Written by Paul Cornell
Directed by Joe Ahearne
“You’re my daddy…”
This review will be an overall collection of obvious statements:
1—YES, Paul Cornell is the one Doctor Who author who can shamelessly tug on our heart-strings. I blubbered (twice) near the end of this fragile, emotional story, and anyone who didn’t at least have a sense of melancholy or twinge of sadness watching this glorious episode is, essentially, and old cynical fart!
2—YES, time paradoxes are fun, especially when they’re inventively written and directed. The doubles of the Doctor and Rose…little Mickey running around…big Rose touching little Rose…the Doctor venting his frustrations on Jackie Tyler…the disappearing TARDIS interior, and the attempt to re-create it inside the church…the subtle reminders and period dressings that send us back to 1987…
3—YES, the reapers look like bog-standard demons…but they’re creepy as hell, and they look fantastic as they assult the church, trying to scrape away the bricks.
4—YES, you can go on endlessly praising the acting of Shaun Dingwall as Rose’s father. He effortlessly portrays an everyday loser who finds a deep well of courage and responsibility within himself. Just watch the scene where he stares for ages at the time-looped car that should have killed him. Just watch ALL of his scenes with Billie Piper, especially when he makes his ultimate choice and says his final goodbye. Just WATCH him!
5—YES, the Doctor is a secondary character…but he’s an angry, frightened, tormented character who tries to save the world — even tries to let Rose have her cake and eat it too, regarding her father — but knows that there isn’t anything he can do without the TARDIS. And then HE’S EATEN!!!
6—YES, the final moments are sign-posted with a big, white arrow…but who gives a damn! The ending is the sweet, emotional concluion it should be, with the ultimate final shot that sums up this season of Doctor Who: the Doctor and Rose returning to the TARDIS, holding hands.
And YES…I’m giving it a 10
