Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

Year: 2013

Runtime: 60 mins

Language: English

Director: Jamie Payne

Drama

Orbiting a remote planet, a vast army of the universe’s most dangerous species converges, responding to a strange signal emanating into space. The Doctor, accompanied by his companion Clara, is caught in the middle of this cosmic gathering. After rescuing Clara from a Christmas celebration, they must uncover the meaning of the signal and confront the threat it represents, a danger that is intrinsically linked to the Doctor’s own destiny and the safety of the universe.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor (2013)

Trace every key event in Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor (2013) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Mysterious broadcast draws the galaxy

A planet broadcasts a cryptic message that attracts every powerful race in the universe. The gathering fleets converge toward the signal, setting the stage for a dangerous confrontation.

Space near the broadcast planet
2

The Doctor arrives on a peace mission

The Doctor arrives aboard a spaceship offering peace and camaraderie to the assembled fleets. As a gesture of goodwill he shows the severed eye stalk of a Dalek to the crowd.

Spaceship above the planet
3

Daleks attack; Handles enters the scene

Daleks aboard the ship move to attack the Doctor's peace gesture. He calls for 'Handles' and is teleported back to the TARDIS, bringing with him a severed Cyberman head.

Dalek ship / TARDIS interior
4

Clara reaches the Doctor by phone

On the TARDIS, the Doctor receives a request from Clara to pose as her boyfriend for Christmas dinner. The request pulls him back toward Earth as danger closes in.

TARDIS / Earth vicinity
5

Naked Doctor and mind-made clothes

The TARDIS lands outside Clara's flat and the Doctor appears naked. He uses a device to project clothes into Clara's mind, explaining that the illusion isn't being broadcast.

Clara's flat
6

Family dinner and a plan to help with Christmas

Clara's family dinner is underway but feels off. The Doctor explains the strange behavior and suggests using the TARDIS to help with Christmas preparations.

Clara's family home
7

Signal traced to Gallifrey; shielded planet

The signal is traced to Gallifrey, the Doctor's home world thought lost beyond the universe. The planet is shielded, so neither the TARDIS nor conventional means can reach it.

Space near Gallifrey
8

Papal Mainframe and Tasha Lem

The TARDIS travels to the Papal Mainframe to meet Tasha Lem, who can authorize a descent to the planet. Clara encounters a Silence during this visit, and Lem explains why the planet was sealed to prevent bloodshed.

Papal Mainframe orbit
9

Down to Trenzalore; truth field and Christmas town

They descend to the planet and encounter the Weeping Angels. They reach the town of Christmas, where no one can tell a lie, revealing the truth field created by the signal. The Doctor links this to the cracks he had found in Amy’s house.

Trenzalore / Town of Christmas
10

Cracks, name, and the plan to re-enter

The Doctor realizes the signal is coming from Gallifrey through cracks formed by the TARDIS explosion. They wait for him to utter his true name to re-enter the universe. Clara is sent back to the TARDIS to return home while the Doctor remains to hold the line.

Bell tower on Trenzalore; Amy's house crack reference
11

The siege lasts centuries

A siege unfolds over hundreds of years as the Doctor defends Christmas against incursions by Weeping Angels, Cybermen and Sontarans. Gallifrey's return is held at bay by the Doctor's resolve and the Papal Mainframe's threat to destroy the world if he speaks.

Hundreds of years Trenzalore / Christmas
12

Handles dies; aging Doctor; the summit

Clara returns to find the Doctor aged and Handles dying; a summit at the Papal Mainframe reveals more about the Silence and Melody Pond. The Doctor learns of looming threats and the cost of ongoing resistance.

Years later Christmas / Papal Mainframe
13

Daleks attack; Lem reveals true allegiance

The Daleks attack the Papal Mainframe on a ship. Tasha Lem reveals she has become a Dalek eye stalk but regains her original personality to aid the Doctor and Clara's escape.

Papal Mainframe / ship
14

The Doctor regenerates; new era begins

The Time Lords flood the crack with regeneration energy, allowing the Doctor to regenerate. The new energy shatters the Dalek threat and buys Christmas time for the town.

Christmas
15

New Doctor: a gaunter, older face

The Doctor regenerates into a new, older form and notes his kidneys while the TARDIS shudders. Clara asks if he knows how to fly, hinting at the journey ahead.

TARDIS

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:24

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These movies are united by their specific type of bittersweet ending, where salvation is purchased at the cost of the protagonist's current self. The emotional core is the duality of success and loss, creating a powerful and memorable conclusion that resonates long after the credits roll.

Unlock the Full Story of Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

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Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Spoiler-Free Summary

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