Over 90 countries were tuned in for a day generations of “whovians” around the world have been waiting for in anticipation. The live, commercial-free Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special aired Nov. 23, winning it the world’s largest TV drama simulcast of all time.

BBC One’s “Doctor Who” has reached its 50th year, making it the longest running science fiction show on television.

Current Doctor Who director Steven Moffat has gone above and beyond with this special. Doctors and companions old and new reunited to make this 90-minute episode an adventure of monumental proportions for any die-hard fan.

The special paid tribute to the show’s history, using the original opening sequence from 1963 and also through a reprisal of older story lines. Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt came together to play three incarnations of the Doctor from different times in their own history. The three actors played off of each other brilliantly- Tennant, the tenth Doctor, brought back his old wit and charm, and Smith, the eleventh and current Doctor, maintained his quirky intelligence. Hurt was introduced as a previously forgotten, dark incarnation of the Doctor with an impossible decision to make.

The Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey, is trapped in a bloody war, and he must decide whether or not to end it by destroying his entire race along with their enemies, the Daleks. Any regular viewer of the show can tell you this story line is not new. In fact, viewers know that the Doctor does in fact make the terrible choice to destroy both the Daleks and his own race, the Time Lords. This horrible decision burdens his soul for years. In this special, Moffat takes this classic plot and readdresses it with a twist.

Moffat skillfully masters the art of time travel logic, all while weaving together an intelligently fun, quirky and thought-provoking adventure that is sure to please long-time viewers, first timers and everyone in between.

This enduring story line takes unexpected twists and turns, nods towards the Doctor’s past while simultaneously assuring a future for the show. In an interview on Buzzfeed.com Moffat said, “It’s a celebration of the past of Doctor Who… but, more importantly, it’s ensuring there’s gonna be a 100th anniversary.”