Happy Birthday, Doctor!

In a few minutes, I'll be leaving to go stand in line at a theater to see the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special. It is, amazingly, the 799th individual episode of the series. After that, I'll be off to a DW birthday party Ketina and I have organized.

There's a lot I can say about this show and how much it's meant in my life. I started watching it far, far too many years ago (my first Doctors were Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, although Peter Davison was in the role in the UK at the time), and it's really been a part of my life ever since. The ethos of the show and storytelling (especially that of Terrence Dicks and Bob Holmes) have become part of my DNA. I lost track of things during the Dark Time (never got into the books, only recently got into Big Finish), but I could not be happier with the wonderful success of the series since it came back in 2005.

And I truly could not be happier that I now get to share Doctor Who with the person most important to me, my dearest Amythyst. She's going along with me on this crazy movie theater trip, come headache or high water, and I love her for it.

So, thank you, Syndey, Verity, Waris, Bill, and all the hundreds who came after you. And thank you, Doctor. So very, very much.

Doctor Who-33.Z "The Day of the Doctor" by Steven Moffat

That.

Was.

Awesome.

Seriously, it had just enough nods to the past (well, ok, I would have loved more) while pushing the show firmly on towards its future. It changed the game without changing the rules--well, inasmuch as Doctor Who (and Moffat-era Who in particular) has rules.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

And yet...there's one nagging problem I have...( Wibbly Wobbly Spoilery Woilery )

Have a little more to say that isn't spoilery, but is about how I watched it. I was in an absolutely packed movie theater (it was showing on 3 screens and it looked like all 3 theaters were full), filled with some old fans, but a huge number of people who didn't look like they were born yet when the show was cancelled in 1989. I just couldn't believe it...ten years ago, I was scoffing at the announcement that RTD was bringing the show back ("I've been down this road before. I'll believe it when I see it.") and here we are...with a 50th anniversary special being simulcast worldwide and I'm in a packed theater seeing it in FREAKING 3D. Sure, there were some bits where I wish I'd been watching it at home (cheering obscured a few lines, and I had a guy with a very fake-sounding loud donkey bray of a laugh sitting right next to me, occasionally braying right into my ear), but it really was amazing watching it with a huge crowd. I can only imagine what it must have been like to see it at the convention at the Excel Centre in the UK that's going on right now. Simply....amazing. Almost unbelievable.

So, what now? Well, I'm off to an anniversary party. But--oh! Right!

COMING THIS X-MAS: Cybermen! Daleks (apparently)! Peter Capaldi! And a farewell for Matt Smith in "The 2013 Christmas Special Whose Name Hasn't Been Released Yet" by Steven Moffat! I, for one, cannot wait! Gonna be a long month....

Click here for my previous Doctor Who reviews.

Doctor Who--"The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot" by Peter Davison

Seriously, if you're a Doctor Who fan, especially an old-school fan, and you haven't seen it, watch it now. Totally worth the 31 minutes. (Warning, it does contain some minor "Day of the Doctor" spoilers.)

"The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot"