The simply exquisite descriptions of the Time War's simply confounding nature is incredible and the story is just vague enough to lead us into 'Rose' and still wrap it all up without question. Overall this story really nails the nightmarish, incomprehensible nature of the Time War by only giving us glimpses of the scale and impact of the war.

I’m glad this isn’t the definitive version of McGann’s exit. The writing is strong, but I’m not a fan of the tendency to hint towards unseen epic mystery after unseen epic mystery, which I think is the version of the Time War we would have gotten if it wasn’t for The Day of the Doctor. I agree that there’s only so much you can show, but I think you can show more than just hints towards grand conceptual ideas.

A glimpse of a story that never was, this has Davies usual, poetic descriptions of the time war that are always lovely to hear, and is a lovely little treat given us an alternative Eighth Doctor regeneration.