Synopsis
During a visit to an art gallery with , the Doctor's interest is caught by a painting of a church by Vincent van Gogh: there's a face in the window of the church –
a curious, shadowed creepy face with a beak and nasty eyes. The Doctor
is worried, and is sure he has seen the face somewhere before. There is
only one thing for it: a trip in the TARDIS back to , so the
Doctor can find out from the artist himself.
Plot
The
Doctor and Amy looking at van Gogh's painting of the Church at Auvers.
In a field of wheat, something begins running through it, scaring the
crows away, while an artist paints the scene. The same painting, years
later, hangs in the Musée d'Orsay in . A
man, Dr.
Black, in glasses and a bowtie tells a group of people that the
painting is one of van Gogh's last paintings and that the last few months of his
life were the most astonishing months of his artistic outpouring. As he
compares van Gogh to , the Doctor and
pass behind him, admiring the pieces of art around them.
Amy thanks the Doctor for bringing her to the museum and asks why
he is being so nice to her. The Doctor defends himself and Amy says
that she was only joking, asking why he was being so serious. Dr. Black
tells the group the value of van Gogh's work today, tens of millions,
and compares it with the value of it when van Gogh died, the value of a
sofa and some chairs.
A child says "He's the doctor." Thinking it is him, the Doctor
turns around, only to discover the children are looking at a picture of
van Gogh's doctor. Amy grabs the Doctor's hand and pulls him towards a
painting of a church. As the Doctor admires the work, he notices
something in the window of the church. Amy asks if it is a face and the
Doctor tells her that it is, and that it isn't a nice face.
The Doctor approaches Dr. Black, interrupting his talk and asks
him when the painting was painted, asking him to skip a long speech. Dr.
Black tells him that it was probably between the first and third of
June in 1890. The Doctor thanks him, then the two men compliment each
others bow ties. The Doctor then grabs Amy's hand and pulls her away.
She asks about looking at the rest of the paintings, but he shoves her
ahead, telling her that it is a matter of life and death, and that they
must talk to Vincent van Gogh.
The materializes and the Doctor and
Amy exit. The Doctor tells Amy the plan, to find van Gogh, wait for him
to take them to the church, then defeat the monster. Amy exclaims that
it will be easy, but the Doctor disagrees. He says that van Gogh will
probably be in the local café and describes it. Amy flicks through her
van Gogh guide and finds a painting of it. The Doctor tells her that
that painting is the one, then Amy points out that the real café is
right infront of them.
The Doctor approaches the owner and asks about Vincent van Gogh.
The owner disappears inside, so the Doctor asks the waitresses. The
waitresses tell the Doctor and Amy that van Gogh is a mad drunk who
never pays his bills. The Doctor tells them he's a good painter and the
two women just laugh at him.
As the Doctor sits at a table, a man follows the owner out of the
café and tries to bargain with him, one painting for a drink. The
Doctor points to the man and mouths to Amy that he is van Gogh. The
owner says that the painting is no good, and tells van Gogh to either
pay for drinks or get out. The Doctor offers to either pay for van
Gogh's drink or to buy the painting, to which van Gogh asks who the
Doctor is. The Doctor tells him that he is new in town, to which van
Gogh tells him three things; that he pays for his own drinks, that
no-one buys his paintings lest they be laughed out of town and that Amy
is cute, but the Doctor should not interfere.
Van Gogh returns to bargaining with the owner who still refuses
to give him a drink, until Amy interferes and tells the two to shut up.
She tells the owner that she will buy a bottle of wine, and will share
it with whomever she wishes, looking at van Gogh. The owner agrees and
follows Amy inside.
Inside, the Doctor and Amy talk with van Gogh. Van Gogh asks about Amy's
accent and whether she comes from Holland. She replies "no" while the
Doctor replies "yes" at the same time. The Doctor introduces himself
properly as "the Doctor", which causes van Gogh to believe that he is a
doctor sent by his brother to help him with his mental state. The Doctor
laughs at the notion and points to a painting beside van Gogh. Amy says
that it is one of her favourites, to which van Gogh tells her she's
never seen it before. She covers up her mistake and van Gogh comments on
her hair colour, so she comments on his. Vincent
and Amy at the Café.
The Doctor interrupts and asks Vincent if he has painted any churches
lately and van Gogh tells him that he has been thinking about painting
one church. The Doctor says that is good news, when someone screams, the
Doctor says that that is not good news.
Out in the street, the three find a girl who has been killed. The
mother of the girl pushes her way through, then blames Vincent for her
daughter's death. She and some of the crowd throw stones at Vincent, so
the Doctor, Amy and Vincent leave immediately. The Doctor asks Vincent
if a similar murder has happened before. Vincent tells him that there
was one a week ago and the Doctor says he thought so. He tells Vincent
that he must get home. Vincent asks where the Doctor and Amy are
staying, which the Doctor takes as an invite to stay with him. Amy
nervously laughs and follows the Doctor, Vincent in tail of the two.
Outside Vincent's home, the Doctor comments on the dark and the
starry night. Van Gogh says that Amy and the Doctor will be alright to
stay with him for one night, and one night only. Amy exclaims that they
will be staying with him and the Doctor tells her until he paints the
church.
Inside, van Gogh lights a lamp and apologizes about the
"clutter", saying he must really clear it out. Vincent offers coffee and
after seeing Vincent put coffee on one of his works, the Doctor tells
him to be careful with his work and that they are precious. Vincent
disagrees with the Doctor, but Amy tells Vincent that they are precious
to her. The Doctor asks about the church, to which Vincent asks about
his obsession with it. The Doctor asks about Vincent, and Vincent tells
him that it seems to him the world offers much more than the normal eye
can see. The Doctor agrees with him, glancing at Amy.
Soon after, Vincent wildly talks about colours and how he can
hear them, and how he thinks. The Doctor stares at Vincent saying that
he believes he has had enough coffee. The Doctor asks where Amy is and a
scream comes from outside.
Vincent and the Doctor rush outside and find Amy on the ground,
shaken, but not injured. The Doctor says not to worry that the attacker
has gone, but Vincent screams and runs to get a fork. The Doctor tries
to calm Vincent down, but Vincent runs towards them. Amy and the Doctor
move to the side and van Gogh tells them to run. The Doctor agrees and
tells Amy that Vincent is having a fit. The Doctor again tries to calm
Vincent down, telling him that it is only him there, when something
large knocks him off his feet. Amy shouts that she cannot see anything
and asks what it is. The Doctor agrees that her question is good. He
gets up and grabs a stick, telling Vincent he will help him fight it.
Vincent asks the Doctor if he can see the creature too, to which the
Doctor says he can, kind of, and finally not. The Doctor then gets hit
again and thrown over a table, landing on his back. Vincent tells the
Doctor that he couldn't see the creature. The Doctor returns to where
the creature was, swinging his stick around, while Vincent attacks the
creature and fends it off. Both Vincent and Amy watch as the Doctor
continues to fight nothing, swinging his stick around. Vincent tells the
Doctor that the creature has gone, to which the Doctor stops.
The three return inside. The Doctor says that the creature was
invisible, and asks Vincent what it looked like. Vincet says he'll show
them and begins to paint over one of his paintings, much to the Doctor
and Amy's horror. After he has finished, the Doctor takes the painting
from van Gogh and gives Amy instructions to keep Vincent safe. Amy
protests the Doctor going outside as it is dangerous, but the Doctor
decides to still go, telling them he'll be back before they can say
"where's he got to now?" The Doctor leaves and Amy turns back to
Vincent. The Doctor screams "not that fast" to keep the two on their
toes and says he'll be pretty fast, then leaves.
The Doctor walks down the alleyways, seemingly being followed by the
creature, but reaches the TARDIS before he comes to any danger. Inside,
he drags a chest from one of the alcoves, talking to a specific item. He
apologizes to the item, saying he thought it was just a useless,
embarrassing present from his godmother, who had two heads and bad
breath, on both the heads. He pulls out a machine attached to a mirror and
puts it up on the TARDIS console. He links it up to the TARDIS and
sticks his tongue out at it. The machine identifies the Doctor as
"Doctor" and his home planet as
and prints a copy out on the console's typewriter, including pictures
of the first and
incarnations. The Doctor then shows Vincent's drawing of the creature
to the mirror in order to identify it. The machine first identifies it
as a parrot, then a polar bear, both of which the Doctor dismisses. He
then complains that the impressionists are not accurate enough and that
it wouldn't happen with one of the "proper" painters, but then
apologizes to Vincent. He says that Vincent will have to draw something
better and throws the painting away behind him. The
Doctor attempting to identify the 'invisible monster'.
Leaving the TARDIS, now day, the Doctor alters the machine. The
creature appears behind the Doctor, appearing in the mirror. The
machine's "match" noise sounds and the Doctor says that there may be a
time delay, but the machine always gets it in the end, not noticing the
actual creature behind him. The Doctor reads the details on the
creature, a , before noticing that it is directly
behind him. The Doctor begins to run and hides behind a corner. He uses
the mirror to see the creature charging towards him, before running
again. He tries to slow the creature by blocking its path, and the
creature hits its head on an archway. The Doctor hides behind another
corner and sees the creature fleeing. He breathes a sigh of relief,
before turning the corner and seeing Amy. Both of them scream and the
Doctor says that she scared the living daylights out of him. Amy
apologizes and says that she was bored of Vincent's snoring.
The Doctor enters Vincent's room and opens the windows, letting in a
flood of light and waking Vincent up. Vincet gets up as the Doctor
leaves the room, telling Vincent that Amy brought him a present. Amy
tells him she brought the present for saving her the previous night.
Vincent looks out to see the outside surrounded by sunflowers. Amy
suggests he paint the flowers, but Vincent says that they are not his
favourite flower, much to the surprise of Amy and the Doctor. Vincent
explains that he finds them complex, half-living and half-dying, a
little disgusting, but a challenge. The Doctor tells Vincent he is sure
he will rise to the challenge. Amy
amidst the sunflowers.
The Doctor shows Vincent a picture of the Krafayis, explaining how
the species travels in space as a pack and that they are a brutal race;
if one falls behind, the rest of the pack do not return for it. He
explains that this particular one has been left behind, and like the
other Krafayis abandoned across the universe, it will kill without mercy
until killed, which they usually are not, given their invisibility. The
Doctor tells Vincent that they are in a unique position of being able
to stop this one if Vincent paints the church. Vincent asks about the
monster, but the Doctor tells him that if he paints the church, the
monster will come. Vincent agrees and the Doctor tells him that he and
Amy will be no longer bothering him by the next day and will be gone.
After Vincent has left the room, the Doctor tells Amy that taking
Vincent is risky. Amy asks if it is riskier than normal. The Doctor
checks to see that Vincent is not listening and tells Amy that if
Vincent is killed, half the pictures in the Musée d'Orsay will disappear
and that it will be their fault.
The Doctor knocks on Vincent's door and enters. He finds Vincent
on his bed crying. The Doctor asks if he can help. Vincent tells the
Doctor that he and Amy will leave as everyone always leaves him, that he
will be left with an empty heart and no hope. The Doctor tells Vincent
that his experience is that there is always hope, but Vincent tells him
that he does not have a full experience and that he knows it will not
end well. The Doctor tries to console him, but Vincent gets angry and
tells him to get out. The Doctor leaves.
Amy asks the Doctor what is happening and the Doctor explains how
delicate Vincent is, that he will eventually shoot himself, and that is
why they should leave. After looking at some of Vincent's paintings,
the Doctor says that he and Amy must go to the church and hope that the
Krafayis still turns up. Before they can leave, Vincent appears at the
door, fully clothed and ready to go, selecting a paintbrush.
Amy, walking arm in arm with Vincent, tells him that she is sorry
he is sad. He tells her that the moods he has last for weeks or even
months, but that he can soldier on if she can. She tells him that she is
not soldiering on but he says to her that he can hear the song of her
sadness and points out that she is crying. He tells Amy that he
understands but Amy replies, telling him that she does not. The Doctor,
having listened to the conversation interrupts and proposes a plan.
Vincent says that they will fight the creature, but the Doctor explains
that it needs to be more developed, that he needs to be able to see the
creature as well. Amy asks how the Doctor is supposed to see the
monster, to which he replies that he has the answer inside a box he is
carrying, giving praise to his godmother.
Further up the road, the three see the funeral of the girl who
was killed the previous night. They stand at the side of the road,
Vincent having taken his hat off in respect, as the coffin passes with
sunflowers on top. Amy asks the Doctor if he has a plan, to which he
tells her that he doesn't, but something similarly greater.
Vincent sets up his easle as the Doctor makes sure that he will
be told when the creature appears. Vincent tells the Doctor that he is
mad and not stupid. The Doctor begins to explain that he may not
actually be mad, just deeply depressed, but Vincent tells him to shush,
and that he is working.
As Vincent paints, the Doctor talks about watching
painting the Sistine Chaple, and how he winged because he was afraid of
heights but Amy tells him to shush. Later he moves on to , and how
he tried to advise him on his paintings. Much later, the Doctor, bored,
asks if time normally passes really slowly and in the correct order. He
stands up and tells Amy and Vincent that he can't stand an unpunctual
alien attack. Amy asks if he is nervous, when Vincent tells the two that
the monster is now at the window.
The Doctor tells Amy and Vincent that he is going in, so Vincent
tells him that he is going in too. The Doctor stresses that Vincent is
Vincent van Gogh, and that he is not going in. Vincent protests that the
Doctor is not armed, but the Doctor tells him that he is, with
overconfidence, the machine and a small screwdriver. The Doctor says that all he needs to
do is find the correct prozac setting to stun the creature. He gives
Amy one simple instruction, not to follow him and signals to Vincent to
watch her. Amy agrees and the Doctor heads towards the church. Vincent
leans in towards Amy and asks if she will follow him, and she tells him
that she will. Vincent then tells Amy that he loves her.
Just outside the chapel, the Doctor opens his box and takes out
the machine. He puts it on and before heading into the chapel, looks at a
carving above the door, a carving of an angel slaying a dragon. Inside,
the Doctor looks around for the Krafayis. Outside, Amy asks Vincent if
the Krafayis has moved. Vincent tells her that it hasn't, but suddenly
tells her that it has turned around. After approaching the window where
the Krafayis was, the Doctor believes the creature has moved. Suddenly, a
hand knocks the Doctor flying. Amy and Vincent hear the crash, look at
each other and head inside to help the Doctor. The Doctor recovers from
his fall and tries to stun the Krafayis. He runs towards a room when he
bumps into Amy. The two of them hide in a confessions box to hide. While
inside, the Doctor tells Amy to breath quieter. Amy says that she
cannot, then believes that it has walked past them. Then the Krafayis
begins attacking the confessions box, and the Doctor compliments its
excellent hearing.
Vincent then calls on the monster, fighting it with a chair,
while telling Amy and the Doctor to get behind him. The Doctor, twice,
tries to stun the Krafayis again but is unsuccessful and on the second
attempt, the Krafayis actually seems to enjoy it. Vincent tells the
Doctor to duck as the creature takes a swipe at him, then to move to his
left. However, because of miscommunication, left being Vincent's left
and not the Doctor's, the Doctor is hit by the monster against a wall.
The Doctor suggests that they run like crazy and regroup, so Amy chooses
the nearest room to hide in. They get in the room and attempt to close
the door until the creature blocks it with its foot. Vincent, however,
stands on the foot and the creature retreats.
The Doctor begins to tell Amy and Vincent his plan, but
accidentally calls Vincent, Rory. When Amy asks what the plan is, the
Doctor tells her that the only plan he is sure of his that he will only
use his sonic screwdriver to screw in screws in future. Vincent tells
Amy and the Doctor to give him a second and that he will be back. The
Doctor considers talking to the Krafayis and hearing his side of the
story. Although he thinks the Krafayis may not be in the mood for it,
the Doctor but tries anyway. The Doctor explains to the creature that he
understands that it is trapped on the planet and alone, and tells it
that he is also alone. Suddenly, the window behind them smashes open and
the invisible creature jumps through.
Vincent returns with his easle, holding the feet up, the spikes
being used as a weapon. The Doctor asks what it is doing and is told it
is feeling it's way around the room. The Doctor calls himself stupid and
comments that he is getting old. The Doctor figures out that the
Krafayis is blind and raises his voice when mentioning the fact it has
perfect hearing. Vincent then tells them that it is now charging towards
them. Vincent runs forward as the creature charges, telling the Doctor
and Amy to get back. The creature is stabbed by the easle, and Vincent
is sent hanging in the air. As the creature falls to the ground, Vincent
lets go of the easle and lands on his feet.
Vincent tells the Doctor that he didn't mean to kill the
creature, and the Doctor comforts it as it dies. He makes out that the
creature says that it is afraid and the Doctor tells it not to be while
stroking it. Vincent compares the Krafayis to humans who lash out when
they are frightened, much like those in the town that scream at him and
the children who throw stones at him. The Doctor then says that
sometimes winning is no fun at all.
Amy, Vincent and the Doctor lie in a field and hold hands. Vincent asks
the other two to see the world as he does, describing the night sky. The
Doctor tells him that he has seen nothing as wonderful as what Vincent
has. Vincent tells the Doctor and Amy that he will miss them when they
are gone. The
Doctor, Vincent and Amy gazing up at the 'Starry Night'
The next morning, Vincent tries to give the Doctor a self portrait as
a gift, but the Doctor refuses (though Vincent isn't surprised).
Vincent hugs Amy who tells him to be good and kind to himself and to
trim his beard before next kissing someone. Vincent also tells Amy that
if she tires of the Doctor, she should return and they could have
children together. Vincent then tells the Doctor that he thinks he might
not do as well on his own than when he was with him. They embrace in a
hug, then Amy and the Doctor leave.
Outside, the Doctor asks Amy if she is thinking what he is
thinking. She replies telling him she wants food before they leave, not
exactly what the Doctor was thinking. The Doctor then calls Vincent, who
hangs out a window, and tells him he has something to show him and to
tidy himself up first.
The Doctor takes Vincent to a poster covered TARDIS and lets him
inside. Vincent then peers out of the TARDIS and feels the outside walls
before going back in and asking how he is crazy and the Doctor and Amy
are sane. The Doctor enters and takes Vincent's hat off him, placing it
on the hatstand. Amy closes the door and they head to the console.
Vincent asks what all of the buttons do and the Doctor explains several
of them; one which plays soothing music, one which makes a large noise
and one which makes everything shake. Vincent asks what a button does
and the Doctor lunges forward to stop Vincent from pressing it, telling
him that it is the Friction Contrafibulator. Then Vincent asks what
another button does, to which the Doctor tells him that it is ketchup,
then points to another which he calls mustard.
Vincent asks them back to the café, but the Doctor tells him that
he wishes to show him something first. In Paris 2010, outside the Musée
d'Orsay, the last few posters burn off the TARDIS. Amy, Vincent and the
Doctor step outside and head into the museum, the Doctor explaining
when and where they are.
The three enter the van Gogh exhibition. Vincent looks around at his
work in awe at the number of people looking at them. The Doctor then
asks Dr. Black to tell him where van Gogh stands in the importance of
the history of art. Amy positions Vincent behind Dr. Black so he can
hear all the positive things he thinks of him; that he is the finest
painter of them all, the most popular painter who managed to transform
his pain into beauty, that he was not only the world's greatest artist
but also one of the greatest men of all time. Vincent
in the Musée d'Orsay
At hearing these words, Vincent begins to cry, but when the Doctor
asks if it is too much, he replies that they are tears of joy. Vincent
then kisses, hugs and thanks Dr. Black, apologizing about his beard
after. Dr. Black then walks away, but pauses for a moment to ponder. He
looks back and then dismisses the thought.
The Doctor returns Vincent to his own place and time. Vincent
tells the Doctor that he will be a new man and the Doctor tells Vincent
that it has been an honour. Amy then hugs Vincent as he jokes about her
marital status, to which Amy tells him she in not the marrying kind. The
TARDIS departs and Vincent walks off.
Vincent's
dedication of Sunflowers for Amy.Amy and the
Doctor return to the Musée d'Orsay, Amy believing that there will be
hundreds more paintings, but the Doctor is doubtful. In the gallery, Amy
finds no new paintings and hears Dr. Black still saying that he
commited suicide at age 37. Amy thinks that they didn't make a
difference to Vincent's life at all, but the Doctor explains to her that
although good things can't remove the bad things, the bad things can't
spoil the good things, and that they certainly added a large amount of
good things to Vincent's life. The Doctor also shows Amy that they did
make a couple of minor changes, such as the non-existance of the evil
face in the church window.
As Amy walks away, she walks towards another painting, one of
sunflowers, which she sees is dedicated in her name. She tells the
Doctor that if they had been married, their children would have had very
red hair. The Doctor calls them the "Ultimate Ginger". Amy smiles at
him and says the "Ultimate Ginge". The two chuckle together as Amy tears
up.
Cast
- Matt
Smith
Amy Pond -
- Tony
Curran
Dr Black - Bill
Nighy (uncredited)
- Chrissie Cotterill
Student -
Student -
- Nik
Howden
Waitress - Sarah Counsell
Crew
Executive Producers: Steven
Moffat, and Beth
Willis
Produced
byPatrick Schweitzer
Directed
by
Richard Curtis Brian
Minchin and
Director of
PhotographyTony Slater
Ling
Edward
Thomas
Visual Effects
Make-up
DesignerBarbara Southcott
Casting
DirectorAndy Pryor CDG
MusicMurray
Gold
Costume DesignerRay
Holman
Special Effects
Original theme music by Ron
Grainer• Title
sequence by •
With thanks to ,
General production staff
Production
Executive -
-
Location
Manager -
- Rhys Griffiths
Production
Co-ordinator - Jess van Niekerk
Production Management Assistant -
-
Production
Accountant -
A/Production Accountant - Carole Wakefield
Directorial/DOP staff
1st Assistant
Director -
2nd Assistant
Director -
3rd Assistant
Director -
- Nicola
Eynon Price,
- Non Eleri Hughes
-
B Camera
Operator - Matthew
Poynter
-
- John Robinson
Assistant
Camera - , Jon
Vidgen
-
- Mark Hutchings
Best Boy -
-
Ben Griffiths, Steve Slocombe, ,
Art department
Supervising
Art Director - Stephen Nicholas
Art
Department Co-ordinator -
Associate
Designer -
- Ben
Morris
-
- Catherine Samuel
-
Storyboard
Artist -
Concept
Artists - Richard Shaun
Williams,
-
- ,
Standby
Art Director - Tristan Peatfield
Standby
Carpenter -
- Keith Freeman
Standby
Painter -
- Paul Aitken
Dressing
Chargehand -
- Martin
Broadbent,
Props
Fabrication Manager - Barry
Jones
-
Penny Howarth, Nicholas Robatto
Construction
Manager - Matthew Hywel-Davies
Construction
Chargehand -
Practical
Electrician -
- ,
- BBC Wales Graphics
Costume
Costume
Supervisor -
Crowd
Supervisor - Lindsay Bonacorssi
Costume
Assistants - ,
Make-up and prosthetics
Make-up
Supervisor -
Make-up
Artists - , Morag
Smith
Movement
Stunt
Co-ordinator - Crispin Layfield
Casting
Casting
Associates: ,
General post-production staff
Post-production
Supervisors - , Chris Blatchford
Post-production
Co-ordinator -
-
- Matthew Clarke, Mark
Bright
Special and visual effects
-
- Mick
Vincent
Sound
- Bryn
Thomas
- Tim
Ricketts
Sound
Maintenance Engineer - Jeff
Welch
Supervising
Sound Editor -
Sound FX
Editor -
Foley
Editor -
Not
every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a
credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required.
The information above is based solely on observations of the actual
end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information
from IMDB or other sources.
This was the first episode of the BBC
Wales series to have two credited script editors. Oddly, was
credited at the end of the roll, suggesting she was considered more
"senior" than .
As on , Patrick Schweitzer was double-credited as both
and .
References
The episode makes numerous direct and indirect references to van
Gogh's most famous works, though artistic liberty was taken in regard
to their chronology and the locations in which they were painted. While
the setting for the episode was ostensibly Auvers-Sur-Oise, the last
place of residence and resting place of van Gogh, where he painted Church
at Auvers, inspiration for the set decoration of his home and the
cafe he frequented (or rather was frequently thrown out of), came
from works he previously produced while living in Arles several years
before (Bedroom in Arles, Cafe Terrance at Night). Also,
while the episode suggested Amy Pond inspired van Gogh to paint
sunflowers, particularly Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers,
to which he then 'dedicated' to her, they were, in fact, painted in
1887 and 1888.
Van Gogh works referenced in the episode include: Church at
Auvers (1890), Bedroom in Arles (1887), Cafe Terrance at
Night (1888), Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers (1888),
Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890), The Starry Night (1889), Wheatfield
With Crows (1890), Vincent's Chair with His Pipe (1888), Self-Portrait
with Straw Hat (1887).
Among the posters covering the TARDIS are those for the cafe Au
Tambourin at 27 Rue Richelieu in Paris, which was the first place to
exhibit van Gogh's artwork in Paris.
The Doctor refers to having met
and .
The Doctor expresses frustration with van Gogh's
'impressionist' style when attempting to identify the invisible monster
(though van Gogh is considered to be post-Impressionist by art
historians), suggesting that this would "never happen with ,
one of those proper painters." While this suggests the Doctor's
affinity for some notion of 'scientific accuracy' over emotive artistic
expression, he later humbly tells Vincent that while he has seen many
things, "you are right, nothing quite as wonderful as the things you
see."
Story notes
The episode was incorrectly entitled, Lend Me Your Ear.
However, no mention or reference was made in the episode regarding van
Gogh's ear at all.
Unlike most stories in this series, this story focuses much
more on characters than plot, and has hints and references to van Gogh's
depression and suicide, something the series has not explored very much
before. In fact, a message and phone number for the 'BBC Action Line'
was broadcast following the 'Next Time' trail, for those wanting more
information on 'issues raised in this program.'
Pictures of the First and Second Doctors are printed on the
TARDIS' typewriter.
This is the second story in the series to lack any cracks,
silence, or other foreshadowing of the series' finale (the first being Amy's
Choice). However, it does tie in to 's death
and establishes that, on some level, Amy is aware he has died.
Although originally believed to be standalone, spoilers make
this story involved with the series arc, some mentioning van Gogh's
paintings, one of which is Dr. Gatchet, relating to the finale. Dr.
Gatchet is supposed to be appearing in the mentioned episode. Others
include van Gogh communicating a disturbing prophecy to the Doctor in
the finale through one of his paintings, and a van Gogh reference in : The
Lodger.
Bill Nighy was not credited for his role.
Numerous positive or affirmative references were made in the
episode to van Gogh and Amy's hair colour, perhaps in a conscious effort
to address the accusation by some viewers of the program being
'anti-ginger' (the so-called 'ginger' controversy).
The song used for the final scenes is "Chances" by Athlete.
Amy attempting to get Vincent to paint 'The Sunflowers' is
similar to Rose trying to get Queen Victoria to say, "I am not amused." (: Tooth and Claw)
Ratings
5.0 million
Filming locations
National Museum of Wales
Trogir, Croatia
Roald Dahl Plass ,
which is supposed to double for the Musée d'Orsay in Paris
Rumours
It was rumoured that either the Timoreen, the Ha'rik or the
Skarkish will appear. The monster was a Krafayis.
It was rumoured that Vincent van Gogh will stab a yellow
monster. He stabbed the Krafayis, the monster was pale yellow.
Howard Lee plays a character called "Dr. Gachet" .
Dr. Gachet was van Gogh's real doctor, who nursed him during his final
years. He was mentioned but he was not actually in the episode.
Nighy plays a van Gogh expert, with similar fashion tastes to
the Doctor himself. This turned out also true. He also wore a bowtie.
Steven Moffat stated in a recent interview that the
controversial topic of the regeneration limit for Time Lords will be
"addressed in a very, very cheeky way by an old friend of mine" at some
point in Series 5.
As the "old friend" could very well be Richard Curtis, the issue might
be addressed in this episode. This turned out to be false for this
episode, but it could happen in later episodes with Alex Kingston's
character River Song addressing the subject, as Steven Moffatt created
her character.
As a Vincent van Gogh painting will feature in the events of "The Pandorica Opens", it was likely that this story
would bring more developments to the main story arc of the series.
This was not the case, with the episode being more or less a
stand-alone story, but apparently the finale will still feature a van
Gogh painting in some way. This connection may be illuminated in "The
Lodger", as a pamphlet for a van Gogh exhibit can be seen on Craig's
fridge in the trailer. Although, the Doctor does take a van Gogh
painting inside the TARDIS trying to identify the Krafayis, he pitches
the painting over his shoulder into the TARDIS. Perhaps that painting is
the one to carry a message 1,000 years into the future.
It was rumoured that Vincent will propose to Amy or ask the
Doctor to travel with them because in the preview clips, he shows a
large interest in Amy and the Doctor and even tells Amy that he loves
her. This turned out true.
Production errors
When running through the streets with his mirror, the Doctor
screams "Ahh", but his mouth is not synced with his screaming.
For most of the episode, Amy is wearing tights. During the
church scene, when van Gogh starts painting the Church, they've gone.
Later on when the group are hiding from the monster, she's wearing them
again, as was the case with the previous episode.
When in the chapel looking for the monster, the Doctor switches
the mirror from his left to right side while holding his sonic
screwdriver. For each change, the camera angle also changes, and the
sonic screwdriver changes from being in closed mode and extended mode.
At the beginning, when looking at the painting of the church,
the Doctor scratches his head. When the camera is behind the Doctor, he
uses his right hand but when the camera cuts to in front of him, he is
using his left hand.
Continuity
If you'd like to talk about narrative problems
with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other
stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
The Doctor and compliment each other's bow ties, the Doctor
exclaiming again that "bow ties are cool". (: The Eleventh Hour, Amy's
Choice)
The Doctor mentions that he had a godmother with two heads.
Before his , he declared that he might
have ended up with two heads. (: The Parting of the Ways) Although it seemed
like a joke at the time, this statement suggests that a regeneration
actually could result in the creation of an extra head. It may also be a
reference to the . (: The Time of Angels)
The and second
Doctors are pictured.
The Doctor finds his species identifier device by rifling
through a chest in the TARDIS' alcoves; this plot device for providing
artifacts and tools was utilised in several of the previous
incarnations' series (e.g. : The Abominable Snowmen, where the Second
Doctor finds a holy Tibetan bell and Jamie a set of bagpipes). It has also been used in the Tenth
Doctor's era, in which he retrieved an Agatha Christie novel. (: The Unicorn and the Wasp)
The Doctor once again mentions that he is aging mentally,
contrasting with his physical appearance. (: Time
Crash, )
Amy mentions that the Doctor took her to .
The planet was featured in : , and the "fall of Arcadia" was mentioned
as one of the events of the Time War in : .
The Doctor mentions ,
to which Amy asks "who?" Amy also says that the Doctor is being extra
kind to her, feeling guilty about Rory's erasure. Van Gogh also sees
that Amy is crying, although she doesn't know why; he theorises that she
has lost someone. After receiving a half-joking marriage proposal from
Vincent, Amy tells him that she's "not the marrying kind". (: Cold
Blood).
This marks the fourth episode this season which opens on a
nature shot. :
The Time of Angels, Amy's
Choice, The Hungry Earth and this episode all open on beautiful,
wide-open fields on bright, sunny days.
Vincent van Gogh is the second historical figure in the new
series to have romantic feelings for one of the Doctor's companions and
the third to have such feelings for a member of the TARDIS crew.
Previously, made advances
towards , and Madame de Pompadour fell in love
with the Doctor. (: The Shakespeare Code, The Girl in the Fireplace)
Home video releases
- Doctor Who Series Five - Volume
Three will feature , The Hungry Earth, Cold
Blood and Vincent and the Doctor. It will be released on Monday 2nd
August 2010 (UK Only) on DVD and Blu-ray.
