Ma. Angela Luz L.

Espinosa
Art Stud 2 X4

REACTION PAPER

Vincent Meet the Doctor is a Dr. Who episode that was released on June 5 2010. It was
an episode about Dr. Who and Amy revisiting Van Gogh in order to slay the monster that they
saw in one of his paintings. As they went back in time, friendships were forged with the artist
and the alien was eventually killed. This episode was really good in totality. Not only did I learn
so much about Van Gogh but it also made me feel very emotional.

The production of this episode was definitely great. The setting of the episode was quite
accurate to the time period in which Vincent Van Gogh existed in. Since Dr. Who visited Vincent
in the Arles period; it was great how the set designers based the setting through the paintings of
Van Gogh just like how they recreated the bar in which Vincent goes to. Also the actor which
they got for Vincent was very good at portraying as to how he was quite unstable and a drunkard.
More so he really looked like Vincent due to his red hair and very pale skin. Cinematography
wise, the way they shot the scenes were very helpful to really help convey feelings and
messages. They used close-ups whenever someone is going to say something important in order
for the audience to focus on it and dynamic shots whenever the alien appears to create suspense.
Personally, I really loved the shot in which the camera was rotating around Van Gogh in the
museum as he looked at his paintings and listened to the curator because it shows how he
realized that he is brilliant and he is worth of praise from people. This shot also made me think

that his life has come into full circle since he has to go back to his life without the Dr. Who and
Amy to be by his side.

Since this is a TV show, the portrayal of Van Goghs life was not as accurate compared to
documentaries since creative licenses were used to make the episode a lot more interesting. The
setting of the episode was on point but if one is looking for accuracy in this episode about Van
Gogh they should take note that the focus of the episode was about the slaying of the alien. They
did make an effort to expound more on Van Goghs personal life. This can be seen on how they
showed him in his manic states of depression or how he talked about his past roommate (who is
also an artist named Paul Gauguin). All in this entire episode seemed more like a snippet of Van
Goghs life rather than a biography.

Personally, I really enjoyed this episode probably because I am an artist myself who
shares the same sentiments with Van Gogh. Sometimes I too just feel like lying in bed all day and
making art would just seem so painful. More so, I also know the feeling of doubting yourself
when it comes to your art skills. I learned a lot of things in this episode not only regarding about
art but also about mental illnesses and helping those who are suffering from it. Making art is hard
work. It is not merely copying an object or drawing a thought in your head but I think it is giving
out a piece of your soul for the world to see. It gets a lot harder especially when you are left
unappreciated despite your hard work and talent and this is what Van Gogh experienced. I think
this episode made me think about what makes art beautiful or what makes it ugly. In my opinion
I think there isnt any ugly or beautiful art, there is just art that you like and art that you dont

like. People have different tastes and not pleasing the majority doesnt mean your art is terrible it
just means that people do not like it and that does not invalidate your skills as an artist.

Furthermore I also liked how this episode dealt with the topic of mental illnesses. It
shows how these people with mental illnesses can achieve great things just like Van Gogh. Yes
mental illnesses are very hard to deal with but that does not mean you are worthless. More so my
favorite part about this episode was how they realistically showed how you cant save people
from themselves and thats okay. In the end Van Gogh still committed suicide despite meeting
the Doctor and Amy but that does not mean that they did not give enough effort to make him
happy. They were able to slay the alien that was bothering Van Gogh but slaying the demons
within him would be a lifetime battle. The pain that Van Gogh had to live through all his life is
something he did not deserve but that pain had a purpose. Despite the challenges that he has
faced in his life, he was able to translate his great pain into something that brought him
happiness.

Overall this was an episode of Doctor Who that was produced quite well and made me
realize a lot of things. It made me think about how people perceive artworks and how they are
beautiful or not. It also made me realize how mental illness is not a dead end to greatness. One
day I hope to see the world like Van Gogh. To see all its beauty despite the present chaos
happening. In the end of this episode though he still committed suicide he will always be
remembered by everyone as a brilliant man who saw beauty everywhere in places most people
cant see.