elisi: Edwin and Charles (Ten (EoT) by radioactivepiss)
elisi ([personal profile] elisi) wrote2010-01-02 05:36 pm

End of Time, Part 2. Much rambliness.

One of my main thoughts after watching EoT? RTD is the Dickens of TV. Every loose end is carefully wrapped up and fastened with a big bow - and it’s sad, but it is done with such love and care that it lends itself more to melancholy than grief or anger.

Also, RTD is a ‘shipper through and through, and I love him for it.

Now, I re-watched the ep this morning (and took notes, so I wouldn’t forget anything), so let the rambling commence...

What can be said about the Gallifrey scenes? I’m not sure to be honest, but they worked for me - the clichés (the crone who’s a seer!), the [show] history, the costumes, and... yeah. Enjoyed it all very much. Will get back to them later.

Nice touch that the Doctor had put a ‘safety’ in Donna’s head, as it were, although it occurs to me that the Master managed to forget about her awfully quickly. But then he doesn’t really care about ‘little people’, so... And the star made him change his focus. LOVED that the Doctor referred to her as ‘My best friend’. *SNIFF*

And then of course came another of those amazing, gorgeous Doctor/Master scenes, where they just knock it out of the park completely. “You could be brilliant!” And the Doctor of course repeating his offer to travel together, and for a moment it seems as if the Master is actually considering it. [What would he be without the drums? What would the Doctor be without the Master... Oh be still my heart.] Which leads on to the talk about the Schism, and their childhoods [if it can be called a childhood] - and any excuse to do that is welcome. Also I love RTD to tiny pieces for *explaining* the drums... and it’s one of those retcons that feels like it was planned, as DT said. Just brilliant. ETA: All the Masters!!! \o/ And they all got along beautifully. Loved that. :)

And then the Doctor’s “You’re still bone dead stupid!” which was fantastic, as was the ‘cactuses’/‘cacti’/‘That’s racist!’ exchange. :) Also ”Worst. Rescue. Ever!” ftw!

Wilf’s reaction to being in space was just lovely! And the female Vinvocci was *not* impressed with the Doctor. Although it was *her* idea to go to *her* spaceship, so...

And then a star falls...

The Doctor/Wilf conversation on the bridge was just so perfect that I’m still all aflutter. “It’s not your fault!”/“Isn’t it?”, and “I’m no innocent. I’ve taken lives. But I got worse. I got clever. Manipulated people into taking their own.” Davros’ revenge *still* continuing... [wants to hug the Doctor] And then Wilf is of course so beautifully perceptive, and gets the Doctor to admit that if the Master is killed everyone comes back. “Don’t you *dare* put him before them!” (This is why the Doctor needs a companion!!!) And he *still* won’t take the gun. Love that, because it makes the reaction to the Master’s message about the white point star have a much greater impact.

The whole laser battle thing was just fun, and loved Wilf’s “I won’t stop you sir, but is this it?”, which was just wonderful. Also loved that the Vinvocci hightailed it out (“He *said* he was dying!”) - although the Doctor jumping down through the glass roof was just *ridiculous*. (But then it is Doctor Who...)

I have to say that the Timelords appearing is one of the most beautiful and evocative images ever. “On your knees mankind!” indeed. They *do* come across as Lords, and LOVED that Rassilon addressed the Doctor and the Master as ‘Lord Doctor’ and ‘Lord Master’. [OMG Rassilon!!!eleventy!!!] Oh, and the Master’s plan to turn all the Timelords into himself... :D

Of course, his plan gets undone with a flick of Rassilon’s wrist, and then the whole stand-off begins, with the Master jumping from side to side. ‘Twas ALL made of awesome, from Rassilon stretching out his hand to kill the Master and the Doctor jumping in (Oh the click of that gun...), to turning on the Master (“You never would, you coward!”, he knows him so well...) - and then almost believing that the Doctor would indeed... his face killed me. And then the lady in white looking up...

(Who was she? *has not read anything yet* I thought maybe his mother, but the way his eyes drift to Donna when Wilf asks later makes me think Susan, which would be the most exquisite piece of continuity. And who was the other Timelord to abstain?)

Oh, and the Timelords’ plan was excellent and horrifying - Davros wanted to destroy everything that wasn’t Daleks, and I wondered how that could be topped. Well RTD did it. ‘F*ck creation’, say the Timelords, ‘we’ll becomes gods proper’. *is impressed*

And then the Doctor decides to be clever... “Get out of my way!”

Love the Doctor’s resignation of his fate, thinking that he will die for good, and then the Master’s repeat of ‘Get out of my way!’

It’s not quite redemption, but it’s certainly edging that way... His rage is perfect, and I love how they used his sudden gaining of powers to such a beautiful effect. “You *made* me! All my *life*! One. Two. Three. Four.” They didn’t want him, the damaged goods they’d spoiled themselves... Stone cold bastards. I love it.

Then they all vanish, and the Doctor thinks he’s cheated fate...

And then come the knocks. Good grief, RTD’s a GENIUS!

Poor Ten, he rages against the dying of the light, but he knows. And I can’t begin to explain how much I love the fact that he dies for Wilf. I thought it might be Donna, but this is so, so much better. It explains why they’re still bound together of course, but that really is the least of it. Not sure what I can say, to be honest, because it’s all just *there*... And for a show written by a self-confessed atheist I’m always stunned at how Christian (/religious) it is. (‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ John 15:13)

“Wilfrid - it’s my honour.”

And his face...

Of course there was the moment when it seemed like he *wasn’t* regenerating, and I was wondering if he’d ever get round to dying, but of course that was answered...

Jumping back to Donna, then I, in the space of a few minutes, grew to love Shaun - because his first (and only) thought when he woke up was Donna. Also, her lying on the sofa, extremely cold, reminded me of the Third Doctor in ‘Doctor Who and the Daemons’, who goes through a very similar thing. Continuity ftw! :)

And then the Doctor claiming his ‘reward’ - it struck me how very, very different this was from the Doctor at the beginning of ‘EoT’. Then he was running away, fooling about for his own sake, and here he was focussed on other people. Saying goodbye, saving, and looking after those he loved. A little bit of The Timelord Victorious about him still, playing with time, but with such sadness. (Love how this part is like a farewell to the whole era. RTD, I can’t thank you enough!)

Let’s go through them, shall we?

Martha/Mickey... Didn’t see that one coming. RTD is an evil genius. I am trying to imagine all the fic that’s been Jossed... But it makes a lot of sense, and if there indeed *is* more than a year between ‘Journey’s End’ and ‘Children of Earth’, then that’s ample time to get cold feet with Milligan and go for Mickey instead. (I rather liked Martha/Milligan, but Martha/Mickey has a lot more potential! Smith and Jones indeed! *draws hearts*) Also, very neat that RTD made her go freelance, since this way Moffat doesn’t have to worry whether to use her or not if he brings in UNIT. Loved that the Doctor used the mallet from the TARDIS to knock out the Sontaran, and that he just *stood* there, and then walked away. So very remote and alien.

Luke - Nothing much to say, except it was very nice, and that it’s lovely to have Sarah Jane around for continuity’s sake - I hope we see her and Eleven.

Jack. Oh Jack. Could wax lyrical about how much I loved the Star Wars feel of the bar, but I won’t. Just imagine my flailing. Now I’ve read a fair few fics where the Doctor meets Jack, and although the reality was a lot shorter, I loved it nonetheless. And really, what could the Doctor have said? (If Lady in White was indeed Susan, he has just killed his grandchild for the second time...) And the note... ‘His name is Alonso’ might be the four best words ever. As you know, Ianto’s death just *killed* me, as it did great swathes of the fandom, and I think there’s been this pre-emptive grudge against whoever Jack would end up with next. But I don’t think it’s humanly *possible* to dislike Alonso. RTD truly is an evil genius of *epic* proportions... (Also, Alonso has *met* the Doctor, and is truly brave and goodhearted. Just the sort of person Jack needs. Or, to quote [livejournal.com profile] selenak, who wrote down my thoughts perfectly: Now given that the Doctor's own method of dealing with horrible trauma is a) running and b) picking up new friends who permit him both to regain joy at the universe through them and prevent him from going megalomaniac, it made sense to me that this is what he's offering Jack as a farewell present.)

Nurse Redfearn’s great-granddaughter. That was just *heart-wrenching*. “Was she happy? In the end?” Poor Ten, he SO needed a hug.

Donna. Getting married. Love the mirroring of Agatha Christie:

Donna: But what happens to Agatha?
The Doctor: Oh, great life! Met another man, married again. Saw the world. Wrote and wrote and wrote.
[...]
Donna: She *did* remember.
The Doctor: Somewhere at the back of her mind, it all lingered.


And the lottery ticket, and borrowing a pound off Donna’s dad. Just beautiful.

Rose. Back at the beginning. This was so perfect and heartbreaking that it almost killed me. “Bet you’re going to have a really great year!” RTD I bow down before you.

Before finally... Ood Sigma.

“We will sing to you, Doctor. The Universe will sing you to sleep.”

Goodbye Ten. You were, and always will be, my Doctor.

And I’m trying *so* hard not to cry (again) as I write this, because the story does go on. I just right now - selfishly - wish that Ten had stayed on until they wheeled you out in a bath chair. I’m sure Eleven will be nice, but... *sniff*

[OMG he set the TARDIS on FIRE! Regenerations are fun...]

ETA: Also I *have* to stay positive about Eleven, because the girls are all 'David Tennant is the ONLY real Doctor *ever*!' (Even though they remember Eccelston, but he doesn't count, obviously) and 'Matt Smith isn't any good, is he?' ("Darling, you've seen him for precisely 2 minutes, shut up and give him a chance!") Series 5 is going to be interesting to watch...

[identity profile] calturner.livejournal.com 2010-01-02 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
It's so nice to read a review from someone who loved the finale as much as I did. I've seen many Doctors come and go over the years, but David Tennant made the character his own. He will always be *my* Doctor now. I shall miss him so much!

I am looking forward to Eleven (I really did enjoy his first scene - "Geronimo!"), but it will be some time before I can quite let go of Ten. *sniffles*

[identity profile] zanthinegirl.livejournal.com 2010-01-02 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I've read a couple reviews on my flist that basically hated EoT. Since I loved every minute it's good to see that I'm not alone!

RTD certainly has his flaws, but IMO he pulled this one off beautifully. I did not see Timothy Dalton's Timelord as Rassilon coming! Whoa.

I had assumed that the woman in white was the Doctor's mother, but I think you have a point. Susan makes sense, and I'm kind of glad they left that one open.

There need to be clips of that final Doctor/Master scene. seriously!

I got all teared up at the lottery ticket scene. Sniff!

And Martha/Micky. Did not see that coming! I like Tom Milligan, but this makes some sense too. They both have some Doctor issues in common after all! And I realize it's shallow, but Martha's hair looks really cute in those braids!

One thing I did notice-- there was a lot of talk about families and children/ childhood. I'm not totally sure what it meant (if anything other than disproving all the whackjobs on the doctor who boards who go on and on about looming and asexuality) but it's interesting...

I'm really going to miss Ten. Nine was my first doctor, and I still love him. But it's kind of hard to visualize anyone following DT. Those are pretty big chuck taylors to fill!

[identity profile] selenak.livejournal.com 2010-01-02 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
‘Twas ALL made of awesome, from Rassilon stretching out his hand to kill the Master and the Doctor jumping in (Oh the click of that gun...), to turning on the Master (“You never would, you coward!”, he knows him so well...) - and then almost believing that the Doctor would indeed..

Can we say great acting by John Simm here, because, look at the facial expression and eyes, where you can see the moment he believes the Doctor will shoot after all. (And he can't be 100% sure. It takes a lot to push the Doctor to want the Master dead, but Ainley!Master managed it in the end, resulting in the irony of Five, positively the mildest and nicest incarnation, was the one who actually let the Master die, looking at him all the while. (And subsequently died himself in a semi-suicidal way, I might add.) Whereas the more ruthless incarnations of the Doctor still couldn't help themselves of wanting him alive despite all he did.

Back to EoT and great acting: the other great change of eyes and expression is when the Master catches on what the Doctor is actually planning to do after "get out of the way" and starts to smile while doing so. And of course the repeated "get out of the way" later. They work as well together as they fight, those two renegade children of Gallifrey.

(BTW: I was amused that Rassilon immediately deduces that if the Doctor is one of two survivors of the Time War, the Master will be the other. TheirloveissonotsecretonGallifrey.

I'm so glad you were as happy about the Alonso/Jack matchmaking as I was!

I hadn't thought about how this continues the Agatha/Donna mirroring, but you're absolutely right on that count. (And brilliant.)

[identity profile] selenak.livejournal.com 2010-01-02 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods* And I have to add, the fact that the Doctor, before he arrives, has worked out what the Master's plan is. They understand each other far, far too well. (Two sides of the same coin, as JS puts it.)

So true, and the Master going "no, don't tell him! That's my plan to tell!" so harks back to these schoolboy days when their relationship started.

On that note, other Time Lords reacting to Doctor/Master encounters doesn't happen often, but is usually great fun. Firstly, we have, in the Master's introduction episode, the following scenario (I'm not quoting but paraphrasing):

Unnamed Time Lord: Hello, Doctor. You're still exiled, don't get your hopes up, but we thought it might interest you that the Master is on his way to Earth.

Doctor: So not interested. At all. Bah. Why I should I care?

UTL (rolls eyes): Well, he had always better grades when you two were at school, plus we can't be bothered to deal with him and someone has to. And you can't stay away from each other anyway.

Doctor: He DID NOT! I so can stay... when's he coming again?

And then there is The Five Doctors, where the council of Gallifrey goes:

Chancellor, President and assorted council members: Someone is putting various incarnations of the Doctor in the death zone. For plot reasons, we need him to survive. Who could possibly volunteer to rescue four regenerations of the Doctor from the death zone of Gallifrey? Only one candidate comes to mind. Let's ask his arch nemesis.

Master (and now follows an actual quote): "A universe without the Doctor scarcesly bears thiking about."

Council: We knew you'd say that.

And there is always the Rani, bless her, in Mark of the Rani:

Master: I'm here totally by accident.
Rani: Don't bother. I've seen the Doctor already. You two are pathetic and I'M NOT PASSING NOTES BETWEEN YOU ANYMORE.

[identity profile] kateydidnt.livejournal.com 2010-01-02 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Who was she? *has not read anything yet* I thought maybe his mother, but the way his eyes drift to Donna when Wilf asks later makes me think Susan, which would be the most exquisite piece of continuity. And who was the other Timelord to abstain?"

!!! My exact same thought, I thought it was Susan because of the way his attention then focuses on Wilf's granddaughter.

And is it just me or was that gauntlet on Rassilon's hand a Risen Mitten?

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2010-01-02 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Great review - even the bits I disagree with. :-)

Every loose end is carefully wrapped up and fastened with a big bow

This one, for instance. *g*

LOVED that the Doctor referred to her as ‘My best friend’. *SNIFF*

Hells yeah.

Also ”Worst. Rescue. Ever!” ftw!

I loved that. The Doctor is the Comic Book Guy of timelords.

I have to say that the Timelords appearing is one of the most beautiful and evocative images ever. “On your knees mankind!” indeed. They *do* come across as Lords, and LOVED that Rassilon addressed the Doctor and the Master as ‘Lord Doctor’ and ‘Lord Master’. [OMG Rassilon!!!eleventy!!!]

Timothy Dalton. Sean Connery. Oscar. Over the HEAD.

And then come the knocks.

Oh yeah. I'd decided on my recent rewatch that "He will knock four times" has to be The Master's drums, and it IS, and then... Wilf.

And for a show written by a self-confessed atheist I’m always stunned at how Christian (/religious) it is. (‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ John 15:13)

As a fellow atheist, I'd say there's a reason most religious (and other) stories are variations on that theme. :-) Joss likes his religious imagery as well... But that could be a VERY long post.

Martha/Mickey... Didn’t see that one coming. RTD is an evil genius.

Like I said, I don't agree with everything in this review. ;-) I'm going to simply ignore that obvious typo in Martha's name in the credits and interpret her "You shouldn't have married me" to mean that Mickey has become a preacher, ship's captain, or mayor and is thus licensed to officiate at weddings. Which, IMO, makes more sense.

Also I *have* to stay positive about Eleven

I actually liked him more than I'd expected to in those few seconds we got. "Hair... I'm a girl?!?" Still wanted it to be Dalton, though. Oh well. Bring on Moffat.

[identity profile] beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com 2010-01-04 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
Have you read SA: Superheroes Anonymous?

I have now, and heee! Batman is weirdly like the Dark Broody One in the Buffyverse, isn't he? Except with more money, obviously. And more nipple.

I guess I liked it because it was so completely unexpected

I can agree that it was unexpected. ;-)

Could always start a campaign for Twelve, I guess.

Maybe if we can get the whole world to think "DYLAN MORAN" at the same time...
gillo: (Dr Ten)

[personal profile] gillo 2010-01-03 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Those of us who loved earlier Doctors just have to help those who only really love Ten.

I adored so many bits of this that the fact that the plot is basically somewhat messy really didn't matter. My kids wept buckets through it. (R was miles away, at a friend's house, but when Dave rang five minutes later to check pick-up times she was still sniffling!)

So many wonderful shout-outs to all the other SF I loved. RTD is sentimental and OTT, but he can certainly deliver the emotional punch!

[identity profile] jackaholic.livejournal.com 2010-01-03 09:13 am (UTC)(link)
I totally missed the Agatha Christie comparison. Nice catch!

Right, so I literally agree with everything you said :D Actually, everything except the Martha/Mickey thing. I've still got a problem with that but am choosing to just delete it from my own personal canon ;)

When I watched the Jack scene, I actually laughed out loud and wondered whether RTD was in some way suicidal :P I was convinced the Janto fans were going to be livid!! So i've been amazed at how well Jack/Alonso has been recieved. I thought it was adorable, and the fact that RTD actually referred to it as the Doctor's 'forgiveness' of Jack in the Confidential just makes me love Rusty even more.

Re. The Doctor dying for Wilf... the entire rest of the episode could have been utter crap and I probably would have still loved it just for this. It was THE most perfect way for the Doctor to die. It truly couldn't have been anything else. My sister was saying last week how only a big, epic, dramatic end would do for Tennant. But no way. This, this and only this. *nods*

What did you think of Ten's final words/moments before the regeneration? There's a lot of fanwank going on about how he died like a pathetic, blubbering coward...

I agree about the religious undertones too. Its hysterical, both RTD and Joss just cant help themselves! (Speaking of which, I just saw in your userinfo that you're Christian... which makes my repeated recommendation of The Second Coming seem slightly insensitive in hindsight! I still cant help but recommend it because I think its bleeping brilliant, but just be warned that it is more or less RTD's own personal atheist manifesto!)

I cant believe you managed to be so coherent so soon after the ep. I want to write up my thoughts too, but I just... cant seem to yet :(

[identity profile] jackaholic.livejournal.com 2010-01-06 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
Huh. People are *strange*. I thought it was heartbreaking, because Ten *doesn't* want to die. He's fought against his pre-destined death every step of the way, and even though he accepts it, he still doesn't like it, or want it.

I think its more complicated than that, because for a long time now, he's been very caviler about throwing his life away. Ready to sacrifice himself without a second's thought. He admitted to having nothing to live for in The Next Doctor! So for me, the whole arc of the specials was about him coming to the realisation that despite all the pain, grief and loneliness, yes, he does want to live. I think it really hit him when he was on the floor (after the Time Lords disappeared) saying "I'm still alive!"

Anyway, i've got an epic rambly post over at my LJ about it, because the amount of people (particularly over at the DW Forum) saying it was an appalling ending because it made Ten a crybaby and a coward and destroyed his legacy... lets just say its been making me a bit mad...

[identity profile] lostakasha.livejournal.com 2010-01-03 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I stayed away from the computer yesterday because part 2 wasn't scheduled to air here until last night on BBCAM and I knew I couldn't trust myself not to read your posts.

:)

But oh, my heart! My heart! In the condition I'm in (still, this morning) I couldn't write a salient thing about it. So I'm so happy to have your meta to read!

[identity profile] chloris67.livejournal.com 2010-01-03 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm starting to come around to Martha/Mickey, but it's been tough. It just seems lazy writing to put them together. However, we don't know how far in the future it is that we see them and they do have a lot in common. And they look cute together/

I loved when Wilf scolded the Doctor about putting the Master before Earth. He knew that it would be tempting for the Doctor and was not afraid to call him on it. *hugs Wilf*

The whole scene with the Doctor and Master and time lords was completely awesome. LOVED! The Doctor was truly at the center of the confrontation. He knew the Master's plan. He knew the time lord's plan. He knew that he had the moment and could stop it all. And then he and the Master save each other! *flails* That was just too perfect.