The War Doctor's regeneration. Primed for battle after strong fermentation. As the Sisterhood of Karn. Spin the warrior's new yarn. Built for conflict and total devastation.
14 Reviews
Doctor Hyde...
Xstal27 December 2021
Great Paul McGann mini-episode
Tweekums17 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This eight minute mini-episode sees a return of Paul McGann as The Doctor; the war between the Time Lords and the Daleks is raging and he is attempting to save a woman whose ship is about to crash. When she learns that he is a Time Lord she refuses to leave the ship with him and he refuses to abandon her. The crash is fatal but he is brought back to life by a mysterious group of women; he is told that he has only four minutes left after which he will die if he doesn't drink a potion that will cause him to regenerate
it won't be a normal regeneration though; this time he will get to decide what sort of person he will be!
While this may have been only eight minutes long (including a trailer for the next episode) it managed to be packed with drama; first on the doomed spaceship then on the planet as The Doctor must face the fact that he must give up his role as 'the good man' and get involved in the Time War. Paul McGann did a great job; it is a pity he only featured in one film and a few radio stories before this short episode. As well as being a good little story in its own right it served to introduce John Hurt's Doctor a character that will no doubt appear in the fiftieth anniversary special I can't wait!
While this may have been only eight minutes long (including a trailer for the next episode) it managed to be packed with drama; first on the doomed spaceship then on the planet as The Doctor must face the fact that he must give up his role as 'the good man' and get involved in the Time War. Paul McGann did a great job; it is a pity he only featured in one film and a few radio stories before this short episode. As well as being a good little story in its own right it served to introduce John Hurt's Doctor a character that will no doubt appear in the fiftieth anniversary special I can't wait!
"I'm a doctor...but probably not the one you were expecting"
miss_lady_ice-853-60870022 December 2013
For the reviewer who said that the webisode would be incomprehensible to modern fans, I'm not even a fan and I found it comprehensible. All you really need to know to appreciate it is that Paul McGann was the Eighth Doctor but only appeared in a TV Movie back in 1996.
Because it's been seventeen years, he's made enough of a physical change for him to look as if he's been hardened or wisened by events. McGann gets a much better change to acquit himself and remind everybody that he's a very good actor. Far from being the chirpy boy in the TVM, the Eighth Doctor is now world weary. He's still chivalrous but his dashing charms fail to win over space fighter Cass (Emma Campbell Jones).
Seven minutes is barely enough time to establish anything and yet this is still a poignant webisode. The Doctor is known for being a good and trustworthy figure so it's a surprise when we meet someone with a reasonable distrust of him. The whole thing is much darker and whilst there is humour (McGann's opening lines being the best), it's more serious and more interesting than the main series. To use another fifty-year-old series as an analogy, McGann graduates from being a George Lazenby to Timothy Dalton.
The whole thing sent me running to the TVM and Big Finish audios. Though it might be made more for the purpose of filling in blanks and slotting Hurt's Doctor into the canon, it's a terrifically tantalising glimpse of what could have been.
Because it's been seventeen years, he's made enough of a physical change for him to look as if he's been hardened or wisened by events. McGann gets a much better change to acquit himself and remind everybody that he's a very good actor. Far from being the chirpy boy in the TVM, the Eighth Doctor is now world weary. He's still chivalrous but his dashing charms fail to win over space fighter Cass (Emma Campbell Jones).
Seven minutes is barely enough time to establish anything and yet this is still a poignant webisode. The Doctor is known for being a good and trustworthy figure so it's a surprise when we meet someone with a reasonable distrust of him. The whole thing is much darker and whilst there is humour (McGann's opening lines being the best), it's more serious and more interesting than the main series. To use another fifty-year-old series as an analogy, McGann graduates from being a George Lazenby to Timothy Dalton.
The whole thing sent me running to the TVM and Big Finish audios. Though it might be made more for the purpose of filling in blanks and slotting Hurt's Doctor into the canon, it's a terrifically tantalising glimpse of what could have been.
Fitting and poignant
felixokelly121 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This finally gives McGann his regeneration episode. The Big Finish references are nice, effectively canonising that great set of adventures, and it certainly fits into the character of the Eighth Doctor, now broken down by his experiences. Great to see Karn again, which fits into the New Eighth Doctor Adventures where the Doctor met the Sisterhood. A lot of references but this episode does seem aimed at the more devoted fans. Small but good cast. McGann gives brilliant performance and has a suitably tragic regeneration, giving up being the Doctor after feeling he must become a Warrior instead to help. The story gives a horrible subversion of what would usually happen in this situation, Cass refusing to be saved by a Time Lord and showing how much they have changed, like the Doctor has to change into someone who can fight. Overall great story.
Night of the Doctor: Looks cheap but has a good brooding intensity about it
bob the moo7 December 2013
I was just catching up on the big 50th anniversary show but heard of this little prequel so decided to watch it first. I was a bit surprised to see that it featured Paul McGann (a very short-lived Doctor) and also a bit put off by how very cheap the effects looked in the beginning. This faded though because this little prequel is nicely tough and intense in its presentation, thanks mainly to the delivery from McGann. He does some silly lines but even then he keeps his intensity in his performance and I liked what he did for this short film.
The content I am less sure of but it does at least provide a bit of a link to a version of the Doctor who so far all I know is that he is played by John Hurt – a fact that, annoyingly, the previous episode pushed while still inside the narrative. At least in this case we focus on him as a character or how his character came to be – even if Hurt is only present in a reflection edited in from something else. We'll see if this dark tone can continue into the full special but I'm hoping that it can manage it while also not holding my breath.
The content I am less sure of but it does at least provide a bit of a link to a version of the Doctor who so far all I know is that he is played by John Hurt – a fact that, annoyingly, the previous episode pushed while still inside the narrative. At least in this case we focus on him as a character or how his character came to be – even if Hurt is only present in a reflection edited in from something else. We'll see if this dark tone can continue into the full special but I'm hoping that it can manage it while also not holding my breath.
As good a starter as a top notch Garlic bread
Sleepin_Dragon17 September 2015
The Doctor crash lands on Karn, when ship's pilot Cass learns that Doctor number eight is a timelord she chooses the fate of death rather then spend time with him.
I know Paul McGann only gets minutes in the role, but we are given a glimpse of how amazing he could have been if he's been given a proper stint, surely there could be a means to bring him back one day. I would also like to commend Clare Higgins, she's an excellent character actress, good that she returns in The Magician's Apprentice.
It was a huge surprise that Paul got to play the Doctor, even for a small part, and it look a wee bit recycled, but it wet the appetite enormously for the big special, 8/10.
I know Paul McGann only gets minutes in the role, but we are given a glimpse of how amazing he could have been if he's been given a proper stint, surely there could be a means to bring him back one day. I would also like to commend Clare Higgins, she's an excellent character actress, good that she returns in The Magician's Apprentice.
It was a huge surprise that Paul got to play the Doctor, even for a small part, and it look a wee bit recycled, but it wet the appetite enormously for the big special, 8/10.
Eight returns....for less than that many minutes.
zacpetch30 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Paul McGann's tenure on Dr Who consists entirely of a telefilm from 1996 which fans like to ignore because it was made by Fox and had the doctor claim to be half-human. It's a shame seeing as PM's was a really good version of the character.
Understandably, when I saw it online that he was back I was pleased. It gave us the regeneration we'd never seen and confirmed just who John Hurt was playing: The War Doctor. Hurt would steal the show in the full special but this is strictly McGann's territory.
When the doctor (And not the one we were expecting!) shows up and promptly dies we know we're in for something dark as the topic turns to death and war. It's well written and PM's virtually-one-man-show is very well performed indeed. The true test of a good actor is of if you can handle the production with just yourself in it and he passes the test with flying colours.
Now just give us an Eighth Doctor spin-off and all will be well.
Understandably, when I saw it online that he was back I was pleased. It gave us the regeneration we'd never seen and confirmed just who John Hurt was playing: The War Doctor. Hurt would steal the show in the full special but this is strictly McGann's territory.
When the doctor (And not the one we were expecting!) shows up and promptly dies we know we're in for something dark as the topic turns to death and war. It's well written and PM's virtually-one-man-show is very well performed indeed. The true test of a good actor is of if you can handle the production with just yourself in it and he passes the test with flying colours.
Now just give us an Eighth Doctor spin-off and all will be well.
Just fantastic.
Laughterhouse_521 October 2018
A couples weeks ago I was trying to rank all of the doctors. As I had seen no Paul McGann Doctor Who stories, I placed him last. Then I showed the list to my friend who said you could watch The Night of the Doctor on the BBC Youtube Channel, so I decided to watch it. From that short film, I placed Paul McGann above Colin Baker, John Hurt, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy. He is amazing in The Night of the Doctor. He is funny, serious and is The Doctor that we know and love. You don't even need to see any other 8th doctor episodes or films to watch this. Definitely recommend.
The Missing Link
A_Kind_Of_CineMagic22 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
My Review: 50th Anniversary Mini-Episode
The Night of the Doctor
This was a special mini-episode for the 50th anniversary which shows how the 8th Doctor regenerates into the War Doctor. This was only the 2nd proper TV appearance for the 8th Doctor (Paul McGann) and an introduction for how the secret incarnation of the Doctor came to be.
Of course Steven Moffatt had retrospectively invented the War Doctor and slotted him into the Doctor's timeline due to being unable to convince Christopher Eccleston to appear. Moffatt apparently felt it would be out of character for the 8th Doctor to carry out the apocalyptic end of the Time War so came up with the idea of another more warlike incarnation. The coup of getting John Hurt to be that Doctor was fantastic and well worth the required invention of an extra Doctor.
This little story makes perfect sense as the Doctor is on the point of death and is given a choice of regeneration characteristics by the Sisterhood of Karn who had previously appeared in the classic 4th Doctor story The Brain of Morbius. He realises a different kind of person is required to fight in the Time War and so becomes the War Doctor. We get a little glimpse of a younger John Hurt as the newly regenerated Doctor.
The excitement of this idea and of showing Hurt arrive is matched by the thrill of McGann finally getting a TV appearance to follow on from his mostly audio based stories. His incarnation needs more screentime and this was at least a bit more of that following on from his TV Movie appearance. It is joyous and well done in every way.
My only criticism is it is too short by far. McGann deserved more. A 25 minute episode, at least, to match single episodes of classic Who or audio stories would have been great and seems not much to ask but all we get is this tiny snippet.
My Rating: 9.5/10.
The Night of the Doctor
This was a special mini-episode for the 50th anniversary which shows how the 8th Doctor regenerates into the War Doctor. This was only the 2nd proper TV appearance for the 8th Doctor (Paul McGann) and an introduction for how the secret incarnation of the Doctor came to be.
Of course Steven Moffatt had retrospectively invented the War Doctor and slotted him into the Doctor's timeline due to being unable to convince Christopher Eccleston to appear. Moffatt apparently felt it would be out of character for the 8th Doctor to carry out the apocalyptic end of the Time War so came up with the idea of another more warlike incarnation. The coup of getting John Hurt to be that Doctor was fantastic and well worth the required invention of an extra Doctor.
This little story makes perfect sense as the Doctor is on the point of death and is given a choice of regeneration characteristics by the Sisterhood of Karn who had previously appeared in the classic 4th Doctor story The Brain of Morbius. He realises a different kind of person is required to fight in the Time War and so becomes the War Doctor. We get a little glimpse of a younger John Hurt as the newly regenerated Doctor.
The excitement of this idea and of showing Hurt arrive is matched by the thrill of McGann finally getting a TV appearance to follow on from his mostly audio based stories. His incarnation needs more screentime and this was at least a bit more of that following on from his TV Movie appearance. It is joyous and well done in every way.
My only criticism is it is too short by far. McGann deserved more. A 25 minute episode, at least, to match single episodes of classic Who or audio stories would have been great and seems not much to ask but all we get is this tiny snippet.
My Rating: 9.5/10.
The Night of the Doctor
MrFilmAndTelevisionShow13 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this little short, never seen anything (that I know of) with Paul McGann in but he was great as the Doctor, and I cannot wait to see John Hurt as the War Doctor, that'll be an episode to remember.
It's interesting seeing someone hating Timelords almost as much as Dalek's and interesting element I hope they explore in more depth later.
It's interesting seeing someone hating Timelords almost as much as Dalek's and interesting element I hope they explore in more depth later.
The End of Paul McGann
boblipton17 November 2013
In 1989 the BBC canceled the old Doctor Who show. In 1996, Fox TV broadcast a two-hour one-shot, intended as a pilot for a revival, starring Paul McGann as the Ninth Doctor. Alas, it didn't take and it wasn't until 2005 that the show was successfully revived.
In the meantime, Paul McGann was the official current Doctor: in magazines, comics, spin-off novels and audio releases from Big Finish Productions, Paul McGann was the Doctor. Fans, of course, argued the point, but that's what fans do. However, the current BBC has clearly accepted McGann's appearance as canonical in various ways, starting with 2007's "Human Nature".
It's great to see Paul McGann appear in this prologue to next Saturday's Fiftieth Anniversary Special. It's fun for me, as a fan of the new and classic shows, to see McGann finally get a chance to officially reprise the role and to mention some of the companions that accompanied him in those years of exile. It feels like vindication.
However, there is so much crammed into its six minutes -- McGann, Karn, the Last Great Time War, the companions and more -- that I had to watch it twice to catch all the references. To a fan of the modern show, unfamiliar with McGann, it will be utterly incomprehensible.
Still, as an act of personal sentiment, I'm glad it was done. It's also a nice teaser; did McGann film this as part of a super-secret appearance in the 50th Anniversary Show? I'll have to wait a week to find out.
In the meantime, Paul McGann was the official current Doctor: in magazines, comics, spin-off novels and audio releases from Big Finish Productions, Paul McGann was the Doctor. Fans, of course, argued the point, but that's what fans do. However, the current BBC has clearly accepted McGann's appearance as canonical in various ways, starting with 2007's "Human Nature".
It's great to see Paul McGann appear in this prologue to next Saturday's Fiftieth Anniversary Special. It's fun for me, as a fan of the new and classic shows, to see McGann finally get a chance to officially reprise the role and to mention some of the companions that accompanied him in those years of exile. It feels like vindication.
However, there is so much crammed into its six minutes -- McGann, Karn, the Last Great Time War, the companions and more -- that I had to watch it twice to catch all the references. To a fan of the modern show, unfamiliar with McGann, it will be utterly incomprehensible.
Still, as an act of personal sentiment, I'm glad it was done. It's also a nice teaser; did McGann film this as part of a super-secret appearance in the 50th Anniversary Show? I'll have to wait a week to find out.
An important mini episode
studioAT20 January 2017
This was a mini episode that got buried away on the BBC Red Button at first but Doctor Who fans will know its true importance and worth as it is the episode where we finally see what became of the 8th Doctor, who we met all too briefly in the 1996 TV Movie.
It acts as a good episode in itself, but also as a very important link between the series as a whole. It sounds odd, but we as an audience do need to see the regeneration of a Doctor, however painful that change can be (I'm happy to see Capaldi's regeneration now though - I've not enjoyed his time in the TARDIS). This mini episode gives us the closure we needed with the 8th Doctor.
It acts as a good episode in itself, but also as a very important link between the series as a whole. It sounds odd, but we as an audience do need to see the regeneration of a Doctor, however painful that change can be (I'm happy to see Capaldi's regeneration now though - I've not enjoyed his time in the TARDIS). This mini episode gives us the closure we needed with the 8th Doctor.
Interesting Prequel
Theo Robertson20 November 2013
This is a prequel to the much anticipated 50th anniversary special of DOCTOR WHO and the striking thing is how much potential the 8th Doctor played by Paul McGann might have had if the 1996 American TVM had gone o a full series . Brooding with all the charisma of Lord Byron himself the 8th Doctor is the perfect antidote to the zany shouty wouty eleventh Doctor and the mockney geezer tenth Doctor . For a brief moment in time the audience are treated to a what could have been glimpse of the eighth Doctor
The story itself is relatively unimportant just setting up the premise of the anniversary special while dropping hints that it ties in with The Time WAR between the Daleks and The Time Lords which ties in with the resurrection of the show away back in 2005 . It also contains a nod to the classic series by introducing The Sisterhood Of Karn who made a sole appearance in the 1976 story The Brain Of Morbuis
In short this is a disposable prequel to the big event on the 23rd of November . If you don't see The Night Of The Doctor it probably won't affect your opinion of The Day Of The Doctor but this mini episode was both intriguing and appreciated
The story itself is relatively unimportant just setting up the premise of the anniversary special while dropping hints that it ties in with The Time WAR between the Daleks and The Time Lords which ties in with the resurrection of the show away back in 2005 . It also contains a nod to the classic series by introducing The Sisterhood Of Karn who made a sole appearance in the 1976 story The Brain Of Morbuis
In short this is a disposable prequel to the big event on the 23rd of November . If you don't see The Night Of The Doctor it probably won't affect your opinion of The Day Of The Doctor but this mini episode was both intriguing and appreciated
Paul McGann plays the Doctor to Perfection
C3O15R18N14E5R1828 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Rating: 10/10
As someone who hasnt't watched the 1996 TV Movie or listened to the Big Finish audios, this was the my first time with Paul McGann's 8th Doctor. And I really enjoyed it. Paul McGann plays the 8th Doctor to such a high standard that he is possibly my favourite of them. He is instantly the Doctor, and his final scene (chronologically, the 8th Doctor is still on Big Finish and may return in the future, but this is the chronological end of the character) is fantastic, and I can only imagine what a Big Finish fan might have been thinking when he names all his companions, only one of which had been seen before on screen, Grace in the TV Movie. His final realisation he can't escape the war sets up the 50th Anniversary brilliantly, as does the ending. And the opening on the spaceship, Time Lord/War reveal and Kass's fate are brilliant and tragic.
A Mini Episode to set up John Hurt's Doctor for the 50th Anniversary Special had no reason to be this good, but it was, and I am very hapoy about that.
A Mini Episode to set up John Hurt's Doctor for the 50th Anniversary Special had no reason to be this good, but it was, and I am very hapoy about that.
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