Vincent and the Doctor

So the Doctor and Amy travel back to Holland to meet Van Gogh, and stop a monster.

The plot really is that simple, this episode proved beyond all shadow of a doubt that it doesn't have to be about huge effects, intricate story arcs and huge stars. Simply put I think there is genius behind this episode, let's face it the plot is tiny by comparison to most, but the characters, acting, dialogue are firing on all cylinders. The first time I can say I really liked Amy's character was here, she was given much better material, Matt Smith is also fantastic, really connected with him here, but the classy performance of Tony Curran is what dazzles throughout this episode, he takes Van Gogh from dark insanity to pure ecstasy, a stunning Doctor Who debut.

So the monster wasn't the best, and historically it was off kilter, but neither mattered, the point of the story was the emotional journey, something RTD was good at doing. The character development

Favourite scene has to be The Doctor and Amy taking Vincent to see the museum, so touching and moving, the music was so different for the show, it worked beautifully. Bill Nighy was a total utter joy, always wanted to see him in Who. Beard jokes always welcome too.

Fabulously fabulous 10/10

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.

I thought this episode was excellent. OK, so maybe the history may be a bit off (what? You mean Van Gogh wasn't tormented by an invisible chicken?!!) but the story telling and the poignant ending are first class as is the acting. The whole accent thing is irrelevant as is the language. Doctor Who history shows that the TARDIS translates all languages, hence it might be that on this occasion Mr Gogh's native tongue is translated in such a way it sounds Scottish. On the whole though, who cares? The story went at a fast pace, the characters were believable and the ending was extremely sad (even the death of the monster). You really feel for Van Gogh's illness and realise that he can't be saved. As the Doctor said, some points are fixed in time. My 12 year old, one of the lads, son was in tears. Any programme that can do this has to be a winner.

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.

Richard Curtis wrote this episode. Ostensibly it is about Vincent Van Gogh meeting the Doctor and together they delve the mystery of a monster depicted in one of his paintings.

It really is about the meaning of madness and depression. Van Gogh is the strange madman in the village whose paintings remain unappreciated. Society in his era did not understand depression.

The monster which is invisible (signifying mental illness) is alone, abandoned and blind. Lashing out because it is frightened.

Scottish actor Tony Curran, more often employed to play a heavy on American shows knows he has a role of a lifetime. He takes it by the scruff of the neck. His Vincent is wild, romantic and emotional. Seeing monsters where others do not. The Doctor is the only man he has met who understands his pain.

What makes this episode stand out is the photography, sound and the location shooting. Trogir in Croatia stands in for the fields of Provence. Magnificent use of visuals, look at the way the night sky begins to depict the painting of The Starry Night. The use of the song by Athlete to give it an emotional hook as Van Gogh looks on as people admire his paintings at the Musee de Orsay.

Bill Nighy makes an uncredited cameo as an art expert who reduced Van Gogh to tears as he describes his contribution to art in less than 100 words while wearing another stand out bow tie.

Science fiction at its best.