“Vincent and the Doctor” finds our favorite Doctor running after a monster he sees in an Van Gogh painting, dragging companion Amy along. The entire episode was about image and impression, since the episode (visually) referenced Van Gogh’s paintings and contained a machine that could take impressions of things to find what they really were.
The actor playing Van Gogh (Tony Curran) was delightful, sympathetic, elusive and intense. He has created some wonderful villains, and has such large, dark pupils it is possible to drown in them. Even so, it was hard not to think about the cartoon doppelganger of Van Gogh from Clone High. Bill Nighy, who played the art academic, was adorable and sweet. (Seriously, why didn't anyone consider him to be the new doctor?) As always, Karen Gillan brought a wonderful sense of delight and compassion, combining the best aspects of Rose and Donna. Matt Smith did a serviceable job as the Doctor. He's grown into the role, but sometimes he lacks any charisma to set him apart from previous doctors. (Though of course he has the hard job of following what might be the best doctor, David Tennant.) The episode still had tons of fun and well-delivered Doctorism, including the Doctor wondering if time really passed that slowly and in the right order. It was, as a whole, an uplifting episode less about the monster and more about art and loving life.
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