Vincent and the Doctor

Every life is a pile of good things and bad things.

Vincent and the Doctor is an enjoyable episode but there is an odd passion about it with some fans that make it "the best episode EVAH!" in their minds, which in turn generates an "I hate this episode!" reaction from the other side.

Following Rory's erasure from existence in Cold Blood, the Doctor and Amy go visit an art show where they spy something wrong in one of Vincent Van Gogh's paintings. They travel back in time and meet a man descending into madness and that this madness enables him to see a creature that is hidden from everyone else. They attempt to capture this creature which is blind and has been abandoned by it's fellows. The beast lashes out and is accidentally killed. The Doctor and Amy prepare to leave Van Gogh but take him to the future so that he can see how his work will be appreciated. After taking him back, Amy sees that despite the hope they gave him, the madness still drove him to suicide.

If you view this in a standard Doctor Who adventure light, you probably won't like it. The monster is silly and pretty much secondary to the whole plot. But if you appreciate good acting and character studies, this is an excellent story. I would have had no problem if they had dispensed with the Krayfayis entirely and the Doctor and Amy just dropped in to meet and chat with Vincent Van Gogh.

It is especially interesting in seeing the effects of depression and how sometimes outsiders are powerless to stop the demons that afflict a person's mind. Most people struggle with depression of some kind in their lives, thankfully very few to this degree, and to see how it affects the person both with the disease and two people viewed as friends on the outside is quite powerful. I also appreciate that despite their best efforts, history was unchanged regarding Van Gogh's fate. To have done so would have cheapened the battle that people have had with depression and writing it off as something that can just be wished away.

Outside of the monster, the only other part I didn't care for was the scene in the museum with the curator waxing on about Van Gogh. I realize this is supposed to deepen the tragedy that Van Gogh still killed himself, but it seemed just a bit too schmaltzy for my taste. Walking into the museum and seeing his work viewed and appreciated would have been enough to have an impact. To have Bill Nighy (although he did a good job) give such effusive praise destroyed the deft hand that would have landed an even heavier blow in my opinion.

Still, and excellent episode and one of the three that would offer to show my wife if she ever decided that she wanted to try an episode. I doubt she will, but there is always hope.

Overall personal score: 4.5 out of 5