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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]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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...
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
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...
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I owe that one to
Right, so I literally agree with everything you said :D
\o/
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 ;)
Maybe - as BGF suggseted - Mickey became a minister of some sort. *g*
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 don't hang out in the TW fandom, so I am VERY happy to hear that people are OK with it!
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.
Same here. (I'll be writing another post, so won't waffle here...)
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*
Absolutely! *loves RTD*
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...
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 thought it was very honest, and probably echoes through out the land - *we* don't want him to go either...
I agree about the religious undertones too. Its hysterical, both RTD and Joss just cant help themselves!
It's extraordinary. You could use this episode in RE lessons throughout the land!
(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!)
Now you're making me curious... *g* But thank you for the heads up - I'll know what to expect now.
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 :(
I couldn't *not* write, and it was agony to have to wait so long (almost a whole day) before being able to. When I watch something like this, I just have too many thoughts. There might yet be meta, which is something else... And anyway, I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. I think it's slowly building to be honest. Just wait - in a week's time I'll be an incoherent mess!
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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...
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