Doctor Who Club of Australia

[dave]

That episode goes a long way to settling the half-human issue from the Movie, I think. Seems like the Doctor's fully Gallifreyan after all. That's something I was happy about with this episode.

Mind you, there was a fair bit to like. No time reversal scenario to begin with, which I was happy about. I think Davros' plan might have been a *little* bit over the top, but that's the sort of thing I guess one should expect from megalomaniacal alien geniuses. The resolution to that, when Donna simply turns the bomb off, was a bit anti-climactic to me. Donna as Doctor-Donna was quite amusing, though, as was her counterpart half-human Doctor.

Arranging for Rose to spend the rest of her life with a version of 10 who'll age and die should keep the Doctor-Rose shippers happy, Mickey and Martha look set to join Torchwood, Donna goes on blissfully unaware and eveyone lives happily ever after. So they didn't have the courage to carry out what they'd been hinting at, but in a sense, Donna has 'died'. Of course, just like Rose, she'll 'never' return...

The Osterhagen Key was also more than a little silly. What a totally ridiculous idea. I loved the way the daleks defused the threats posed by the Doctor's various companions so easily. Not to mention, daleks speaking in german was hilarious, for some reason. Seeing as they were based on the Nazi's originally, it made for a nice kind of reference to their origins, but it just cracked me up.

All in all, I guess I quite enjoyed this; it's possibly my favourite of the finales so far. There was a great deal of fanservice which I didn't really appreciate, and the resolution to the crisis was once again a bit of a disappointment, but it was pretty much a fun ride throughout. I'm curious as to whether Tennant is now the 11th Doctor as well though; did he just lose a regeneration there?

[Dazza]

Hmmmm......not sure what to make of that. Started off poorly with some weak resolutions to last week's cliffhangers.

The German speaking Daleks were a nice touch.

Davros was good but felt different to character in the classic series. He was more like the Emperor in the Star Wars movies.

What about the Deus Ex Machina Machine?!! Firstly, why would you have a control panel that can disable the Daleks and return all the planets and secondly, why would you teleport your enemies near it?

The Rose farewell seemed a little forced and lacked the emotion of her exist in Doomsday. The "you can't have me but here's a copy" was a little bewildering. By the way, I thought the Doctor could never return to this parallel universe? I must've missed something in the techo-babble.

Maybe I was expecting too much after last week's build up. A little underwhelming for mine.

[KnottyEmily]

Did someone say fanwank?

I'm not sure what I think about Rose and the half human Doctor.
I liked the nod to Eve Myles' appearence in The Unquiet Dead, and the other references back to series one episodes.
The Doctor Donna thing was great, and explains the "three-fold man" comment from Stolen Earth


Overall I liked it. It could have done with something to link it to the Christmas special though.

While I was watching it I was thinking "best finale ever", and I still think so.

I dread to think what the ABC will do to this episode, they'll have to cut about 20 minutes from it.

[paisley-sage]

Having overcome my elitist ideological expectations of the 'new' Doctor Who, I found the finale to be a thoroughly enjoyable romp through the realms of 'fanwank' and exactly what one would expect from a Hallmark produced Neighbours inspired hyperreal Sci-Fi serial. After all a shitload of money may be able to buy you awesome special effects and all the eyecandy a geek could salivate over but it is apparent it can't buy you a decent well-thought-out script complete without contrived nausea inducing dialogue stretched over thirteen episodes. It had all the usual suspects stagnant in moving on from their awe/love of the Doctor, that I was expecting a cameo from the Kitchen Sink to which The Doctor would most likely to have responded thus: "aahhh, the Kitchen Sink. How great of you to join us, it's been a while hasn't it. I love sinks. Compleeetely misunderstood, especially that of the kitchen kind. They are just so, so, sooooo....Brilliant!". All said with a cheesy animated grin and an overly flailing arm and jolted head demeanor akin to that of Detective Goran from Criminal Intent although nowhere near as tedious. To which Jack and Rose would have felt elated to be compared to such a prodigious inanimate object (the inanimate carbon rod from the simpsons withstanding of course)

Since the new incarnation of the series, except for the brilliant Christopher Eccleston, the Doctor is a shadow of his former self. Tennant has made a mockery of all that the Doctor once stood for and in my opinion has damaged the character far more than the pretentious arrogant cunt Colin Baker ever did. Tennant is purely for the female viewers and lonely indie/geek/fanboys. RTD is nothing but a money hungry capitalist bastard content of destroying the true character of The Doctor thanks to his desire for ratings over that of credibility.

I put a hex on all you female viewers that have bastardised the good name of the Doctor since Tennant came on board. Shame on you all for your low standards.

Davros' plan was awesome (even though incredibly stupid) and he is my hero as the King of Spite. He who is willing to sacrifice his own existence just to get back at The Doctor and make him realise that over the years he may have been a bit of a bastard having others sacrifice their life for him was priceless. More Davros for future episodes please

I can't begin to describe the excitement I felt when the Daleks in Nuremburg were speaking German - and just when I though the Daleks couldn't get any sexier too *drools*

PS Dave - get over it - Donna is not 'dead' - you were wrong. No amount of bogus rationale will make me change my mind

Also I hope this is not the end of Mickey although if he was to join the Torchwood team on some level I would like him and Martha to take over from Captain Jack who has become a caricature of his former self that gave hope of an awesomely camp cocky character in The 'Empty Child' and The Doctor Dances'.

[meglos]

A lot of fun. I love the scene of the Doctors Army standing around the Tardis console, It sent shivers down my spine.

[Hiruma]

Well that was certainly different.

At the start with the 'partial' regeneration, I wasnt that surprised. The Hand had featured prominently in a shot in the episode before this... I dont know why, I just thought that the Doctor would not regenerate as before.

I found there was too many characters in this episode. I was overloaded and perhaps overwhelmed as it cut between scenes with trying to keep up. Although my new pet hate is the phrase 'Im sorry/so sorry' . Ill be glad If I never hear it again.

I loved the ode to Genesis of the Daleks. When Davros spied SaraH Jane.. well I just loved that scene. I was hoping for some 'No Harry Sullivan, Miss Smith?' lines. Speaking of Davros, I found this character played quite well. Again hes the subordinate of the Daleks, locked in the 'vault' and simply providing the Daleks with plans and goals, but in no real position of power. I guess it just goes to prove that the Daleks are again purists, that Davros may of made them, but they are above him.

The thing that got me most was Mickey staying behind, or rather returning to the prime universe. That threw me a bit because I thought he was still mixed up with the Preachers. Is it time for a Male companion in the TARDIS? Im glad his character got some resolvement, and Noel Clarke plays off Tennant very well.

Very Enjoyable episode.. although waiting 2 years for the next season will be hard.

[meglos]

[Sulp Niar]

...whoa. So many characters, so many ideas, so much continuity/fanwank, so many plotholes.

All credit to RTD for making it hang together at all.

...still.

This time I won't complain too much because people don't like that , but I'll say one thing: I'm so glad that Russell is still going to write the four specials this/next year, and that this isn't his last script. Because this is the most unfair representation of his work yet. I've seen already that it's prompted a fairly big "Good riddance" response from those pesky RTD-haters on Outpost. At least this way he can still remind us of the good times.

No, wait. The brilliant times.

EDIT: Oh, um:

[Davros]

A good ending to a mundane season, I think season 3 out did this one ...your thoughts?

So did Davros & Cain burn in the fire? ...I think not, I'm sure we'll see more of them again but hopefully the writers will give them a break ...now the long wait for season 5 in 2010, with new enemy & hopefully much better (lay off the mega effects) stories?!

[Ohica]

I was initially a bit nervous about his two parter ep but i loved it. I think the writers/producers did a decent job of making all fans happy. The Rose lovers got what they wanted without sacrificing what the doctor means to the rest of us . I am a big Sarah fan and was a bit disappointed with the lack of Sarah/Doctor interaction. And the goodbye bit with her was very rushed. I did like that she seemed more like the old Sarah than she ever has in either School Reunion or SJA. I loved the scene when Davros recognised her but i was trying to think when he ever saw her? Perhaps just once in the bunker when he was first demonstrating his dalek prototype. Also when Davros was trying to get the doctor to tell him all about the daleks and tortured Sarah and Harry. [I miss Harry] I don't think they ever came face to face any other time. I also loved the fact that Sarah surrendered herself to the daleks and she also got Luke and Mr Smith and then K-9 to help out at the end. I was hoping for K-9 but did not think it would happen and was completely stoked when he did show up. Go K-9!!!! I also loved the fact that Sarah used her sonic lipstick and had that Veran Soothsayer thingy to blow everything up with. Go Sarah!!!!! She really established herself as the mainstay of companions. I did think that there was too much emphasis on Rose. I like Rose but have always had an issue with the fact that the media/writers/producers etc have forced her down our throats as the be all and end all favourite companion of the Doctor. I'm glad she had to settle for the carbon copy. I have never thought of the Doctor as a sexual being and really hope they can now move on and have him get a companion that does not fancy him. Donna was great in that respect although the travelling did get to her in the end and she could not bare to go back......that was always Sarah's problem. The travelling and awe of it all, NOT the lust for the Doctor. Sarah also told the doctor to basically get over the loneliness thing. I too hope he does because I'm over it. I want him to go forth and get a companion who maybe is alien. Get back to the good story telling of old and ditch the romantic garbage. Can we please have a season where there is no kissing of the doctor? I can see Mickey turning up in Torchwood and Martha too. Good. I don't mind Torchwood and I've always liked Mickey. I think Martha is fantastic. I think the cross over of the 3 shows was done really well. I"m glad Jack was handled tastefully considering Torchwood was marrying up with Sarah Jane Adventures. I"m a bit like Sarah with the "too many guns" issue, only mine is too much sex. LOL. But it would be good to leave this as the companion finale and get on with the future. Leave the old companions in the past and move forward. The universe has to move forward, is what Sarah said in School Reunion. They need to practise what they preach. All in all it was a really great double ep. It really shows that the producers do love the show and the concept and want to do right by it. Well done, I say!!

[Davros]

[FredDag]

Wow, what a story, so much to take in I think I'll have to watch again to get it all.

Well these days I watch Doctor Who for what it is. At the end of the episode if I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it. I don't pick holes. So after watching this episode I loved it. Though there was a lot of take in, I hope the casual non-fan viewer could handle all the back story and the return of all the companions and friend's of the Doctor.

I was so saddened that we'll never see Donna again and that she's lost all her memories of her time with the Doctor (reminds me a bit of Jamie and Zoe). I think Donna's become my favourite out of all the new series companions.

Throughout this episode I found myself sitting further and further on the edge of my seat and yelling out at the telly, I thought this was a great exciting story. I don't care if there are plot holes, I'm not going to look for them, it entertained me,I thought the story was good, the characters were strong, that's all I ask for.

I'm so glad we get to keep our Doctor for another year, so happy about that. I was really worried we'd lose our Doctor at the end of Stolen Earth, this goes to show how much I've grown to love the 10th Doctor and DT's portrayal.

I'm glad the ending wasn't as magical as Last of the Time Lords and Parting of the Ways. That's what disappoints me the most in Doctor Who these days, but this year, we didn't get that, thank goodness.

Also having so many returning characters none of them really got to shine, though I was so happy to see Sarah Return.

Overall I think there's a lot of good ideas in this story and it was played out well. Hopefully in stories to come we'll get more of a personal jeopardy rather then on a universal scale. Seems to work better in my books. Anyway, the story was great entertained me, loved the Characters and can't wait for Christmas! Yay to another good year of Doctor Who!!!

[Speckled Jim]

In the words of Captain Slackbladder, it started off awful, tailed off badly and the less said about the middle the better. Apart from that it was fine.
No, OK: a bit harsh. But the opening 30 seconds was such an arrogant piece of lazy nonsense - vintage RTD, mind you - that it took me a while to settle down and try and get into the flow of this episode.
That "diverted regeneration" bollocks was actually a succinct illustration of everything that made me lose faith in this finale. RTD pulled out so much of his celebrated "magic" that he made David Copperfield look positively amateur. I lost count of how many times I sat dumbfounded, thinking: "But how did they....? That simply doesnt' make sense ... Oh never mind; just get on with it." As every twist and turn became increasingly ridiculous I adopted the same defence I used in Voyage of the Damned - don't think about how or why; just bypass your cerebral cortex, swerve wildly to avoid those plotholes and try to enjoy this scattershot mess of a story.
Davros at least gave the episode a bit of meat - he was truly nasty, and I liked the face off with Sarah Jane Smith. But then came the Reality Bomb - possibly the most cringeworthy name I've ever heard for a weapon. Its premise was idiotic, but hey, RTD, it's all about flashes, bangs and going way over the top, innit mate? If it's at all possible to tear apart the electrical field of every ounce of matter in the universe with a .... snicker ... "reality bomb", then surely, surely some nasty piece of work would've done it yonks ago?
By the time we had a duplicate Doctor, a half Time Lord Donna and Daleks spinning crazily to wacky music, though, I was spent. And just when I thought it couldn't get any more absurd, we have the whole cast of Seasons 1-4 in a gigantic love-in around the console, towing Earth back to the solar system. Towing Earth! Back to the solar system! I literally hid behind my hands when we saw shots of people's loungeroom furniture rocking back and forth and people staggering hilariously about on their superfast ride back home. I mean, the Earth spins at 14,000km/hr or something, doesn't it? How come my bleedin' fingers aren't dancing all over the keyboard then?
If I had to use one word to sum up Journey's End (apart from baffling, nonsensical or cheeseball) it'd be childish. I felt I was watching a kid's after school show on the ABC around 5.30pm. A good, jolly what-ho adventure that made no sense and failed to grip me on any level, but was just enough to tide me over till teatime.
I woke up this morning and had forgotten most of the finer details. I remember the explosions, loud music and high-fiving feelgoodisms but. And the ending - I kind of liked the ending. That last scene was somewhat moving, and lovely and subtle. It's just a shame the preceding 60 minutes were such hard work.

[mydoctor10]

[paisley-sage]

[mydoctor10]

[Ohica]

I think we all have to realise that it is meant to be fun. I can't tell you what this whole new series of DW has meant to me and also the Sarah Jane Adventures. I loved DW when I was a kid, even though i turned off and became a casual viewer through the C. Baker/ McCoy yrs and then again during this new series until School Reunion when the appearance of Sarah brought me back to it again. It really began to take hold and I've enjoyed the last 2 yrs, immensely. Martha is a great companion and Donna is just a blast.
To be truthful there are things about the new series that i don't like and that I find cringeworthy. Particularly the Mr and Mrs Doctor show with Rose. I find the hugging is over done and the kissing, entirely unacceptable. I also think the Doctor is too magical and has way too much special energy for his own good but I have no problem with the increased power of the TARDIS because I think that was always a real potential. I also have a problem with the sonic screwdriver suddenly being turned into some kind of solve it all thingy that can do wonders with any kind of electronic instrument. After all, it is just a sonic resonator and really, it should not be able to alter a mobile phone's ability to pick up signals etc. Anyway the thing is, I choose to ignore all this stuff. Just like I ignore all the obvious costumery and the green bubble wrap of the earlier [favourite] eps of the 70's -. I also don't like watching confidentials [but have seen a few just out of curiosity] because it takes away from the realism of it all. DW and SJA are my escape from reality, just as they have always been. Right now I am very unhappy with my job and am leaving it next year for a better one but in the mean time, watching DW, SJA and even Torchwood and chatting about them with my geek mates, is something that really makes me happy and we have alot of laughs. DW is fun. It's meant to be viewed as fun and if I see what they call a plot hole, then I try to explain it and if i can't then I just accept it and don't think about it. I think the people doing the new series have really found their comfort zone now and are doing what they think is best for the show. I like it and I hope most people think that same way.

[Davros]

[Theta Sigma]

[Davros]