End of Time part 2

[eve11]

Not much of a plot to that one, eh? I suppose we should be used to that with RTD episodes. The two glaring plot holes that bug me the most are 1) Why didn't Rassilon just use his glove thing when the Doctor had his gun pointed at the Master? How was that any kind of Mexican standoff? Seems like the Time Lords had enough power to beat the Doctor there and ensure their return. And 2) if Wilf really didn't want the Doctor to sacrifice himself for him at the end, he could have pressed any one of his controls and flooded the chamber (thus killing himself) before the Doctor tried to let him out. I'm glad he didn't, mind you, but it was an option if he was real stalwart about it.

Overall, I still liked it. There were more parts I liked than parts I didn't. I handwave at Time Lord tech magic so very much, but Davies has a track record of not really caring about science, so, I was prepared to handwave. I loved the cactus people and I loved "Worst. Rescue. Ever!", Ha! Poor Doctor. Reminded me of the old post-regeneration episodes Spearhead from Space and Castrovalva; the Doctor's got a poor track record with wheelchairs, lol. The missile shooting scene was straight out of Star Wars, and the irradiation scene was straight out of Star Trek II, but then again, these days everything's always from something else. And I did love the set-up for it, where the Doctor gets about 20 seconds of thinking he cheated death and then hears Wilf knocking on the glass. Poor Doctor; you can't fault him for a rant, but then again, he's always been a bit childish. Lots of last lines going on in that scene though; personally my favorite was the Doctor steeling himself; "Live too long."

I liked the bits of montage at the end-- he gets to take some time to say goodbye and to save people and do it right as opposed to Waters of Mars. Again though, I think Russel Davies could have used an editor. The Ood at the end was a bit much, don't you think? And I still thought it was sad but fitting that the Tenth Doctor had to die alone at the end.

And we still don't know who the mysterious lady is: but I'm betting from her "I was once lost, long ago" line, and the fact that she opposed the President, that she is Romana. I'm wondering too if somehow the Time Lords that opposed Rassilon somehow became the Weeping Angel assassins, and if they could somehow be rescued from that fate. Just a theory.

Eleven's first scene was interesting. Not sold on him entirely, but I did love his "Crashing!" line.

In short, arrivederci, David Tennant; it's been a fun ride. Now I want to go back and watch Ten's run all again, which I think is a good reaction to the series finale.

Comments

[bexxa.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with you, except I could've done without the farewell tour at the end.

As for the woman, I was't thinking Romana - I was expecting it to be his mother, or some such.

And no mention of River Song, which I'd've maybe expected if the farewell tour had to happen at all.

[eve11]

The way he looked at Donna when Wilf asked who the woman was, speculation's going around that it was Susan. I must admit, that idea broke my heart into tiny, tiny bits.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I loved Ten rather unreasonably, so seeing his pain and anger at having to go was a little bit gutting. I loved all the Star Wars references, though. And "Worst. Rescue. Ever." was possibly my favorite line from the whole thing, lol. The plot, yeah, that was a little pitiful, but the set-up from pt. 1 led me to believe it was going to be pitiful, so no surprise. The stand-off between Master - Doctor - Rassilon was pathetic. As you said, there was absolutely nothing preventing Rassilon from doing what he needed to do in order to make his grand plan come about. And was that the Resurrection Glove that he was wearing? That's a nice tie-in to Torchwood.

[eve11]

I'm kind of torn with that scene because really, I like the way tennant acted it, and yeah, it kind of tugged at me too, but again it just seemed like RTD wrote *too much* there. I think DT could have acted most of that monologue with no words whatsoever. Just the "yeah", and explain what's wrong, smash some stuff off a table and that last lovely "Live too long" bit. But RTD has never been known for subtlety, or for knowing when to stop.

Worst. Rescue. Ever!

[mamoulian.livejournal.com]

Going to miss Tennant. Olivia pointed out that Time Lords might be the Weeping Angels, which would certainly be interesting. I also agree that the mystery woman might be Romana.

Looking forward to the new season to see what 11's going to be like.

Re: Worst. Rescue. Ever!

[eve11]

I think "Worst. Rescue. Ever!" is my favorite line. Eleven seemed pretty fun at the start. I think I like his scene more the more I watch it :)

[ansel1.livejournal.com]

Didn't the ninth doctor regenerate in the tardis? And didn't that regeneration not blow the whole ship up?

[eve11]

Yeah but he didn't hold off the regeneneration for a tour of former companions either!

[ansel1.livejournal.com]

Interesting article with lots of speculation from end of time. some coincides with your thoughts: http://io9.com/5439138/figuring-out-doctor-whos-lingering-mysteries

[eve11]

thanks for the link! Much juicy speculation. (I think that the other dissenter is actually either Ace or Leela, but why they would be given a vote is beyond me)