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Doctor Who Christmas Special 2013

SPOILERS.

As someone who really started watching Who when Matt Smith came onto the scene last night should have been really special. And as I sit with a glass of Bailey's whilst my German cousins set up a treasure hunt for my sister and me I thought I should probably try and formulate my thoughts around what exactly was shown last night on our telly-boxes.

Aside from the fact that I didn't really watch series 7 seeing Matt Smith leave the show did make me really sad. The memories that this show evoked so many feelings and the conversations, tears and laughs that it caused are not something I'm ever really going to forget.

I liked that loose ends were tied and how it was brought back to the beginning of the series. The Amy/Doctor story and the River/Doctor story have been my favourite long-standing story of Matt Smith's time as the Doctor. That is not to say that I like the dialogue involved with it.

The writing of the special - and the 50th - I did not appreciate; compared to Gatiss' 'An Adventure in Space and Time' it was poor, in my opinion. I found it very sporadic and quite all over the place, and since I was sitting in a room full of family who were talking and asking questions the story seems a little weak. The elements of Eleven growing old seemed odd and because they had such a small amount of time to fill in such a huge, complex story -- much like most Moffat plots. In general I didn't think much of the writing and plot; maybe if they had longer it would have worked but I felt it was considerably rushed.

I didn't like the aspect of Clara - she cried too much and it felt really out of character. Or at least a very sudden change in character. He reaction to him regenerating and, in fact, dying was odd and just didn't feel very in character. Anyway, I love her character in general and I look forward to see how she is with Capaldi.

The only aspect that got me, and I mean really got me, was the last monologues with Amy being there. It felt very touching and though the writing wasn't entirely that strong it did make me cry... a lot. His regeneration didn't feel as moving as Ten's. However the personal feelings I associate with Eleven meant that it was very odd seeing him regenerate and go. I look forward to seeing Smith in other things though.

I do perhaps thing River should have been there. But then again, it should have been stronger dialogue and more adventurous.

Alas, Eleven is gone. Goodbye Matt Smith, thank you for the memories and here's to the future.

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