Why I Changed My Mind About Twice Upon a Time 

I hope you guys enjoyed the video! If it’s a tad less polished than the previous two, then I apologise. I’d planned on finishing with The Doctor Falls video, and had a lot less time to work on this than I’d hoped. But I suppose that’s rather fitting for a look at Twice Upon a Time. I’ve never related more to Steven Moffat in my life.

I'll still always be convinced this is Twelve's mid-regeneration dream sequence, a way to ease the trauma of his three friends dying at his hand. It's a cute episode though, with loads of ideas and themes that could fill an entire series, let alone crammed in one episode.

That Ethan Hunt / Capaldi Hair Breakdown tho

2:29 My interpretation of the end of time has always been that Ten was simply a very human doctor. He grew "too close" to the people around him and got caught up in their views of death, and he got attached to his current form. So when he knew something was going to happen to him that would typically kill a human but for him would simply cause a regeneration he reacted like a human would - he genuinely believed he would actually die. I haven't explained this very well, but I hope I've given enough for the zero people who see this to figure out what I mean.

1:56 "I can't keep doing this, Clara. Burning the old me...to make a new one." Best. Arc. Ever. 12's suicidal, weary-of-life nature is so well-earned. He lost his best friend, his wife, his oldest friend, and his newest in the space of just a few years. I wouldn't want to come back either. How perfect for his successor to be so full of life and absent of agnst! Oh...Series 12 happened. I was blissfully ignorant for a second there.

Just think of this as a Bonus Capaldi episode and then all is right with the World again. I agreed with everything you pointed out except one thing, the Doctor gets to remember Clara again, and I loved that. Memories are all we have in the end, and the Doctor should have his.

apparently in the novelisation, the first doctors' misogyny is revealed/presented to be him teasing and trying to embarrass the 12th i really like this idea, it doesn't walk all over the "time lords past gender binaries" thing while keeping up with the first doc's clear disdain for the modern show, *and* makes those scenes even funnier with that headcanon in place

Says he promises to make it shorter. Ends up being just over a minute shorter

You hit the nail on the head with this. Not perfect, but...still, we got a lot of nice bits and it had potential. Plus, one more turn for Peter Capaldi. I love the end with the WWI scene. Beautiful.

I think I agree about the Clara scene from a story angle, but I've always viewed it as Moffat leaving as clean a slate as possible for Chibnall. But, that scene of Capaldi with his arms still hugging after Bill and Nardole disappear... still hits just the right way.

I've always thought this special was so underrated, and I'm glad to a positive review! I'm not a huge fan of the sillier christmas specials of the Moffat era, so this one felt right. It's got unforgettable moments, like Lethbridge-Stewart asking "What do you mean, one?" (I was so happy to see you mention it!), or Capaldi's delivery of "Do you know how many of you I could fill? I would shatter you", which makes me cry every single time XD. Even though The Doctor Falls is for sure a superior episode, I will never lament that it wasn't 12th's last, because he deserved a more hopeful send-off. Also, "Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind" might as well be how one might describe 12th. ♥

Sadly this is where Dr.Who ended for my family. But at least we can always go back and rewatch 12 amazing doctors and there adventures.

can we get a full vid about Nardole? i think that would be quite neat

The death of Davros and the Master in this series & all the nods to the dawn of doctor who with that style of daleks/ cybermen/first doctor really does make it feel like an ending. It could have closed here. Not saying it should have but would neatly have tied it up. Similar to how the Simpsons could have ended at Holidays of Future Past but didn't

"We get a weird looking cameo from Jenna Coleman" Yeah that shot has always reminded me of some of the scenes in Infinity War and Endgame where people are standing in front of a green screen and them and the lighting looks all weird and shoved into the rest of the movie.

Everything after the Christmas Armistice is just perfection. Doctor Who distilled. It's everything I love about the show. The set-up is pretty great too; 12 gets to reflect on both his past and future, though there really was no need for Bill. Let her have a cameo with Nardole and Clara, that's all she needed. Then we could have spent more time developing Soldier-Whose-Name-I-Can't-Remember! If I'm being honest, I don't think the Testimony plot could ever have worked - and I actually stand by the "There isn't an evil plan" 'plot' point. Just a bit dull, really. But I imagine the original cut of the scenes with Rusty was amazing, finally reflecting on the "Am I a good man?" Arc, and tying together the loose strands of 12's very jumpy character journey. I honestly think the original 90-minute cut might have made for one of the greatest stories of all time, not just in the show itself but of television. It's a shame. With that half an hour gone, everything before the resolution is just a mess of nothing. No substance. You can get away with no plot, but you gave to have _content_ for Christ's sake! Bloody BBC. They gave Russell eighty minutes! Ah, well. Rachel has confirmed that they shot the original footage, so that 90-minute cut does exist, and maybe one day I'll get it. Who's to say?

"Twice Upon a Time" has a special place in my list of favorite DW episodes! I was having a private celebration of the holidays with my husband. I got carried away and got stuck in a k-hole. Through the fog and confusion, I heard the voice of, not one Doctor, but two (hubby had changed the channel on the TV)¡ I was saved! It was the last Christmas I spent with him before he passed away. 😶

... What kept Doctor Who, the show, alive? What keeps any of us alive - after we're gone? ... Memories. What a wonderful legacy. Twice Upon a Time is a big ''thank you! for all the memories!'' the Doctor Who show provided us all with. Darn cleverly done, rush job, low budget, intimately set. Deeply felt. Like in the olden days. They've addressed a couple of issues you mention in the Cornell novelisation, it's fairly packed and well written. 1st Doctor's response is explored more in depth. Also, the parallels. There's a few! Worth reading. Here's the extended Rusty scene: Rusty harbours a strong ... dislike for his own kin, he's now a psychologically damaged Dalek who, with some ''help?'' in the past, expanded consciousness beyond the programming and genetics - regained his memories of a star being born (power of memories) - while falling into the reversal ideology - ''kill all that's not a Dalek'' burned into ''kill all Daleks'' through the fusion with Doctor's memories (of everything popping into existence & strong hate - which became one of his fears, whether he's a good man) - Rusty as he has been for billions of years at that point, his decision and credo, in essence, have been shaped by memories themselves and logic derived from them: ''Because helping me, in any way, does something wonderful. It hurts the Daleks.'' Another pause. The Doctor was pretty sure he really could hear the cogs whirring. ''Your logic is ... ingenius.'' He grinned. ''And just a little bit evil.'' ''I approve.'' The Doctor now felt able to approach. He went to the Dalek, and took his sonic sunglasses from his pocket. He tapped them against the Dalek's sucker arm, and heard the sound of vast quantities of information flowing into the creature's cyborg brain. He felt it was about time that Rusty came out with its standard catchphrase about him once again. ''You would make a good Time Lord,'' said Rusty. The Doctor winced. Now /that/ was just plain /mean./ * And possibly below the belt - I like that Rusty popped up and had a say. And tell him off a bit, just in case: what's in a perspective: what's worse than a good Dalek? A good Time Lord? Thank goodness he's just an idiot. What a save. Anyway, unlike with Me, whom he checked upon from afar, the Doctor left Rusty to fend for himself entirely. He grew enough not to repeat that same mistake later with Grant. Dalek philosophy is now meaningless and pointless to Rusty, but he's caught in this vicious cycle of cancelling the Daleks. And here's the meanie Time Lord who put him in this position. Primum non nocere - firstly, do no harm - yeah, Rusty's arse. (Not that he couldn't say: Enough of this! I'm packing my bags and going to the Bahamas! Come on, Doctor! Why didn't you include that one in the flashback?! ;P) A bit sorry to see him still exterrrminating through the aeons, though. Then again: what's a Dalek equivalent of ''just being happy'' ... Personally, I got warmth from Bradley's Doctor - but also grittiness, sense of adventure, a twinkle, packed in one. He's not trying to be Hartnell's Doctor - just being 1st Doctor. Moffat, and let's face it: this episode is VERY moffaty ;) - inserted those ball-knobs in there for a purpose: for one: they're cheap CGI (which is a bit of a clue to what was coming), and also - whenever he got the chance, he lists all Doctor's incarnations, hammering them in: 50th, Husbands of RS, Name of the Doctor, here, .... Minus a couple of bazillion that exist now. He made sure to tie Classic Who to Reboot Who - and especially interesting is that all of Capaldi run - has to deal with death and passing, giving a sense of finality to the show (if one so chooses - as I think I have: judging by the initials of this episode and unreliable yet fun and completely incorrect Urban Dictionary guide, TUAT stands for a female getting on your nerves (which is in 55% incorrect as it's Chibnall's writing I really can't stand, not only Whittaker's delivery --- and I had hopes. ... Just a shame ...)) ... But I love Twice Upon A Time. Very best thing about it? The Captain's family won't have to rely on the memories - to be with their husband and father ...

This is the best finale to all Doctor Who.

9:15 I think that's part of the point. The Doctors themselves are horrified by what they see, but Bill (and the audience, thanks to the music) views his exploits as triumphs. Everyone can see that the Doctor is a force for good except him; it's a thematic callback to the Series 6 arc and an idea that Moffat seems to like a lot.

Capaldi is absolutely the best Doctor. He embodies everything the character should be

Annnd I'm crying again! Gods we miss you Peter! 12 was such a gift! What a great review. Thank you!

The crowd cheering over Nardole was when I gave this video a like. Also I guess that's two awkward long pauses with Clara at the end and 1 in the beginning with "have you no emotions........................ sir?"

19:19 - "his death would rob the universe of all the things his future self would accomplish" - shows an image of whittaker... maybe he should have refused to regenerate after all :/

Alright, I subbed for that last joke.

I always felt that the Tardis getting bigger, embodies the growth and progress both the Doctor and indeed, his closest "companion" have made. And I think it's brilliant they showed the two Tardises right next to each other to indicate just how long of a way the Doctor has come. It's the perfect epitome imo. That's my subject take on it at least!

12 having the whole 'be kind' thing really speaks to me. Genuinely makes me cry the more i think about it. Why not. Be kind.

The 12th Doctor will always be my favorite Doctor in the whole show

The joke about losing the Christmas special had me lolling.... good work! Funny fella, ye be

Really bloody love the subtle bit of the 9th doctor's theme immediately post regeneration 👌

Wonderful video. This story as a three parter with the S10 finale, it really is possibly the best story in Who’s history!

Great analysis. I liked that episode the first time I saw it but you bring up some great points. Well thought out and very interesting.

Awesome vid Joe, keep it up bud! Love you lots ❤️

I loved Twice Upon a Time and Capaldi was given the magnificent send off he deserved. Good insightful essay, however, with a deeper insight into 12's arc and the Doctor character throughout. Thank you.

I think this would work really well in black and white

I loved TuaT from the very start; I think its great parts far outweigh the tasteless jokes. I can't believe I missed the (hopefully intentional) callback to Deep Breath you mention at 13:42. That's one of my favorite Capaldi scenes! 17:33 was literally me in the theater lol

fun fact about the regeneration scene: peter capaldi says “never be cruel. never be cowardly.” this is a reference to the parody movie that Steven Moffat wrote back in 1999. In the movie, a companion says “he was never cruel or cowardly”

Awesome video Joe. While I'm not a big fan of TUAT, I would agree that it certainly had a lot of potential and its a shame that many of it's best ideas are painfully underdeveloped. You certainly have a talent for these types of video essays, and I look forward to your next video

I still get chills when I watch that scene between Bill and the First Doctor talking about why he left Gallifrey.

Now rewatching most of the Capaldi era in 2021 I’m growing to like his Doctor more and more. When I first saw him as the doctor in 2014 I wasn’t as impressed since Matt Smith had been terrific but now I see why you like him so much

Before I watched this video, I would have said that Capaldi's era should defintely have ended with The Doctor Falls - I've always liked bits of Twice Upon A Time (mainly, somewhat ironically, the bits focusing on the Twelfth Doctor), but The Doctor Falls would have been a much better ending. Now, though... well, I still think The Doctor Falls would have been a better ending, and I will always wish that Capaldi's final line had actually been "Pity, no stars - I hoped there'd be stars." but I'm a lot less resentful that this episode exists (although Chibnall didn't help by immediately undoing the main reason it was made).

THIS EPISODE WAS GOOD BUT IT WAS MUCH BETTER WITH YOU TALKING OVER THE TOP OF IT.

I think there’s a lot of good in this episode, in particular in examining the psychological toll such a long life and such a drastic change in identity takes on someone, and the juxtaposition between the First and Twelfth Doctor. But yeah, all the interesting things are not fleshed out enough. So...lots of good, lots of potential, if it had been planned I think it could have been great but due to the fact it was rushed out it wasn’t nearly as strong as it could’ve been.

Moffat: Makes loving references to the Brigadier in Six Stories which had me saluting the screen in four of them in beautiful tributes to Doctor Who's Greatest Companion Chibnall: Abolishes UNIT for literally no bloody reason (The Pertwee fan in me is not over that)

2:43 Actually the script originally has him look at his hand at that moment at it's glowing with regen energy, so it was definitely deliberate

I always loved this ep this and WEAT/DF are all in my top 15 dr who eps all amazing

As someone who is not very fond of this episode, when you were like "It may sound like I was complaining for twenty minutes", I was a little surprised, because to me it mostly sounded like praise.

Fantastic video 👌🏼

I've always felt that the 12th was talking to the tardis during 4th wall breaking scenes

Capaldi is my favourite of the new doctors. This video touches beautifully on why that is. But oddly I loved this episode the first time i watched it. And generally, even his bad stuff bothers me less than most doctors because he's just so good at selling it. I really miss him.

This is an amazing video

I think this was a rather nice episode for Christmas. As Moffat said, there is not really a big treath, so it's more like having a fun last adventure with the Twelfth Doctor and a bit of a nostalgia trip by including the First Doctor. I'm a fan of it, to be honest. As for the Rusty bit, I don't know about everyone else, but my brother was with me when I watched the episode in cinemas in Belgium and he is a fan of the Rusty character, so this made his day. Also, my brother made the realization that what the Doctor says in his speech at the end are exactly what 13 became, so that was a fun easter egg.

I enjoyed your video. I've loved this episode since it first aired.

What I noticed is that the shepards boy is linking heaven sent and twice upon a time because in heaven sent the doctor sort of just gives up and wants to rest/lose/die but then becomes compelled to fight through the eternal battle of hitting the wall, and in twice upon a time the doctor just wants to rest/lose/die but then becomes compelled to keep fighting the battles and wars and to carry on for many doctors to come. With every punch and hit on the wall comes a new doctor

And capping off the fantastic regeneration scene, the transition of 12 to 13 was AMAZING; then she's thrown out of the disappearing Tardis - WOW! And it's been all downhill since. Chibnall, ugh - Whitaker deserved better. I SO miss Capaldi!

I always assumed the 4th wall breaks were him just talking to the TARDIS. He looks at different places, and the TARDIS is all around him, so the camera view was to immerse us as a companion despite us really playing the TARDIS. And despite the lengthy rubbish* over his name, this WAS the most theatrical of the lot lol

just wanted to say I really like your videos.

HE’S BACK

I think this was a rather nice episode for Christmas. As Moffat said, there is not really a big treath, so it's more like having a fun last adventure with the Twelfth Doctor and a bit of a nostalgia trip by including the First Doctor. I'm a fan of it, to be honest. As for the Rusty bit, I don't know about everyone else, but my brother was with me when I watched the episode in cinemas in Belgium and he is a fan of the Rusty character, so this made his day. And he figured out that 12's speech perfectly summarizes what 13 becomes in terms of personality.

i personally feel that had this been written so that the story happens prior to world enough and time and the doctor falls, and the regeneration speech is told by capaldi to the first doctor, then at the end of the doctor falls he regenerates in the tardis after bill brings him there....

Love this episode, it just feels magical to me

I always enjoyed Twice upon a time. Sure, the joke about the first Doctor being sexist got boring quickly and was overplayed, and Bill coming back was a tad unnecessary, but other than that it was a fun adventure, and as you say, it was a good epilogue to the twelfth doctor’s run. I remember hearing some negative reviews of it at the time, and I didn’t understand why people were so down on it.

I changed my mind and enjoyed the 12th doctors run a lot more when I rewatched it recently tho I was about 13 to 17 when I first saw it

I’m watching 14:34 knowing full well that I think about the potential that rusty had on a day to day basis.

LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FILMED USING DOOR NOBS

I've really enjoyed your videos on these episodes and I agree that while Twice Upon a Time is certainly the much more flawed and messy part of an otherwise brilliant and tragic trilogy, I have a soft spot for it and have come to forgive its poorly handled stuff for the lovely small moments and clever ideas that it delivers. I think in light of the recent two series (which at best have never really clicked for me and at worse have really disappointed me), I've come to appreciate these episodes and series 10 as a really special point of Doctor Who. I'd be interested to hear your views on more of Capaldi's episodes - potentially the series 9 finale (again I feel I've softened to Hell Bent a lot more over the intervening years!)

I'm so glad Rachel Talalay is returning to direct the 60th anniversary!

Glad this episode is getting the love it deserves.

Best regeneration story ever.

I absolutely love Twice Upon a Time Just get rid of the children line in his regeneration and it feels really nice

I think the interactions between The Doctors would have been better if they're feelings were switched. The first is more willing to regenerate but is scared, and 12th being so battered by everything that has happened in his life and just wants to stay as is. The ambiguous conflict would also help if the whole scene about the doctor's future as The War Doctor was left out and more emphasis was put into the Conversation between Bill and the 1st Doctor, showing that even after every regeneration and differences in his life he had brough so much to the universe as if he never really changes.

I adored Peter Capaldi as our Doctor and was so sad to see him go. I am a woman, but I still did not like a woman Doctor. It just didn't work for me. I was a child when Doctor Who began in 1963 (the same day C.S.Lewis and John F. Kennedy died) and I loved the old curmudgeon of a Doctor. I actually thought he was MY grandfather, who was Irish, with a great Brit accent and peculiar ways. My Dad loved it too...and gave me my first "sonic screwdriver"...it was a gauge for measuring tire pressure, but for me, a delight. I would lie awake at night hoping to hear the TARDIS in my backyard. Thanks for sharing this, what a true delight!

I agree about Bill, though. I loved her and it's a shame it undercut her loss so much. The best Doctor last words were Chris Eccleston's.

Good stuff Joe. Can you send a link to the interview of Colin saying "sorry Peter you're talking rubbish"?

That ending slayed me.

Agree almost 100% with all of this.

The only problem I have with World Enough / Doctor Falls, is that they acted like time was speeded up at one end when it was actually slowed down at the other by the black hole. The far end was out in REAL TIME where the civilization that built it had plenty of time to find out what happened to it. Not to mention all the other effects they left out, like tidal forces that would have ripped it apart. Pretty good story, but it was only there to kill the Doctor and Missy.

I know this is years late, but I took clara’s long puse as her own way of responding to the 12th Doctor, since he actually had a long pause as well when he was responding to Clara.

Capaldi is my doctor, which i realised probably after i followed the entirety of his run. Rewatching this episode felt less impactfull than the doctor falls, but i loved the bonus of my favourite doctor and the full fledged farewell he got: unbuttoned sleeves, the first doctor figuring out the answer the long way round, goodbye to river as the doctors ring drops, goodbye to murray as his controbution to a masterpiece plays, goodbye to moffat as he goes full circle, goodbye to the tardis as the books get burned... And goodbye to a good era of doctor who. I wish so badly they stayed for 1 more season as i loved the s10 tardis crew with missy. Atleast we can be happy we got these masterpieces and a bonus for christmas before chibnall came.

I'm a fan of this episode. He was my Doctor too.

That's funny, my opinion on this episode has gone in the complete opposite direction. It used to be in my top 3 Christmas Specials, then I started to dislike it on my third watch last year. Hopefully I can love it again when I rewatch it this year.

So I was away for a couple of weeks what did I end up missi- Oh fuck no

The long hair look has a Jon Pertwee look.

After watching this I got a thought. How much time takes place between the end of season 9 and twice upon a time

I would say the elements you focus on regarding swan songs and "death" and future Doctor's sauntering off etc are all negative qualities Tennant's run encapsulated. I always to people describe Tennant as a brilliant actor, but not really a brilliant Doctor. His characteristics and outlooks were some of the least Doctor-like traits of the show's entire run. Whilst Matt and Peter superseding him were some of the most accurate portrayals of what a Doctor should be I feel. I would also say your blog on the death of Doctor Who was a couple of series too soon personally. The actions taken in The Timeless Children are definitely more deathly to the show's past and future than a few badly placed "back in my day" style traits.

I enjoyed "Twice Upon a Time" when I first saw it, not the least because, when I saw Bradley in "Dinosaurs on a Space Ship", I felt he'd be perfect to play the first Doctor. Of course, like the idea of making good movies out of the superhero comics I read as a kid, I thought Bradley playing the first Doctor was extremely unlikely. 😄

love you too xo

Technically the 12th Doctors era ended with The Doctor Falls, Twice Upon A Time is the epilogue paying homage to not just Capaldis era, but the origins of the show itself, as you said giving the first Doctor that triumphant farewell he ALWAYS deserved, repairing the 12th Doctors battered soul from all the losses he suffered through, hot take right here but in my opinion, THIS episode is the greatest regeneration story of any Doctor ever

i always thought puddle bill was glass bill. real bill died the moment she when her cyber body finally gave up. and heather was just testimony coming to get her. testimony is heaven. it collects you just before your death and stores you.

Peter Capaldi is my favourite, I miss him soooo much

Was robots of Sherwood bad? I quite enjoyed it

People claim the episode is rushed yet have no idea how long would be spent on an episode normally anyway?

I have a lot less to say about TUaT, it feels rushed, it has it's issues, Bill being there doesn't have any payoff, the glass lady tension doesn't have any payoff, the captain doesn't see enough development, Rusty and the inclusion of the dalek mutants was pointless, I personally don't mind that 1's sexism was more overt than it often actually would be for the sake of showing the contrast between then and now but understand why other don't like it. But while it doesn't excuse it's faults or make them go away, this is an episode I can look at with a smile throughout and say: "why not, it's christmas". Does that make my positive opinion of it mean less? Maybe it does. Though above all else TUaT succeeds at being a fun story, and to me that's all I feel it truly needs to be as 12's epilogue. I suppose it's earned that luxury thanks to the two episodes preceeding it. It's nice to see I'm not the only person that appreciates the floof of Capaldi's hair in this one. I'm not a fan of his short haired look but the long hair he has for the last year of his run is mesmerising.

I liked it, I never understood all the hate. I love Moffats era. My favourite by a long margin.

To be fair that horryfingly bad Xmas special of 2013 was not Matt's fault but Moffat's. I'm still so mad my Doctor got so shafted in his last episode.

Chibbs not wantin to make a christmas special & blowing up the tardis were so stupid of decions

Did anyone else pause during the article screenshot to read it?

Peter Capaldi's version of the Doctor is one of my favourites - which is strange, considering I disliked a lot of the episodes (due to plot, writing, pacing, direction etc) of his run. Would loved to have seen more of him and in better episodes than some of the ones that were inflicted upon him (and us). _Twice Upon A Time_ is actually one of the episodes I like. Yeah, it's got a few flaws and seems muddled and rushed but it does have an overall goodness about it. Yeah, the soldier being a Lethbridge-Stewart was fairly obvious but a nice touch. Invoking the Christmas Armistice brought tears to my eyes. I like the fact that it didn't attempt to outshine the action and sacrifice of the previous episode and went with a more personal self-questioning plotline.

I want a series 10 soundtrack release and they made a new suite for the first doctor's regeneration called vale une/vale unus there's sort of a version on youtube

3:47 same with my hair