Reviews

Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor by Steven Moffat

bored_chloe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't love the prose or the framing device, but I do like the idea of the framing device and I liked some of the additions to the story that couldn't be in the episode for whatever reason.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Grief

aarondaniel9's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

alasdair_smith's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lupi_reads's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

parker_beyers's review against another edition

2.0

2.5
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You know, Moffat had a vision and I got to respect that. It’s not every day you get to publish fan fiction of your own TV episode. We mere mortals only have A03.

Please do not take any of this review seriously. When it comes to all things Doctor Who, I am a mumbling, nonsensical, quippy mess. Also, remember this comes from the perspective of someone with an RTD-era obsession and personal gripes against Moffat. I'm just here to have fun folks.

Overall, this novelization does a pretty effective job at translating the episode into prose. I think the timey-wimey format is especially fun and fitting for the show. Chapter 9 is particularly fascinating. However, MOFFAT WHYYYYYYYYYY

Here we go...

Spoiler

Moffat, for some reason: "Did you know that the Doctor fucks? Because the Doctor fucks."

There's this strange obsession with the Doctor's sexual exploits. I feel like every twenty pages there's a reference to his threesomes with River and her clone(yes that is actually in here), or an entire section about his false "virginal image." Yes, Moffat, I know that the Doctor has had sex at least once in his 1,200 years of living. Just a hunch. You don't need to remind me constantly.

Speaking of River, MOFFAT WHYYYYY???? There were quite a few things I wish I saw in the 50th anniversary. A bathtub scene with River and Ten was not one of them. I like River Song, I really do. She's iconic. HOWEVER, I just can't imagine her having dates and picnics with Ten at that stage in his life. He's quite lonely and depressed and a teensy bit insane, so maybe that's just my issue with Ten in the story in general. His personality is quite off in this episode, considering this is supposed to be him post series 4. The Ten here is more accurate to series 2-3 Ten.

Now we have my biggest disappointment, which is The Moment. I love The Moment. She is THE MOMENT! She's my favorite part of the special honestly. Her conversations with the War Doctor are so intriguing, but she's pretty much written out of the story in the book. As a Billie Piper/Rose Tyler stan maybe I'm obligated to complain, but I am sad times. Just a shame that the dialogue was cut in favor of

MOFFAT TELLING US THAT THE DOCTOR FUCKS

...

ok goodnight

infinitegrant's review against another edition

5.0

This was a fun read. It took the 50th anniversary special and made it so much more. If you love Doctor Who and the mythos surrounding it, you will love this book.

foxwish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Brilliant, the way Moffat plays with the point of view is masterful. The extra character depth this novelisation adds to the story makes this a worthwhile read. The two Petronella Osgoods are served well here. The best chapter was easily the dungeon scene, I loved it.

I can't give it 5 stars because of the disturbing and unnecessary transphobic horse joke and somehow the Doctor can magically tell how much a woman weighs just by looking at her (Gross!). The usual Mofffat horniness turns up as well, but thankfully it wasn't bad enough to ruin the book for me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Grief, and Suicide

Minor: Torture, Transphobia, and Sexism

nathanjhunt's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

3.75

My 13th book finished in 2023.

I was very excited to read my first Doctor Who novel. But as with other novelisations, I found the additional content the worst parts of the book.

Sure, it was an enjoyable read but it's hard to like Osgood. I thought the changing POVs were a bit jarring; for me it made the story flow less well.

jasper22's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rataivlis's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25