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Doctor Who
S11.E0
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IMDbPro

Twice Upon a Time

  • Episode aired Dec 25, 2017
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
8.4K
YOUR RATING
David Bradley and Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who (2005)
The Twelfth Doctor meets the First Doctor for one last adventure in Twice Upon A Time.
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
35 Photos
AdventureDramaSci-Fi

The Twelfth Doctor, still refusing to change, goes on a last adventure with the First Doctor.The Twelfth Doctor, still refusing to change, goes on a last adventure with the First Doctor.The Twelfth Doctor, still refusing to change, goes on a last adventure with the First Doctor.

  • Director
    • Rachel Talalay
  • Writers
    • Steven Moffat
    • Kit Pedler
    • Gerry Davis
  • Stars
    • Peter Capaldi
    • David Bradley
    • Pearl Mackie
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    8.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rachel Talalay
    • Writers
      • Steven Moffat
      • Kit Pedler
      • Gerry Davis
    • Stars
      • Peter Capaldi
      • David Bradley
      • Pearl Mackie
    • 53User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    2017 Christmas Special Trailer: "Twice Upon a Time"
    Trailer 0:31
    2017 Christmas Special Trailer: "Twice Upon a Time"

    Photos35

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    Top cast34

    Edit
    Peter Capaldi
    Peter Capaldi
    • The Doctor
    David Bradley
    David Bradley
    • The Doctor
    Pearl Mackie
    Pearl Mackie
    • Bill
    Mark Gatiss
    Mark Gatiss
    • The Captain
    Jenna Coleman
    Jenna Coleman
    • Clara
    Matt Lucas
    Matt Lucas
    • Nardole
    Nikki Amuka-Bird
    Nikki Amuka-Bird
    • Helen Clay
    Toby Whithouse
    Toby Whithouse
    • German Soldier
    Lily Travers
    Lily Travers
    • Polly
    Jared Garfield
    Jared Garfield
    • Ben
    Nicholas Briggs
    Nicholas Briggs
    • Voice of the Daleks
    • (voice)
    William Hartnell
    William Hartnell
    • The Doctor
    • (archive footage)
    Anneke Wills
    Anneke Wills
    • Polly
    • (archive footage)
    Michael Craze
    Michael Craze
    • Ben
    • (archive footage)
    Jodie Whittaker
    Jodie Whittaker
    • The Doctor
    Tom Baker
    Tom Baker
    • The Doctor
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Simon Carew
    • German Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    David Cromarty
    • German Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Rachel Talalay
    • Writers
      • Steven Moffat
      • Kit Pedler
      • Gerry Davis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews53

    8.38.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8Xstal

    A Matter of Death, Then Life...

    Capaldi made the role all his own (he was quite dislikeable in his first season though), Once the moon birthed a thing and was flown, The hybrid made no sense, The forest was too dense, Skovox Blitzer too daft to condone (as were the sleep monsters).

    The breakout was pure genius, Dalek sewers creating new genus, The monks hypnotised, The Master disguised, Rassilon forced to leave and egress.

    Mr. Pink had potential to grow, Clara Oswald a precious cargo, Bill brought us perspective, Made time more connective, Nardole always full of gusto.

    Missy stole the show as the Master, Hat's off to the person that cast her, The sparring as good, As it possibly could, Where will it all go from hereafter.

    A change is as good as a rest, Let's hope Jodie is one of the best, With a new innovator, Just where will he take her, New companions alongside and abreast.
    9Manwhofell

    Great send off for Peter.

    This was a very good episode, worth the wait. The whole transition to Jodie's doctor doesn't overshadow the episode. I hate that it was announced ahead of time like it was because we obviously knew how it's going to end, just not the road that was taking us there. Peter & David were fantastic, as usual. It was nice to see a few old friends along the way as well. A solid send off for the guy who has replaced Tom Baker as MY Doctor.
    10Sleepin_Dragon

    The old guard sign off in style.

    It has to be said this really did feel like the end of a chapter, and a goodbye was said to all from the Steven Moffat/Peter Capaldi era, fond farewells to Clara, Bill, even Mark Gatiss, who's been somewhat a fixture in the show's return was given a great send off. Fortunately the last hurrah was absorbing from start to finish, a wonderfully clever story, dazzling effects, and a proper nod to the show's history.

    Capaldi ending his time in style, he was exceptional in this episode, his character has become incredibly well balanced, strong and humorous. David Bradley once again utterly on point in Hartnell's shoes, doing true justice to the first Doctor. A really fine performance from Mark Gatiss also (If you're reading more League of Gentlemen PLEASE!)

    Nice touches the whole way through, that poignant moment where the Christmas day ceasefire was remembered, such a powerful moment.

    Funny, moving, intriguing, sentimental, the list goes on, the show what it should be, the best thing on at Christmas. 10/10
    10winjrfam

    "Laugh hard, Run fast, Be kind"

    The most perfect conclusion for any doctor encapsulating the universality of the characters essence and especially for Peters one that centers around accepting change, death, and striving towards a life which consists of the purity of nature. The episodes idea of reminiscence and embracing the life you've lived the memories you gather along that journey are the only things that really matter in the end, the profound final say that is just all so beautiful in my opinion the best way to wrap his journey up as the speech stands as his final testament being able to accept and let go. Overall impacting performance for one of the greatest characters and runs in all of fiction.
    9MaxHuskins

    A Beautiful Departure

    Last years Christmas special was one of the worst episodes of Doctor Who that ever happened, it made me fall out of love with the show. The Capaldi seasons had a few ups and many downs, even though Peter is an incredible doctor, the show was plagued with problems such as bad writing.

    With all of that said, this was an absolutely beautiful and magical send off. By far one of the best, emotional and meaningful Christmas Specials that have ever been made. I was worried that the episode would pull the gimmicky two doctors plot but they managed to perfectly reason it, creating an incredible episode. I think "Twice Upon a Time" captures the best of the Doctor who essence. It's a worthy goodbye to the Twelfth Doctor, Bill, and Steven Moffat as show runner. The show is worth returning to on this high note.

    Prepare to love it and cry a lot.

    I am now once again excited to see the future of Doctor Who, with a new doctor and show runner I'm sure we will see exciting changes and a new direction.

    Merry Christmas and long live the Doctor!

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    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When the First Doctor, played by David Bradley, discovers the Twelfth Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, he states that he thought he would regenerate into someone younger, at which point Capaldi insists "I AM younger!" While it is true that Capaldi is younger than Bradley, he is actually one year OLDER than William Hartnell was when he played the First Doctor in The Tenth Planet.
    • Goofs
      The First Doctor acts as if he is astonished that he will eventually regenerate into another person. Yet, by the time the First Doctor has reached this point in his life, he has already experienced the events of The Five Doctors (1983) and The Three Doctors: Episode One (1972) in which the First Doctor was made very much aware that he would eventually regenerate into several different people. However, it has been previously explained in The Day of the Doctor (2013) and The Doctor Falls (2017) that earlier incarnations cannot retain any memory their meetings with later incarnations.
    • Quotes

      Twelfth Doctor: Oh. There it is. Silly old universe. The more I save it, the more it needs saving. It's a treadmill.

      [the TARDIS makes soft chirping noises to the Doctor]

      Twelfth Doctor: Yes, yes I know. They'll get it all wrong without me.

      [pauses]

      Twelfth Doctor: Well... I suppose one more lifetime won't kill anyone. Well... except me.

      [looks down at his hand, glowing with regeneration energy, then wearily looks back up at the TARDIS]

      Twelfth Doctor: You wait a moment, Doctor. Let's get it right. I've got a few things to say to you. Basic stuff first: Never be cruel, never be cowardly, and never ever eat pears! Remember, hate is always foolish, but love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind. Oh. And you mustn't tell anyone your name.

      [smiles to himself]

      Twelfth Doctor: No one would understand it, anyway! Except...

      [cries out suddenly in pain, crumples to the ground, gasps for breath]

      Twelfth Doctor: Except... children. Children can hear it sometimes, if their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too. Children can hear your name. But nobody else.

      [slowly and painfully rises back up to his feet]

      Twelfth Doctor: Nobody else. EVER.

      [stands up, tall and proudly]

      Twelfth Doctor: Laugh hard. Run fast. BE KIND.

      [a pause, then softly]

      Twelfth Doctor: Doctor, I let you go.

    • Connections
      Featured in Cunk on Britain: Twentieth Century Shocks (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Doctor Who Theme
      Written by Ron Grainer

      Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 2017 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (United Kingdom)
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Filming locations
      • Dragon International Film Studios, Llanilid, Brigend, Wales, UK(WW1 battlefield)
    • Production company
      • BBC Studios Wales
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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