'Doctor Who' Offers a Chaotic, Heartfelt Farewell to Thirteen in "The Power of the Doctor"

Its the end of multiple eras on Doctor Who as the series says goodbye to Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker, showrunner Chris Chibnall, and its fifth decade, all while celebrating the 100th anniversary of the media corporation that made it all possible in the first place.

"The Power of the Doctor" is a feature-length special that has to serve many masters (pardon the pun). While it doesn't succeed in every aspect of that brief, it's a big, chaotic spectacle that provides enough fan service to paper over most of its narrative cracks.

Granted, its story specifics fall apart under the slightest scrutiny. The episode brings back so many supporting and ancillary characters that it often struggles to give them anything worthy to do. (Poor John Bishop is barely even present, and as much as I love Jacob Anderson in other things, I have no idea why Vinder exists in the world of the show.)