1x02 "The End of the World" discussion post

[_thirty2flavors]

So the rewatch marches on with 1x02, "The End of the World". As always, don't feel limited to answering just these questions or all of these questions; they're here to kickstart discussion but they're not compulsory.

Comments

[fauxkaren]

FANWORKS
Post some fanworks if you want to share!

[fauxkaren]

1. End of the World marks Rose Tyler's first real trip in the TARDIS, and her first time-travel outing. How do you think she did? What did you think of Rose in this episode? What about her sudden realization that she'd gone off into danger with a complete stranger and yet her decision at the end of the episode to stay with him (after chips)? I think her reaction is completely understandable and tbh, I think it's more interesting and original than if she'd just been 100% gung-ho about it. Rose is pretty overwhelmed by the strangeness of it all. I mean, she’s not scared, but it’s still weird and different a bit much to deal with. And then her planet is burning in front of her. And now that she’s stop to think, she’s realizing that she just kind of ran off with this stranger and now she’s millions of years from home and surrounded by all this strange things and it’s really overwhelming. But then by the end of the episode, I think she's decided to stick around because she's had some time to adjust and because she doesn't want the Doctor

[fauxkaren]

4. In terms of plot, what did you think of it? Funny? Too simplistic and campy? What about Cassandra as a villain, especially knowing what will become of her in series 2? What about the way the Doctor deals with her?
Cassandra is campy, but she's fun. And also, I think that it touches on a little bit of the question of what it means to be human. I mean, genetically she's human. She was born on Earth. But, she doesn't really seem quite human, does she? And then this is in context of the fact that this episode features Rose dealing with being surrounded by alien things and feeling out of place. Idk. I don't think the show answers these questions and I don't think it tries to. But it is something to think about.

Also, I honestly think that the reason that the Doctor was so harsh with her (letting her die right then instead of making her go to trail or whatever) is because Jabe died as a result of Cassandra's actions and I think the Doctor was angry.

5. So... what the hell is going on in that scene with the giant fanblades anyway? Did

[_thirty2flavors]

Maybe the room with the fanblades was designed by the same guy who designed the ship in 42!

[_thirty2flavors]

Cassandra is an interesting statement on racial purity and given the future nature of Rose's relationship with the Doctor, raises some interesting themes. What about humans mixing with alien races. Is that so bad? Obviously, by this point it's not taboo anymore to anyone besides Cassandra.

Cassandra is also and rather obviously I think a jab at plastic surgery and the obsession with physical perfection -- she's getting her chin removed because she wants to be as "thin" as possible, etc etc.

Which does make her comment about being a "little boy" pretty awkward to me, I'm not sure what to make of it. Is Cassandra trans? If so, is that a good thing, given that she's a character whose repeat surgeries are the butt of a joke and even part of her ~sinister~ villainy? Does her eventual redemption and development in s2 change that at all? I'm never really quite sure what to make of the whole thing.

[fauxkaren]

It was unfortunate that Rose spent much of the episode locked in that room while Jabe performed the duties of companion in her place. However, we needed to see the loss of Jabe to really introduce the idea that people are willing to sacrifice themselves in aid of the Doctor (important theme for later on in the show).

Well, also Rose spends a lot of series 1 getting herself into trouble. lol. I mean, I LOVE Rose, but she needs a lot of rescuing in series 1. (This is why I've never understood the sentiment that a lot of fandom seems to hold where Rose is ~awesome~ in series 1 but sucks in series 2.)

ANSWERING MY OWN QUESTIONS LIKE A BOSS

[_thirty2flavors]

First up I LOVE THIS EPISODE HATERS TO THE LEFT. This was the third episode I saw, after "Blink" and then "Rose", but I think it was the first episode that gave me a real taste of what the show would be like, and I remember watching it and thinking "ohhhhhhhhh, so this is how it works". And I liked the premise very much. It was funny and the plot was silly but the character stuff was all spot-on and compelling. EVERYTHING I NEVER KNEW I WANTED

[anna_sg1]

5. I WAS THE SAME. Just thought he was ~smart enough to figure out the timing (back then I just figured he's VERY GOOD WHEN IT COME TO THINGS ABOUT ~TIME) and then just walked through it IDK.

[_thirty2flavors]

I didn't really think of it as a big deal lamo I was just like I'VE PLAYED CRASH BANDICOOT I'M QUALIFIED FOR THIS

[anna_sg1]

LOLOL leave it to internet to complicate everything, I guess. XD