It's like that one post that goes "who was the target audience for this movie?" "me, i was the target audience".

People that dislike this movie have no concept of joy, no whimsy. I made a casual, nuwho friend watch it with me and spent at least one hour explaining how the plot makes sense, actually, if you ignore the fact that the Eye of Harmony can do anything, the fact that you need a human eye to open it (honestly, what was up with that??), and some other things as well. Hilarious that poor Seven gets killed not by the bullets, but by the doctors investigating why his heart rate is so damn high. Grace is living the life as a companion: gets to kill and snog the Doctor in the span of two days! But really, she's a pretty solid companion, and Daphne Ashbrook and Paul McGann have great chemistry. Roberts' Master is fun and camp ("I always drezzz for the occasion") and also scary and I like him, okay? I also like it when the Master has a little companion, and Chang Lee is a good gullible accomplice for him.

Now. The real reason this movie somehow works in the end is Paul McGann. People complain about the memory loss, but idk, it's not a problem for me. The audience gets to figure out who he is alongside himself and Grace, and I thought that was nice, actually. The regeneration in the morgue bit was great, the "WHO. AM. I." was unprecedented in levels of ham. "These shoes! They fit perfectly!". His delivery of that "so that he will live and I will DIE! NO!" line lives in my head rent free. I liked him from the very first second, but was 100% sold when he steals that cop's gun and threatens to shoot... himself. C'mon. What's not to like. Love everything about him. Also, Paul McGann shouts very well?? He shouts "GO!" I'm like "yessir" and I'm out, fast. He can put a lot of authority on it and it's very impressive considering he can also be extremely soft spoken. I'm very glad got into his BF audio dramas, where this talent is very well utilized indeed.

Maybe my fav Doctor. Considering his further characterization in the novels and BF dramas, to me he's a combination of my favorite traits of the previous (and future, actually) Doctors. He's usually kind, very caring, self-sacrificing, full of child-like wonder and love, and quite ditsy. He's great at sleight of hand (love this gimmick), believably a genius, very alien. He has a lot of gravitas, can go from polite to commanding to cold in a split second, and can be quite manipulative too. Of course it's not all present in a 90min movie, but it does start here. Also, I love the outfit! It matches his personality very well and that's important to me.

Def my fav TARDIS interior!!! It makes Fifteenth's look like the inside of a fridge. Monstrous crime that this is the only time we see it.

Bottom line, this is definitely a comfort movie for me, and very much not a guilty pleasure, because I feel no guilt at all. Not to mention it doubles as a New Years movie, so I have a great excuse to watch it every year.

I think that the TV movie has some cool concepts, and I also feel that it looks good visually with nice costumes and sets (particularly the TARDIS console room). However, I feel that the plot is a bit messy with a few plot holes, and the romance elements didn't interest me at all. It's not too offensive, but it's also not too incredible.

Horribly camp in all the best ways possible. What many people seem to gloss over though, is that it’s not just camp. The TV Movie/The Enemy Within is often dismissed after the previous compliment, which I think is unfair. It’s absolutely an accurate observation in my opinion, but just because it’s full of cliche American Hollywood tropes doesn’t mean that it’s just that, and not also still really good Doctor Who.

Matthew Jacobs has a really poetic vision of the Doctor in my opinion, which I think can be seen best in the scene where he talks with Grace about her being a doctor. Paul McGann sells these types of moments extra well, and he was not only perfectly cast as Doctor Who (like every single actor has been) but also perfect for this vision of Jacobs. He’s like a fairytale figure, but not in the way that Matt Smith’s version is. Eight is less a magical hero, and more a mysterious being of age old wiseness and unhingedness. He takes a very passive role for a big chunk of the movie, and even as the main character, manages to come off as a wanderer who passes by.

Right i was talking about poeticisms. Eight literally picking up where Seven left off both as the main star of the franchise, and the book they are reading. That’s cool, I like that. The Doctor forgetting who he was being a perfect premise for a soft reboot without constraints of the past, but the story actively fighting against that, and embracing its history, not letting Doctor Who end up as an oddity that stumbles through America. Hey why not, f**k it. Look at this. We can see the Master and his American accent as a metaphor for the American entertainment market in general, trying to claim everything for themselves. Trying to claim that Doctor Who’s regenerations are actually his. Another body to be stolen by the Master. But not this time. Sometimes they might succeed, but not at getting the Doctor. No matter what he goes through, Doctor Who stays what they are. They hold onto the power and richness in who and what they are, and won’t let itself be taken only to be used up quickly and then thrown away to let the next one come in. Doctor Who isn’t that kind of TV show. He’s an alien. A really stubborn alien. Like an Englishman in New York. Or something like that.

There’s also parts to criticize about the movie, like for example, making the Doctor a romantic figure. But while it may feel out of place after the classic series, it could be as easily said that this part was actually far ahead of its time, considering what Russel T Davies would later do. It’s not something one could be more critical of then of the modern series. Neither am I of the opinion that such things as the Doctor being half human can be seen as genuine points of critique. I really don’t think relating the Doctor’s interest of Earth to him wanting to connect to his mother’s culture is an inherently bad idea. Like in the end I find a lot of people’s dislikes come more from them not liking stylistic choices than the movie being ‘objectively’ badly made.

There’s some pacing issues (though i find that more another fun camp element), and the ending I find really vague. Like I had no clue what was actually going on. But that might be me. I could possibly require a rewatch. But for the rest, issa just very enjoyable doccy who man, idk whatchu wan. Imo is ofc v good.

The plot was a mess, especially that ending. But i loved the characters!  Especially the eighth ofc!

Beginning of the best doctor

Wish Mcgann got his own show

This movie is the best thing I've ever seen

Everyone needs to watch it once a month