Doctor Who End of Time

[aimeekitty]

so... not really sure what to think yet. I think I need to watch it again in a day or two.

It didn't feel as epic or tug on my heart as much as some previous episodes, so in that way I was a bit disappointed. I really expected to cry my eyes out and I didn't. I kinda wish they'd spent all the "specials" building up more character development (and not had the throw-away-bus-episode).

buuuut,... I did enjoy it and nothing happened in it that made me wring my hair in irritation or anything.

And there were some really great/interesting parts to it... like:

- being able to watch it on BBCA HD uncut instead of watching it all cutup on Scifi (which I refuse todo. NO CUTTING!) It's nice also to feel like I'm supporting the "numbers" by watching it as it aired instead of watching it online. You guys may scoff, but ratings are important.

- watching it with Crisso and Ali, and all three of us were wearing Rose clothing. HA HA! (wish Annie and Danielle could have made it though!)

- seeing more sides to the Master and really feeling sorry for him to a degree, that was interesting

- MASTER IN A FUCHSIA DRESS. YOU GUYS. YOU GUYS!! MASTER IN A FUCHSIA DRESS.

- WILF.

- WILF and the DOCTOR in the TARDIS. I totally wanted this after Donna got mindwiped, I was all, WILF should be the next companion, that would be so cool!

- MickeyXMartha? Also, Martha looks hot with braids.

- I liked that the episodes really focused on the Master and the Doctor and Wilf and the Doctor. When I heard that they were bringing all these characters back (the master, rose, donna, wilf, etc, etc...) I was worried that it was going to have the XMEN3 problem where you have too many characters and not enough time for character development. but instead... ten gets to say his goodbye without sacrificing too much screentime.

- CAPTAIN JACK IN SPACE. (seriously. this should be a series. I said that months ago! HUR HUR. It's like Han Solo with showtunes you guys, could be EPIC. Less angst more Barrowman!)

- Ten going back to see Rose one last time and it being Rose in the past... not screwing up RoseXTen2. Because seriously,... when I heard Rose was going to be in the final ep, I was worried that Ten2 gets hit by a bus and she's all "OOPS! Guess I'll go back to the other universe now!" Guess I should have known from that one leaked shot of her in the tracksuit like top that it was past-Rose. I want that top. >:{
... that's probably the last scene we'll see of Rose and Ten, too, (in any incarnation) you guys. It's kind of a sweet way to end it... Ten's last goodbye is to Rose in the past, he just wanted to see her one last time even if she didn't know who he was.

- it was a nice touch that ten effectively gives his life in this quiet moment of sacrifice to save Wilf... that it wasn't some loud forcelightning gun battle or something. (not that that would have necessarily been bad... but it was an interesting touch. )

- the moment with the Tenth Doctor on the floor thinking that he's beaten the curse, and then you hear the tapping...

- "I've lived too long"

...

...

but My Doctor is gone!
I cried more and/or was more moved during (off the top of my head):
- The Parting of the Ways
- Human Nature
- 42
- The Silence in the Library
- The Girl in the Fireplace
- The Satan Pit
- Doomsday
- The Stolen Earth
- Midnight

so it's kindof a weird feeling. It's not that I didn't like it. I liked it fine. But expected to be crying that this version of the Doctor that I've really loved over the past couple years is gone. And the "new Doctor" is going to be very different, too, because it'll have a new crew and style. Even the TARDIS got beat up, so we're going to get a new TARDIS. So that's the end then, and we'll start over with something new.

It's funny how, as fans, it's almost like we expect these characters to just keep going on forever... but they must exist within a finite period because actors and writers move on. That's something that's nice about movies, in that we have a finite story. It's the end, the characters have a resolution.
but in tv shows, we often don't get that. and with the Doctor in particular, there's never a "real" end. There's a punctuation mark on the end of one actor's Doctor... but the character himself never can have a resolution. He can't stay with one person, can't take the slow path, he can't have a happily ever after, because he has to keep moving and changing.
There are some shows that are planned to have a specific ending. There's something good and bad about that, because then the writers can build up to a climax and have a satisfying end... but then... it's over. That's the end.
Is it better that we got ALL THESE hours of time with -this- Doctor...? even though he has an end, but doesn't? We're lucky with Doctor Who in that they plan for these finales and give us at least some kind of "end". With a lot of tv shows a series of episodes are completed and then without warning, the shows are canceled or not renewed, and then the characters never have any sort of resolution at all.

this world, these characters, that TARDIS,... it's all a creation. Someone's imagination made into reality... and the fabrication of it, the fantastical-ness of it, is wonderful. That's the end of it you guys, they're tearing that TARDIS set down. Those people won't come together again in the same way.

There were some awesome moments with RTD and some awesome moments with Tennant as the Doctor. I'm grateful for those and I'm curious for what Moffat will do with -his- Doctor.

... when's the first ep of Matt Smith's Doctor airing? All I hear is just "spring 2010".

Comments

[sakurae.livejournal.com]

Heehee, I was waiting to hear what you guys thought since I watched it yesterday. I would have totally watched it on BBC:A but we don't get that channel here :(

Ah, I love Wilfred. He's just... the best granddad I've seen on TV and I do like how they kept the continuity of Donna not totally remembering because it would kill her and how the end of her story is much happier than at the end of Series 4.

Master in dresses just made me wince and laugh!

I'm just a tad concerned this new Doctor is going to say Geronimo all the time now. LOL Interesting choice of a new tagline for Eleven. And really, what do they have against Ginger people? I remember watching a skit on the Catherine Tate show about how there's a support group for ginger people who were experiencing discrimination XD

[spiralstairs.livejournal.com]

I've never seen an episode of Doctor Who, but the enormous response I've heard about the finale has me thinking about it.

[jigglykat.livejournal.com]

... when's the first ep of Matt Smith's Doctor airing? All I hear is just "spring 2010".

The Beeb usually doesn't give an official airdate for things until a few weeks before it actually starts airing. And I believe they're still filming right now, but they're going to be filming as they're airing this time around instead of waiting till everything is done.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I kind of want to know what happened to that nice pediatrician Martha was engaged to during the Donna episodes, if now she's suddenly with Mickey. :P

[angelsamui.livejournal.com]

I was ready to sob for hours like I did in Doomsday, but it didn't hit me like that. I'm still really bummed though. I've fallen in love with 10. As well as David Tennant as an actor. So I'm going to miss these little Rose/10 bits of angst and so on.

AND THE MASTER IN A DRESS!!!!!!!

I want Wilfred to be my granddad.

[rashomonchb.livejournal.com]

It was really well done with the emotional bits. The Doctor has never fretted dying before, but then again he never had the family he has now. From Matt Smith's outfits that have been shown so far it looks like he is borrowing a bit from the sixth Doctor.

I liked the little nods to the old generation of fans. Although a lot now has to be explained like when was Rassilon ressurected. Hell, the Doctor's went to his damn tomb in "The Five Doctors". But Rassilon was wielding the Hand of Omega which makes me wish someone dug up Ace's bat that has a charge from the glove in it. (The bat that can take out Dalek armor) Also it can only be assumed that the unnamed Time Lord woman is Romana after another regeneration. She was Lord President for awhile so it makes sense that once Rassilon ressurected and took control he would keep her close to watch her. Her relationship with the fourth Doctor would make her a wild card if he couldn't watch her.

[mamamantras.livejournal.com]

I sobbed. It was good my Mom took my Kid. I think what made me sob is that the Doctor grieved for himself. Now I read that the Eleventh Doctor was shooting back in the autumn so I hope we get new episodes soon.

I do want to smack some sense into Jack and tell him to stop trying to cure his grief with sex. I'm so very happy that Micky and Martha are together, and that Donna hit the lotto with a quid from her Dad :D

[yaso-khuul.livejournal.com]

I must say I was quite excited and moved and worked up a knot in my throat...must not cry...must not...
The scene with The Doctor and Wilf in space with the gun, the Doctor NEVER wanting to take it and then - taking it when he realized what happened...

Also, the Master not killing the Doctor...but Wilf knocking 4 times and ending up being the Doctor's doom...I found that to be a great story twist. (Why the heck was that chamber nuclear again? And how the heck did Doctor survive the fall from the spaceship?)

[yaso-khuul.livejournal.com]

Forgot, also: Matt Smith as The Doctor... not sure if I'm really looking forward to that. More excited about Moffat's writing though.
On the BBC website there's a preview of his new episodes - which is only viewable in the UK, so someone put it on Youtube:

[starlollie.livejournal.com]

OMG those creepy ass "Blink" angels are back! Noooo!

[dlgr.livejournal.com]

I liked the metaphor Tennant used before he regenerated: "I don't want to go"...I mean...with all the crap they put him through...ugh. Pulled my heart strings. Even he, really, I don't think was ready to leave, either.

Wilf, killed me. The Master, at the end w/ Ras-ma-taz, killed me. I cried lots, and Eleven made me angry, but I'm sure I'll warm up to him like I did to Ten when he took over Nine...but still.....it's David-friggin'-TENNANT!

But at least we get him on our side of the WORLD for awhile, amirite!? XDD!! YAY TENNANT IN THE USA!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

oh is he coming out to film something or something?

I just have to keep reminding myself that I didn't like Tennant at first, either. I like 11 so far from what I've seen, so I guess that's better luck than could be expected?

[akanepanda.livejournal.com]

He's filming a pilot (that he had to audition for!) in LA called "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer" for NBC. He's the lead, Jerry O'Connell is his supporting actor. They're probably done with shooting by now, but if it gets picked up, it'll be aired in the Fall. The plot sounds a little lame (especially compared to Doctor Who), but I have faith Tennant can act in anything.

I felt the same way you did about the last eps, btw. I'm looking forward to the new Doctor, and was SO happy with the Rose cameo. That part made me cry. You know there will be TONS of references about Ten in the new series, too. I trust they'll slowly ease all us fans in to warm up to Smith.

And also, think about how much worse it'd be if the whole SERIES ended? It's just a change of the actor! We still have the Doctor! :D YAY new adventures!

[applcheeks.livejournal.com]

I didn't cry as much as Doomsday but the extended good-byes to his friends really got me. The Rose x Doctor moment was so sweet. <3
I'm excited to see what #11 is going to be like, it looks like an exciting season.

I wonder if this is really an end of the Master and Donna's story I feel like they are still a bit unfinished. But maybe it's more wishful thinking on my part.

[unravelingsky.livejournal.com]

i was reading through your post and realized i hadnt seen part 2 so hurried to finish it and reread your post. i think i was being super emotional about it when i watched it so i cried like a little girl haha. i agree with everything you said. can't wait to see what's coming!!!

[margarita-rosa.livejournal.com]

I hadn't realized they would show the 2nd part so soon, so I only caught it a couple of days ago...but I did really like the quiet way they delt with the 4 knocks and WILF and his acceptance of how things were going to play out. I did cry a bit...and I'm just not sure what to expect from the new Dr (and I HATE how Scifi cuts up the episodes! Glad I can find it elsewhere to say..he they missed this scence or that!)

[singingraisin.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I think the only part that I really loved, the only appropriately epic OMG moment, was Wilf with the knocking. Especially to have built it up this whole year, and it's just an old dude going "not to bother you, but do you mind?"

It still seems like such a mess for the amount of time they had to do it, as though they were a little overambitious in the scope. I wish they had kept it just slightly more simple.

It was nice, and I'm looking forward to new Doctor more than I might if it were a truly epic finale, but... yeah.

this shoulda been Eleven!

[persoconchii.livejournal.com]

sorry, I'm a 'tard, but this seemed sorta relevant...

Re: this shoulda been Eleven!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

awwwwwwwwwwwww

[jinyo.livejournal.com]

V and I finally watched it last night! (We have been watching nothing but Classic Star Trek since New Years Eve, so this was our first break from Trek.)

I liked that the Master gained a little emotional depth, and my favorite part was the fact that Wilfred was basically his companion for the episode. I didn't think the episode itself was that great. Maybe it tried to hard to be action-packed and epic, but it struck me as aimed at the younger viewers, and a little overacted. My least favorite of the year's specials. The extended farewell was so different in tone that it was like a separate mini-episode, which was much more emotionally satisfying than the main adventure.

It's sad that the changeover from 10 to 11 marks an end to his previous relationships. At least, that's how the episode made it seem. When we went from 9 to 10, having Rose carry over was a strong element in making the show feel like it was still the same show, despite the new lead actor. I would have liked for the Doctor to have managed to cure Donna's brain problem and for her to companion 11, at least for starters.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I agree, I think RTD is leaving the door open, so to speak... but I think the idea is that MOFFAT wants to do something new... you know? So he's not required to use those same characters.

part of the good transition from 9 to 10 was that we had Rose, like you said...

so it'll be interesting, Moffat will have to have at least one or two really really good episodes right off the bat or he's liable to loose a good part of his audience.

[etherealtb.livejournal.com]

I didn't cry either and I cry for EVERYTHING, including some of the eps you mentioned. In fact, I still weep a bit when watching the ends of Planet of the Ood and Journey's End.

[starlollie.livejournal.com]

I totally forgot to come back and read your review until I was rewatching it today.

Love the Master (I really hope someone cosplays him in the dress). Love Captain Jack in his space bar(though that and the missile fight seemed a bit too star warsy to me). Love Mickey/Martha (Ill have to get my hair braided for Galiifrey). I really wanted to cry for this but it just made me feel sorta drained. It did feel very final though so I feel the loss. I do get misty a bit whenever the Ood say anything like "theres room in the song for you" or the bit in this one where they wanna sing to him while he dies. Or even saying that his song is ending. Maybe singing Ood just make me sad in general. Everything that I know of the show was so wrapped up that it feels a bit like the show its self is over. I love Moffat for Coupling and his awesome DW episodes so its not that I really doubt him its just a bit too much new and no cross over. huh ok well I appear to be rambling so Ill stop now and I shall see you as rougue!Martha at Gallifrey.

PS awesome karaoke-ing at ALA thanks for maiking my shift funner.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I wish I was a gangly man so I could cosplay Master in a Dress.