Vincent and the Doctor

First of all, the accent thing. Yes, Vincent speaks with a Scottish accent. This is the Tardis translating his French to English for Amy's ears. She is Scottish, so, she hears a Scottish accent. This is addressed early on when Vincent asks Amy if she is Dutch because she speaks French with a Dutch accent. Vincent will also be speaking French with his Dutch accent. If you listen to the restaurant staff, they speak with a rural English (South Wests England). They are rural French people, so the Tardis translates to a rural English accent.

I loved this episode because it brings together to loves of my life - Doctor Who and Vincent Van Gogh. Vincent is played brilliantly by Tony Curran. I loved the some what corny scenes where they re-crated some of Van Gogh's most famous paintings - it had to be done. Vincent's mental ill health was addressed sensitively and the scene in the gallery at the end is something I wish could happen in real life to Vincent.

When I first saw this episode, I was 9 years old and I hated it. I thought that the story was boring and it was hard to keep focus and that the monster was a complete letdown. Now at a slightly older age, I am beginning to see why it is so Treasured. And even though a giant killer, invisible rooster isn't exactly the most menacing of threats, Vincent, The Doctor, Amy and even Dr Black make up for it by creating a moving episode that some could call a tearjerker. (Stupid term, I mean people don't actually have the tears ripped out from their eyes do they?) It managed to make me feel something, Happiness, which is a massive plus side seeing as I love and favour the more heartfelt and depressing ones. It actually made me smile at the ending. I smiled because of sheer it's level of bleakness. I'm not sure that everyone will think that that's a good thing.

A moving episode . And the admirable performance of Tony Curran. The presence of van Gogh in the exposition of Musee d Orsay remains, in my case , source of powerfull emotion and the lead gift of the episode in which, maybe I am wrong, Krafaiys is just a pretext. Having his name, as expression of admiration of my father for him, Vincent van Gogh is , in real sense , for me, "the greatest painter of them all". The episode proofs this as a brilliant hommage. And, in same measure, it gives a sort of symbolic justice to a great artist and a so delicate and remarkable person. So, without be a fan of serie, I remain deep gratefull to the "Doctor Who" makers for this admirable episode.

This episode made me weep uncontrollably. I don't care that Tony Curran plays Vincent with his native Scottish accent. He truly embodied the tortured and suffering man that was Vincent Van Gogh. To have two of my favorite things together, Doctor Who and Vincent Van Gogh was just too good to be true but this episode has some very fine acting and some truly touching moments. I really did not want to like Matt Smith given how enamored I was of David Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor, but Matt has won me over. He plays the Doctor like a naughty, but sweet, child and he really is a fine actor. This episode also shines a light on the the fact that Karen Gillan can do something past her goofy, scolding turn as Amy Pond.

For those who have not seen this episode I would strongly recommend they obtain a copy and for those who watched it the first time sit back and enjoy it again. It is clear that a real effort, no an extraordinary effort was made by the production team with this episode. I'm not sure why but so glad because the finished product is first class. The last five minutes,no giveaway, is the sort of TV that should have won awards - why didn't the BBC put this episode up for an award I wonder? I originally saw this episode over in France and the reaction was excellent with rave reviews - we saw the film on a large screen so much better than a small TV set. Think all Dr. Who episodes look so much better on large screens.