Vincent and the Doctor

Season 5, Episode 10, Aired

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8.8
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EPISODE RATING: Great
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Location: Auvers-sur-Oise, Earth Date: 1890 Enemies: Krafayis Terror lurks in the cornfields of Provence, but only a sad and lonely painter can see it.

Amy Pond finds herself shoulder to shoulder with Vincent van Gogh, in a battle with a deadly alien.
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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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  • Drawn-out and largely uninteresting

    5.0
    "Mediocre"
    By logossun, Oct 07, 2011
    This new Doctor has a knack of letting us down in the potentially biggest episodes.
    First there was the Churchill/Daleks episode which stank to high heaven, and now we have the Van Gogh episode largely wasted.
    The hunt for the strange animal was anything but exciting, with loads of mis-timed efforts, and all in all, it seemed to have been just thrown in there anyway.
    Van Gogh visiting his own museum was a good terjerking touch, but the whole ordeal of saying goodbyes was incredibly drawn out.
    Compare it to the Tenant episode with Shakespeare. See now?
    The best parallel that I could think of is that this was a Dr. Who episode for soccer moms in America. Please try not to repeat it.moreless

  • Best one Yet.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By SGlitz, Oct 07, 2011
    Best Episode of the season.
    I may be a bit biased as I have suffered in the past from chronic depression and this episodes touch was just magnificent.
    The actor, Tony Curran, who plays 9and looks like Van gogh) was amazing.
    The summary I had on the Webpage for the Arizona Doctor Who fan club:
    June 1890
    What kind of actual monster is lurking in the paintings of one of the human race's
    greatest and most tortured artists, Vincent Van Gogh.
    The Doctor wants to see for himself. The Krafayis though, is not so keen to be seen.

    A simpler, more character based episode, done magnificently!

    Brilliant!
    10 out of 10moreless

  • This is one of my favorite episodes. I've always loved Vincent van Gogh's paintings, and to see him meet the Doctor is great. The visuals are stunning, and the story is poignant and stirring.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By rfresa, May 20, 2011
    I love the historical episodes, and wish there were more like this. Enough with the Daleks already! The Krafayis plot wasn't that interesting, but I loved the interaction between the characters, and the way they recreated the settings of some of van Gogh's most famous paintings.

    Spoilers: Is Vincent the first historical figure to travel in the TARDIS? I love that the Doctor actually takes Vincent through time to see how his work is received in the 21st century, and that though it didn't change his disease or his eventual death, it did make a difference and add some happiness to his life. It kind of makes me wish they had taken Vincent away in the TARDIS right before he killed himself, gotten him some proper medication, and looked after him. He could have seen and painted things from all over the Galaxy. If "for Amy" can appear in a sunflower painting, then they could make it look like he died, so history would still say he killed himself. This is what I love about Doctor Who--anything can happen.moreless

  • This is the start of Matt Smith bringing a depth of character into the Doctor.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jwilon, May 20, 2011
    Loved this episode... brought the usual humour, but also a depth and a caring of character into the Doctor. Love it! What The Doctor does for Vincent in this episode is wonderful - a caring ... that may not alter the events that were to occur, but made a difference to the man ... and his perception of life. Absolutely beautifully executed! Smart, funny, intelligent, and now with a reality of character befitting his 907 years! Well done to the writers, and well done to the cast in pulling it off... and making this the best season so far. Absolutely wonderful!moreless

  • Under a full night sky two travellers walk the rounded cobblestones of a sleepy village. Ahead, framed in an orange glow, a small cafe springs to life. This night they undertake to solve the mystery of the beast that only an obscure Artist can see.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By AdrianCremona, May 10, 2011
    Delving into the last years of Vincent Van Gogh's life this delightful addition to the new canon of Doctor Who is a true gem.


    Seen through the eyes of an artist this Doctor Who was a little, well, askew. Bridging the sometimes too wide a gap in these types of shows, Vincent and the Doctor allowed us an emotional and visual insight into a remarkable historical figure through Amy's instant bond with the postumously famous artist. In one scene, Vincent Van Goghs' art is brought to life in a magical way and is one of those on-screen moments that capture the essense of the story. Technically speaking, more elements regarding the structure of the new DW were subtly introduced in this episode. We've been given the hint since the series started that in this Whoniverse the Doctor doesn't necessarily take the leading role in solving problems - in fact - we are seeing a bumbling Doctor who isn't able to rely on any of his old tricks and a Doctor who prefers his companions to step up to the challenges and help him help us. Frankly, it is an overdue change - with the franchise stalling under the previous regime. And while the window into Van Goghs' life was wonderful i have to reiterate my desire for some other worldly action. An episode that leaves an impression.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (4)

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    • Vincent van Gogh cut off his own ear on December 23, 1888. Even if, as some claims say, he only removed part of the lobe, some or all of his left ear should be missing during the time frame of this episode, June 1890.

    • The Doctor and Amy originally go back in time upon seeing the Krayfayis' face in the window of the church. But thanks to this time travelling the face was never put into the picture, hence creating a paradox

    • Amy mentions that the Doctor took her to Arcadia. The planet Arcadia was featured in the New Adventures novel "Deceit", and the 'fall of Arcadia' was mentioned as one of the events of the Time War in "Doomsday".

    • When the Doctor tests his machine by scanning himself, the TARDIS' typewriter prints out a piece of paper with the faces of his first two incarnations on it.

  • QUOTES (10)

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    • Vincent Van Gogh: Hold my hand, Doctor. Try to see what I see. We're so lucky we're still alive to see this beautiful world. Look at the sky. It's not dark and black, without character. The black is in fact deep blue. And over there, lighter blue. And blue and through the blueness and the blackness, the wind swirling through the air. And then shining, burning, bursting through through the stars. And you see how they throw their light. Everywhere we look, complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes. The Doctor: I've seen many things, my friend, but you're right. Nothing... quite as wonderful as the things you see.

    • The Doctor: Between you and me, in a hundred words, where do you think Van Gogh rates in the history of art? Mr. Black: Well... um... big question, but, to me Van Gogh is the finest painter in the world. Certainly the most popular, great painter of all time. The most beloved, his command of color most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world, no one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived.

    • The Doctor: Is this how time normally passes – really slowly, in the right order? If there's one thing I can't stand, it's an unpunctual alien attack.

    • Amy: We didn't make a difference at all. The Doctor: I wouldn't say that. The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. Hey. (hugs Amy) The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.

    • Vincent Van Gogh: (after seeing the TARDIS interior) How come I'm the crazy one, and you two have stayed both sane?

    • The Doctor: Amy, only one thought. One simple instruction: Don't follow me under any circumstances. Amy: I won't (The Doctor enters the church) Vincent Van Gogh: Will you follow him? Amy: Of course! Vincent Van Gogh: I love you.

    • The Doctor: I remember watching Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel. Wow, what a whinger! I kept saying to him "Look, if you're scared of heights, you shouldn't have taken the job then." And Picasso, what a ghastly old goat! I kept telling him, "Concentrate, Pablo. It's one eye, either side of the face."

    • Amy: You do have a plan, don't you? The Doctor: No, I have a thing. It's like a plan, but with more greatness.

    • Amy: I'm sorry you're so sad. Vincent Van Gogh: I'm not. These moods torment me for weeks, for months, but I'm good now. If Amy Pond can soldier on, then so can Vincent Van Gogh. Amy: I'm not "soldiering on". I'm fine. Vincent Van Gogh: Oh, Amy. I hear the song of your sadness. You've lost someone, I think. Amy: I'm not sad. Vincent Van Gogh: Then why are you crying? It's alright. I understand. Amy: I'm not sure I do.

    • Vincent van Gogh: It seems to me there's so much more to the world then the average eye is allowed to see. I believe, if you look hard, there are more wonders in this universe then you could ever have dreamed of. The Doctor: You don't have to tell me.

  • NOTES (2)

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