Stories Minisode Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials The Night of the Doctor 3 images Overview Characters How to Watch Reviews 13 Statistics Related Stories Quotes 6 Transcript Overview Released Thursday, November 14, 2013 Written by Steven Moffat Directed by John Hayes Runtime 7 minutes Story Type Regeneration Time Travel Future Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) Breaking the Fourth Wall Story Arc (Potential Spoilers!) Time War Location (Potential Spoilers!) Karn Synopsis Still trying to skirt around the edges of the Last Great Time War, the Eighth Doctor is forced to fully join the conflict by the mysterious Sisterhood of Karn. Killed while trying to save a woman who hates him simply for being a Time Lord, the Doctor gets to choose what his next incarnation will be like. He arranges for a warrior... but makes the darkest sacrifice of his life in order to be reborn. Watch Watched Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save Characters Eighth Doctor Paul McGann War Doctor John Hurt Ohila Clare Higgins First Appearance Sisterhood of Karn Cass Fermazzi Emma Campbell-Jones First Appearance Show All Characters (5) How to watch The Night of the Doctor: Watch on iPlayer Blu-Ray 50th Anniversary Specials [Steelbook] Blu-Ray 50th Anniversary Collector‘s Edition DVD 50th Anniversary Collector‘s Edition Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 13 reviews 9 June 2025 · 138 words Review by Jann 1 Minisode Review #1 The Night of the Doctor This was fun. It was a nice little minisode to get us backstory on the war doctor and the time war. It was my first little introduction to a classic doctor and I liked it. The idea of someone hating the doctor because he's a timelord is different but it shows how the time war gave them a bad name. The fact that the doctor chose to be a Warrior shows how much he is drained and tired of the war and wants to fight for peace. The sisterhood of Karn are pretty cool I don't know if their part of classic who or whatnot but I'm sure I'll find out. Overall a nice little minisode to show us backstory on the war doctor and get us ready for the 50th. 8/10 Jann View profile Like Liked 1 2 June 2025 · 48 words Review by phillcypher 1 Honestly 8 deserved so much more than this, if it wasn't for big finish this and the movie would have been all we got of him, this short is amazing though and is always an important lil watch before day of the doctor or after the movie for me phillcypher View profile Like Liked 1 17 May 2025 · 36 words Review by ClydeLangerRules 1 Great stuff. Unfortunately forever tainted for me because my friends clowned on me because it proved my "John Hurt is pre-Hartnell" prediction wrong, even though one of them had agreed with me. I'm still hurt, Tom. ClydeLangerRules View profile Like Liked 1 25 March 2025 · 310 words Review by DanDunn 2 We now come to one of the few televised Doctor Who stories to truly shock the fans, a mini episode building towards the 50th anniversary special which released without warning on Paul McGann’s birthday no less, mostly due to the fact that it was originally scheduled for a later release but they went with the former in fear of a potential leak. Which in this day and age was a wise decision, imagine robbing fans of the surprise onscreen return of the Eighth Doctor. My only issue with this story is just how brief Paul McGann’s onscreen return as the Eighth Doctor was, the fact that he wasn’t in Day of the Doctor at all and it seemed like this was only written to close his side of the circle between him and the Ninth Doctor while setting up the War Doctor, when the Eighth Doctor deserves so much better than that. I also would’ve been curious about the idea of Big Finish handling the Eighth Doctor’s regeneration seeing as how they’re the ones who’ve crafted a full life for him and now we may never know what those plans would’ve been. But nonetheless, The Night of the Doctor is an astounding mini episode that conveys so much in such a short space of time, there’s no padding, no loose threads, it’s just a tight, well written send-off for the Eighth Doctor and McGann just owns every second of his onscreen return. Thankfully it wouldn’t be his last onscreen appearance having appeared in Jodie Whittaker’s final episode Power of the Doctor and even then, he made the most out of every second of his brief cameo. It’s not often I would say this but thank you Chris Chibnall for giving my favourite Doctor one more appearance in the spotlight (though saying that still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth) DanDunn View profile Like Liked 2 19 January 2025 · 28 words Review by InterstellarCas 3 Arguably the best minisode. McGann absolutely bodies the five minutes of screen time and delivers an iconic performance. Truly makes me wish he got a real TV run. InterstellarCas View profile Like Liked 3 Show All Reviews (13) Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating874 members 4.51 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 1321 Favourited 323 Reviewed 13 Saved 5 Skipped 1 Related Stories Doctor Who Specials The Day of the Doctor Rating: 4.38 Story Skipped Television Reviews(14) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials Set of Stories: Doctor Who (2005-2022) Set of Stories: Eleventh Doctor Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Doctor Who S7 • Episode 13 The Name of the Doctor Rating: 3.47 Story Skipped Television Reviews(5) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Doctor Who Series 7B Set of Stories: Doctor Who (2005-2022) Set of Stories: Eleventh Doctor Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Quotes Add Quote Link to Quote Favourite DOCTOR: I'm a doctor. But probably not the one you're expecting. — The Night of the Doctor Show All Quotes (6) Open in new window Transcript [Spaceship] CASS: Help me, please. Can anybody hear me?COMPUTER: Please state the nature of your ailment or injury.CASS: I'm not injured, I'm crashing. I don't need a doctor.COMPUTER: A clear statement of your symptoms will help us provide the medical practitioner appropriate to your individual needs.CASS: I'm trying to send a distress signal. Stop talking about doctors.DOCTOR: I'm a doctor. But probably not the one you're expecting. (It's the Eighth Doctor) (Cue titles) DOCTOR: Where are the rest of the crew?CASS: Teleported off.DOCTOR: But you're still here.CASS: I teleported them.DOCTOR: Why you?CASS: Everyone else was screaming.DOCTOR: Welcome aboard.CASS: Aboard what?DOCTOR: I'll show you. Show Full Transcript Open in new window