Doctor Who Journey's End Reaction Post
In the run up to the episode last week, I posted in this thread here some questions I would like to see answered in this episode. Let's look at this first:
1. What is the crucible the Daleks are building? What does it do?
Well, this was answered - it's their ship and the center of the reality bomb. This is pretty much as I expected.
2. The darkness is coming. Is this other than the Daleks? Does it relate to the crucible? How does it make the stars go out? Especially since stars are all different distances away from the Earth. The light takes thousands of light years to reach us. If a star that is 4,000 light years away goes out today, we would not know it for 4,000 years. Most stars are much further away than that, although some are closer. (Sorry for that nerd out, there.)
Okay, so the darkness is caused by the Daleks, their reality bomb, and the breakdown of everything. (Still not sure of the science of it given the speed of light, etc., but I'll let that go.)
3. How is this a threat to all universes? How does Rose know so much about it already? What's been going on in Pete's World? If there are an infinite number of universes, why are we not calling it the multiverse?
Answered - goes through the rift at the Medusa Cascade to all universes/worlds. Pete's World runs ahead and the dimension cannon can measure time lines.
4. Will Rose go all Bad Wolf again? With the build up in Turn Left, I expect to see something more. I also go back to the point that if Rose changed Jack, how could she herself not be changed by the experience?
Really disappointed that after all the Bad Wolf build up, it has not been seen since Turn Left. I expected something more here from Rose as Bad Wolf.
5. What will the Osterhagen Key do? I hope it's not a reset key or something like that. I wonder if it is an Earth self destruct program, but that sounds a bit harsh.
I so called this! It was an earth self destruct. My husband does not believe that I figured this out - I think he thinks I looked as spoilers. I promised I didn't!
6. I would also love for Gwen and Rose to meet and there be some explanation about the similarities with Gwyneth. Especially with the rift in Torchwood. I could see RTD having a master plan up his sleeve.
Answered simply - and even though it was a brief mention, I was very pleased for it.
Analysis of Episode
The more I watch this episode, the more I enjoy it. I knew the regeneration would be resolved in the first few minutes of the episode. I'm really pleased Tennant is still the Doctor. The looks of disbelief on Rose, Jack, and Donna's faces are classic. Ten's look of glee when Rose tells she came back to find him is so lovely. When the Tardis is taken to the Crucible, there are some really sweet moments between all of them. I especially love the realization between Jack, Rose, and the Doctor that they are about to face the Daleks again - together. Then they all step onto the Crucible, and the feeling of deja vu between the three of them is even stronger - even as Donna is left behind.
The creation of the second Ten was unexpected. Even though I had accidentally read some of the two Doctor rumors, I guess I hoped it wouldn't happen. However, upon seeing it, I found it very believable. I love the interaction of Donna and the new Doctor in the Tardis. (And "naked" ten - very nice!) As we see them interact, even with the bits of Donna he has picked up, it is so clear that he IS the Doctor.
Back on the Crucible, we see the message from Martha. I love Rose's reactions to Martha and Martha's joy for the Doctor when she realizes who Rose is. Then Jack is back and threatening the Daleks as well, and Rose is relishing the fun of it all - as the Doctor becomes more and more reserved. It's at this point that I see a big difference between the Doctor and Rose. Then everyone is there together, and the reality bomb is about to be initiated. All hope seems lost, and new Doctor comes to save the day. Except it ends up being Donna that saves the day - the DoctorDonna. The acting here was brilliant. The "three" Doctors (back to Caan's "three-fold man" prophecy) send back the planets. Except the Supreme Dalek destroys the machine before the send back the Earth. This is where we see the Doctor run into the Tardis and the new Doctor fulfills the remainder of the prophecy by destroying the Daleks. As everyone leaves the Crucible, the shots of everyone flying the Tardis are amazing and easily one of my favorite scenes in the episode. As everyone says their goodbyes, I am very excited that it looks like they are setting up Mickey and Martha to join Torchwood. I also loved the character development of Mickey.
And soon, we are back in Darlig ulv stranden, and it is immediately apparent that Rose will be left behind. I think Rose had to be left behind. The Doctor has regenerated twice now because of his love for her. When he was shot by the Dalek, he was running to her with no thought for anything else. I think he knows that although he needs/needed her, his love for her blinds him to everything else. And how sad would it be for Rose to be left behind, except now, he can leave a piece of himself behind as well. When she challenges him to finish his sentence, he can't - he thinks he does not need saying! But the new Doctor can tell Rose of his love - and he is the Doctor - he even said he is him - he looks like him, he thinks like him, he is him - except with one heart and one lifetime that he wants to spend with Rose. And I loved the kissed, I believed it - she was already realizing that this new Doctor was the Doctor for her. I also loved the reflection in the colors of their outfits - maroonish undershirt and navy blue jackets, as if it had always been meant to be. And I truly believe they will continue to have adventures in this universe and will not be constrained to Earth. The technology of their Torchwood is far advanced to our universe's, and I think the dimension jump could be calibrated to just move within that universe. I don't really buy into the thought that they will be tied to Earth. I loved how on the Crucible, Rose took the Doctor's hand in comfort, but on the beach, new Doctor took Rose's hand in comfort. Our last look of them looking into each other's eyes gives me hope. I choose for their ending to be happy.
My heart broke as Donna's brain began its meltdown. Donna has been an extraordinary companion. She was brilliant. Her own realization of it was probably more difficult to watch than if the Doctor had only told her. Her devolution back to the Donna before Runaway Bride was so sad, but I hope that the impression of her experiences will be etched in her subconscious. I choose to believe that she will become a much better person because of her experiences with the Doctor, even if she can never remember them. As the Doctor shares this with her mom and Wilf, it made it even more tragic. I think that one of the best lines of the entire episode was when he told them there are worlds out there who will sing of her and never forget what she did, while she can never remember.
Poor lonely Doctor at the end of the episode, but he'll find new companions, and I know he will realize that he does make the people he touches better. Although I love Rose, I am really pleased that he will be able to move on now.
So, I think that this was a brilliant episode, and all the story lines from RTD's four season arc were tide up nicely - with some plot outs for the new story writers to use if they wanted to. And no matter what other people say on the Doctor Who Forum, people must have really enjoyed this episode. It's AI was 91%, and its viewing figures were massive.