Written by Russell T. Davies
Directed by Euros Lyn
“Earth death in 15 minutes.”
There are people who will complain (my friend Garry included) that The End of the World is a very slight story. The situation is predictable, the evil villian is predictable, and even the type of danger is predictable.
Despite all this, The End of the World is massively fun to watch.
It’s concerned with atmosphere, fun, excitement, and culture…and it handles it all with a deft touch and much humour. It’s a cavalcade of aliens, and the perfect introduction to the menagerie that Doctor Who showcases in its futuristic stories. We have nods to Star Trek (blue people), swipes at George Lucas (an army of little people with high-pitched voices), and nods to stories such as Dune (The Face of Bo is straight out of David Lynch’s movie adaptation). The great success is Jabe of the Tree People: a magnificent make up job, enhanced by Yasmin Bannerman’s dignified yet flirtatious performance.
The other wonderful touch is the Lady Cassandra, in all her stretched glory (“Moisturize me!”). She a triumph of simple yet effective CGI, combined with Zoe Wannamaker’s vocal gifts. Of course she’s the villian of the piece…but what a deliciously bitchy, Dynasty-ish villian! 
Only in Doctor Who can you have a high-strung, stretched sheet of skin as the bad guy…
But…
In spite of the superb effects work, the witty, wonderful dialogue, and the spitting Moxx of Balhoon, this is a story about losing your home. Rose — in the midst of her culture shock — seeks solace in the attachment to her dying world, and her call home to her mother…5 billion years in the past…is a very touching moment.
On the flipside, we have the Doctor, determined to ignore his past, until he can no longer stand oblivious to Rose’s emotional distress…or his own emotional distress (the scene where he silently sheds a tear is heart-breaking). The end of the episode, back in London, with the revelation that Gallifrey is gone, and the Doctor is the last of the Time Lords, is quiet, sad, and terrifying. In those last five minutes, stylish direction, amazing writing, and subtle acting combined to create a lovely bonding moment between the Doctor and Rose, and sets the new boundaries of their relationship.
The End of the World isn’t about the eye candy, good as it is. The End of the World is all about a single message: the world may end, but life continues…and you’ll always be hungry for chips.
I had a wonderful smile on my face after watching this episode. I hope everyone else did as well.
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