New ‘Doctor Who’ Episode Reveals What Happened to the 8th Doctor
Doctor Who fans got a surprise treat from the BBC Thursday as they wait for the 50th Anniversary Special later in November. The BBC released a special episode online that sets the stage for the special, and it brings back a star from the show’s past. Paul McGann, who starred as the Doctor in the 1996 Fox TV movie, returns to the role in a 7-minute mini episode called “The Night of the Doctor”, written by Who‘s current showrunner, Steven Moffat (the upcoming feature-length special is entitled “The Day of the Doctor”). Although McGann played the Doctor onscreen only once before, his Eighth Doctor was accepted into the show’s continuity, and he has lent his voice talents to several Doctor Who audio adventures produced by Big Finish. Earlier this year, McGann cleverly denied he was involved in the 50th Anniversary Special — which he technically still isn’t. But “The Night of the Doctor” finally gives fans some closure to his incarnation of the Doctor, and it helps that McGann has aged very well: He looks almost exactly like he did in the TV movie, shorter hair notwithstanding. 12 Most Essential Episodes of ‘Doctor Who’ Rose The episode that introduced a whole new generation to Doctor Who is amazingly well paced. Ordinary shopgirl Rose Tyler is slowly pulled into the exciting, fantastical world of the Doctor to help him battle evil mannequins controlled by something even more fearsome. “Rose” fully captures the wondrous appeal of traveling with the Doctor while serving up Who‘s best monster archetype: an ordinary object turned homicidal. Video: YouTube, VERITASERUMUK Dalek The Daleks are the undisputed champions of Doctor Who monsters, and this episode reminds us why by showing how dangerous just one of them can be. It’s the plotting human mastermind that’s keeping the Dalek prisoner who steals the show, however, inspiring some of the Doctor’s best-ever dialogue in this thrilling masterpiece. Video: YouTube, WhoniverseOnline The Christmas Invasion Regeneration? What’s that? Find out along with the Doctor’s friends what it means to have everything you thought you knew about someone suddenly change. “The Christmas Invasion” is a major turning point for the show, and not just because the Doctor has a new face — it’s the beginning of a new era in how the Earth deals with threats. As serious as all that sounds, the show’s first Christmas special is actually quite merry. Video: YouTube, vortexguyz934 The Girl in the Fireplace You could argue that other stories used time travel as a plot device better than “The Girl in the Fireplace,” but nothing has done it with more heart. A crippled starship opens a doorway through time that endangers a French girl, and the Doctor becomes an influence throughout her life in order to save her. But doorways swing both ways… Video: YouTube, WhoniverseArchive Army of Ghosts/Doomsday The Doctor’s greatest enemies are at their most formidable in this corker of a season finale. The guest cast is outstanding, and several story arcs conclude in epic fashion. […]