By Paul Driscoll

Obverse Books, out now

Obverse Books’ ongoing series of monographs focusing on a Doctor Who serial or story hits 2010’s Series 5 episode, Vincent and the Doctor.

In his fascinating examination of Vincent and the Doctor, Paul Driscoll takes a deep dive into the Matt Smith era celebrity historical, unearthing detail and ideas that you most probably haven’t considered before.

The episode brings with it the dual-edged sword of its writer, Richard Curtis, a high-profile scribe with a distinctive style that frequently uses time travel devices, but typically within romcoms that are heavy on the schmaltz. Quite whether that ‘Curtisland’ formula works within Doctor Who is challenged by Driscoll, who brings many discussion points to the table.

Driscoll looks at the episode through different lenses – how it reflects the voice of the artist and his enduring mythology, and even just how effective the monster Krafayis is. Mental distress and suicide are core to the story, reflecting Curtis’ own tragic personal experience, and we also look at how these subjects have been tackled within the wider show. Of great interest, and showing some very detailed research, is the section on the voice of the paintings, boasting an incredibly detailed appendix on all of Van Gogh’s works used in the episode.

Verdict: Vincent and the Doctor was, and remains, an important episode of Doctor Who that isn’t afraid to confront difficult subjects. Armed with Driscoll’s book, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of both its intentions and how successful it was in achieving them. 8/10

Nick Joy