Who Review Round 11: Vincent and the Doctor

In his previous incarnation, the Doctor was derisively referred to as "the man who makes everyone better." It's a fairly apt description- the best writers on the show understand that the Doctor's power isn't so much in what he can do, but rather in what he inspires the people around him to do. In Vincent and the Doctor, he doesn't save a life- but he does give someone a few fleeting moments of happiness.

Featuring the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) and Amy Pond, the story focuses on a rampaging monster that no one can see. No one, that is, except Vincent van Gogh.

The plot itself is a bit thin and ultimately forgettable. But that's beside the point. What this episode does is provide a context to show some absolutely beautiful, achingly human moments.



The Doctor and Amy find Vincent at the historical end of his life. (Of course, he has no idea, apart from feeling worn down from the excruciating emotional pain he carries with him.) The two of them realize that they're here to try to save Vincent's life literally (from the monster) and figuratively (from himself). They successfully repel the former threat. And, for a brief, wonderful moment, perhaps the latter, as the Doctor and Amy bring Vincent to the Louvre in 2010, where a van Gogh retrospective exhibit is being mounted, to show him first-hand what kind of impact his art had on the lives of others. At one point, the Doctor- with Vincent standing off to the side, eavesdropping- pulls aside an exhibit curator and asks what kind of impact van Gogh had, to which the curator replies that he was not only one of the greatest artists in history but also one of the greatest men who ever lived. Vincent, overcome with emotion, hugs the curator, and the three of them rush out of the museum. (Sadly, I can't show this clip, it's been removed from YouTube.)

Amy is convinced that this helps save Vincent's life- he can't possibly kill himself now. They drop him back home, then come back to the Louvre. Amy's despondent, however, when she realizes there are no new paintings. Vincent killed himself, just as history told. They didn't save him. But, as the Doctor notes, "everyone's life is made up of good things and bad things... the good things don't make the bad things go away, but the bad things don't spoil the good things either... and we definitely added to his pile of good things." It's an absolutely heartbreaking and wonderful scene (which, again, I can't share), and, while somewhat incongruous with the usual tone of the programme, does a superb job of telling a time travel story that's less about the time and the place and more about the people involved.

There are quite a few good Eleventh Doctor stories (and counting), but Vincent is unique, and strange, and beautiful, and unlike anything else you'll see on Doctor Who (or on television, period).