Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Episode
Dublin Core
Title
Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Episode
Subject
Media and Television
Description
This is one of the advertisement poster photographs from the 2013 Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special episode 'Day of the Doctor.' This episode was a special that premiered in movie theaters around the world as it celebrated 50 years since the beginning of Doctor Who. Classic Who aired from 1963-1989 and modern Who picked up in 2005 and is still playing today. The revamping of the series gave the show an international following stronger than had been seen before and this event could be considered the height of modern Doctor Who. To make the episode special, Day of the Doctor featured all twelve Doctors, which in the context of the show should be an impossibility. The episode was full of nods at Classic Who and most of the episode featured the two most previous Doctors (10 and 11) interacting with one another. This made the episode an enormous draw for fans as any popular show cross-over would do, but it was distinctive as it crossed-over with itself.
In the advertisement, BBC shows the 10th and 11th doctors standing back to back to show that they would be seen together in the episode and garner excitement for the crossover. In the middle, the advertisement also shows a new version of the Doctor that had never been seen before-- the War Doctor. The idea of a new Doctor the fans didn't know about was a way to draw in more viewers. The War Doctor's timeline took place in the time frame between 1989 and 2005 while the show was on hiatus and gave both classic and modern Who fans a bridge to explain the show's break in canon and maintain the suspension of disbelief while they watched the show. Otherwise, it is easy for viewers to be aware that the show went on hiatus after the vast unpopularity of the 8th doctor in the final years of classic Who. The War Doctor is also seen walking dramatically away from exploding Daleks (one of Doctor Who's main villains) while featuring an eye-catching color contrast between the orange of the War Doctor and the navy of the rest of the advertisement. This image is a promise to viewers that there will not only be multiple Doctors but also they will face incredible villains and dramatic plot. Behind the War Doctor is also a sign that says "Bad Wolf", which is a reference to a major plot point and character arc in the 10th Doctor's seasons. Fans take this sign as an indicator that one of the shows most beloved and influential main characters may make a cameo in the special (which she did). This poster reflects just how much of a phenomenon the 50th anniversary episode was and promised a viewing experience unlike anything that Doctor Who fans had seen before.
In the advertisement, BBC shows the 10th and 11th doctors standing back to back to show that they would be seen together in the episode and garner excitement for the crossover. In the middle, the advertisement also shows a new version of the Doctor that had never been seen before-- the War Doctor. The idea of a new Doctor the fans didn't know about was a way to draw in more viewers. The War Doctor's timeline took place in the time frame between 1989 and 2005 while the show was on hiatus and gave both classic and modern Who fans a bridge to explain the show's break in canon and maintain the suspension of disbelief while they watched the show. Otherwise, it is easy for viewers to be aware that the show went on hiatus after the vast unpopularity of the 8th doctor in the final years of classic Who. The War Doctor is also seen walking dramatically away from exploding Daleks (one of Doctor Who's main villains) while featuring an eye-catching color contrast between the orange of the War Doctor and the navy of the rest of the advertisement. This image is a promise to viewers that there will not only be multiple Doctors but also they will face incredible villains and dramatic plot. Behind the War Doctor is also a sign that says "Bad Wolf", which is a reference to a major plot point and character arc in the 10th Doctor's seasons. Fans take this sign as an indicator that one of the shows most beloved and influential main characters may make a cameo in the special (which she did). This poster reflects just how much of a phenomenon the 50th anniversary episode was and promised a viewing experience unlike anything that Doctor Who fans had seen before.
Creator
Lauren Sims
Source
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fprogrammes%2Fp01l1z04&psig=AOvVaw0gYM8Q4MwbD5Kb-C4IkV6d&ust=1581369215109000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNCpxMWxxecCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01l1z04
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01l1z04
Publisher
Lauren Sims
Contributor
Lauren Sims
Files
Collection
Citation
Lauren Sims, “Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Episode,” COM/ENG 395, accessed January 19, 2025, https://com395.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/items/show/96.