Doctor Who 4.13 – Journey’s End

[caz963]

Most of the reactions I’ve read to this episode so far have been fairly negative, which actually surprises me. (Although come to think of it, maybe it doesn't.) I mean, it moved at a cracking pace, the effects were, of course, excellent, and I really liked seeing the Doctor’s “family” all together. Yes, there were some serious plot holes and yes, I’m devastated about Donna, but overall, I thought it was a good episode and well done.

RTD got everything in here – drama, humour, action, pathos and, at the end, tragedy and while there are aspects of the story I really didn’t like, I can’t say that it was badly executed.

Okay, so we got a fake regeneration, as most of us suspected. I don’t think the Doc has ever done that before – used his regenerative powers to heal a mortal wound and then diverted the rest of the energy elsewhere because he didn’t want to change; he’s never had that choice before, has he? – so that did feel like a bit of a cop out. BUT – I think it’s important to remember that this is basically a kid’s show - and that back in the days of “old” Who, that sort of thing happened all the time. There’d be a cliffhanger one week from which escape seemed completely impossible and – hey presto! – at the start of the next episode, our heroes escaped death and got on with saving the world/universe. So yeah, it was a bit of a creaky plot-device, but it’s not like Doctor Who isn’t full of those anyway – it’s part of its charm, surely?

The things I loved:

The humour – Donna telling Jack “You can hug me, if you want. No, really, you can hug me.”

Jack and Mickey – “Mickey Mouse.” “Captain Cheesecake.” That’s Captain Beefcake.” “That’s enough hugging.”

David Tennant’s Catherine Tate impressions.

Donna towards the end, revelling in her new-found abilities and intelligence.

“Did I ever say – best temp in Chiswick? Hundred words a minute!”

Catherine Tate’s David Tennant impressions.

Jack – “Three Doctors? I really can’t tell you what I’m thinking right now.”

The Doctor’s “family” flying the Tardis – except Jackie – hee!

Hugs all round – and Donna shoving aside Sarah-Jane to grab Jack.

The companion-fest – I’ve always loved Sarah-Jane; she was my companion when I was a kid so I’m really glad she was in on this. And K-9 got to make an appearance – yay! Martha is all grown (and toughened) up, as was Mickey. Is this the new Torchwood team? As for Rose… well, meh. Her best bit was the “she’s good” when Martha was threatening to blow up the Earth.

The psychological bits - the parallels Davros drew between himself and the Doctor – Davros created the Daleks – the Doctor, a man who professes to abhor violence instead takes others and turns them into weapons who will do anything to defend him.
The whole “how many have died for you?” bit – and if he’d gone back further than the last few seasons, that scene would have been a LOT longer!

The things I wasn’t so pleased with:

The reset button that got out of regenerating the Doctor. I mean, sure, it made for one hell of a cliffhanger, but to have the process start and then the Doctor be able to choose to stop it is unprecedented, isn’t it?

The “second” Doctor. Okay, so I guess there’s not really any such thing as too many David Tennants – but I think they could have found a way to create “the DoctorDonna” without having to clone the Doc himself. Donna could just have absorbed the energy or whatever, perhaps.

Which brings me to the thing I really didn’t like at all. Was RTD just throwing a bone to the shippers, with the whole “other”Doc/Rose thing? Most of the posts and reviews I’ve read have been outraged on Rose’s behalf – how come she chose to stay with “blue Ten” when he’s not really the Doctor? Saying how Rose was badly treated. But that's not why I didn't like it. No, I didn't like it because it felt too "convenient" and tacked-on. Because you know what? I just don’t care all that much about Rose. Don't get me wrong - I don't hate her and I thought that Billie Piper did a great job in the first two series. But she left. Get over it, and move on. I suppose I can see why RTD did what he did, tried to give Rose a sort of happy ending, to give her what is in effect the man she wants but one who is prepared and able to be with her for the rest of their lives. But – I still don’t care. Compared to the sheer tragedy of what happens to Donna, what happened to Rose is utterly insignificant.

And so, to Donna. I knew CT had only signed on for one season, but I guess part of me was hoping she could be persuaded to change her mind. She was by far the best companion of all of them so far, and I think the best written and best developed character on the show. Not to mention that Catherine Tate has shown herself to be a wonderfully talented actress. I felt that Donna and the Doctor complimented each other in a way that the Doc and Rose and Martha never did, and I think the show has been better for it.

Having said that – although I hated what happened, I loved it as well in the way that you love something that rips out your heart, stomps on it and makes you cry. Because it did. The sheer tragedy of the fact that this woman, who has gone through her entire life believing herself to be insignificant and “nothing special” and who was, “for one shining moment… the most important woman in the entire universe” – and yet can never know of it was truly epic and heartbreaking. One of the best moments in the entire four season run of the show, IMO – lovely because it killed me.

Oh and the sadness of the Doc going into the kitchen to say a final goodbye to her – and Donna just saying “yeah, see ya”… *sniff*

Those final scenes, with Donna’s family were the real “grown-up” parts of the show. I loved the Doctor telling Donna’s mum that she should tell her daughter she’s special once in a while, and her thinly veiled loathing as she says he’s leaving.

And that scene with Wilf! Every night he’ll look up at the stars and think of the Doctor on Donna’s behalf. Just kill me now, RTD, why don’t’cha? The Doc trying to put a brave face on the fact that he’s alone once more – that all of his friends have someone else. It’s always been that way for him, but that angle has definitely been played up in “new” Who.

So basically, I’m devastated. I enjoyed this season far more than last and am really sorry it’s over.

As for the trailer for the Christmas special. Cybermen – yay! I always love it when they bring the old baddies back.

And David Morrissey, to boot!