SPOILERS beyond this point…
Written by Russell T. Davies
Directed by Euros Lyn
“I don’t want to go.”
Random (ok…at the time…GOBSMACKED) reactions to the second part of The End of Time…
(1) If this was a summation of the Russell T. Davies era, it did the job firing on all thrusters: spectacular (outrageous) scenarios, mixed in with exquisite character moments, hilarious broad comedy, nail-biting action…and some ironic twists. The Vinvocci Star-Wars-laser-sequence takes audacity to a new level…but the 11 year old in me LOVED IT!
That’s the word: audacity. The RTD era is an era of audacity, beaten into a successful formula that has taken Doctor Who into the stratosphere. Steven Moffat has some big production shoes to fill.
(2) I thought the first part had all the good character moments…and then along comes the finale, and blows the doors off all my expectations. That scene between Wilf and the Doctor, in the Vinvocci engine room, builds on the café scene in part one and takes it to a completely new level of amazingness. Right behind it is the opening scene with the Master, as John Simm cements his presence as the perfect foil for David Tennant’s Doctor (The Master…crying? Bloody hell…). More than any other confrontation, it encapsulates the Doctor’s frustration with his former friend…trying, but always unable to get through to him.
(3) While were looking for appropriate adjectives for RTD-era Doctor Who, I’ll give you another one: FANWANK! People used to accuse 80s Doctor Who of being far too up its own behind, regarding past continuity. But The End of Time shatters any record classic Who might have set in that regard: Time Lords, the last day of the Time War, a ruined Gallifrey, RASSILON (look him up…it’s big news)…and that mysterious woman. There are many theories as to her identity, but to those of you who are fans, the obvious answer is staring you in the face…and it’s positively heartbreaking.
(4) FANWANK II - THE SEQUEL! That final coda - the goodbye to everyone - is about as self-indulgent as you can get on Doctor Who. But it doesn’t matter…because this is a last kick-at-the-can…a complete & total goodbye to five years of what amounts to an entire generation of Doctor Who…and it’s a well-deserved pat on the back. It’s a pseudo-happy ending for everyone (bloody hell…when did Martha and Mickey GET MARRIED?!?), and a nod to the massive, glorious legacy left behind by our faithful showrunners, writers, and Mr. Tennant himself. It’s a well-deserved reward to the Doctor…and a reward to the fans. Best moment: Jack being set up with Midshipman Frame (late of Voyage of the Damned) by a note from the Doctor, in a bar that is yet another homage to Star Wars. :D
(5) The climax is brilliant in a way that “brilliant” can’t even adequately describe. Falling to near death through a skylight, a three-way-Doctor/Master/Time Lord confrontation… “Get out of the way!” …the Master saving the universe (bet he hated doing that)…and then…
…the revelation of the “four knocks”, in a way that is summed up by David Tennant’s agonized-yet-amused expression. That moment the audience truly knows that the 10th Doctor is going to die, no turning back…
(6) …and HE knows it too! The ranting, desperate speech his gives about the unfairness of the universe…and his acceptance of what must be done…sent shivvers down my spine. Saving the universe doesn’t compare to offering up a life for an honourable, fantastic, outstanding example of the human race. The 10th Doctor sacrifices his life to save Wilfred Mott: an ordinary man who has proved to be the most extraordinary of giants. That, more than anything else, is the Doctor Who philosophy in a nutshell. David Tennat gives one last, electrifying performance…and we feel every minute of it.
(7) I wasn’t expecting THAT kind of destructive regeneration. As for Matt Smith’s first two minutes as the 11th Doctor…? Well…we shall see in the spring, won’t we…
“I don’t want to go.” Some people have claimed that the 10th Doctor’s final line diminishes him, but it doesn’t. It’s the last, plaintive cry of a mortal man, in love with life, who has given the universe so much…why can’t he give more?
But that’s the beauty of regeneration in Doctor Who. David Tennant became a star — exceeding all expectations, and becoming, to a generation of children, an icon on the level of Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. And yet…at the height of his success…it’s time to leave. He doesn’t outstay his welcome, and he leaves on the perfect high. He leaves…even as fandom and general public wishes for EVEN MORE…but they will have to make due with their memories. Warm, brilliant, wonderful memories. An epoch has come to an end, and what a journey it has been.
Let’s sum it up with a few words from long time fan, author, and UK media pundit Keith Topping:
In 1966, as its aged star William Hartnell decided that he’d had enough and wanted to leave the show somebody at the BBC — possibly Sydney Newman, possibly someone else, sources vary — came up with this quite brilliant idea of ‘regeneration’ as a way of changing Doctor Who’s lead actor but keeping the character of The Doctor alive. Forty three years and nine further Doctors later and it’s still one of television’s most outrageous and stunning conceits.
In a flick of the switch, everything changes and only the TARDIS remains. As Ood Sigma noted, “The song ends, but the story goes on. Forever.” Matt Smith has got an enormous void to fill when his first series kicks off in about three months time. But, yer Keith Telly Topping has total faith in Steven Moffat and his crew at Upper Boat and in Matt himself. Doctor Who. This daft little show about time travel. They tried to bin it, they tried to forget it, but it just keeps coming back.
I’ll only add one last sentiment. Thank you David Tennant, and thank you Russell T. Davies. You made my 21st century!
Rating? Give the episode a 9…and give the RTD era a 10+ (I’ll even forgive him for making Evolution of the Daleks…hehe).
