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May 18th, 2013 373 comments

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What Did You Think of The Name of The Doctor?

What Did You Think of The Name of The Doctor?

Clara receives a letter summoning her to a mysterious meeting, where she is given a message for the Doctor.

The meaning is uncertain, but when an enemy strikes the Time Lord is left with no choice but to travel to the one place in time and space he should never go – into a deadly trap that threatens to unravel his past, present and future.

Now that the final episode of series 7b has aired in the UK what did you think? Was it the best episode ever or just average.





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373 comments

  • Matparks08

    May 18th, 2013 - 10:32pm

    The eighth Doctor DID appear in this episode, look very closely at who crosses Clara’s path in the opening sequence between 3rd Doctor and 2nd Doctor appearances – it’s very brief but it’s him.

    Reply
    • Matt Smithy

      May 19th, 2013 - 10:21am

      Wow, you have a VERY good eye! Thank you so much for spotting that! 😀 You just made it even more awesome!

  • the astronaut of death

    May 18th, 2013 - 10:29pm

    what did you think of it booboo

    Reply
  • Dalekdino27

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:58pm

    It was good, I liked the way they did the past doctors but I’m not to sure what the casual viewer thought of it, if that makes sense.

    Reply
  • Doctorwho123

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:39pm

    Will river return?

    Reply
  • sheepinafez

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:28pm

    Doctor who is just done personally i think the series needs a break and a reboot in a few years

    Reply
    • Heart of the Tardis

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:48pm

      It’s not on enough. If they can show the drivel that is Eastenders every week then they can make more than 13 episodes a year of Dr Who.

    • Run You Clever Boy And Remember Me

      May 19th, 2013 - 8:08am

      I agree with HOTT above 🙂 ^^^

    • caroline richards

      May 19th, 2013 - 3:43pm

      no way!

  • Francisco Sousa

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:19pm

    I Checked And John Hurt Is Going To Play The Doctor In 2014

    Reply
    • sheepinafez

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:26pm

      no…..no he isnt :3

    • DoctorClara

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:59pm

      He isn’t..Matt Smith and Jenna Louise Coleman have both been confirmed for series 8.

    • Katysavedthedoctor

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:08pm

      So glad were still going to have Matt smith

    • Don’t diss the sonic!!!

      May 18th, 2013 - 11:32pm

      John Hurt plays the ninth doctor. Chris, David and Matt move up a number. Johns doctor was really dark one and the doctor was ashamed of his actions so he kept it a secret.

    • dr jay

      May 18th, 2013 - 11:44pm

      he’s the 9th but never called him the doctor I think, because his name was in the time war book. but ya matts the 12 regeneration

    • Doctor Who DVD Collector

      May 18th, 2013 - 11:46pm

      No, John Hurt is not the ninth doctor. Nothing has been confirmed yet, and the guy who said that is an unknown source.

  • NCC-1701-D

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:18pm

    First of all, hi, this is my first post althoguh I’ve been coming to this website for ages.

    Moving on, here’s my theory about the John Hurt Doctor. In the closing moments of the time war the Doctor (Paul McGann) is dying, perhaps he has been shot by a Dalek or something, and sees a way to end the time war, but it means destroying everything. Just as he’s about to hit the big red button to destroy it all he begins to regenerate, mid regeneration he ‘hits the button’ and destroys both Daleks and Timelords alike and finally finshes regenerating into the 9th Doctor (Eccleston). Since he caused the destruction mid regeneration it wasn’t a particular Doctor that did it, and that mid-regeneration Doctor is the one that the normal Doctor blames and history or the Doctor’s memory has somehow kept hold of him, hence why, although he’s half McGann half Eccleston, he has existed in the Doctor’s conscience for so long he has grown older. So there’s my theory, he’s basically the regeneration state of the 8th to 9th Doctor regeneration which somehow, due to his own actions, created a whole other Doctor in hiself.

    Well that’s my crazy bonkers wibbly wobbly timey wimey theory anyway, I hope someone out there can follow it.

    Reply
    • Ian

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:22pm

      I like that idea. Also the time stream of the doctors tomb as he said himself was what had been what was to come and also WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?????????????

    • daryl

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:29pm

      that brill!

    • Run You Clever Boy And Remember Me

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:59pm

      Woah. Completely blew my tiny little theory out of the water.

    • DoctorClara

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:00pm

      That is an amazing theory! Totally agree! God, my theory is just embarrassing compared to that LOL

    • Katysavedthedoctor

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:09pm

      I thought John hurt was the master coming back . Crazy theory

  • daryl

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:16pm

    who is hurt?

    Reply
    • Run You Clever Boy And Remember Me

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:58pm

      Woah. Completely blew my tiny little theory out of the water.

  • Run You Clever Boy And Remember Me

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:16pm

    I am actually dying from the fangirl inside me right now. How are we supposed to wait until November?! November now has two new beginnings for me though, this and The Hunger Games! I’m dying!

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      May 18th, 2013 - 11:05pm

      Don’t forget sherlock!!!

  • Radburn

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:13pm

    This started off as an excellent episode then rapidly got boring & went down the pan – Absolute drivel! I thought we could not get any lower than ‘Nightmare In Silver’ but they dropped further with this. I was looking forward to the 50th. Anniversary episode – Not any more! Time to pack your bag Moffat & be on your way…

    Reply
    • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:23pm

      thank god i’m not the only one

    • Anonymous

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:42pm

      One of the best multiy doctors so far

    • Heart of the Tardis

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:50pm

      Then you have no imagination or haven’t been a fan very long so..

    • Andy Hall

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:59pm

      Agree with you. What a poor second half of season 7. Cold War was great but the rest have been terrible including the poor Cyber story last week. Moff has lost it for me.

    • jackfive

      May 19th, 2013 - 4:33am

      I agree. After Amy and Rory, Dr Who turned into CGI Steampunk with disjointed plots. Coming from a fan as far as the original series, I miss some of the charm and mystery with a human touch.

  • Ian

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:11pm

    The Doctor would never kill that is why John Hurts Doctor did what he did in the time war under his real name.Someone put on you tube that if this was so then the doctor would only have one more regeneration before his time would be up. But if anyone has seen the Mary Jane adventures when he was asked about this and gave another answer.(off the point a bit i know)
    All this episode has done is open more doors and asked more questions and also ended river song. What will come I dont know but I cant wait….

    Reply
    • Ian

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:16pm

      I forgot so say the Doctor did not kill the time lords he trapped them in the moment how? I have my ideas but will keep them to myself for now.

    • Great

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:15pm

      Guys he is the Paul M s doctor just aged so he is the 8Th

    • ian

      May 19th, 2013 - 7:28pm

      I agree with that as Paul M does not want to be part of the 50th anniversary so someone else has to fill his shoes some how. So yes sounds feasible he is an older vesion of the 8th doctor….

    • david

      May 19th, 2013 - 9:01pm

      Actually I think he does want to be part – but hasnt been asked.

      I think the older version is a possibility

  • Will

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:10pm

    Not my favourite episode ever but this episode was simply fantastic! It was an excellent tribute to classic who and who mythos and did a fantastic job! Well played Moffat, this is your best yet!

    Reply
    • Heart of the Tardis

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:51pm

      I agree

  • whofan4ever

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:07pm

    To all of you guys who dont understand who clara is etc here we go
    Clara was ‘born’ to save the doctor because she believes it is almost destiny how it happened and that it is her job in life to save him.
    My opinions on john hurt are varied
    If moffat is moffat he will go too far with this character and ruin doctor who.
    If were lucky, he will tell the story that even the youngest of fans could understand is the most entertaining and doesnt ruin the shows reputation and its entirity

    Reply
  • The Flying Shark

    May 18th, 2013 - 9:01pm

    That was such an amazing episode!

    Reply
  • Whovian

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:57pm

    OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!
    definately the best episode this series.
    who is the DOCTOR????

    Reply
  • Mat in Swansea

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:57pm

    Utterly brilliant. I laughed I cried I got totally confused I shouted “Noooooo!!!” several times. They survive Phew! And then John Hurt! What on earth does that all mean??Wow…outstanding. Proper Dr Who IMHO.

    I thought even Rory Doctor River Pond might have enjoyed it, but sadly, no. Ah well, farewell dear RDRP see you on another timeline. Hopefully.

    Reply
    • Dr moo

      May 20th, 2013 - 8:03pm

      I loved the episode but not the outcome. I love u matt smith

  • Doctor J

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:56pm

    1.The Name of The Doctor
    2.Hide
    3.The Crimson Horror
    4.Journey to The Centre of The TARDIS
    5.Nightmare in Silver
    6.Cold War
    7.The Bells of Saint John
    8.The Rings of Akhaten

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      May 23rd, 2013 - 12:50pm

      1.The Name of The Doctor
      2.Hide
      3.The Crimson Horror
      4.Nightmare in Silver
      5.Journey to The Centre of The TARDIS
      6.Cold War
      7.The Bells of Saint John
      8.The Rings of Akhaten

      I changed my mind about Journey and Nightmare so I switched them around.

    • Doctor J

      May 23rd, 2013 - 12:57pm

      Doctor J (still forgot put my name down)

  • leebebbs

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:53pm

    I think there’s a real opportunity this year to finally link what happened between the Paul McCann doctor and the Chris Ecclestone doctor… John Hurt may just be that missing link. He is the doctor, our doctor, he obviously did something unforgivable. I think in a few years from now he will be seen as a classic doctor. Everyone loves the dark side of the hero. As he said, he had no choice in what he did… maybe that will change?

    Reply
    • leebebbs

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:57pm

      That was meant to be McGann… darn kindle spellchecker 🙂

    • Great

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:16pm

      John hurt is playing Paul’s doctor

    • Anonymous

      May 23rd, 2013 - 12:53pm

      Forgot to put my name down Doctor J so its still my results

    • Doctor J

      May 23rd, 2013 - 12:59pm

      My Theories

      1.John Hurt is and older version of the 8th Doctor.

      2.He is between Doctors 8 and 9.

  • sheepinafez

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:52pm

    please let that be the end of river song i just cant take anymore Dx

    Reply
  • Doctordredd67

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:46pm

    Brilliant episode tonight. Very well written bar a couple of things not explained ( the Whisper men) . Thoroughly enjoyed it though. The cliffhanger opens up more questions I think. ( my head is spinning ). I thought it might have been the Valyard ( look back to the trial of a timelord -6th doctor)

    BUT….my youngest son just didn’t get the story at all, as I am sure a lot of other younger viewers didnt either, but okay for us oldies.

    Loved the Hartnell/Troughton visions in colour and seeing the TARDIS in its original form after the Doctor ‘borrowed’ her.

    NOVEMBER 23rd can’t come quick enough. Just have to buy the series 7 aprt 2 DVD now.

    Reply
    • Doctordredd67

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:52pm

      Had a wee tear in my eye when I realised that the Tardis was dying also in the graveyard.

    • Anonymous

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:29pm

      I think Valeyard too, the Doctor knew the character and walked away from him, and the Valeyard IS The ‘final’ Doctor after all

    • thenotforhire

      May 19th, 2013 - 2:31am

      I think definitely the Valeyard. The Great Intelligence refers to the Valeyard earlier in the episode and John Hurt looks a good bit like and aged and unkempt Michael Jayston (Who played the Valeyard in the old serials.)

  • HITCH66

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:43pm

    Great episode but the snub to Mcgann was an absolute disgrace! Perhaps a tad more work on the Tom Baker scene too. So I think an EIGHT (doctor) out of TEN is fair.

    Reply
  • Timelord3

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:40pm

    My theory:
    John Hurt is the Doctor between 8th and 9th, making him the doctor from the Time War. This thing he did to go against ‘The Name of the Doctor’ is about when the doctor supposedly killed all the Time Lords and ended the Time War!

    Reply
    • Timelord3

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:01pm

      Or that he is a (slightly younger) 1st Doctor who ran away from Galifrey because of this terrible thing

    • Ian

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:18pm

      The Doctor didnt kill the time lords he trapped them in the moment….

    • ian

      May 19th, 2013 - 7:31pm

      Also what he did he did not do in the name of the doctor so whatever happened in the time war was done as his real self (HIS REAL NAME) As the doctor stands for saving not destroying…..

  • DoctorClara

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:20pm

    I think that John Hurt is the name of the doctor rather than the real doctor. He is the doctor’s secret and maybe that’s because john hurt is actually the doctors name personified.

    OR

    He is the doctor who killed all the time lords at the end of the time war but when he regenerated he wanted to maike himself feel better about what he did by calling himself the doctor. However, what i don’t understand is that if he really is a regeneration of the doctor then how is he still there?! Unless he is a part of the doctors future and maybe linked to the master in some way?
    Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Heart of the Tardis

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:54pm

      Hmm, I like your first theory..

  • DOCTOR WHO ONE

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:17pm

    I don’t think John is the Doctor, at least, not the Doctor of our universe, but the Doctor of a parallel universe, where all the Doctor’s in another universe all look different from the Doctor’s of our universe, and it’s up to the 10th and 11th Doctors to return that Doctor to his universe.

    Think of it like ‘The Next Doctor’ episode, where we are ment to think that Jackson Lake is a future Doctor but turned out not to be.

    Reply
    • DOCTOR WHO ONE

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:18pm

      Also, SO GLAD THEY DID NOT REVEAL THE DOCTOR’S NAME !!.

      Thank you Steven Moffat for not revealing his name, otherwise calling the show DOCTOR WHO would right now and forever be meaningless, and I would have hated him for good if he did that.

    • olletsoc

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:22pm

      John Hurt’s Doctor is the Doctor of our universe. But chooses not to call himself that out of shame of what he did (which we are still yet to learn)

    • DOCTOR WHO ONE

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:29pm

      Well for the time being I deny that he is the Doctor and stick to what I say until November’s 50th Anniversary special says otherwise.

      After all, you could be the ones who’s wrong, and it turns out that I maybe right all along.

      Time will tell, always does.

    • Luke

      May 19th, 2013 - 1:44am

      From what I remember the timelords controlled all the universes there for there wouldn’t be a different doctor in a different universe because the doctor could travel between them but the walls of the universes closed because of the time war n not been able tp control them trapping him in one universe. Saw this in one of the 10th docyors episodes

  • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:17pm

    what the hell was that? it was the worst episode and i am really disappointed. i know you will all love it, but i really didn’t. the whispermen weren’t explained that they were the whispermen, and it was atotal let down for me. the worst episode. they didn’t even reveal the doctor’s name like they promised, and the ending left so many questions. how did strap, jenny and vastra get home? if river is dead, how can the doctor touch her? shouldn’t clara be dead? how is the doctor alive? do they get out of trenzalore? and also, it wasn’t a cliff hanger for me, as john hurt revealed he had a time lrd part, and that was the headline i read on google, so that happily gave that away. the whispermen should’ve been used more, and it’s a real shame cos it started we’ll. i am sorry i am so negative but that is my opinion and i am genuinely frustrated. and also, who blew up the tardis in series 5? doctor who has gone downhill for me, and now genuinely don’t want to watch it.

    Reply
    • run you clever boy and remember

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:24pm

      maybe it will be reviled how they got of trenzalore of 23rd of nov. for me it was simply the best, better than all te rest

    • paul

      May 18th, 2013 - 9:41pm

      Did you seriously think they would reveal the doctors name? come on! We have a right to our opinions over this show but is really as bad as some people are claiming? I don’t think it is!
      As my son mentioned earlier the Whispermen look very similar to “the trickster” from SJA and i wonder if they are a related species?
      Everything in this episode leads up to the big one and i like many will look forward to seeing what is in store.

    • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

      May 18th, 2013 - 10:08pm

      well, that was meant to be the main function of the story, to reveal the name. that’s what everyone was expecting, and without that, you should just strip it of it’s title and start a new project. no point in promising something and shoving it into our brains we will find out, and then not deliver, it’s silly! i’m just very annoyed that they can’t stick to what they claim, and all the plot holes.

    • lepter

      May 19th, 2013 - 4:26pm

      doctor who has gone down hill. Its still good but losing its way. I loved all the previous doctors in the episode, clever. BUT I do agree with the plot threads unresolved. I dont think we will EVER find out who blew up the tardis. I thought it may have been the great intelegence but he is gone now so it cant be. What was the silence? who built the silence time machine? How did clara save ALL the previous doctors? Just by shouting his name? How did she stop the great inteligence in his time steam? Why didnt vastra forget like strax and jenny? Why is the inside tardis in its current form as a grave? Does that mean that thats it for the tardis?
      So many questions….no aparent answers.

    • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

      May 19th, 2013 - 6:53pm

      it is silly.

  • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:11pm

    the bells of st john, journey to the centre and the crimson horror.

    Reply
  • StetsonDoctor

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:11pm

    My List of Favourite Episodes:
    1. The Name of The Doctor
    2. The Crimson Horror
    3. Hide
    4. The Rings of Akhaten
    5. The Bells of Saint John
    6. Cold War
    7.Nightmare in Silver
    8. Journey to the Centre of the Tardis

    Reply
    • StetsonDoctor

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:13pm

      wots yours booboo?

  • matt982

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:10pm

    I think john hurt is like a different version of the doctor. Like the doctor is the good version and john hurt is a bad version. (2 different people altogether but share name and memories etc) 🙂 any thoughts?

    Reply
    • matt982

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:13pm

      basicaly john isnt a new incarnation of the doctor but a different version

    • Imaginethatnodoor

      May 18th, 2013 - 8:14pm

      I reckon he’s the equivalent of the valeyard. A dark side of the doctor

  • fishfingers and custard

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:10pm

    omg that was fantastic so john hurt is the doctor only hes a bad kind of the doctor so we have to find out what he did and why he did it and why he didnt do it in the name of the doctor

    wow john hurt is the doctor and clara is the impossible girl who saved the doctor best episode yet and best cliff-hanger yet

    Reply
  • Silence Will Still Fall

    May 18th, 2013 - 8:08pm

    Best opening and closing scenes ever.John hurt has apparently said that he plays the ACTUAL 9th doctor which would indicate that he was the doctor during the events of the time war and would obviously mean that chris was actually the 10th doctor making david the 11th and matt the 12th (i read this in the sun newspaper which would probably mean it’s nonsense)

    Reply
    • lepter

      May 19th, 2013 - 4:16pm

      That would make sense though. The time war doctor did something so horrible that he removed all memory of his regeneration. skipped it so to say. So 11th is really 12th.

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