Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories: Part 15 - Vincent and the Doctor

 15. Vincent and the Doctor

Take all your chances while you can

Richard Curtis is not the first person you'd think of when thinking of new writers for Doctor Who. This is a guy who writes blockbuster romantic comedies, who created Blackadder, surely he wouldn't write for our little show? And also he's a comedy writer! Yes, and so were the likes of Terry Nation, Dennis Spooner, Chris Boucher...

After initial scepticism from fans about Curtis writing for the show, it turned out we had nothing to worry about as this beautiful piece of drama is not only lauded by fans as one of the best episodes of the series, but by the general public as well! 

There was also scepticism from Steven Moffat over the subject matter, which he was concerned would be inappropriate for a family audience. When he took over as showrunner for Series 5, Moffat oversaw a bold reboot of the show. It had more than a little fairy-tale vibe about it, with a completely new set of regulars in Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. It was a magical time for the show, with lightning striking an eleventh time and the public taking the new Doctor and companion in their hearts. Personally I think like JNT, Moffat's first and last seasons are his best and series 5 has a boldness, clarity and confidence to it, the clarity unfortunately doesn't last but never mind...

The celebrity historical is a new series sub-genre of historical stories, which more often than not are great fun and partially fulfil the original remit of educating the audience. Since the return of the series in 2005, children have learnt about historical figures from Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria to Mary Seacole and Nikolai Tesla. 

It's as if Tony Curran was born to play Vincent van Gogh in the same way that Simon Callow was to play Charles Dickens. Curran's performance has been rightly celebrated as one of the finest guest turns EVER! It's a performance that is wild and warm, funny and frightening, expertly capturing Vincent's dark side without him losing our sympathy. The scene where he screams at the Doctor to get out is so painful to watch and yet we keep watching. 

The ending with the Doctor and Amy taking Vincent to the Musee D'orsee is beautiful and makes me cry no matter how many times I've seen it. A delightful cameo from Bill Nighy keeps the sentimentality at bay and then there's the ending. 

We know it's coming, you can't change history, not one line! But it's still a punch to the guy when it does. And it gives Karen Gillan the opportunity to shine. Curtis has always been expert at writing strong women; think Kristen Scott Thomas in Four Weddings or Emma Thompson in Love Actually. Here Gillan gives her best performance, coming over as a real person not a quip dispenser in a short skirt as she's sometimes written. Apart from the Girl Who Waited, this is her finest performance. 

On a personal level, at the time the episode was broadcast, I'd just been through a split with a girlfriend who it transpired had been cheating on me. I certainly wasn't suicidal but it was a painful time. Fortunately I had support and able to move on, book myself a holiday to Turkey and met a beautiful woman and thirteen years later, we're still together. In the words of the song by Athlete "Take all your chances while you can!" 

So if I was to sum up this story it's about hope, not giving up on it. I acknowledge that this story is very difficult for some people to watch. It doesn't pull any punches about mental health, yet still talks about it sensibly and compassionately. It doesn't belittle Vincent for what he did in the end but talks hopefully about how his life and work has inspired millions. But in the Doctor's speech at the end, he says they did make a difference at the end. In life there is hope: "One solid lump of hope's worth a cartload of certainties as the Fourth Doctor said. Hope is a precious thing and this episode proves we should hold onto it and never let go. 

Next Time: She was the Bad Wolf all the time...