FICTION PEAKED HERE "It’s a funny thing, you know. The way things fall apart. But I’ll tell you something, you can’t keep running away from what’s coming. You can’t keep pretending it’s not there. You just have to live your life and try to do what’s right and laugh. Just laugh. And then, if it’s the last thing you do... laugh." Spoiler-free Review: After 2 days of thinking and consideration, I’ve solemnly decided that this is the greatest hour of TV I’ve ever watched. This episode might be one of the best experiences I had while watching an episode of TV. From the fan service to the heart-wrenching final 20 minutes, Moffat weaves every intricate detail he’s created across his entire creator run into this episode that perfectly encapsulates The Doctor’s character, the world built up over 50+ years, and original-who references, all comminating into the BEST regeneration story. At first, my expectations for the plot of this episode were completely derailed because of story/plot direction. However, as it began, I realised that this was the most perfect way to wrap up 12th’s story with the concept being the most perfectly gripping TV I’ve ever seen. It really felt like a conclusion to the entire Doctor Who transmedia. Such a consistent episode of television too. Intriguing, funny, sad, and beautiful all throughout the runtime. The episode is structured like Everyone’s Waiting From Six Feet Under and The End from Lost. However, this episode obliterates the consistency of those two episodes, having an insane introduction, and keeping that until the end of the episode. The way it all builds up to the final 20 mins. It’s beautiful. Every moment in Doctor Who is paid homage to in this episode. Every memorable moment, every regeneration, and every major character. Truly remarkable how well built up it is. But that pales in comparison to the build-up of those final 20 mins. The amount of foreshadowing and callbacks used to evoke major thematical messages was ridiculous. The perfect summarisation of themes, symbolism, development, and parallels is the best in TV. Visually, this IS the best-looking episode of Doctor Who with Heaven Sent coming in second. BBC spent their entire budget on this episode. The special effects looked amazing. Especially the final sequence which has one of the best CGI backgrounds I’ve seen. Even on par with Avengers Endgame's final battle. Every shot was absolute cinema. Some of the best cinematography in TV. The number of creative shots was orgasmic with the BEST Colour-correction in the show. Literally every shot being able to be in one of those “most beautiful shots of…” YT videos. Pure art. The dialogue in this episode was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to hear. It’s rare I’m so moved by almost every line in this episode. The amount of emotion that poured out of my body listening to this dialect was so fucking touching. Props to Peter Capaldi for some of the greatest lines delivered in fiction. The first half of the episode is great and all but the second half of this episode is remarkable. A testament to TV filmmaking. The final sequence is quite easily the best sequence in TV history and possibly my favourite moment in all of fiction. The tears streaming down from my face were uncountable. I now have a lower water percentage in my body than the entirety of Africa. Thank you, Moffat, for creating one of the most emotionally devasting yet empowering sequences ever. The Doctor’s conclusion is the definition of beyond perfection. I’m speechless. Nothing in TV is topping this conclusion. Every message in the series came full circle, the Doctor’s development is easily the greatest in TV. Even something small like a hug from 12th is just a fuckin tear-jerker. The greatest. Spoiler Review/analysis: Theory: This might sound like a stretch but after days of thinking, I’ve found that this episode most likely takes place inside The Doctor’s head. I think this because of how convenient it all is, its symbolic connection, and when has the TARDIS ever wanted to purposely wanted to cause a timeline disruption? If this is true, it adds a whole new level of nuance, transforming each scene into something of art. The First Doctor, the soldier, Memories, the 10th planet, the battlefield etc. Twice Upon a Time is the grand and emotionally charged final episode of Doctor Who s10, which serves as the 12th Doctor’s swan song. The episode not only wraps up the arc of Peter Capaldi's incarnation of the Doctor, but also explores deep themes of identity, mortality, and the nature of heroism. As the 12th Doctor prepares for his inevitable regeneration, this episode dives into his amazing character's development, the symbolism of his final moments, and the weight of the choices that have led him to this point. This episode is a masterclass in the bittersweet beauty of regeneration and the passage of time. The 12th Doctor has always been a figure defined by conflict, both internal and external. From his very first appearance, he was a Doctor unsure of who he was and what he stood for. The symbolism of the 12th Doctor's journey, especially in Twice Upon a Time, reflects this struggle for self-definition. In his final episode, the Doctor confronts his own aging and the inevitability of his regeneration, which he has always resisted. There’s a notable moment in the episode where he faces a literal mirror in the form of the 1st Doctor, played by David Bradley. This moment is not just a nostalgic callback to the past but a powerful commentary on how the Doctor's identity evolves over time. The 12th Doctor sees his past self, as well as the future that awaits him, and grapples with the person he has become. He was not the playful, younger incarnation we had seen before, but rather an older, more disillusioned version of the Doctor, one who seemed to be testing the boundaries of what it meant to be him. The 1st Doctor represents an earlier version of the Doctor, one who believed in the purity of heroism and who saw the universe as full of infinite possibilities. By contrast, the Twelfth Doctor’s persona has been shaped by years of war, choices, and reflections on the cost of those choices. The friction between the two reflects the central conflict of the Twelfth Doctor’s identity: How does he reconcile the heroism he once believed in with the burden of responsibility he now carries? The encounter with his earlier self forces him to confront both the innocence of youth and the burden of accumulated wisdom. This confrontation provides a form of resolution for the Twelfth Doctor, showing that self-definition is not static but fluid, shaped by experiences, relationships, and the ongoing process of change. His development of understanding and change reaches its zenith in Face the Raven, when Clara dies as a direct consequence of the Doctor’s actions. This loss shakes the 12th Doctor to his core and forces him to confront the limitations of his ability to protect everyone he loves. In Twice Upon a Time, we see the Doctor coming to terms with his role in the universe, not as an omnipotent figure capable of controlling fate, but as a flawed, sometimes desperate, yet deeply compassionate being who has saved many lives. The emotional weight of Clara’s death is ever-present in the 12th Doctor’s final episode, though there was production limitations where Jenna Coleman (Clara’s actress) couldn’t physically be their during shooting, Moffat was able to create the perfect scene applying the most beautiful greenscreen oat. That smile we see on 12th’s face as he remembers Clara and talks to her one last time is symbolic of her enduring influence on him. Her death, which was a turning point in the Doctor's emotional journey, marks a moment of painful acceptance. The Doctor’s realisation that he is not invulnerable, that he cannot always save everyone, plays a crucial role in his ultimate acceptance of his own mortality and the inevitability of regeneration. Clara’s death acts as the catalyst for the Doctor’s growth, as it forces him to stop hiding behind the emotional walls he built around himself and to start accepting the very things he cannot control: loss, imperfection, and change. The 12th doctor is a Doctor who, more than any other, questions his own moral compass and the meaning of heroism by the means of “change”. His arc has always been one of redemption, with moments where his impatience and abrasive nature reveal a deeply conflicted soul underneath. By the time we reach this episode, the Doctor has experienced profound personal growth, as he has come to terms with his darker tendencies and his failures, and he has found some measure of peace by reconciling with the self. With this realisation, The Doctor can finally let go. Instead of worrying about who he might become, he focused on who he was. From memory… he was kind. The extremely emotional “memories” sequence acts as a metaphor for the Doctor’s journey through time and space. It highlights the emotional cost of being the Doctor and the many lives he has touched, saved, and lost along the way. In a more symbolic sense, Clara’s appearance in the episode suggests that the Doctor’s journey is not a solitary one. He carries the memories of his companions, his mistakes, triumphs, and regrets and they shape who he is, even as he moves forward into the next phase of his existence. Clara’s influence helps him understand that change is not about leaving the past behind but about incorporating it into the person he will become. For the Doctor, his memories of Clara serve as a source of pride and regret, reminding him that his actions have consequences, but they also define him as a hero, no matter how flawed. He is flawed. And he smiles. He is going to die. And he smiles. He’s going to change. Yet he still smiles in the face of memories. "Run fast. Run hard. Run quick. If you’re lucky, you’ll escape. If you’re not, you’ll die with dignity." When the 1st Doctor says “so this is a Doctor of war” after the armistice scene shows his naivety about himself. Yet, this is what The Doctor’s been striving for the entire time. So, Who is the Doctor? The 9th Doctor was the Doctor who was hateful. He couldn’t forgive himself or the Daleks. The 10th Doctor was regretful. He’s trauma took over him, casting a doubt about others he was supposed to protect and his past actions. The 11th’s Doctor was forgetful. Leaving the things in the past. Running fast so it doesn’t catch up. All the things he hates about himself and things he couldn’t save. However, that line the 1st Doctor says to 12th is a final message to what he is. Who is The Doctor? He’s a person, who doesn’t have a side, doesn’t care about who needs help, and always tries to understand. Paralleling the armistice, he his The Doctor’s that is kind. That is “The Doctor of war” (also referring to a ‘never-ending battlefield’). The battlefield imagery in this episode is closely tied to the concepts of sacrifice, the futility of war, and the moral complexities of fighting. The episode juxtaposes the literal and metaphorical battlefields through the appearance of the 1st Doctor, who is reluctant to embrace the Doctor’s evolved sense of mercy and pacifism. The setting, a frozen battlefield in the First World War also echoes the broader theme of the Doctor's moral struggle between violence and non-violence. The recurring motif of soldiers caught between life and death, highlighted by the character of Bill Potts (as a Cyberman) and the First World War soldier, creates a stark parallel to the Doctor's own inner conflict. For the 12th Doctor, his encounter with the 1st Doctor is symbolic of the tension between his own history and the ideals he strives toward. Meanwhile, the decision to regenerate is symbolic of a final departure from a "warrior" identity that the Doctor has slowly moved away from over the course of his various incarnations. Furthermore, the image of a "battlefield" in the episode can also be seen as a representation of the moral battlefield the Doctor constantly faces: to fight or not to fight, to save or to let go. This message is further amplified by loss and the futility of war, evoking the deep moral weight of the Doctor’s existence, as he has seen too many lives lost to senseless violence. Yet, the confrontation with the 1st Doctor forces him to revisit these painful memories and reconsider his approach to saving lives, a reminder that while he cannot change the past, his choices moving forward are what define him The 12th Doctor’s regeneration is unique, as it is not just the culmination of his personal arc, but the resolution of his complicated relationship with his identity. Regeneration is a central theme in Doctor Who, representing both a literal and figurative rebirth. For the 12th Doctor, his regeneration is a release of everything he has struggled with, including his fear of change and the pain of the past. The scene itself is deeply symbolic, and it conveys that his choice to let go is an acknowledgment that he must move forward, both for himself and for the universe he swore to protect. His final words “Doctor… I let you go” represents acceptance, not just of the change ahead, but of the personal toll that his journey has taken on him. When the Doctor says this line, he is speaking to two things simultaneously. The act of letting go is his final acknowledgment to whom he used to be and that he cannot hold onto the past forever. His refusal to regenerate has been about clinging to a version of himself that he knows, even if it’s one filled with pain. By uttering these words, the 12th Doctor is accepting that he must let go of the man he’s been, of the self that has become so tightly bound to his struggles and regrets and embrace the transformation ahead. At the same time, the line can be seen as a personal farewell to Clara Oswald. When the Doctor says “I let you go”, it is a recognition that he must release her memory, not in the sense of forgetting her (again), but in the sense of letting go of the burden that comes with unresolved grief. Clara was a vital part of his story, even subtly hinting at a potential relationship. But the Doctor can no longer hold onto the past as a means of defining himself. To continue forward, he must let go of the pain of her loss and accept that she is a part of him, her influence will always shape who he is, but he cannot remain tethered to her in a way that inhibits his future. “Laugh hard… Run fast… Be kind” The final line The Doctor says in the show has a face value meaning towards the viewers, but it has a deeper meaning in which each phrase correlates to the 10th, 11th, and 12th Doctor. The 10th Doctor embodies the "laugh hard" part of the quote, frequently showing his infectious sense of humor, even in dark or dangerous situations. His optimism and emotional vulnerability often led him to laugh, not just for joy but also as a coping mechanism. The 11th Doctor represents the “run fast” due to him always in motion, physically darting from one adventure to the next, but also mentally, as he often thought and spoke at a rapid pace. In addition, it’s also what Clara says to The Doctor. Throughout the 12th Doctor run, he’s always trying to better himself for others and then push that ideology onto others so that people could be more kind. The “be kind” directly associates with him because he emphasised kindness as a strength, not a weakness. This final message of Twice Upon A Time encapsulates The Doctor’s release himself from the emotional and existential burden of his past. It’s a quiet act of surrender, a recognition that his journey is larger than any one incarnation. The Doctor, after all, is not defined by one face or one lifetime, but by the experiences and decisions that make him who he is. Change, although painful, holds the possibility for renewal, for finding peace with one’s past and moving forward. “I let you go” is not just loss; it is an act of emotional liberation. Furthermore, it’s about accepting that the person he has been is no longer who he needs to be, and that regeneration, while frightening, holds the possibility for a future that is not bound by the limitations of his past. THANK YOU Moffat for creating one of the greatest pieces of fiction I’ve ever witnessed. I will miss my glorious 12th and Clara. I highly doubt any TV episode will touch this masterpiece. “Oh, there it is. The silly old universe. The more I save it, the more it needs saving. It's a treadmill… suppose one more lifetime wouldn't kill anyone. Well, except me… Never be cruel, never be cowardly, Remember, hate is always foolish. and love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind. Oh, and you mustn't tell anyone your name. No one would understand it, anyway. Except, ah! Except children. Children can hear it sometimes. If their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too, children can hear your name. But nobody else. Nobody else, ever. Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. Doctor, I let you go.” ABSOLUTE CINEMA 🍿🔥