The TV movie has always been a source of fascination for me ever since I got into Doctor Who. For a very long time it was the only piece of televised media to feature the Eighth Doctor, and (presumably because of rights issues) its something that existed in a bit of a bubble. While New Who would reference various parts of Classic Who, the events of this film always seemed to be glossed over aside from the Eighth Doctor being an incarnation that existed. I was even aware that other characters from the film hadn't made their way into expanded media the way other characters and companions from the show's history had. So going into this I was so curious what it would be like, and if it felt like part of either Classic Who or New Who.

The long and short of it is it doesn't quite feel like either - but it also doesn't really serve as a bridge between them. While in the classic 4:3 aspect ratio, the way its shot is cinematic in a way no other part of the franchise really is, and tonally does feel like the kind of retooled American version of the show it technically was. There's plenty to like about it, but I ended my viewing with no doubt in my mind why this wasn't picked up as an ongoing series.

Unlike the Classic and Modern series, this film is not available for streaming anywhere for American audiences that I could find, so I utilized other means.

( But it was a childish dream that made you a doctor. You dreamed you could hold back death. Isn't that true? )