, but I still wish he'd come back to be in the 50th. It's so clear that the War Doctor was meant to be the 9th Doctor, and looking back on his season, he certainly felt like the man who had personally ended it all. Having the War Doctor cheapens the effect.

[@DoctorDodge]

I wouldn't quite say he was the man who did it, at least, not in that particular incarnation. Yes, the Time War was recent at the start of his season, but also, so was the regeneration - remember that moment when he looks in the mirror and says, "Oh, could've been worse! Look at the ears!" Of course, he certainly felt like the man who ended it all because, at the end of the day, the Doctor's always the same man, no matter what face he wears.

[@Solitaire001]

James Aggas Based on his comments in "Dalek" I've always thought that The Ninth Doctor isn't the regeneration that ended The Time War, but a previous regeneration actually ended it. He came across as someone who was emotionally damaged by what he had gone through but he was recovering. The regeneration into The Ninth Doctor put an emotional buffer between The Doctor and his actions.

[@dantesinfernal0]

No, the 9th Doctor was never meant to be the War Doctor. In fact, they made it quite obvious in the first episode of the revival series that this was a relatively new regeneration. He had never seen himself in a mirror prior to going to Rose's house.

[@JimmySteller]

+dantesinfernal0 So he went to the Titanic, 1883, and the 1960s to watch JFK die without even looking in a mirror?

[@Solitaire001]

dantesinfernal0 The War Doctor might have been an inserted generation, but to me it makes sense. By regenerating right after he ended The Time War, it provided an emotional buffer between himself and his next regeneration. Considering how emotionally shattered The Ninth Doctor was, I think it is likely that the only way The Doctor could have handled the guilt was by distancing himself from his actions via the regeneration into The Ninth Doctor.

[@Author-In-Denial]

i love how the time limits sync up with the amount of time left in the episode. when the lady tells him he has 4 minutes left there's exactly 4 minutes left of the episode. no doubt it's intentional but i still loveit

[@rod1million]

Paul McGann! The Sisterhood of Karn! A never-before -seen regeneration! All of the 8th Doctor's companions namechecked! Great drama all done in just under 7 minutes! Incredible!