Doctor Who (2005) Season 7 Episode 16 The Time of the Doctor

The Time of the Doctor is the final episode of Doctor Who's seventh season. The episode follows the Doctor as he battles to prevent his long-time nemesis, the Daleks, from destroying the planet Trenzalore and causing a catastrophic change to the universe's timeline.

The episode begins with the Doctor, played brilliantly by Matt Smith, receiving a message from a mysterious woman named Tasha Lem, played by Orla Brady. Tasha Lem warns the Doctor that the question "Doctor who?" is being asked across the universe and that the Time Lords are hearing it. The Time Lords are a race of powerful beings from the Doctor's home planet of Gallifrey, who have been trapped in a pocket universe since the end of the Time War.

Shortly after receiving the message, the TARDIS lands on Trenzalore, a planet that the Doctor has visited before. However, when he arrives, the Doctor discovers that the planet is now under siege from the Daleks, who are determined to destroy him and prevent the Time Lords from returning.

The Doctor spends centuries defending Trenzalore, aging dramatically in the process, while his companion Clara, played by Jenna Coleman, ages only a few years due to the timey-wimey nature of the planet. The Doctor and Clara are eventually joined by a supporting cast of familiar faces, including the Sontarans, who have taken up residence on Trenzalore, and the Silence, who are revealed to be working with Tasha Lem.

As the Daleks continue their assault on the planet, the Doctor realizes that the only way to save Trenzalore is to use his own regeneration energy to destroy them. However, this will mean the Doctor will die and trigger his final regeneration cycle.

The Time of the Doctor is a fitting finale for Matt Smith's tenure as the Doctor. The episode is filled with emotional moments, as the Doctor must confront his own mortality and the end of his current incarnation. The performances are top-notch, with Smith delivering a heartbreaking performance as the Doctor faces his final moments.

The episode is also significant for the overarching storyline of the show, as it marks the return of the Time Lords and sets the stage for the revival of the series' classic villain, the Master, in subsequent seasons. The Time of the Doctor is a must-watch for any fan of Doctor Who, as it provides closure for one chapter of the Doctor's journey while setting the stage for exciting new adventures to come.