Mark Watches ‘Doctor Who’: S04E12 – The Stolen Earth

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Mark Oshiro

In the twelfth episode of the fourth series of Doctor Who, WHAT THE HOLY FLYING FUCK JUST HAPPENED????? If you’re intrigued, then it’s time for Mark to watch Doctor Who.

OH MY GOD. WHAT THE HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE HOLY HELL DID I JUST WATCH

I am speechless. What do I say? WHAT DID I JUST WITNESS?

It took some context outside of what was given inside the episode for me to begin to both understand and appreciate the monumental amount of work went into making sure “The Stolen Earth” could even happen. I wasn’t aware that this was Davies final series as showrunner and it helps to explain so much: why all of the companions returned, why the two other Doctor Who-related shows converged in the story, and who so many clues and hints from the past four years were all seemingly answered with grand narrative sweeps. The Shadow Proclamation. Bad Wolf. The Lost Moon of Poosh. Adipose III. The Medusa Cascade. FUCKING DAVROS. DAVROS!!!! Oh my god, my brain is overloaded with information.

On Rose Tyler’s warning from the alternate universe, Donna and the Doctor head back to earth and THE EARTH IS TELEPORTED TO A NEW LOCATION. I mean, seriously, yes, this is all ridiculous and over-the-top and incredibly Russell T Davies and, for now, I JUST DON’T CARE. Oh god, we’ve seen hospitals transported to the moon, but TWENTY-SEVEN PLANETS? Good lord!

At the beginning of “The Stolen Earth,” all of the characters are scattered over various parts of planet Earth while Donna and the Doctor head to the Shadow Proclamation. THE SHADOW PROCLAMATION. IT’S REAL AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT.

I honestly did not expect that the Proclamation was an actual organization. I’d always assumed the Doctor was invoking a rule or a set of laws and then I saw the Judoon and HEAD EXPLOSION. I loved the Shadow Architect; her make-up and costuming was another unexpected detail, but I was sort of surprised they had no idea the Doctor was still around. Wouldn’t they have known if there was one singular Time Lord left?

Regardless, one of the main theme’s of Donna’s character is continued here in “The Stolen Earth.” Donna’s self-esteem was a main focus of that episode and we still see how she questions and doubts herself, yet it’s her two suggestions that help the Doctor put together the pieces of what’s happening. I love the idea that this season is building up to a point where the Doctor realizes he needs Donna (and all of his companions) far more than they need him.

The big reveal for this episode is the return of the Daleks. I’m going to admit a couple things here, just right off the bat. I don’t understand the logistics of Dalek Caan bringing back Davros. So he escaped last series through a temporal shift, entered the locked time war, grabbed Davros, lost his sanity while being able to see the future, and then Davros built the Dalek empire out of his stomach? Is that correct? I think those are all the pieces, but this episode in particular is extensively dense, so it was hard enough trying to keep track of the twenty million separate plots on top of this.

Additionally, I like the idea of Davros, and I recognized his name as the one who initially created the Daleks so long ago. His make-up was some of the best in the entire run of Davies’s reign. But I was reminded of my experience watching “School Reunion” in series two, when, incidentally, we first met Sarah Jane Smith in the newer series. Like that episode, I understood the dramatic weight Davies carried in bringing back Davros, but for me…it’s not that I didn’t care. I do!!! But I have no history with him, no real experience with his character and what he did in the canon of the show.

That being said, I don’t think I would have been as excited or joyous to have the Daleks return with Davros. He’s the real key to tie this all together, especially since it creates such an awful situation for Sarah Jane and the Doctor, who have battled him before. Putting Davros in the center of this gives a much more credible justification for the return of the Daleks. (Which I wondered about anyway, since it seems the Daleks must appear at least once each series.)

I think my only complaint for this first parter is that THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON. I don’t watch The Sarah Jane Adventures and I’ve only seen the pilot of Torchwood, so I can’t feel too attached to all the time spent on both of those teams. I mean, I think I understand the need to have the Doctor’s companions appear here. Well…I’m sure I’m completely unprepared. But you know what I mean. Still, THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON. Martha Jones has the ability to transport herself via technology stolen from the Sontarans and has an Osterhagan key that does…something? It opens a door? LOOK, I DON’T KNOW.

I like Jack’s team from the only exposure I’ve had to them, but they certainly do a lot of…hiding. So does Sarah Jane and her son Luke. Rose is back, but she’s unable to contact anyone aside from Martha Jones, but I didn’t realize why this happened this way until the end. WHICH I WILL GET TO. There’s a way that all of this frenetic works; it was incredibly hard for me to turn my eyes away from the screen for even a second, as I knew I’d miss something. I am worried that Davies has bit off more than he can chew, but at the same time…look, it’s his last couple of episodes. He’s going to bring it all out, isn’t?

To further tie things together, I found the episodes greatest casting surprise to be the return of Harriet Jones, ex-Prime Minister, who managed to contact Mr. Copper from “Voyage of the Damned” to help with a “secret” that she uses to contact all of the Doctor’s companions. (Well, not Rose, BUT I’M GETTING TO THAT.) We’re at a point where there’s no need to expect the companions of the Doctor to fight with each other or to feel jealous, and I think that’s part of a larger theme that Davies likes to address in his more grandiose scripts. When Harriet Jones shares her idea for contacting the Doctor with the companions, I feel that it’s this theme manifested. The concept of the entire group phoning the Doctor at the same time is, of course, really silly, but who cares at this point? It’s about cooperation. It’s about people who have met the Doctor coming together on their own to do what they think is right

But really, if we’re going to talk about companions and the Doctor, this episode rests on an emotional climax that we’ve been waiting for, for a long, long time. As the companions succeed in contacting the Doctor, who also figures out that Earth is hidden in a DESYNCHRONIZED POCKET UNIVERSE, which is THE COOLEST THING EVER, the inevitable begins to happen. The Doctor learns of the Dalek invasion at the hands of Davros. He learns that his companions are on Earth, ready to save the world. But all of this pales to the moment when the Doctor and Donna stand on earth, the Doctor wondering what Rose told Donna in the alternate universe, and she tells him: “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

It’s beautiful. And as they run towards each other, I suddenly felt suspicious about Davros’s demand to the Daleks and when one appeared, I knew that Rose would die, that this is how Davies would write her out of the series.

And then the Dalek shoots the Doctor.

And then the Daleks descend on the Torchwood Headquarters.

And then the Daleks confront Sarah Jane.

If that isn’t enough of a goddamn cliffhanger, I watched in disbelief as the Doctor is dragged to the TARDIS and he begins to regenerate. AND THEN THE EPISODE IS OVER.

Is this it??? Is this where Matt Smith steps in? I yelled at the screen SO LOUD. Oh my god THIS EPISODE. THIS EPISODE.

THOUGHTS

  • Man, the Daleks straight fucked shit up in this episode. The Valiant and the UNIT headquarters are gone. And I imagine there’s no way to bring them back, is there?
  • The “lost moon of Poosh” rolls off the tongue really well.
  • What the hell is the Osterhagen key?
  • I never would have expected that Rose would end up with the Nobles. Wlifred seemed particularly weepy in this episode. Just a thought.
  • That’s ok, though, because Wilfred used a paintball gun against a Dalek. Greatest thing ever or greatest thing ever?
  • Ok, so “maximum extermination” is pretty scary.
  • I feel like the “time lock” detail regarding the Time War is a HUGE reveal to me. It helps explain why the Doctor hasn’t gone back to change the war or do anything about it.
  • Harriet Jones is an interesting character, and her death was pretty sad, though I’m glad she went out fighting and doing something good.
  • “Have you got a webcam?” “No, she won’t let me. She told me they’re naughty.”
  • “Death is coming! I can see it, unending death for the most faithful companion!” UGH COULD THIS NOT HAPPEN
  • NEVER PREPARED

About Mark Oshiro

Perpetually unprepared since '09.
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752 Responses to Mark Watches ‘Doctor Who’: S04E12 – The Stolen Earth

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  1. MowerOfLorn says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:08 am

    …..a review?

    A REVIEW?!? Now? Its a whole twelve hours early!

    Well, this is a bit of a surprise, Mark. But I suppose I better get down to buisness;

    HOLY FUCK THIS EPISODE, ITS ONE GIANT MIND EXPLOSION! EVERYONE IS HERE, AND THERE ARE DALEKS AND ROSE AND THE DOCTOR GET REUNITED AND THEN HE REGENERATES!

    *sniffs* Bye Ten, we'll miss you! But yay, Matt Smith! I love Eleven more than is probably healthy!

    • MowerOfLorn says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:22 am

      Okay, so now that I've had some time to relax and stuff, I can actually respond with something that is coherent and slightly more eloquent.

      First off, I really do like this episode. Like you said Mark, it is very RTD; Davies like things that are big and grandoise and begin to stretch the suspension of disbelief, but they're so fun that its hard to care sometimes. For me, the 'bigness' has really improved with time. When I first watched it, I hadn't seen Torchwood and only seen Sarah Jane in 'School Reunion'. Since then I've watched Torchwood, some of SJA and Classic Who, so seeing them along with the other companions really has a lot of impact.

      Its great to see all these aids and allies of the Doctor banding together to save the Earth (I like to think that other companions also were trying, we just didn't see them). It shows how the Doctor has empowered them, and its a great message. Not to mention, seeing all those names in the credits is great fun!

      I'm not a big fan of the daleks; I've said it before, and I''ll say it again. I prefer their use in episodes like 'Dalek' where they are made more sinister, a deadly force of one. But they are certainly good at making big WOAH finales like this, and it certainly hightens up the tension. Its especially poignant to see Jack's and Sarah's reactions, two characters who've suffered a lot at the plungers of the Daleks. (Wish they hadn't cried, though. Not very conducive to stopping them, is it guys?)

      As for the ending- triple cliffhanger! The Doctor's regeneration is definitely the killer, though. When Rose shows up, you expect something bad to happen- but not to the Doctor! You can see the pain in Rose's eyes; she travels so far to find the Doctor, only for him to die and have to change again. Talk about irony. (Almost like someone's writing their lives to get the most drama out of them, isn't it?)

  2. whatsername says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:12 am

    Gods, I just have to tell you how bloody happy I am that this, THIS, is your introduction to this arc:

    In the twelfth episode of the fourth series of Doctor Who, WHAT THE HOLY FLYING FUCK JUST HAPPENED?????…OH MY GOD. WHAT THE HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE HOLY HELL DID I JUST WATCH

    Yes Mark, YES. And yet… YANP…

    <img src="http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr294/quigon/non-Doctor%20Who%20gif/tumblr_lfrtt7whPM1qd1jdy.gif"&gt;

    P.S. Yeah, Wilf and his paintball gun = BAMF. I love him so much.
    Oh and I cry for Harriet Jones. EVERY TIME.

    • Cyrano Jones says:
      March 4, 2011 at 9:12 am

      Okay, I finally give. WTH is BAMF, aside from the noise Kurt makes when he teleports? I mean, I know Banff, and BAPs, but I suspect there's an internet meme here that I've somehow missed, despite being unbearably cool and with it.

  3. Treasure Cat says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:19 am

    Um is this supposed to be up right now? Because its 9am in the UK which must be like middle of the night in the US. I AM NOT COMPLAINING.
    Oh god I have not had time to prepare an intelligent/non-spoilery comment though…shit.
    Ok here's the plan, I will post some ~Tennant lols~ and return later with a better comment ok? Ok.

    <img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/witchcraft97/selfcaption.jpg"&gt;

    <img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/witchcraft97/choctennant.jpg"&gt;

    <img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/witchcraft97/davidtennantcookies.jpg"&gt;

    <img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/witchcraft97/yodadoctor.jpg"&gt;

    FYI BTW I bloody love this episode and the end is just a BRB flailing forever so many conflicting emotions sort of moment <3

  4. scholastika says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:19 am

    Another review!! It must be Christmas 😀

    Stolen Earth does have an awful lot going on but I think here it works, bringing all the companions back together and the enemy that's practically synonymous with Doctor Who. I do think it's a bit ridiculous that the Daleks are constantly destroyed forever then brought back through one plot twist or another. I can see why RTD would want to bring them back all the time, but having each finale be the DESTRUCTION OF ALL DALEKS then "oh yeah, here they are again!" started to annoy me by this point.

    I loved the missing planets reveal! I'd started to wonder about them but I'm never very good with working out the seaon arcs so I didn't see the significance.

    All the companions were great. Wilf was amazing. Harriet Jones is back!!! And Rose, oh Rose. She's not my favourite companion but I *do* like her and I was glad to see her back and finally reunited with the doctor, then BAM. Dalek Doctor dead.

    And my heart broke into a million tiny pieces. RTD, why???????

    • MowerOfLorn says:
      March 4, 2011 at 1:22 am

      I know exactly what you mean about the Daleks. There are only so many times you can watch the Doctor desperately try to destroy them all before you just feel kind of hopeless about the situation, because you know they'll be back in a season or two.

    • nyssaoftraken74 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 6:54 am

      >Another review!! It must be Christmas 😀

      I don't think it's Christmas, but it's definitely crackers!

  5. Openattheclose says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:24 am

    MY FAVORITE EPISODE! I AM SO GLAD I HADN'T GONE TO BED YET! THE CREDITS ALONE ARE EPIC!

    *sniff* It was a good run Ten. We'll miss you!
    <img src="http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/Chritter710/Doctor/tserunning2.gif"&gt;
    I love that everyone shows up to this and everyone is awesome! Well, hello Team Torchwood!
    <img src="http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/Chritter710/Doctor/1pxyd4.gif"&gt;
    HELLO IANTO
    <img src="http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/Chritter710/Doctor/tumblr_lgtue9AvlQ1qagu30.gif"&gt;
    SARAH JANE! MARTHA!
    <img src="http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/Chritter710/Doctor/tumblr_lgfa67kgx91qauheho1_500.gif"&gt;
    FORMER PRIME MINISTER HARRIET JONES! YOU ARE A BAMF!
    <img src="http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/Chritter710/tumblr_le0b2w5ngZ1qaao63o1_500.gif"&gt;
    I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE
    The phone call to the Doctor is probably my favorite moment of all time in Doctor Who!
    AND OH—
    <img src="http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/Chritter710/beesp1.gif"&gt;

  6. Aimee says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:31 am

    Whoaaaa early review is early! It is an awesome ep dude.

  7. maccyAkaMatthew says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:58 am

    The whole paint gun idea was Bernard Cribbins' and RTD wrote it into the script especially for him. I think he may have ad libbed the "do you want to swap?" line as well.

    On the Davros thing, obviously there's more to come so I hope there's enough in total to make it work without having seen him in the classic series. It's impossible for me to judge, because I grew up with Davros and Sarah Jane – but it is supposed to work for new viewers.

    Also, Richard Dawkins! Mr Romana!

    The thing I love about the Harriet Jones appearance is that it underlines the idea that the show doesn't have a didactic point of view on the end of The Christmas Invasion. Both Harriet's and the Doctor's actions are questionable and the show isn't going to try and tell you who was right. Also, the reprise of the "we know who you are" gag is the set up for the most wonderful line "No, you know nothing of any human and that will be your downfall."

    I love this episode as the most intense bit of compressed storytelling. It's ludicrous but gloriously so and it teeters on the edge of being too much – but just in technical terms getting it to work at all is a major achievement.

    And I can understand why people would prefer quieter, more self-contained stories but, for me, variety is one of the strengths of the series and it's nice to end on a big blow-out.

    • nyssaoftraken74 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 6:58 am

      "Do you want to swap?" Was indeed a brilliant ad lib.

      • Hypatia_ says:
        March 4, 2011 at 11:23 am

        <img src=http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_la8vhimHxd1qaimf2o1_r1_250.gif>

        Sorry. When I hear "brilliant ad lib" this is what I think of. <3 Giles.

    • virtual_monster says:
      March 4, 2011 at 1:44 pm

      I grew up with Davros and Sarah Jane

      I am now imagining a household that defies description.

  8. Louise says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:59 am

    This is the best 'arriving at work' surprise ever!

  9. Mauve_Avenger says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:05 am

    "Additionally, I like the idea of Davros, and I recognized his name as the one who initially created the Daleks so long ago."

    I didn't think that Davros's name had been mentioned yet, but I guess I was mistaken(?).

    I was wondering if this series had Daleks it it, because I just found this a few days ago:

    <img src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/2652665_Deuelrmx_c.jpg"&gt;
    And for some reason the blockquote code isn't italicizing the text in addition to blocking it. Weird.

  10. Mark R says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:11 am

    I was pointed in the direction of this site last night and have read all your reviews, enjoying everyone of them immensely (can't believe you;re not al that keen on TGITF though!!). Anyway keep it going matey and if you want some back story on DAve Ross then might i take a moment to pimp Genesis of the Daleks from the classic series (Four and Sarah Jane)

    Bravo sir, bravo!

    • nyssaoftraken74 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:00 am

      >If you want some back story on DAve Ross then might i take a moment to pimp Genesis of the Daleks

      Funny you should say that – take a look at the classic voting site and see what's winning by a plunger. 😉

      • Mark R says:
        March 4, 2011 at 2:40 pm

        Thanks for that. Just did and it's now winning by a plunger and an eye stalk.

        Had to go for Talons of Weng Chiang too though. Classic classic Who. Four (my Doctor) at his weird and wonderful best.

    • arctic_hare says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:16 pm

      can't believe you;re not al that keen on TGITF though!!

      He is, he was just giving examples of some of the opinions posted by commenters on that one. It was a… very controversial episode, to put it mildly.

      • nyssaoftraken74 says:
        March 5, 2011 at 3:23 am

        Yes, which suprised me no end. I thought the whole thing went like clockwork!

        Edit: And this gets a downvote because…?

  11. ffyona says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:28 am

    EARLY REVIEW!

    This is so cool. Went to bed last night and read the Turn Left review before I went to sleep (UK time) and then woke up this morning and… ANOTHER NEW REVIEW! AND I HAVE A DAY OFF! Thank you Mark, for assisting in my perfect Friday. Seriously, my Shredded Wheat has never tasted better.

    And THIS EPISODE. Can I just say how glad I am that Harriet Jones got an awesome death? I have so much love for her and I think that she gets some real shit sometimes. It's just fab that she gets to own in this episode and die with such bad-assery and dignity.

    "Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister." I LOVE YOU HARRIET JONES, MP FOR FLYDALE NORTH.

    And, and, does this mean that you'll be doing the final episode tonight? (Which would be Friday night for the UK, what, Friday morning where you are? Why are we so far away???)

  12. NB2000 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:53 am

    Early review?! WELL NOW I'M PANICING! NOT PREPARED OH GOD! (oh and of course now is when Firefox decides to update something, gah). Right, really badly organised thoughts because I'm NOT READY FOR THIS.

    Wait, does this mean Mark has finally given in to the tension and is doing the next episode today as well? I mean I'd totally understand that because OH MY GOD WTF.

    OH MY GOD EVERYONE IS BACK! Martha! Sarah Jane and Luke (oh Luke why are you so adorable?)! JACK AND TORCHWOOD except I don't watch Torchwood so that's less of a yay for me. finally more of my BFF OTP with Jack and Martha joking over the phone and his freaking out when she's apparently disintegrated by Project Indigo.

    Everyone's reactions when the first Dalek message comes through, Sarah Jane's in particular are really effective, whatever you may feel about the Daleks a situation like this would be utterly terrifying because they are GETTING SHIT DONE oh god. The shots of them attacking New York are really amazing, nice work by The Mill. they really outdid themselves throughout the episode actually.

    Davros…just…Julian Bleach why are you so good at playing CREEPY ASS MOTHERFUCKERS?! SERIOUSLY CREEPY OMG. I'm glad they decided to put the ring modulator on his voice because it just sounds THAT MUCH CREEPIER.

    Something I noticed in rewatching, the alert sound for the subwave network…it's four beats…AAAAH

    The subwave call itself is a really fun thing to see. But, and I'm sorry for this, "The fourth contact seems to be having some trouble getting through." "Harriet that's me!" Really Rose? There's what, five people that know you're back in the universe right now none of whom are able to contact Harriet so no I don't think it's you. And is this REALLY the time to get all "Who's she?" at Martha? But I'll get back to you on the next review.

    "I ended up in the one place that I wanted to be." "At the end of the world you came back to me." I'm not fond of Francine, she's only marginally above Sylvia Noble but AWWWWW.

    The group phone call is slightly cheesy but it's such a HELL YEAH moment that I honestly don't care. Okay I have to poke one more time, Rose: "Find me Doctor…find me" I just, I can't even at this point.

    Love Jack's attitude when the Doctor finally shows up on the subwave "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!" hee. Likewise, his attitude during the regenration always makes me smile. He's just all business, everyone out of the way and wishing him luck.

    The regeneration itself, and specifically Donna's COMPLETE CONFUSION bring up something that's sat in my mind since 42, I know it's probably not something he wants to think about but the Doctor really needs to consider sitting down his companions to explain regeneration BEFORE it becomes an issue. It would save them from a lot of worry and confusion going on while it happens and if the people around him aren't freaking out then it might make the process a bit easier for the Doctor to deal with. Just a though.

    The ending itself…MARK YOU ARE SO NOT PREPARED.

    • MowerOfLorn says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:30 am

      So seconding your opinion on the "telling his companions about the regeneration" thing. How many times has the Doctor been mortally wounded, and his friends have been pretty much shitting them-selves with fear and sadness before he suddenly changes in front of them? And he's just like "Well, yeah, its me! Duh!"

      I was glad that when Nine regenerated Rose freaked because that's exactly the way I would react . "You're telling me you're the Doctor? Well you better prove it, buddy." And Donna's incomprehension- poor girl. She's in for a shock.

      • NB2000 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 3:43 am

        I'd probably be throwing things at him if I was in that situation, and let's face it he could probably do without someone throwing things while he's trying to work out what his new personality is. And yeah poor Donna, she's not prepared at all.

      • nyssaoftraken74 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 6:21 am

        >How many times has the Doctor been mortally wounded, and his friends have been pretty much shitting themselves with fear and sadness before he suddenly changes in front of them? And he's just like "Well, yeah, its me! Duh!"

        This is why the very first regeneration is still, in many ways, the best. Nobody knew what was going on – including the audience – and then in the very next story, you've got Polly who absolutely believes he's still the Doctor and Ben who absolutely doesn't. Mind you, it doesn't help that the new Doctor keeps referring to `The Doctor` in the third person. Way to mess with your companions' heads, Doctor!

        • Hypatia_ says:
          March 4, 2011 at 11:25 am

          If we assume that going from One to Two was in fact the Doctor's first regeneration, he's probably pretty confused too!

      • Hypatia_ says:
        March 4, 2011 at 9:01 am

        I can see why it'd be kind of a weird conversation to have with new companions. "Oh, and one more thing. If I get killed, which frankly I do more than the average person, I'll kind of explode with glowy energy and grow myself a completely new body and kind of a new personality. Just FYI, probably won't happen, where do you want to go now?"

    • ffyona says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:36 am

      Perhaps he could hand out an explanatory pamphlet as part of TARDIS induction.

      "Regeneration and you.

      Sometimes, when a Doctor gets shot, you may start to notice some changes. Your Doctor may begin to glow and scream. Don't panic! This is all perfectly normal and happens to every Doctor at some point. It's part of growing up.

      Or rather, being 945 years old and somehow looking progressively younger."

    • Openattheclose says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:39 am

      "WELL NOW I'M PANICING! NOT PREPARED OH GOD! "

      Is this how Mark feels every day, do you think? Now I feel badly for always taunting him.

  13. Anon says:
    March 4, 2011 at 3:01 am

    I bloody love Davros! There's a behind the scenes thing with Tennant taking to the actor who plays Davros, and pretty much everyone there is so excited that he's there, which must have been weird for the actor if he wasn't a fan of the show.

  14. kytten says:
    March 4, 2011 at 3:05 am

    YOU WILL NEVER BE PREPARED NEVER NEVER NEVER

  15. psycicflower says:
    March 4, 2011 at 3:09 am

    Hello Martha and UNIT!
    <img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2mczvvs.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
    Hello Jack and team Torchwood!
    <img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2i8zre9.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
    Hello Sarah Jane and Luke!
    <img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/15rl0jm.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
    Hello Rose and big ass gun!
    <img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/2lcnvqh.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

    So much I want to say because so much happend. I kind of just want to flail about all the references to the other shows, and Wilf with his paint gun, and the amazing special effects for the planets in the sky, and the four way phone conversation, and I have missed the Torchwood Hub having not watched it in so long, and finally meeting the Shadow Proclamation, and the bees, and, and, and
    <img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2vmy3rn.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"> but I think I'll hold off untl the second part.

    'But you were destroyed. In the very first year of the Time War, at the Gates of Elysiem. I saw your command ship flying into the jaws of the Nightmare Child.' I need more Time War information! Every single thing they've said just sounds so fascinating. I think they're doing it on purpose.

    Fuck Yeah Harriet Jones! I'm so happy that she stands by her decision and that she was proven right. The Doctor isn't always going to be there and we need a way to defend ourselves. She's not even Prime Minister anymore but she took it upon herself to find another way to protect Earth with the subwave network. She died a hero having kept the Daleks away from the companions and giving them a chance the contact the Doctor. Did she run away? No she stood proud and faced her death.

    'Death is coming! I can see it, unending death for the most faithful companion!'
    <img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/wixdtu.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
    The Doctor's regenerating!!!!!
    <img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/5ts1sw.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
    YOU ARE NOT PREPARED!

    • Treasure Cat says:
      March 4, 2011 at 4:07 am

      Flawless gif usage, A+ and a gold star sticker *nods*

    • Openattheclose says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:42 am

      I love your gifs, as usual!
      <img src="http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/Chritter710/33abakm.gif"&gt;

      "But you were destroyed. In the very first year of the Time War, at the Gates of Elysiem. I saw your command ship flying into the jaws of the Nightmare Child.' I need more Time War information! Every single thing they've said just sounds so fascinating. I think they're doing it on purpose."

      I KNOW! It sounds so poetic, especially the way DT says it, and I need to know more about the Time War.

      • psycicflower says:
        March 4, 2011 at 8:14 am

        I think they're just enjoy being cruel and taunting us. Look at all these cool sounding places and terms. Don't they sound fascinating.I bet you all want to know more. Well tough, no can do.

  16. atalantapendrag says:
    March 4, 2011 at 3:48 am

    Does this going up so early mean you're going to be watching Journey's End tonight? 😉

    Can't do anything but flail for fear of being inadvertently spoilery, but I can say confidently that no, you are not prepared. I've seen Journey's End a few times already and know exactly what's coming and *I'm* not prepared!

  17. Anon says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:01 am

    I think Mark is probably asleep isn't it still the middle of the night where he is, this must have been an automated mistake.

    • Mauve_Avenger says:
      March 4, 2011 at 4:55 am

      Early morning, but yeah, it probably is a mistake. It seems that usually when he does two reviews so close together he usually announces it in the first one and then does an updated schedule at the end of the second one, even if it's just to say "next review comes tomorrow."

    • maccyAkaMatthew says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:24 am

      I think he watches at night and then writes the review and queues it up, so yes the automation may well have screwed up.

      Plus he hasn't tweeted it.

      • E.L.S.O.S says:
        March 4, 2011 at 8:38 am

        Yeah, I bet this went up while he was asleep and now he's at work or something and can't check his e-mail to see all of us chatting up a storm.

  18. kaybee42 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:15 am

    Mark! You've aught us off guard! I haven't even re watched the episode yet!
    I love this episode :D:D I will pop back later when I have some thoughts about it! 😛

  19. Mauve_Avenger says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:18 am

    Jack didn't hit on Donna. 🙁

    But Donna hit on Jack. 🙂

  20. Albion19 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:21 am

    Wow this is early, haven't even re-watched it yet lol

  21. michelle says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:39 am

    SOMEONE HOLD MY HAND

  22. Julia says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:58 am

    Oh my god, you're ending Series 4 of Doctor Who and Mockingjay at the same time while only moving one chapter or episode at a time? I can't believe you aren't totally overloading. Also, I'm really sad that I'll be away from the internet until Sunday, so I won't be here to comment on what is about to go down on Doctor Who.

    P.S. YOU WILL NEVER EVER EVER BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT EPISODE.

  23. leighzzz31 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 5:06 am

    Whaaaat? Mark, I was not prepared for such an early review! But I accidentally rewatched The Stolen Earth yesterday, so it's all good! Here goes:

    Let me just get this off my chest before I start my proper review/thoughts:
    DALEKS? FUCKING DALEKS? AGAIN? Oh, RTD, I swear you’d properly amazed me with the last two episodes, so I certainly went into the final with high expectations. But, jesus, I just about started crying with frustration when I heard “EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE!” I was really hoping for a Dalek-free (or Dalek-lite) final. URGHHHHHHH.

    There, that’s it, I’m done. Phew. Now to the good bits. And there were many.
    – The Doctor smiling despite the eminent end of the world. ROSE IS BACK. I was shamelessly grinning my face off.

    – HOLY SHIT, THE EARTH’S MOVED. Well, points for that, RTD.

    – SARAH JANE! AND JACK! AND IANTO! And, Gwen. AND MARTHA! About time you all saved the world together.

    -ROSE BEING A BADASS WITH A BIG GUN. Awesome. Though I did laugh a few times, you can’t deny the epicness of her walking and not even flinching at random explosions. Rose, I have missed you!

    -Insane Dalek Caan? Hmm, maybe this is more interesting than I thought…

    -What loss do you speak of, Albino lady of the Shadow Proclamation? Do not mess with my Donna!

    -THE BEEZZZZ! WAIT, THEY’RE ALIENS? EVIL LITTLE BUGGERS, I KNEW IT!

    -“D’you wanna swap?” I LOVE YOU FOREVER, WILF!

    -Harriet Jones? What are you doing here? (And, still with the flashing of the card! Yes. We know who you are!)

    -Rose’s indignation throughout the other companions’ communication was adorable. It also made me laugh a bit.

    -The Subwave network Solution? Eh, not a fan. It made no sense and it reminded me too much of the solution in the Last of the Time Lords. But hey, I can deal.

    -Davros? I did not know who he was when I saw the episode the first time, so the revelation didn’t really hit me hard.

    -“Everlasting death for the most faithful companion.”? WHAAAAAAT? NOOOOOOOOO!

    -FUUUUUUUUUU, DALEK! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING? IT WAS A PERFECTLY CHEESY RUN-INTO-MY-ARMS MOMENT!

    -REGENERATING? WHAAAAAAAAAT?NOOOO, I’M NOT READY!

    LOL, I think this was rather long and incoherent. BUT HEY.

    • Treasure Cat says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:43 am

      "- SARAH JANE! AND JACK! AND IANTO! And, Gwen. AND MARTHA! About time you all saved the world together."

      Aww, no caps love for Gwen?

      <img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f162/witchcraft97/gwen.gif"&gt;

      • leighzzz31 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 5:51 am

        I'm sorry! Gwen deserves some love, I'm sure! But while I don't hate her, I don't love her as much as I love everyone else! Does that make sense? 🙂

        • Treasure Cat says:
          March 4, 2011 at 6:07 am

          Totally makes sense, no worries ^_^
          Also, while I was googling Gwen gifs, I came across a lot of Jack and Ianto which I am tempted to post for the gratuitous cute, but may be derailing a little too much? XD

          • leighzzz31 says:
            March 4, 2011 at 6:10 am

            I think it would be derailing a bit but you'd get absolutely NO complaints from me! XD

    • Karen says:
      March 4, 2011 at 6:08 am

      I really don't mind that RTD brought back the Daleks again just because i think he needed a villain that the audience was familiar with. There was just too much other stuff going on for him to have time to properly establish a new creature or person. So he just needed a shorthand for TERRIFYING and Daleks do that for him. Also, I think bringing in Davros adds a more personal dimension to the Doctor vs Dalek fight than there has bee before. So it's not purely the same old, same old.

      • leighzzz31 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 6:15 am

        I get that and my frustration fell away as I watched the rest of the episode because it became more about the companions for me. It was just in the beginning, I was gearing myself up for an awesome episode and I just thought "Oh, not them, AGAIN!" As the story went on it felt more about the Doctor himself facing these enemies rather than the enemies themselves. I just got caught up in the moment! XD

      • arctic_hare says:
        March 4, 2011 at 3:16 pm

        than there has bee before

        That is a terrific typo for this episode.

    • mkjcaylor says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:24 am

      But I accidentally rewatched The Stolen Earth yesterday, so it's all good!

      What a crazy random happenstance!

      • leighzzz31 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 7:29 am

        Isn't it just? The world is a crazy place full of strange coincidences!

      • nyssaoftraken74 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 9:43 am

        OK, I have to ask: how exactly did you`accidentally` watch The Stolen Earth?

        I'm envisioning accidentally putting on the DVD/finding the link online, accidentally pressing play and then accidentally failing to get up for the next 45mins.

        • leighzzz31 says:
          March 4, 2011 at 10:05 am

          Is this question for me, lol? If it is, I was trying to watch Turn Left yesterday after I had posted on here but all my DVDs are at home (I couldn't just pop over home from Athens :D). So, I decided to watch online and lo behold it was a mislabeled link! Do you think I could resist the epicness of The Stolen Earth???

          • psycicflower says:
            March 4, 2011 at 11:01 am

            Me and one of my sisters once accidentally watched the first five minutes of an episode of Criminal Minds thinking it was Lost because of a mislabeled file. Needless to say we were very confused.

            • leighzzz31 says:
              March 4, 2011 at 2:53 pm

              Aaaa! This has happened to me on more than one occasion. I'd wanted to watch a Disney film once and got the Texas Chainsaw Massacre instead. Traumatised forever!

            • notemily says:
              March 4, 2011 at 5:39 pm

              Ahahaha, the funny thing is it COULD be an episode of LOST, only everyone was a completely different person and in an alternate universe and/or it was all a dream.

          • nyssaoftraken74 says:
            March 4, 2011 at 2:40 pm

            I was actually asking mkjcaylor, but thanks anyway! 🙂

            • leighzzz31 says:
              March 4, 2011 at 2:51 pm

              I believe mkjcaylor was quoting me, that's why I answered 😀 Haha, I was confused!

              • nyssaoftraken74 says:
                March 4, 2011 at 3:15 pm

                Oh yes, so he was! Hence the italics. Sorry. Being thick there. It can be tricky tracing back these long chains, especially when tired. 🙂

    • Openattheclose says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:53 am

      "But I accidentally rewatched The Stolen Earth yesterday, so it's all good!"
      Me too! Well, it wasn't so much an accident as me being unable to watch the epic preview that comes on after Turn Left without continuing on to this episode.

      • leighzzz31 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 8:03 am

        Totally understandable! Thank goodness I never watched this series in real time-waiting for a week would kill me!

        • psycicflower says:
          March 4, 2011 at 8:07 am

          Can you imagine our pain after seeing the Doctor regenerate and having to wait a week to see who the new Doctor was, nevermind the other cliff hangers? And then they didn't even give us an end of episode trailer like they usually do, just the overly dramatic TO BE CONTINUED.

          • leighzzz31 says:
            March 4, 2011 at 8:13 am

            Haha, the TO BE CONTINUED was just plain cruel! I feel for you! I, on the other hand, in denial that Ten was gone, stayed up till 3 in the morning to watch the next episode!

            • psycicflower says:
              March 4, 2011 at 8:19 am

              I've done that before with other shows or stories. You can't stop there, I need to know what happens next! And the next thing you know it's ridiculous o'clock in the morning.

        • electric ashera says:
          March 4, 2011 at 8:27 pm

          IT WAS SO PAINFUL! erghaoeroaeijrgoaehgoaasldajsdlajdlaja KEYSMASH.

  24. Kaci says:
    March 4, 2011 at 5:24 am

    Oh, Mark. Mark, Mark, Mark.

    I have a different perspective on this episode, of course, because I saw all of both spin offs and loved all the characters we see on screen. To me, it's important to include characters like Luke, Ianto, and Gwen (who'd never appeared on Dr. Who before), because it shows how far the Doctor's reach goes. He doesn't just touch Rose Tyler's life, or even Mickey's, he also touches Rose's parents. He doesn't just touch Jack's life, he touches Ianto's and Gwen's, through Jack. He effects these people without ever meaning to.

    I remember having an argument with my friend over which companion was the "most faithful." She said Rose; I said Jack (I mean, he waited SO LONG and then clung to the outside of the TARDIS, through the time stream, to the literal end of the universe…that has to count for something!).

    Rose's "I WAS HERE FIRST!" bothers me to no end, as it goes back on the growth I said she showed in the previous episode, but I'm willing to let it slide; it's been a long time since she's seen the Doctor and she's desperate. She wants to be acknowledged. I think I can let it slide, under the circumstances.

    • Karen says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:43 am

      I don' get people's hate on for Rose for that one line. She's frustrated! She's been fighting so hard to get back to the Doctor and all of the Doctor's friends get to talk to each other except for her. She can only watch from the sidelines, and she doesn't even know Martha from a hole in the wall. I don't think that expressing her frustration like that makes her an OMGTERRIBLEPERSON THIS IS WHY ROSE SUCKS!!!111!!ELEVENTY!!!

      • Kaci says:
        March 4, 2011 at 5:55 am

        As I said in the comment, I can let it slide because it's understandable under the circumstances. I said that TWICE, in the comment, actually. I would just PREFER it not be there. I wish RTD had chosen a different line because I DO feel like it goes back on the character development I saw in the previous episode, BUT as I said TWICE, I'm willing to let it go because under the circumstances, I can understand it.

        I really can't win on this, can I? Even when I try to be diplomatic, somehow "I think I can let it slide," turns into "OMGTERRIBLEPERSON THIS IS WHY ROSE SUCKS!!!111!!ELEVENTY!!!"

        Um, wat?

        • Karen says:
          March 4, 2011 at 5:58 am

          Sorry! I really didn't mean to imply that you were saying that. I should have chosen my words more carefully. I was just trying to make a comment on how I've seen a lot of people in fandom react to those lines and explain why I think they put too much emphasis on them.

      • CBG says:
        March 19, 2011 at 11:10 pm

        She wasn't first. Sarah Jane came way before her.

    • Kaci says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:58 am

      I also wanted to add to my comment, because I forgot earlier, that Harriet Jones is one of my favorite side characters on this show, and when you originally posted your review of the episode where Ten kicks her out of office and I was so defensive of her in the comments, this is why. I couldn't say that, of course, for the spoilers, but…yeah. This episode is why I'm so defensive of her. Harriet Jones, former prime minister OF MY HEART. BAMF.

    • NB2000 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 6:31 am

      I would have said the TARDIS herself was the "most faithful" but then I'm biased *TARDIS!Love*.

      I left it out of my ccomment because I'd focused on her other lines in that scene but that line of Rose's really gets on my nerves. Like you said it contradicts her attitude towards Donna (who the Doctor met after her), she accepted Donna just fine and was able to acknowledge that the Doctor thought very highly of Donna. The sudden shift in attitude here just feels like she's back at the place she was in School Reunion when she had to deal with meeting Sarah Jane and the fact that she wasn't the first one to travel with the Doctor.

      Which also brings up another part that bugs me, Sarah Jane is RIGHT THERE on the screen which makes the "I was here first!" feel slightly disrespectful towards Sarah Jane who was "here" well before Rose was. I'm probably the only one that feels that way and it's almost certainly an irrational thought but it still irritates me.

      • Kaci says:
        March 4, 2011 at 8:16 am

        No I totally agree! If anyone present was there “first” it was Sarah Jane, but under the circumstances, I’m willing to chalk it up to an unfortunate wording choice of RTD’s than a backslide of Rose’s development. Also, you’re totally right about the TARDIS being more faithful than any human companion could ever be. 🙂

      • blis says:
        March 4, 2011 at 10:39 am

        Maybe she is jealous of Martha, because Martha is more a threat. What is am trying to say is Martha is FINE!

      • nanceoir says:
        March 4, 2011 at 1:48 pm

        I literally just finished the episode, and in Rose's defense, the "I was here first" line was said in response to Martha talking about trying to call the Doctor (I think Martha held up her cell phone), so it's not as bad. It's still kind of dismissive of Sarah Jane, but I suppose one could argue that Sarah Jane didn't have a cell phone on the TARDIS, so Rose would have been the first in that regard. Or am I just really stretching things?

        I think for me, it's like Rose is that friend who is so awesome and capable and then does or says something completely not and you're like, "You're so much better than that!" It's the frustration, really, more than anything else, that makes that particular line, and a lot of Rose's attitude in that whole sequence, kind of not good. Because she totally is better than that.

    • Starsea28 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 1:56 pm

      Rose's "I WAS HERE FIRST!" bothers me to no end

      Aside for anything else, it's just inaccurate and makes me want to tap on the screen and say "No, you weren't, love, Sarah Jane was."

  25. Pea Pie says:
    March 4, 2011 at 5:33 am

    So, farewell then Ten, thank you David Tennant… It's a sudden surprise and a very sad moment to see you leaving the role after three lovely years with one last heroic dash.

    Sad, but nevertheless exciting. I can't wait till the next episode to see what the Eleventh Doctor is like.

  26. flamingpie says:
    March 4, 2011 at 5:36 am

    FOR ONCE I AM THE ONE WHO IS NOT PREPARED

    THIS IS SO EARLY

    I WAS GOING TO DO A GIFSPAM

    YOU WILL ALL JUST HAVE TO SETTLE FOR SOME CAPSLOCK AND PRETEND I DID "HOLY SHIT" GIFS OKAY.

  27. Karen says:
    March 4, 2011 at 5:39 am

    Do you know what I was not prepared for? You posting this review so early. LOL. Yeah. I hadn’t rewatched it yet when I checked my Google Reader this morning, so I’m going to watch it now and type up my thoughts as I do so. Wow. There is a lot going on in this episode. After the previous two episodes which have showcased RTD’s ability to write about human nature, he returns to true series finale form and just goes nuts. It’s insane and crazy and I love it.

    This is a Companion Extravaganza AND I LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT. SUCK IT, HATERS. This is just a smorgasbord of everything that the entire previous four series has been building up to. There really is a lot going on because RTD wanted to include all of his previous companions and his other two shows, and sometimes you can see him struggling to juggle all the characters and plotlines. But I think it’s worth it. You just really have to love that moment where the Companions are all working together to boost the signal to get the Doctor to them. IT’S HEART WARMING, OK.

    I also understand why people were frustrated that RTD brought the Daleks back yet again, but in a story where there is so much plot stuff happening, it’s just easier. He doesn’t have to establish a new villain. He just has to have his characters hear the words “exterminate” and they are shitting their pants. It’s short hand for very BAD and SCARY which is necessary when you’re short on time because of all the other characters. (Although one good thing about RTD and the Daleks is that whenever he brings them back, we always learn something new about them/their mythology. This time, it’s Davros which adds a much more personal dimension to the story. It’s not just about the Daleks. It’s about the personal vendetta that Davros has for the Doctor. They have a history.) So. Let’s start talking about some of those characters (lol, sorry, but there’s no way I can talk about all of them).

    The return of Harriet Jones was brilliant. I still don’t think the Doctor was completely wrong in ousting her, but it was really nice to see that she took to heart everything that she knew and learned and used that to create this emergency subwave network. Gathering all of the Doctor’s friends together is a way of fighting that ISN’T just blowing up space ships.

    I love that we’re seeing Donna express some confidence in herself. Last episode as really her episode to shine, so we don’t see her as directly involved in things here, but she’s still there being her awesome Donna self.

    Shadow Architect: Who is the female?
    Donna: Donna. I’m a human being. Maybe not the stuff of legend, but every bit as important as Time Lords.

    <img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/5nj4ox.jpg"&gt;
    And that little smile of pride on the Doctor’s face when she says that is super sweet.

    • Karen says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:41 am

      <img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/xlldi1.jpg"&gt;
      Now let’s move on to what is, for me, the most compelling part of this episode: Rose Tyler, BAMF for all time and her struggle to get back to the Doctor.

      In “Turn Left”, Rose was very much in the role of the Doctor (probably because she HAD to be the Doctor in a world without one), but I think that in this episode, she feels a lot more human. She feels a lot more like the character we knew in the first two series of the how.

      <img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/255kj9h.jpg"&gt;
      Rose: Right. You two. You can put that stuff down and run for your lives. Do you like my gun?

      Rose not being able to get in contact with the Doctor is just as frustrating for me as an audience member as it is for Rose as a character. I spent the whole episode just dying for her to see the Doctor again and when you think it’s going to happen, it doesn’t. SO FRUSTRATING. Harriet Jones says that she’s having trouble with the fourth contact, and Rose thinks she’s talking about her (because she’s in on the call too, and all the other friends of the Doctor that Rose knows about are already there), but no. It’s Martha (which yay! Martha is alive!) I’ve seen a lot of people throw hate at Rose for what she says when Martha shows up on the screen, “Who’s she? I want to get through” and the “nor me, but I was here first” line. But you have to put yourself in her place. She’s been working for God knows how long, crossing universes, helping Donna get rid of that parallel universe, searching for the Doctor. And now all of the other friends of the Doctor are able to talk to each other, but not Rose. Instead, this woman, who she’s never seen before and knows nothing about gets to talk to everyone else while Rose is still isolated with Wilf And Sylvia. It wasn’t personal. Rose just doesn’t know Martha. She DOES know Harriet Jones, Sarah Jane Smith and Jack though, so yeah. I think it’s a perfectly legitimate response to her situation.

      The whole separated from the Doctor thing hammered home after they’ve all brought the Doctor back and are talking to him on the subwave network. But not Rose. She can just smile sadly at the computer screen as she can only look at video of the man she’s fought so hard to get to, unable to speak to him.

      <img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2ezie4i.jpg"&gt;
      Rose: Doctor, it’s me. I came back.

      And the Doctor is missing Rose too. He’s been dying to see her and he knows that she’s been traveling through universes. So where is she?

      Donna: It’s like an outerspace facebook!
      Doctor: Everyone except Rose.

      And his first instinct when he sees that someone else is coming through the network is that it might be Rose. HOW SAD IS THAT? It’s not Rose. It’s Davros. THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE DOCTOR WANTED.

      Going back to the beginning of the episode, I love that even though the Doctor realizes that it is very BAD that Rose is able to cross between parallel worlds because it means that the walls between universes are breaking down, when Donna prods the Doctor, he can’t contain a smile.

      <img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/27y7l2d.jpg"&gt;
      Donna: No matter what’s happening, and I’m sure it’s bad. But Rose is coming back. Isn’t that good?
      Doctor: Yeah.

      ALL HAIL DONNA. QUEEN OF DOCTOR/ROSE SHIPPERS. Speaking of which, I love that little smile on her face when she sees Rose and asks the Doctor, “why don’t you ask her yourself?”

      <img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/6squmq.jpg"&gt;
      <img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2meuag7.jpg"&gt;
      <img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/eplsg9.jpg"&gt;
      GAH. Then it all culminates in that incredibly cruel scene. They’re so happy to see each other. The Doctor just has this earth splitting grin on his face and after all this time and searching Rose is finally going to see the Doctor again. YAY!

      Only to have a fucking Dalek ruin it. GDI.

      But even with the Doctor injured, their reunion is so perfectly THEM. A slight hint of humor in spite of the tragic situation.

      <img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2agq4aq.jpg"&gt;
      <img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/2pt7zeu.jpg"&gt;
      Rose: I’ve got you. It missed you. Look, it’s me.
      The Doctor: Hi, you. Long time no see!
      Rose: Yeah, well, I've been busy, you know. Don’t die. Oh my God, don’t die.

      And Rose has come so far and fought so hard only to have the Doctor regenerate. It’s not fair. WHY YOU DO THIS TO ME, UNCLE RUSTY?

      • MowerOfLorn says:
        March 4, 2011 at 5:48 am

        I do like your point about how incredibly frustrating Rose must feel about not being able to communicate with her friends and allies, and help the Doctor, and it certainly allows me to better understand her comment about being here first. Still a little bit immature, true, but understandable.

        One thing that does bother me is when the Doctor says "everyone but Rose". Now, I understand he misses her, and I can't fault him for that- its the 'everyone' bit. Because the Doctor has had a lot of companions, many of whom are still on Earth on this period. Its just a bit annoying that he's forgotten about Tegan, and the Brig, and Ace and all those other characters.

        Otherwise, completely agree Karen!

        • Karen says:
          March 4, 2011 at 6:01 am

          Yeah, I get why people feel that way, but these are the people that TEN has interacted with, so they're a) all of Ten's friends (except for Rose) and b) they're the ones that the audience will be familiar with. lol. A good chunk of the audience wouldn't be familiar with all the old companions, so it's kind of dumbing it down for us, I think.

          • MowerOfLorn says:
            March 4, 2011 at 6:08 am

            I do understand the fact that the audience really won't remember the old companions, and it would be silly for RTD to alienate them with needless references. I would have prefered a slightly more vague response from the Doctor, maybe like "almost everyone". I think the audience still would have caught the sub-text, but it wouldn't be completely missing out on the other companions.

            Oh, well, I'm probably just being picky.

            • prideofportree says:
              March 4, 2011 at 2:14 pm

              I think this about the theme of Ten feeling, I don't know, like he's coming to an end, and wanting to meet everyone HE has met in THIS incarnation, therefore only thinking about those companions…

              I may be wrong.

      • flamingpie says:
        March 4, 2011 at 5:57 am

        This is a Companion Extravaganza AND I LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT. SUCK IT, HATERS

        HERE, HERE!

        ACTUALLY I LOVE THIS WHOLE COMMENT BUT PARTICULARLY THAT BIT.

        • electric ashera says:
          March 4, 2011 at 7:38 am

          Can I love it AND hate it? Like, it feels ridiculous mechanically (RTD was going out and wanted to tie everything up for everyone no matter how clunky a script that produced… I guess?) but emotionally it worked. I am not made of stone people! and… HARRIET OH GOD HARRIET.

          • nanceoir says:
            March 4, 2011 at 2:00 pm

            Actually, I find that emotionally, in the moment, most of RTD's stuff works like a champ; it's just when you step away from it a bit, you start to notice some problems. Not always, but often.

            But, if I always hated things that are clunky, I wouldn't have nearly as much to love, so hurrah, I say, to RTD!

      • leighzzz31 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 6:02 am

        Aw, your Rose love makes me happy! This comment was basically me throughout this episode. Is it bad that Rose's return almost overshadowed everything else?

        • Karen says:
          March 4, 2011 at 6:05 am

          NO. Because that's how I felt when I first watched it. I mean the whole episode is constructed around Rose and the Doctor trying to get back to each other. There is a lot of tension built up on that front. So when I first saw it, I was like "Daleks, blah blah blah. LET'S GET BACK TO ROSE."

          haha. I just stan really hard for Rose because while I do love Martha and Donna too, Rose gets a lot of hate in online fandom, so I feel the need to love her even more to like cancel out the hate or something. IDEK.

    • FlameRaven says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:17 pm

      I always think of this episode as the Massive Multiplayer Crossover finale. AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT. First of all, there should always be more Jack in Doctor Who (mostly because omg, with the Doctor around they actually get to fix problems and solve shit for once) , Sarah Jane is pretty awesome too, and even if I don't like Rose much Mickey and Jackie are also pretty awesome. So you know, win all around.

    • Kit Cloudkicker says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:25 pm

      Smorgasbord!

      <img src="http://www.ifiwasafitgirl.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/templeton.jpg"&gt;

      This ep is a veritable smorgasbord orgasbord orgasbord

      When all the companions come baaaaack

      Each night when the stars go out

      And the planets can't be found, all around

      Oooh, what a Doctor Who feast!
      <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAUEOlSpVN4” target=”_blank”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAUEOlSpVN4

  28. ldwy says:
    March 4, 2011 at 5:40 am

    “Everlasting death for the most faithful companion.”
    This scares me so much because I'm not even sure who I think it is. They all love the Doctor! They're all back!

    And then when I saw this, I got really scared.
    <img src="http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp212/ambyst/Gifs%20Pics%20and%20Icons/Dr%20Who/10th%20Doctor/tserunning2.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket">
    Something about the way she's still got the gun, with her hand on it so awkwardly, and it's a big ass gun. I was convinced the whole time they gazed and ran at each other that somehow Rose was going to accidentally kill the doctor with her giant gun. like as they were running, or somehow it would go off when they meet and hug. I dunno, I was terrified for that whole part. It's not even a logical, rational fear to have. There's really no reason that would be part of the story. But I was convinced it was going to happen.

    And then it didn't. YAY!
    But the Doctor freaking gets shot anyway by a Dalek!!!

    Oh noooooo how will this all end.

    • Karen says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:48 am

      😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

      THAT GIF. SO FULL OF HAPPY.

      SO UNAWARE OF THE SAD THAT IS TO COME.

    • MowerOfLorn says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:56 am

      I personally think that the TARDIS is the most fateful companion. She's been with the Doctor for at least five-hundred years, staying with him through exile, wars, battles, amnesia and so much more. I don't think you can get much more loyal than that!

      • ldwy says:
        March 4, 2011 at 6:14 am

        Hmm, interesting point, I hadn't thought of that. But I don't see how the tardis could die and the show keep going, so it must be someone else. STILL SCARED STILL SCARED.

  29. jackiep says:
    March 4, 2011 at 6:10 am

    The 1500m of doom! So much to enjoy. Ianto's burst of jealousy when Jack mentioned getting info out of a UNIT soldier in a bar (and his clear irritation when he noticed that the Doctor was HANDSOME!). Donna immediately and obviously attracted to Jack.

    The Doctor's sheer moment of terror when he hears Davros speak.

    OK Jack blew him up, but it must have been a great moment for that Dalek who, after all of those years was the one who finally nailed him.

  30. Matt says:
    March 4, 2011 at 6:26 am

    Remember back at Partners in Crime where I mentioned an unfilmed scene featuring an adult Adipose? That was going to be The Shadow Proclamation, where all the aliens that had featured in the series so far were going to show up in a scene that would have sent Mos Eisley Cantina scurrying away under a rock. Given everything else that's going on in these two episodes they just couldn't realise it.

    I am going to go out on a limb and theorise that the reason that Mark posted this early is because he couldn't wait to see the cliffhanger resolved and downloaded it pretty much straight away. It's certainly what I'd do.

    As our Judoon friends would say:

    YO! RO! NO! PRO! PO!

  31. illusclaire says:
    March 4, 2011 at 6:36 am

    Harriet Jones is my favourite character on NuWho so far.

  32. nyssaoftraken74 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 6:39 am

    I'm staying clear of any serious commenting for fear of accidental spoiler leakage. (Not as rude as it sounds.) So I just want to say: Bravo Bernard Cribbins for coming up with the paint gun idea. He's met the Daleks before, of course in the second of the 1960s movies.

    Also, one thing I will bever understand about world-ending disaster movies…

    …The world's ending, we're all goung to die..what can we do…?…

    …Oh I know, I'll go nick a Telly!!

    I'm sorry, WHAT?!

    Yes, I know people do that in real life government collapse military coup type situations, so it's not a criticism. Just a mildly disbelieving observation. If the world's ending…why the hell do you need a new TV?

    • flamingpie says:
      March 4, 2011 at 6:40 am

      If the world's ending…why the hell do you need a new TV?

      If you're gonna die you might as well go out watching your favorite programs in HD? XD

    • roguebelle says:
      March 4, 2011 at 9:06 am

      I guess you could say it represents a high degree of optimism — "Ahh, I'm sure things will turn out okay AND I'll have a new television. Awesome!"

  33. Fusionman29 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 6:47 am

    Holy shit. IT’S EARLY INDEED!

    2 things.

    A. We getting the 2nd part today as well

    B. GHDJNFaJNDVSGDASFNJSFVYU This Episode. THIS. EPISODE. JESUS MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS HOLY. I love everything about this. EVERYTHING.

  34. electric ashera says:
    March 4, 2011 at 7:22 am

    I'm generally of two minds about this episode. It's the best and the worst of RTD's writing. It's EPIC. It pushes my buttons. It also feels, at times, gratuitous and rehashed, with characters who didn't need to be there and, well, the drama of the Stolen Earth should be enough to push my buttons in and of itself without the emotional manipulation of bringing back everyone we might have ever thought fond things about and… HOLY FUCK THE DOCTOR GETS SHOT BY A DALEK FUCK FUCK FUCK. It's awesome. It's awful. It's The Stolen Earth.

    —

    The walls of the universe are breaking down! Well. SHIT.

    "But… Rose is coming back. Isn't that good?" OH Tennant that look on your face. The pleasure and terror so mixed up that I can't really tell if he's telling Donna "yeah" because he thinks that's what she wants to hear, or "yeah" because he's really happy, or both. And then…. THE EARTH IS GONE HOLY FUCK.

    And now it's obnoxious reunion time! I suppose that realistically, UNIT and Torchwood would be ON IT, if the Earth were, in fact, stolen. But… well, I think this reunion goes a bit farther than that, into the gratuitous. It's as if RTD felt, in this two-parter, that he must deal with EVERYONE'S PLOTLINE EVER. EVER. EVER. So there's something about it that feels really forced to me as well, even as it admittedly pushes all my emotional buttons. (AND HEY!!! IT'S IANTO! HI THERE HOT STUFF.)

    And Rose is here, of course… and she's got a BIG FUCKING GUN. Oh Rose. You've grown and changed, but damn do I ever still love you.

    Back in the TARDIS, Donna's pondering the emotional and human consequences, and the Doctor is working out the logistical ones. That pretty much sums up the usual Team TARDIS division of labor, yeah?

    IT'S DALEK TIME! Which basically causes everyone—UNIT, Torchwood, SJS—except Rose—to decide it really is the end of the world. Rose, you really are the most awesome. Then again, maybe I'd be that awesome too, if I had that gun. Anyway, the Daleks are harvesting humans… again? RTD. Really. Isn't this a bit repetitive? Except it WAS REALLY FUCKING SCARY the first time I watched it. It doesn't hold up on rewatch, but the first time, my god, I was freaking the fuck out.

    HOLY SHIT THE SHADOW PROCLAMATION! For some reason I always assumed this to be a document, an accord. To have a Proclamation be a place seems… weird? To me? I know other people have talked about being disappointed in the Shadow Proclamation but since I never expected it to be a place I guess I couldn't be disappointed. Their militancy and red eyes are SCARY. And Ten's hubris is on full display here. The Shadow Proclamation is only useful to him if it helps him accomplish something he wants (like telling maleficent aliens to leave Earth the hell alone). He doesn't himself feel at ALL obliged to abide by what they have to say.

    I LOVE DONNA for talking back to the Shadow Proclamation—and in so doing, figuring out the whole mystery! And then they are all freaky at her. WHY?! WHY?!

    Davros freaks me the fuck out in a totally instinctual body horror way. That is all. Dalek Caan is AWESOME. "He is come, the threefold man. He dances in the lonely places." "I flewwwwww into the wild and fire! I danced and died a thousand times!" An insane Dalek that ISN'T suicidal. Who's WHIMSICAL and evil. That is definitely new. But… "Resistance is useless?" Oh RTD. I CRINGE. But WILF IS THE BEST. <3 his paintgun… but Rose's gun is better! <3 him yelling at Sylvia!

    And now… even the Doctor is giving up. Oh God, Donna, your sadness is KILLING ME.

    ROSE CAN'T GET THROUGH TO THE GROUP WEB CONFERENCE. Oh so sad. Otherwise… it's, um, a little cheesy. Isn't it? How does it make sense for Harriet to have developed this network? What on earth is a "subwave"? Nonsensical exposition aside, I really really LOVE Harriet's heroism. I love her standing by her actions. And I love her heroic death. I just don't know how I feel about the Dumbledore's Army moment here. "It's like an outer space Facebook!" "Everybody except Rose." Ooooh I'm glad you noticed too, Doctor.

    (Are you tempted the call the TARDIS NOW? I totally am. SKYPE THE TARDIS AWW YEAH.)

    AND OMG OMG OMG The Doctor and Rose running towards each other like a cheesy as fuck movie and then… and then… OMG.

    I HATE THIS CLIFFHANGER RTD WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!

    • electric ashera says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:31 am

      P.S. I am really glad Mark posted this before I went to bed instead of early in the morning my time!

    • maccyAkaMatthew says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:35 am

      People who are disappointed by the Shadow Proclamation should go and (re)watch some classic Who and see what real budget and technological restrictions look like. Yes it would have been nice if they'd had the money to do epic – but there's plenty of epic in the rest of the episode.

      In some ways, I like the stillness of that scene – some minimalism amongst all the maximalism elsewhere.

    • anobium says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:44 am

      For some reason I always assumed this to be a document, an accord. To have a Proclamation be a place seems… weird?

      I always thought the Shadow Proclamation was an accord as well. (Doesn't the Doctor quote part of it the first time it's mentioned?) Maybe what we see here is really The Ancient and Honorable Consortium of Worlds to Defend and Uphold the Shadow Proclamation, and they just call it "The Shadow Proclamation" for short?

      Are you tempted the call the TARDIS NOW?

      Back when the episode first aired, you actually could call that number, and if you got lucky with your timing you'd get to talk to somebody famous from the show, depending on who happened to be in earshot when it rang. It probably doesn't any more, though.

      • electric ashera says:
        March 4, 2011 at 7:48 am

        Now I am wondering WHY I DIDN'T CALL THE TARDIS and the answer would be that these episodes would have been aired the spring/summer before I moved abroad and signed up for the Skype Infinite Everything plan. DAMMIT! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, PAST ME?!

    • Karen says:
      March 4, 2011 at 9:05 am

      Yeah. I agree with out. I do really enjoy this episode, but RTD had trouble juggling all the characters he wanted to include. And I get that he wanted this to be HUGE which is why he brought everyone back, but once he had everyone, it was hard to give them all something to do.

    • notemily says:
      March 4, 2011 at 9:51 am

      Davros freaks me the fuck out in a totally instinctual body horror way. That is all. Dalek Caan is AWESOME. "He is come, the threefold man. He dances in the lonely places." "I flewwwwww into the wild and fire! I danced and died a thousand times!" An insane Dalek that ISN'T suicidal. Who's WHIMSICAL and evil. That is definitely new. But… "Resistance is useless?" Oh RTD. I CRINGE. But WILF IS THE BEST. &lt;3 his paintgun… but Rose's gun is better! &lt;3 him yelling at Sylvia!

      All of this paragraph.

    • Reddi says:
      March 4, 2011 at 12:25 pm

      Definitely the 'best and worst' of the RTD era. He goes to such extremes…. sometimes I want someone to reign him in because he goes too far, but going too far is part of what makes his stuff work. AAAIIIII!!!!

      I think Mr. Copper developed subwave, not Harriet, no?

      • electric ashera says:
        March 4, 2011 at 8:59 pm

        Yeah, that makes sense, but my memory of Voyage of the Damned just isn't very good. The subwave needed more/better exposition, but how on earth were they going to manage that in an already jam-packed exposition-heavy episode?

        I LOVE HARRIET and I LOVE THIS RESOLUTION TO HER ARC, but on the other hand, she sort of comes out of nowhere piloting the machina with the deus and the small logical part of me left after my head asplodes is like, "What.. WTF?"

  35. Minish says:
    March 4, 2011 at 7:23 am

    MARK I'VE ONLY JUST WOKEN UP. You're early! I was not prepared!

    I think, overall, this episode is just one head asplosion. It's the first time since "Dalek" that I didn't mind the Daleks (because, for the first time, they're ACTUALLY SCARY), but it does sort of feel like a… collage of OMG moments that have been sloppily glued together with technobable. But I REALLY ENJOYED IT 'CUZ OMG IT'S SO BLOODY EPIC OMG.

    AND NO TEN NO. *tears forever*

    I really need to learn how to post macros and videos and stuff so I can post, like, Ten's best bits. SORRY I CAN'T MOURN YOUR REGENERATION WITH MORE PASSION <33333

  36. roguebelle says:
    March 4, 2011 at 7:36 am

    1) I TOLD you that you had never been less prepared! And it's still true.

    2) Nothing in this episode breaks my heart like Sarah Jane's reaction when she hears the Daleks. It's so powerful, how at first she's too stunned to have any kind of real reaction, and then the tears just welling up in her eyes before she breaks down. It's a magnificent performance

    3) Harriet Jones. HBIC. BAMF. AMAZING. I love her so much, and omg, her sacrifice, so strong, so unflinching, just…

    4) This episode may illustrate, more than anything else, why Rose bothers the hell out of me. The ENTIRE UNIVERSE is ending, and all she does is whinge about how she's being left out, about how no one's thinking about her or remembering her, "ME FIRST, WAH WAH WAH." I just want to smack her. There are WAY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS going on than your ego, Rose! Everyone else is banding together to Get It Done. She just comes off as so selfish and whiny in this episode, and it really sours my perspective on her (even more than other things had done).

  37. awildmiri says:
    March 4, 2011 at 7:46 am

    WILF IS THE BEST PERSON TO EVER EXIST EVER. JUST SAIYAN.

    <img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/1z5sw00.jpg"&gt;

    Ten, may you overreact to winning cardgames forever in timelord heaven. ;3;7
    <img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2ecpsuv.jpg"&gt;

    And as for YOU ARE NOT PREPARED…..
    <img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/avpgza.jpg"&gt;
    <img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/2n7dw5d.jpg"&gt;

  38. who_cares86 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 8:10 am

    This episode sure has a high "holy shit quotient". The return of the old companions and the inclusion of the spin-offs really shows just how much RTD has built up in just four years. Even if Luke and Mr. Smith don't make any sense if you're unfamiliar with SJA. You'd have to be wondering where Sarah suddenly gets a supercomputer and a kid when it's made clear in School Reunion that she doesn't have kids. (The answers: The computer is a crystalline life-form she acquired after School Reunion and Luke was created by aliens and adopted by Sarah in the first episode of SJA).

    Love the fact that when the spacehips come into orbit and everyone is prepared for the worst. Luke in all his innocence is like "Hey spaceships, cool" anyway the scene where the Daleks announce themselves over the intercom is really effective. Originally they were going to land and kill the new Prime Minister but this is a lot cheaper and more effective. If you want to convey how terrifying the Daleks are, just show Sarah and Jack shitting their pants, that'll tell you.

    also ALL HAIL DALEK FRED. The first Dalek in 45 years to do the sensible thing and shoot the Doctor on sight.

  39. mkjcaylor says:
    March 4, 2011 at 8:15 am

    CAPTAIN JACK TORCHWOOD SARAH JANE YAY!

    ROSE! YAAAAAAAAY!

    REGENERATION? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

  40. potlid007 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 8:31 am

    Whenever I see characters from different shows together I feel all warm inside. Like when the Rugrats went to visit the Thornberrys. That did actually happen, though, right?? That wasn't just a dreamm….

  41. doesntsparkle says:
    March 4, 2011 at 8:37 am

    Early review, we are not prepared.

    Oh Harriet Jones,everyone knows who you are, even the Daleks. It's fantastic that she wasn't bitter toward the Doctor for deposing her. I would be.

    "You know nothing of any human and that will be your downfall."

  42. E.L.S.O.S says:
    March 4, 2011 at 8:40 am

    CURSE YOU INTENSE DEBATE! CUUUURRRSSSSSEEE YOU!

    It keeps eating my posts when I link bees…. All I want to do is freak everybody out with bee beards! Is that too much to ask for! /sob

  43. darth_eowyn says:
    March 4, 2011 at 8:42 am

    This two-parter is my favorite series ender and probably my favorite episode sequence in Doctor Who. SO MUCH LOVE. People have already been very eloquent on the subject though, so I'll just add:

    I really like the Daleks coming back here. Maybe it's because I watched all of Nu!Who in a block, so there wasn't a Dalek-free gap like there was in real time. Mainly though, in this episode we're revisiting all the companions and tying together the plotlines of the past four seasons. It seems appropriate for our favorite villains to be back too.

    Also, the scariness of the Daleks is at this point an established feature of the universe (both the Doctor's and ours). It's like Darth Vader breathing– you hear "Exterminate!" and no explanation is needed for why everyone is scared for their lives.

    Finally, I'm not going comment on Ten's regeneration because it is the most tragic thing in the history of all tragicness, and I still haven't gotten over it. :'-(

  44. Ashley says:
    March 4, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Wilf for President!

    …except he's fictional and a Brit. 🙁

    Ok, Wilf for Prime Minister! Can someone write a fan fic of this?

    Donna is my favorite companion, aside from Sarah-Jane. Ok, they're all amazing, but these seriously are at the top of the list.

  45. agrinningfool says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:07 am

    Hahaha. Mark JUST COULD NOT WAIT.

  47. bookling says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Does this mean you're doing Journey's End today? OMG CAN'T WAIT.

    Wilf is the absolute best. He shot a Dalek in the face with a paintball gun! (Well, as close to a face as a Dalek has.)

    And the moment where the Doctor and Rose are finally going to be reunited, and then the Doctor gets shot by a Dalek? FUCKING RAGE. The look on his face was SO HAPPY, and you ruined it, you stupid Dalek!

    I have to wait for the next review before I say too much else because, spoilers!

  48. Vikinhaw says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:21 am

    Don't know if this has been posted before but to alleviate the tension of that AAAARGH! ending:

    Dalek Poetry 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNNjzdbAZYs

    The full clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIRF3-krvE

    Also Hitchhiker's Guide to Daleks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWn_1yOFpfU

  49. Hypatia_ says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:24 am

    Whoa, I was not prepared for early review!
    My notes for this episode are crap because I get so caught up in it. Massive companion reunion! Sarah Jane! Jack, Ianto and Gwen! Martha Jones! INTERDIMENSIONAL BADASS ROSE TYLER AND HER BIG FUCKING GUN!

    I love Wilf’s reaction to the sudden displacement of Earth. “You get back inside Sylvia, the always want the women!” ILU Wilf. Please come and be my grandpa.

    O HAI RICHARD DAWKINS. I love that they got him to do a cameo. Probably has something to do with the fact that he’s married to Lalla Ward, aka Romana mark II in the classic series.

    I love the moment at the Shadow Proclamation when Donna proclaims herself to be important. You can see the Doctor having a quiet little “Hell yes!” moment. Look how far she’s come, she finally believes she’s worth something. Then she goes back to being all “I’m not important, I’m just a temp” but still. Somewhere inside her, she knows she has worth. Take that, Sylvia!

    It’s the end of the world and Jack is still hitting on Sarah Jane. The characterization for the Torchwood team was a bit crap to be honest. There’s no way Torchwood Jack would just assume they’re all going to die, and there’s no way Ianto and Gwen would go along with that. They would go get lots of high powered weaponry and kick some ass.

    The bit at the end has got to be the most brutal subversion of the Meadow Run trope ever put onscreen. Rose! The Doctor! Who thought they’d never see each other again! Running towards each to embrace and possibly kiss and OH SHIT IT’S A DALEK.

    In conclusion, Ten gifspam!
    <img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/dcftxh.gif"&gt;
    <img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lga26ovtax1qdlj86.gif"&gt;
    <img src="http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/976/dwlaughing.gif"&gt;
    <img src=http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6325/tenjackrun.gif>

  50. Mary Sue says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:26 am

    Harriet Jones. Former Prime Minister, forever a BAMF.

  51. Spugsy says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Oh unexpected review, I just finished watching it in preparation for this evening and it's already here! Please let this mean another review today! 😉 Honestly Mark waiting the whole weekend is too much, I seriously have no clue how we all managed an ENTIRE WEEK! RTD is evil king.

    Expect he gave us an episode like this which is just about as awesome and amazing as it could possibly be. Also I watched Torchwood since seeing this the first time (watch it all Mark!) and the episode just a lot became better knowing who Gwen and Ianto are.

  52. __Jen__ says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Holy crap this is so early! I WAS NOT PREPARED, but I'll leave this:
    ROSE!
    MARTHA JONES!
    TORCHWOOD!
    SARAH JANE AND LUKE!
    &HARRIET JONES; ;_____;

    DOCTOR! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    Also:
    <img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2s8r9r6.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

  53. nextboy1 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:40 am

    I'll just copy, paste and edit my poor lonely comment over on markspoils, I had no idea this was here!

    I cannot believe Mark is here. And yes, he was not prepared for this episode!

    I know this episode/2-parter gets it's criticisms but you've got to hand it to RTD for the scope of his ambitions here. There are so many wonderful moments, it's just they're glued together with the plotline equivalent of masking tape. I for one love it, it's amazing fun. It's an episode I saw before 'watching' the show, so I had no idea what was going on when I saw Billie Piper strolling around with a maHOOSive gun. I was left thinking…didn't she leave the show on a beach a couple of years ago or something?

    It's still one of my most rewatched 2 parters because they're just great. More on that on Monday (or maybe even later, hmm?hmm?)

    "she says they're naughty" – best line ever, such amazing delivery

    Daleks: "YES, WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE" 🙂

  54. mildlyconfused says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:42 am

    "You know nothing of any human. And that will be your downfall."

    Oh, Harriet Jones. I salute you.

  55. arctic_hare says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:48 am

    Wow, way early. o_O

    So as not to get mixed up as to what happens in part one and what happens in part two, I rewatched these episodes and noted down comments and thoughts in semi-real time (making judicious use of the pause button), something I think worked for me, as I feel confident in having NOT SPOILED.

    Martha! Yay Martha! Jack! 😀 Sarah Jane! AND WILF YELLING AT THE ALIENS WHILE CARRYING A CRICKET BAT. <3 I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. I also love seeing everyone credited. THIS IS GONNA BE A PARTY, TARDIS-STYLE.

    – gmmmfff. Okay. I have to. And I'm not sorry.

    THAT'S NO MOON

    IT'S A SPACE STATION

    😀

    Oh Wilf, no. Please no. I can't take it when you tear up, please don't. Just come give me a hug. 🙁

    Elisabeth Sladen just kills it here. I don't blame her for being terrified. I've only watched a couple SJA episodes (something I know I need to remedy), so I have no idea where she got this son either. I'm as in the dark as you are, Mark.

    Rose is pretty cool in this scene, on the other hand. She doesn't have time to look at explosions.

    <img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/282kjs5.png&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

    THIS IS SO COOL, I want to visit. It's like the Kingdom of Zeal, or something from Skies of Arcadia, except it's IN SPACE. Yeah, I'm a total sucker for shit like this.

    BAMF FOREVER, DONNA. NEVER EVER CHANGE, PLEASE. ALWAYS BE AWESOME. <3

    "AND I HATE UNIT!" I'm not sure why, but that makes me laugh amidst the horror. Perhaps it's because it reminds me of… I don't know, Yosemite Sam screaming about how he hates rabbits. So petulant and bratty.

    I am both repulsed and fascinated by Dalek Caan in his new state. For some reason, I love his newly unhinged-sounding voice.

    And there. There's the sound of everything clicking into place. 😀 I'm surprised you didn't notice the bees thing, Mark, though I have to admit I didn't either. I'd heard so much about it happening IRL, so I didn't connect it to stuff like the missing planets, Rose's reappearance, the Pompeiian prophecies, etc. But you look back and there it is. Also, a group of us over on the spoiler blog decided we'd post bee gifs in this review, so here is my contribution~

    <img src="http://valhalla.antipyretic.net/PD/1003180_o.gif"/&gt;

    I wanted to embed this video, but you'll have to settle for a link instead. NO NOT THE BEES

    Of course, the most important part of this episode is WILF SHOOTING A DALEK WITH A FUCKING PAINTBALL GUN. OKAY, EVERYONE, PACK UP AND GO HOME, THE UNIVERSE HAS PEAKED, IT CAN'T GET MORE AWESOME THAN THIS.

    Seriously, I… I think I'm running out of ways to express my love for Wilf. He is too amazing for everything ever. The universe cannot contain his sheer level of epic win.

    OMG Harriet Jones! I love this scene, of everyone talking to each other, and getting to see Harriet again. And is that a shoutout to Mr. Copper from VotD I hear? Nice. Good on you for standing by what you did, Harriet, you're still right. Someday the Doctor's not going to be around to save the day, and what then? I've been saying this since, well, TCI.

    And I'm so sad to see her die. 🙁 🙁 🙁 Sadface forever.

    Squeamish Viewer General's Warning: It is not advisable to consume food immediately prior to viewing Davros, erm, flashing the Doctor, as it were, due to the fact that it may cause involuntary regurgitation of the meal. It should also be noted that this, uhm, reveal may cause loss of appetite adversely affecting plans to dine immediately after, so adjust accordingly. In fact, it is speculated that it may put one off food entirely for the foreseeable future, so watch with caution.

    Man, that last scene is like some sick parody of the classic meadow run, isn't it? LOL YOU WERE NEVER PREPARED.

  56. echinodermata says:
    March 4, 2011 at 9:53 am

    HOLY SHIT THE EARTH'S MOVED.

    YAY IT'S MARTHA AND JACK (AND IANTO AND GWEN) AND SARAH JANE SMITH (AND LUKE) AND ROSE (and Richard Dawkins, lol) AND THE SHADOW PROCLAMATION AND THE JUDOON AND THE MISSING PLANETS AND DAVROS AND THE BEES DISAPPEARING AND HARRIET JONES!
    <img src="http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/669/dw9clap.gif"&gt;
    <img src="http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5072/dw10holymotherfuck.gif"&gt;

    That out of the way, the Handlebars fanvid is now not spoilery! It may make sense to wait until the next ep before watching, but the vidders, according to the making of post, had an actual deadline that was before the next ep aired. So I'm linking it now instead of Monday! And now I'll just quote part of my own rec that I posted on the spoiler board.

    It's a Ten vid, and if you're the sort of person that can appreciate a vid that seeks to explore his megalomaniacal side, then GO WATCH NOW. I honestly think even if you don't really agree with the premise of this vid, I think it's still likeable for the real talent and effort that went into this vid, as well as a masterful song choice (and being introduced to this song alone is a great reason to watch it).

    I have brought up this vid multiple times on this blog because it truly has shaped the way I look at the Doctor, so it's the fanvid that has probably affected me the most. It's my favorite fanvid in the world, and to give that some context, I have 88 fanvids saved on my computer.

    • psycicflower says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:02 am

      All the +1s in the world for the Handlebars fanvid. It is amazing.

      • echinodermata says:
        March 4, 2011 at 10:06 am

        fave fanvid ever. I will rec it so long as we have reason to talk about the Doctor and this show.

        • plummy says:
          March 4, 2011 at 4:48 pm

          I just watched this fanvid a few days ago for the first time (based on your rec echinodermata, on a previous MarkWatches thread) and it is FABULOUS! It is one of my top two favorite vids EVER. The thought! The scope! The message! All the nice things are not enough. Thanks so much for linking to it! 🙂

          • echinodermata says:
            March 4, 2011 at 5:07 pm

            If you have the time and inclination, the making of post is really interesting. They started making the vid before S4, and kept vidding until the deadline, which was basically just before the next ep aired. So, you know, MONTHS. And the post gives a lot of insight to vidding in general, which I found to be fascinating.

  57. _thirty2flavors says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:12 am

    THIS EPISODE OMG COMPANIONS EVERYWHERE

    There is a LOT going on in this episode and I can see how objectively there is maybe too much going on and the whole thing is a bit disorganized, but when it comes down to it I don't care because OMG MARTHA and OMG ROSE and OMG DONNA and OMG TORCHWOOD AND SARAH JANE and OMG THAT EPIC RUN, be still my shipper heart, and then OMG TEN IS REGENERATING WHY IS THE WORLD SO CRUEL 🙁

    Also, that "maybe not the stuff of legend, but every bit as important as Time Lords, thank you" line for Donna is so great and such a big thing for her, and the Doctor just looks so proud and d'aww.

    Rose being frustrated by the outerspace Skype chat didn't bother me tbh; I'm pretty sure it was just meant as a joke and a nod to all the times Martha was jealous of Rose. Beyond that, I mean, it WOULD be pretty frustrating to come all that way (I MEAN, UNIVERSES) and then… get left out of the World Saving Skype Conversation. But then that moment where there's interference and Ten is all like "ROSE??? :D" and then it is Davros makes me lol so hard each time.

  58. notemily says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:22 am

    When the Judoon were like BO LO FO TO DO KO or whatever they do, I was like WHY AREN'T YOU TRANSLATED. The translation thing always gets to me. It's so inconsistent.

    COVERED IN BEES

    "It's like an outer space facebook!" SPACEBOOK

    Also, do they seriously still have milkmen with glass milk bottles in England? This is blowing my mind. I mean, in addition to everything else in this episode that blows my mind.

    I don't understand why Rose is freaking out here about the regeneration. She dealt with Nine becoming Ten, she can deal with Ten becoming Eleven. I mean, he's still the Doctor, right? His love for her doesn't go away when he regenerates.

    On the other hand I am sitting there going NOOOO TENNAAAAAAAAAAANT HE IS MY DOCTOOOORRRR. So I may be a bit of a hypocrite here.

    Harriet Jones Former Prime Minister
    YES. WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

    I haven't watched the Sarah Jane Adventures, but my roommate has seen them, so I was like KATE, IF THE COMPUTER IS MR. SMITH, IS THE COMPUTER LUKE'S FATHER? KATE, OMG KATE, IS THE DOCTOR LUKE'S FATHER? NO? ARE YOU SURE???

    Mark. MARK. I think it's possible that you have never been more unprepared. Unless you've watched the second half of the finale already in which case NEVER MIND.

    • __Jen__ says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:27 am

      Yeah, I don't really get Rose's freak out either. She's seen this before!

      • E.L.S.O.S says:
        March 4, 2011 at 10:38 am

        Because it would not be dramatic if Donna was the only one freaking out and Rose was calm and mentally thinking "He better not grow those ears back… Or that nose…. Stay pretty Doctor!"

        • __Jen__ says:
          March 4, 2011 at 10:49 am

          LOL Trufax. Can't forget the need for drama!

        • Hypatia_ says:
          March 4, 2011 at 11:32 am

          It would have been hilarious if she was like "Oh, and keep the hair! That's some really great hair!"

          …maybe not the time for callous humor though.

          • plummy says:
            March 4, 2011 at 4:51 pm

            But he still will be different! I'm sure she had built up their reunion in her mind, and to have it all be so different would be harsh. I'm sure I wouldn't take it very well! (echoing notemily, I was also NOT OK at this point :[ )

    • echinodermata says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:42 am

      Re Translation, I always assumed it to be like a secret code or password and doesn't actually have any meaning, so it stays as gibberish. But that's only an excuse for this one scene.

      • Bobcat says:
        March 6, 2011 at 4:30 am

        Russell did – kind of – explain the lack of translation in an earlier draft. When the Judoon had more to do.

        —-

        JUDOON
        Sco! Bo! Tro! No! Flo! Jo! Ko! Fo! To!

        THE DOCTOR
        Lo! Kro! To! Sho! Maho?

        JUDOON
        Sco! Sco! Blo! Do! Mo!

        DONNA
        Hold on, I thought the Tardis translated alien languages?

        THE DOCTOR
        Judoon are too thick.

        —-

        …quite like it. It's a little hollow, but I enjoy the idea that they're so dense they're 100% immune to any kind of psychic meddling. Totally oblivious. I'm certain Russell expanded on it elsewhere in the book, but I can't quite find it. Ah well!

    • kaybee42 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:59 am

      Glass milk bottles? Yeah…? It just depends on which size you want- you can get the little baby teeny ones and they are plastic or paper, then there's the glass ones, then the big 4 litre plastic ones. At least they are the options we get where I live for milk delivery anyway 🙂

      • notemily says:
        March 4, 2011 at 5:26 pm

        Wow. In America everyone just gets milk at the grocery store.

        • echinodermata says:
          March 4, 2011 at 7:23 pm

          Some schools in California, at least, have single serving milk for students that comes in bags, and you poke it with a straw or something.

          My mom works for a school and brought a bunch of bags of single-serving milk and carrots home once, and I was pretty amused at the milk, ngl.

        • buyn says:
          March 4, 2011 at 11:50 pm

          I went on vacation and the bed and breakfast got milk delivered. It felt like we had stepped into the fifties… I blame the hexagonal tile floors reminiscent of the TARDIS. Pretty small town in the middle of nowhere, but that means there's at least one Milk boy in the US.

    • herdivineshadow says:
      March 4, 2011 at 1:18 pm

      Yeah. We still have glass milk bottles but it makes sense – the milkman just takes the empty ones away and they get sterilised, refilled with milk and a new foil lid whacked on. 😀 It's all very green, especially with milk floats being electric.

      I <3 them. And they sound ace when you tap them with chopsticks. 😀

  59. E.L.S.O.S says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:26 am

    EXACTLY!

    Time to start the conspiracy theories! The bee links are returning to their home planet!

  60. Anon says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:27 am

    This is probably my favorite end to a season, i know there's a lot crammed in but its just so much fun. I love Wilf's line at the beginning: " What do you want you green swine", makes me laugh everytime.

    Its also made me want to learn more about the Time War, i wish the BBC would make a mini series just about the Time War, it would be totally epic. Of course it'l never happen, they've made the Time War sound so awesome they'd need a massive budget to pull it off.

  61. Ananas says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:33 am

    Am I the only Doctor Who fan that absolutely hates the Daleks? "Oh, these guys again. Here's a strategy, just duck down behind them." I get that they're classic Who, and the show wouldn't be the show without them but still. Maybe I wouldn't dislike them as much if the actors weren't so stiff around them. Or if they were a smidge quieter. I get really bitter when I have to make a mad dive for the remote to turn down the volume on the tv when I should be concentrating on OMG PEOPLES ARE DYING.

  62. echinodermata says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:34 am

    Quite honestly, TV characters made me realize I was bi.

    • prideofportree says:
      March 4, 2011 at 12:38 pm

      Ingrid in Young Dracula made me realise I was bi.

      <img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgw8sr7v4d1qb2zweo1_500.jpg"&gt;

    • __Jen__ says:
      March 4, 2011 at 7:15 pm

      Me too. I eventually noticed that like half of the characters that I was basically in love with and were attracted to were women and had been for years. It was a strange moment of realization.

      • echinodermata says:
        March 4, 2011 at 7:54 pm

        Yup, pretty much; kind of took an embarrassingly long time to figure it out in retrospect.

        And then I had a major epiphany about the Male Gaze, and how it never really bothered me as much as other feminists because I was getting some enjoyment out of it, and now I know why I often get bothered at critiques of the Male Gaze: it's usually entirely heteronormative.

        In conclusion, TV is quite important, and additionally generates lots of important discussions; fffffffuuuuuuu haters (like there'd be any on this blog in the first place).

        • __Jen__ says:
          March 4, 2011 at 8:13 pm

          An embarrassingly long time is a good way of putting it. I definitely grew up in a home/environment where heterosexual was the only acceptable way to be, which I'm sure played a role. One day it just hit me though that most girls I knew didn't really watch movies/TV just to see certain actresses like they would Brad Pitt, or obsess over different female characters in more than an "I want to be them" sort of way. It was really obvious in retrospect, and I kind of can't believe my parents never questioned it. Oh well.

          I'm with you on the Male Gaze thing. I would get into discussions and feel almost guilty for getting enjoyment out of things. It's unfortunate that so much discussion of feminism is so heteronormative. :\

  63. _thirty2flavors says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:37 am

    LOL OMG YES PERFECT

  64. xpanasonicyouthx says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:38 am

    I HAD TO SURPRISE YOU GUYS.

    Plus, I'm working from home today to do moderator-y stuff for my regular job and the new forums I am building, so I wanted to get this up early so we could have a party whilst I am busy with other things!

    • arctic_hare says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:41 am

      So it wasn't an error, then? YOU ARE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL THIS MUST BE REVENGE FOR ALL THE "YOU ARE NOT PREPARED"s WE THROW AT YOU ON A DAILY BASIS

    • echinodermata says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:45 am

      Are you still doing the next ep on Monday?

      • xpanasonicyouthx says:
        March 4, 2011 at 10:49 am

        Yep. I am out of town all day tomorrow and then I need to prep the following week's posts on Sunday. 🙂

        • arctic_hare says:
          March 4, 2011 at 10:52 am

          I am relieved to hear that, as I have a busy weekend ahead and don't want to miss the next ep's discussions!

        • pica_scribit says:
          March 4, 2011 at 12:14 pm

          You have the willpower of one of the more austere saints, sir. How can you bear not to watch the final episode after this one?

          • xpanasonicyouthx says:
            March 4, 2011 at 12:19 pm

            Honestly, it's just habit at this point. Plus, I'm not waiting a week between episodes like most of you had to do!

            • pica_scribit says:
              March 4, 2011 at 12:36 pm

              Hmmm…. Come to think of it, I guess I actually do know what you mean. I don't really have TV, and my laptop is so old it doesn't so much do video anymore, so I usually just wait until the new series comes out on DVD and watch it all at once. I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but big things like a whole new Doctor can be hard to miss.

    • Treasure Cat says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:46 am

      We are always telling you that you are not prepared, and for once the shoe was on the other foot. OH MARK <3

    • psycicflower says:
      March 4, 2011 at 10:48 am

      You are evil!
      <img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2psimuf.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
      We were all rationalising that it was some automated mistake or other but you were just getting revenge on us, weren't you!

  65. spectralbovine says:
    March 4, 2011 at 10:46 am

    Is this it??? Is this where Matt Smith steps in?
    Spoilers!

  66. t09yavorski says:
    March 4, 2011 at 11:14 am

    I have realized who is going to die and i just have to say:

    You are not prepared.
    I am not prepared.
    The people walking behind me when i figured it out and stopped short were not prepared.

    So now I am gonna go off and watch the episode.

    Also, Bees are aliens.

  67. gsj says:
    March 4, 2011 at 11:38 am

    yay i'm early-ish!!!!!

    actually all the stuff i wanted to say about the finale have to do with the next episode so whatever.

    all in all, this is a really thrilling, emotional episode. everything you want in the first part of a two parter. all the pieces are in place, and you wonder: how are they going to get out of this one? it's perfect.

    however – i guess this isn't spoiler-y anymore – i have a narrative problem with this season's arc. and last season's too, i guess? i know y'all love rose, and to an extent, i do too. season 1 rose is my jam, that speech in parting of the ways makes me cry for like a year. however, as a viewer, i find it kind of unsatisfying that the past two seasons have kind of been about rose, even when she's not there. the show always justifies her presence, but i find that it kind of undercuts the drama if we're simultaneously being made to feel nostalgic for previous seasons and previous companions. anyone else have any opinions on this? because i also have some serious thoughts*~*~*~ about nostalgia and the evocation of it in cinema (which i am turning into a video project due monday ack).

    • Tenalto says:
      March 4, 2011 at 4:31 pm

      "however – i guess this isn't spoiler-y anymore – i have a narrative problem with this season's arc. and last season's too, i guess? i know y'all love rose, and to an extent, i do too. season 1 rose is my jam, that speech in parting of the ways makes me cry for like a year. however, as a viewer, i find it kind of unsatisfying that the past two seasons have kind of been about rose, even when she's not there. the show always justifies her presence, but i find that it kind of undercuts the drama if we're simultaneously being made to feel nostalgic for previous seasons and previous companions."

      The way I see it, Nine had a lot of baggage that carried over into the regeneration as Ten. When Rose was gone, Ten acquired a whole matched set of Louis Vuitton luggage. Irritating as it can be, the matched luggage is going to make itself known, whether we want it to or not.

  68. stellaaaaakris says:
    March 4, 2011 at 11:42 am

    I have many thoughts, but this is up early and I can't articulate them right now, so I'll just state this:

    Oh my goodness. My computer screen can't handle all the Awesome People in this episode. Ten, Donna, Martha, Rose, Captain Jack, Wilf, Sarah Jane, Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister (all the sads for her).

    Dalek: My vision is not impaired.
    <img src="http://images.wikia.com/tardis/images/2/2d/Rose_in_Series_4.png"&gt;
    Rose Tyler is not amused.

  69. Inseriousity. says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    "I voted for her"
    "she said they're naughty"
    "do you wanna swap?"

    lolol wilf, funny even during an alien invasion!

    I'd just like to say I WAS NOT PREPARED…. for an early review. I waited til around about the time it gets posted and it'd been here the whole time. 🙁

  70. jennywildcat says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    ACK! You're early! Okay, here goes –

    Trivia Time – RTD wanted the Shadow Proclamation scene to have as many aliens as they could cram in there. But budget and time wouldn't allow for it. So, here's the original concept art by RTD (originally from the TARDIS Wiki – but posted here to avoid linking to anything spoilery) –

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Doctor%20Who/230px-The_Shadow_Proclamation_speci.png&quot; border="0" alt="Image Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension">

    On to the episode –

    Mark – welcome to Torchwood (the non-tearing-a-hole-in-reality version with Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones and AWESOME). And you know Sarah Jane Smith – this is her son Luke (long story) and their super-duper alien-monster fighting computer Mr. Smith. HOORAY FOR SPIN-OFF CROSSOVERS!!!

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Happy%20Surprise%20gifs/10564g4.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension">

    Ladies and gentlemen, Wilfred Mott. I said, WILFRED MOTT!!! Taking on the entire Dalek fleet with a paintball gun – ULTIMATE GRANDPA BAMF!!!!

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Happy%20Surprise%20gifs/tumblr_lfayynFsTv1qc8tsb.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension">

    HARRIET JONES, YOU AWESOME, AWESOME FORMER PRIME MINISTER YOU!!! (Screw you, Saxon!)

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Applause/orig-12014511jpg.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket">

    But much sadness for her death

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Sad%20Gifs/tumblr_l3ih6ikxgR1qaw14to1_500.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket">

    YAY – THE DOCTOR MADE IT TO EARTH. YAY – THERE'S ROSE!!

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Happy%20Surprise%20gifs/1zc20lz.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension">

    But… wait… A DALEK??

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Oh%20Crap%20gifs/tumblr_lf3qgdbEsA1qcau8d.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension">

    REGENERATION??

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Oh%20Crap%20gifs/tumblr_le84b8Bpdv1qaf7eh.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Image Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension">

    HOW CAN THIS BE??? AND WHY IS THERE YET ANOTHER WEEKEND BETWEEN A SEASON FINALE FOR MARK???

    <img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/Jenny_Wildcat/Holy%20Crap%20Freak%20Out/tumblr_lg82fbXOsw1qav6ze.gif&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket">

    (I've seen this season finale about five or six times now – and I am STILL not prepared.)

  71. Reddi says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    The way you responded to Davros… this is why it's a good idea to keep looking at some of the classic eps as you go through. And I think despite folks suggesting their favs, sometimes it's best to look for ones that tie into the 'new' series. Maybe it's time to ask for recommendations of episodes that are not only good, but fill in some holes for the RTD years.

    I also found this episode "dense" as you said… with probably way too many plots squashed into one episode. Still some wonderful stuff.

    and "But all of this pales to the moment when the Doctor and Donna stand on earth, the Doctor wondering what Rose told Donna in the alternate universe, and she tells him: “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”" Oh that was an esquisite scene. And everything from there afterward took me totally by surprise. I had not read anything about Who on the net. I was completely unspoiled. I knew classic who so I knew what regeneration was. But I was sooo NOT expecting this. RTD you bastard!

  72. pica_scribit says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:08 pm

    Wait…you mean this review was up last night?! But I don't check here in the middle of the night! Aw, man. I feel like I missed the party.

    *Ianto love*

    <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4w3hs4JQA1qczriko1_500.jpg"&gt;

  73. prideofportree says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    This is going to be so EPICLY SAD and AWESOME and HAPPY at the same fucking time.

  74. PeterRabid says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    What is this? The review went up 10 hours ago? Awww, I missed it. 🙁 Oh well, not too late, I suppose.

    Okay, "The Stolen Earth." EPIC. Yeah, those lost planets. They were stolen by Daleks. Davros is back! Almost all the companions since the reboot are back along with Sarah Jane, Luke, and Jack's Torchwood team!

    Sadly, I feel like Rose was back to being a bit selfish in this episode. I understand she was frustrated by not being able to contact the others, but "I was here first"? Really, Rose?

    The Doctor arrives on Earth and Rose is there and everything is happy butterflies and unicorns and we get a cheesy running in slow motion AND THEN

    <img src="http://i50.tinypic.com/1pcpko.jpg"/&gt;
    For a few seconds, that must have been the proudest Dalek in the universe.

    • Hotaru-hime says:
      March 4, 2011 at 12:38 pm

      That Dalek is all "FUCK YEAH, FINALLY DID IT. SHOT THE DOCTOR."
      And we're all "NOOOOOOOOO YOU BASTARD, YOU AND YOUR STUPID EGGBEATER ARM!!!"

  75. MsImpertinence says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Hurray Harriet Jones! Oh, her end made me so sad.

    Oi, they shot the Doctor, that's just rude.

    I'm going to be honest, Dalek Caan (however we spell it) honestly annoyed me. I guess I'm the odd one out, because Daleks just don't scare me. Weeping Angels? Terrifying. Vashta Nerada? Frightening. Daleks? Annoying as all get out, but instant incineration just doesn't push my buttons.

    Now I really want them to put Daleks in paint-ball ranges for added excite. Does anyone else really want to spatter Daleks with paintballs?

    • nanceoir says:
      March 4, 2011 at 2:27 pm

      I didn't until just now, but now there's little else i want to do.

      AIM FOR THE EYESTALK!

    • electric ashera says:
      March 4, 2011 at 9:21 pm

      I am so much more terrified of Daleks than I am by Moffat's monsters. And since Daleks are utterly irrational and batshit insane pretty much out of the box, the idea of an even MORE batshit insane Dalek that just giggles and waves its tentacles in glee around at the thought of death and destruction—a chipper, emotional Dalek!—just scares the shit out of me even more.

  76. Tilja says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Coming into this new wp theme I have to say I can't find the Intense Debate links to log in so I hope this gets posted all right.

    This, to my mind is the most heartrending finale I've seen so far. Just the fact that everything's put together for a final wrapping makes it look bigger and more impressive. I can't say what I'd like to say becaue I need to wait for you to watch and review the final episode. All I will say is that it's one of the best finales EVER, if not the best.

    And every season finale is the best part of the series always. =3

  77. Wookie_Monster says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    Poor Mark, you really got the Wham moments in both your blogs today!

    Unexpected regeneration is unexpected – Dalek Pope says

    <img src="http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s223/paranoid-android_album/excommunicated.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket">

    • ninjac8 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 1:07 pm

      Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    • ThreeBooks says:
      March 4, 2011 at 9:27 pm

      …pffffthehehehehe xD

  78. who_cares86 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    Since someone has to say this:

    SHIT JUST GOT REAL.

  79. Imogen1984 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    DAVROS!!! I love Davros so much. It was kind of a massive spoiler for me, though, because the COVER OF THE DVD has Davros on the front of it, so I always knew he'd be in there somewhere, and for someone who adored Davros as a little girl (for some obscure reason, my sister and I used to call him "scone") I was waiting for him IN EVERY SINGLE EPISODE. I adored Sarah Jane's reaction to him – and HIS TO HER. It made my old series heart warm.

    And did anyone else GROAN when the Doctor and Rose started running towards each other? That was just as bad as saying "I've got a bad feeling about this." or "What could possibly go wrong?"

    Oh.. but Mark? YANP ;).

  80. Jenny_M says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I think every bit of casting news had been leaked about this episode in advance, so while I was pleased to see all the folks show up, I wasn't surprised. But the regeneration? I was all, "HOLY SHIT HOW DID THEY KEEP THIS UNDER WRAPS WHAT IS THIS I DON'T EVEN."

  81. Anseflans says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    Hey Mark, how does it feel to have reached not one but TWO major cliffhangers, and a whole weekend to freak out about them??

    Never prepared, my friend, never prepared.

  82. herdivineshadow says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    The whole thing about bees was ace – especially since at the time there was a lot of stuff in the news about bees disappearing and I got suspicious that someone was doing a real-life/Who crossover but realised it was just coincidence since OBVS the episodes were written and filmed aaaaages before.

    Right? Right?

  83. Yvraine says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    Breaking out of lurker mode for a moment — by the way, your reviews are now one of my favorite things on the internet. 🙂

    When the Doctor got shot, all I could say was "That settles it! The Doctor's greatest enemies are [i]his own writers![/i] They are TORTURING the poor fellow!"

  84. Scott says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    Man, this brought back the memory of watching this episode and then having to wait for part 2 with all of the massive speculation around the end.

    BTW who remembers the serious fandom insanity around Harriet Jones? Here's a hint, people heard the Sub wave "ring tone" and went to town.

  85. fakehepburn says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    Mark. Mark.
    Jesus Christ. I can't even —

    Coherent comments are not forthcoming, on account of I don't want to let any spoilers slip. So, in the interest of only telling you things you already know:

    YOU COULD NOT EVEN BE LESS PREPARED IF YOU FUCKING TRIED.

  86. fakehepburn says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    Oh, also, I just noticed I can finally post this:

    <img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/mij4vl.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

    There is a serious lack of Mean Girls/ Doctor Who jokes out there.

    • hassibah says:
      March 4, 2011 at 6:01 pm

      WTF how did I manage to scroll past this wout seeing it. Amazing!

    • Starsea28 says:
      March 5, 2011 at 4:03 am

      And the other way around…

      Let me tell you something about the Master. We were best friends in middle school. I know, right? It's so embarrassing. I don't even… Whatever. So then in my fourth regeneration, I started going out with the second Romana, who was totally gorgeous, but then she went to E-Space, and the Master was, like, weirdly jealous of her. Like, if I would blow him off to hang out with Romana, he'd be like "Why didn't you call me back?" And I'd be like "Why are you so obsessed with me?" So then, for my birthday party, which was a UNIT party, I was like, "Master, I can't invite you, because I think you're a psychopath." I mean, I couldn't have a psychopath at my party. There were gonna be UNIT soldiers there with *guns*. I mean, right? He was a PSYCHOPATH. So then he pushed me off a pylon and killed me, it was so retarded. And then he tried to steal the Eye of Harmony to become immortal, and then he regenerated, and all of his hair was grown out and he was totally weird and now I guess he's on crack.

  87. Starsea28 says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    he’s unable to contact anyone aside from Martha Jones

    I think you mean Donna Noble. 😉

    I'm pretty okay with most of the things Rose does in this episode apart from this: "Find me, Doctor. Find me."

    I'm going to let Sherlock express my frustration for me:

    <img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f155/Starsea/SherlockIsUnimpressed.gif"&gt;

    Rose Tyler, the entire universe is ending. Get some perspective.

    Good to see this start right from where we left off. The Doctor likes Saturdays, don't we all? But seriously, do milk floats have ANY glass bottles any more? (Yes, I know, it wouldn't make a nice sound if plastic bottles fell out, but come on.) I was really pleased to see that RTD did not gloss over the fact that Rose returning also meant the fabric of the universe was being ripped into shreds.

    Meanwhile (nice little homage to the X-Files with the typing there), Martha Jones is in New York, looking very sleek and doing her awesome thing of trying to help people. In Cardiff, the Torchwood team are also doing their thing.

    JONES FANGIRL #1: "No broken bones, slight loss of dignity: no change there, then."

    If I didn't love Luke Smith before, I would love him now. "Felt like some sort of cross-dimensional spacial transference." I actually let out a great big "HA!" when he said this: it's so Luke and he does it so naturally as if EVERYBODY talks like that. And that music IS Mr Smith's fanfare. Hey, it beats Windows.

    The usual check-in on Donna's family. Wilf, I'm actually pretty sure that the aliens wouldn't want your daughter. Or maybe they would until she opened her mouth.

    First bad point of the episode: please don't rub our faces in that what's happening is impossible, Rusty, kthanxbye. And then Rose appears with a whole CHOIR serenading her arrival. But she kicks arse with the gun so I'll forgive them for that. But how come she knows what's going to happen? Has it already happened in her world?

    Donna's devastation about losing Earth is so real, bravo Catherine Tate. And the Doctor not really registering her distress as an emotion, more involved in the logistical problem of actually MOVING a planet. We'll just kind of ignore what moving the Earth would do to the moon and the other planets in the solar system, yes? Yes.

    "I'm taking you to the Shadow Proclamation." DUN-DUN-DUUUUUUN! Is that clunk I hear some enormous foreshadowing finally developing?

    And the prize for most wooden delivery goes to Richard Dawkins. Paul O'Grady: yes, he's funny, but what is Ianto doing watching him? Shouldn't he be a little more concerned? "Whoever's done this wants the human race alive. That's a plus." GAH, no, it isn't, Ianto, and you of all people should know that.

    I love the contrasting attitudes of the Smiths here: Luke's excitement and Sarah Jane's wariness. The way she smiles for him but quickly goes on guard again. It's all good. <3 (Just wait until Mickey turns up, then I'll be a Smith AND Jones fangirl, har har.)

    Why is Rose wandering around? She seems to be looking for something, what? It can't be Donna's house, she already knew about that in the last episode. Unless she suddenly forgot. Of course, I suppose there isn't much chance of taking a taxi. The gun line is bad, I'm sorry, it's just BAD. And so is Wilf's worry about Donna, which is unusual for Mr Cribbins.

    I didn't realise before now but the exchange between Martha & Jack is actually quite flirtatious: "Tell me you put something in my drink last night." "No such luck!" You just don't notice it because John and Freema are being SERIOUSBIZNESS. I love that we got that brief reference to Martha having the voice of a nightingale again: I know Jack flirts with everyone, but I always think that with Martha, there's genuine affection behind the flirting. He respects her, she respects him, they know they've got each other's back, nothing negative at all! Such a nice relationship. Not that I blame Ianto for being twitchy about Jack seeing other people. Hell, if I were Ianto, I'd keep Jack handcuffed to me. (He'd probably like it.) I love Gareth's expression here! "Soldier? WHEN? >:("

    Sarah Jane and Jack's reactions to the Daleks are fantastic. The sheer terror in their eyes and Jack grabbing his little team, hugging and kissing them because he knows what's coming. Sarah Jane crying for Luke and saying "You're so young." Great contrast with Rose's resignation and sadness. The Daleks must be on her world, too, she doesn't even flinch at the explosion.

    We finally get a hint at what the CRUCIBLE is all about.

    • Starsea28 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 1:55 pm

      Ultimate Code Red: the last Code Red you'll ever need. *snark* And Martha witnesses the destruction of Earth… again. There's a line in Last of the Time Lords when she talks about walking through "the ruins of New York". Just think about how much it must SUCK to stand there and see New York get razed to the ground for a SECOND TIME and she still can't do anything to stop it! And nobody around her would understand if she said anything.

      Am I the only person who thinks the Supreme Dalek is reminiscent of Darth Vader?

      The Shadow Proclamation has very pretty headquarters. But why is the TARDIS not translating Judoon? Donna's expression at the Doctor speaking Judoon is brilliant. Apparently the Time Lords are now a myth (back in The Unquiet Dead, the Gelf said that the Time War only affected "higher beings", I suppose you can't get much higher than the Shadow Proclamation). Donna flies the flag for the human race and is her generally awesome self and Ten loves her for it. But why does the Shadow Lady look like that when she declares herself a human being? And Donna works out the missing planets. Who DOESN'T love her by now? (But why is the Judoon now speaking English?)

      DONNA FANGIRLING: "Oi, don't get all spaceman, tell me what it MEANS!"

      SPECULATION ALERT: the Master said that the Doctor sealed the rift in the Medusa Cascade during the Time War. The Doctor says the planets are like parts of an engine: an engine designed to open up the rift again?

      Jack being worried about Martha warms my heart. The sign on the desk as they leave the room says "Mid-West": is that a nod to John Barrowman?

      I wonder what the Osterhagen Key does. Not even Jack knows about it.

      And feel Jack's rage and frustration as Martha disappears. Aww, Jack. But did anyone actually expect Martha to die halfway through the episode? Come on, she's tougher than that!

      Dalek Caan is the creepiest New Who villain, hands down. He's utterly sick and twisted, what a triumph for the design department. The Doctor gets another New Who title: the Three-Fold Man.

      ZOMG, IT'S THE CLAW FROM INSPECTOR GADGET! I've been trying to work out what our first glimpse of Davros reminds me of, and that's it! Come on, you know it's there!

      And then the scene which had most of us salivating: the echoing heartbeat! Anyway, according to the other Shadow Lady, Donna is "something new". Why does she give Donna "purifying" water? Why does she say "God" save you? I don't think it's just a phrase.

      Haha, Melissa Majoria, nice nod to us language geeks, it means 'Great Honey Bee', though 'melissa' is Greek and 'majoria' is presumably Latin.

      "You saying bees are aliens?!"

      "Don't be so daft… not all of them."

      Another bad point of the episode: Ten talking so fast we don't actually understand what he's saying and miss the exposition. SLOW. DOWN.

      Oh, Ten's face as the Shadow Lady tells him that he will lead them into battle. You just know he's having a very painful flashback. But seriously, what idiot lets him go back into a time machine? Nobody's disobeyed for a long time, that's all I can say.

      And now we come to Rose's best moment in the episode and she comes full circle from the child who pitied the Dalek to the woman who now kills them (with much less compunction than the Doctor, fortunately). Sadly, it's also the start of Rose obsessing about the Doctor. Ho-hum. I applaud Wilf's attempt to blind the Dalek, even if it was doomed from the start.

      • Starsea28 says:
        March 4, 2011 at 1:55 pm

        JONES FANGIRL #2: HARRIET!!!! ZOMG, I was so happy to see her back, from the moment I saw her face on the trailer, I was just waiting for this moment and SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I am so glad she has no regrets about her actions. That's what makes her a marvellous woman, as Wilf says.

        Well done, Sylvia, you've just ruined Rose's night. Bet Rose wishes she'd nicked a webcam from that computer shop now! Note that she starts getting annoyed about Martha when Jack's so pleased to see her. Apart from being excluded, she knows nothing about this other girl and Jack obviously knows her very well. Oh, the Doctor has Martha's PHONE. Rose probably assumed Donna was the companion who came after her, why wouldn't she? And Donna's older and she and Rose are similar. But Martha, Martha is younger and prettier and works at UNIT and Jack loves her and Harriet Jones is giving her the official title. So I can completely understand her reaction. But no, Rose, sweetie, you weren't there first, Sarah Jane was. ;P I love Harriet's weariness with Jack's flirting and the way Ianto steps in front of the screen when Jack asks who's the kid. No, Jack, you are not flirting with the jailbait.

        And Harriet sacrifices herself. ;_; And I mourn her and celebrate her life.

        "The Dark Lord is come!" Voldemort's arrived? Where? *snark* And once again, Dalek Caan wins Creepiest Villain of New Who.

        I'm not a big fan of Ten/Rose but the way he says her name when the screen goes blank is heartbreaking, the fact he can't help himself hoping that she might be there. And then his expression when he heas Davros's voice and Sarah Jane's utter horror. Donna is more horrified by the look on the Doctor's face, so much so that she tries to comfort him by saying they're inside the TARDIS so they're safe (oh Donna, if ONLY that were true).

        So Davros was at the Gates of Elysium? That's the second time a mythical paradise has been mentioned in this series – the first was River Song talking about a picnic at Asgaard. I wonder if they're linked. :3 Oh Mr Moffat, please, PLEASE take us to these places!

        We really did NOT need to see Davros's body. :X It's like something from Miss Havisham's house.

        "After all this time… everything we saw… everything we lost… I have only one thing to say to you: BYE!" – one of the best Ten lines ever

        So… everlasting death for the most faithful companion? But who is it? I refuse to believe it's the TARDIS, so that leaves us with: Sarah Jane, the original; Jack, the longest serving; and Rose, who's crossed time and space. Of course, it also depends what he means by "most faithful". How do you measure faith?

        Okay Jack, the Daleks are coming. You'll come back all right, you'll come back and find their corpses! I can only hope you put plasitc bullets in your guns. Gwen gets her one funny line:

        "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!"

        "They're here."

        Oh, Sarah Jane, Luke does not look like he's resigned to being left at home. And given his intellect, I'm not sure if home is the best place for him, but you are his mother, so I'm not surprised.

        Who's Control? I bet you it's Mickey or Jackie.

        And the final scene: forget Billie Piper, how pretty does Catherine Tate look in that light? Her skin is like porcelain. There is a magic moment when Ten and Rose see each other for the first time, mainly because it's almost silent. But seriously, who actually thought they were going to meet up? I knew one of them was going to get shot, I was a little surprised it was the Doctor but oh well. At least we were spared the mush. And Jack has the Dalek gun. So Ianto and Gwen have… ordinary guns. Great.

        "I'm going down fighting. Like Owen. Like Tosh." – if any line was guaranteed to make me tear up, this was it.

        Rose's WORST MOMENT EVER: the entire universe is in danger and you're weeping over all the hardships you went through? Suck it up and get some damn perspective. YOU have been through all this before. Donna hasn't. Poor Donna, she had absolutely no idea what was going on. If I'd been Jack, I would have slapped Rose (I know, not his style). And for the record, I don't believe Ten's really dying (*whispers* more's the pity, that would have been a SUPERB PR coup).

        Sarah Jane, you do NOT stop for Daleks! Put your hands on the wheel and your foot DOWN, woman! This is the one time when a hit and run is TOTALLY okay!

        QUESTIONS: How did David Tennant manage to speak Judoon with a straight face? How many times did he have to practise those lines? Are the planets going to open the rift? Is Donna really human? Are Rose and Martha going to meet up?

        Not long now.

        • __Jen__ says:
          March 4, 2011 at 6:56 pm

          A++ comments! It's like you're in my brain! I'm pretty sure this is exactly how I reacted when watching it the first time.

          • Starsea28 says:
            March 5, 2011 at 3:54 am

            Hee, yeah, this episode is so mindblowing when you watch it for the first time. "OMG – but she – WOAH – how did they – HOLY SHIT!" basically sums it up. *lol*

  88. trash_addict says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    So OVERWHELMING. I had to watch these episodes so many times to feel like I had a handle on them. Then watched them a dozen more times, just because.

  89. sabra_n says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    There is indeed a lot of stuff going on in this finale sequence. A lot of stuff. And there will be more stuff! And Mark, your brains will come dribbling out your ears, so have some paper towels ready. I'm not going to say another word now because I treasure your lack of preparation.

    Except for this: RIP, Harriet Jones. You were always right, and you were always awesome.

  90. Tauriel says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    Oh, this episode. NOT my favourite finale.

    There were some good things: Davros, for one, Julian Bleach was fenomenal. And the idea of the Medusa Cascade being out of sync with the rest of the Universe was pretty clever. But that was about it. Wait, no, one more thing: DEMPSEY!!!! 😀

    This is the episode that made me start to hate Rose.

    "But that's me! Harriet, that's me!"
    "Who's she? I wanna get through!"
    "Nor me… and I was here first."
    "Find me, Doctor!"
    "But you can't, not now… I came all this way…"

    Yeah, because the Universe revolves around you, doesn't it, you self-centered brat? You'd have the Doctor die rather than regenerate?

    And getting all the NuWho companions together and crossing over with SJA and Torchwood felt like a really bad fanfiction. Seriously, RTD, stop trying to be huge and bombastic, you can't pull it off! Bigger doesn't always equal better…

    • Tauriel says:
      March 4, 2011 at 2:29 pm

      Heh, I wonder how many people will downvote me now, for daring to criticise the Holy Rose… 😛

      • gsj says:
        March 4, 2011 at 2:33 pm

        i think you'll be fine. this is probably the only place on the internet you can come with an unpopular opinion about doctor who and not have to face hordes of angry nerds.

        seriously, doctor who fandom. why so awful?

        • Tauriel says:
          March 4, 2011 at 4:05 pm

          Actually, from what I've read on other boards, Rose isn't too popular in the DW fandom. Apart from the rabid Ten/Rose shippers.

          It's just so irritating how, since Series 2, she's been written as this supposedly awesome, one and only, ultra-special companion, and how all other characters should be in awe of her. Well, I think both Martha and Donna were better companions and did more for the Doctor than Rose ever did. Throughout the entire Series 2 the pair of them were acting like pubescent kids.

          To me, Rose feels like RTD's self-projected Mary Sue.

          • gsj says:
            March 5, 2011 at 4:55 pm

            so, you basically just spelled out my entire problem with rose post season 1.

            i have to force myself to rewatch season 1 so i can remember why i ever liked her.

    • DBeR says:
      March 4, 2011 at 2:55 pm

      There's so much to criticize Rose for, but "You'd have the Doctor die rather than regenerate? " isn't one of them. I don't think there's anything to suggest that she felt that way.

      When a character in any tv show or movie says to a loved one, "No, you can't die!" or some variation, it's not meant to be taken literally, you know. 😉 🙂

      • Hypatia_ says:
        March 4, 2011 at 3:08 pm

        I agree, I'm not seeing where she'd rather have him die than regenerate. Of course she doesn't want him to have to regenerate, it's freaking traumatic for everyone involved, but there's no indication that she'd rather have him dead. I don't see how she's a selfish brat for being a bit freaked out.

      • Tauriel says:
        March 4, 2011 at 3:29 pm

        Yeah, but she KNOWS he's not dying, that he's going to regenerate, and she still refuses to accept it.

  91. BBQ Platypus says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    I have some pretty strong feelings about this two-parter. Hoo boy, do I ever. I won't, however, go about posting them until Monday. Assuming I do post them.

  92. flootzavut says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    … you're still SO NOT PREPARED 🙂

    And kindly imagine watching this then BEING FORCED TO WAIT A WHOLE WEEK FOR THE NEXT ONE TO AIR FOR THE FIRST TIME ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

  93. nanceoir says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    Random comment is random: I really like Sarah Jane's car. And her house. And her attic.

    • PeterRabid says:
      March 4, 2011 at 2:55 pm

      Me too. I want to live on Bannerman Road. Apart from the aliens and all, it looks very nice.

    • NB2000 says:
      March 4, 2011 at 4:20 pm

      I want her house too, and her outfit. Actually I forgot to mention but I LOVE Donna's outfit in this episode, and Turn Left, as well.

    • Starsea28 says:
      March 5, 2011 at 5:21 am

      Her car looks amazing. 🙂 Perfect combination of retro and contemporary.

  94. MowerOfLorn says:
    March 4, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    HYPERBOLE AND A HALF IS A PERFECT REACTION TO THIS.

  95. buyn says:
    March 4, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    This episode made me think of Harry Potter, because every character you might have ever seen decides to come hang out in one episode. Well, two. But you know what I mean? Don't you?

    • Openattheclose says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:51 pm

      Lol. It is a bit like the Room of Requirement scene, isn't it?

      This part makes me laugh every time I read it:
      "The mingled members of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Army, and Harry's old Quidditch team."
      "The mingled members of the Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, and the Doctor's former Companions."

  96. carma_bee says:
    March 4, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Even though I complained a lot about Rose coming back when I found out before the series started (omg how are they going to bring her back when she left like that in Doomsday?!?!), when Donna tells Ten to ask Rose himself and he turns around and sees her, all of that went away and my little part-time shipper heart just cried out in joy. Just the look of happiness and disbelief on his face, omg. And then the damn dalek had to come and ruin it. I remember actually yelling out or gasping when I saw that part. And I had no idea where they were going to go with that, so it was crazy.

    And then there was this:
    <img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2j5nwuh.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
    Haha

    I haven't watched the episode in ages, so have a couple pictures 🙂

    <img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/nbykxl.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

    <img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2ch9u8w.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
    David is so cute

  97. Generation Coax says:
    March 4, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    This was one of the first episodes I saw when I started watching the new series, and I was really struck by their obsession with the last name "Jones." Seriously, in that four-way phone call you had Harriet Jones, Martha Jones and Ianto Jones. But apparently (I saw when I watched from the beginning) it was a coincidence. I had hoped for something more sinister.

    • arctic_hare says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:46 pm

      RTD is just a bit obsessed with the name, is all.

      • DBeR says:
        March 4, 2011 at 4:12 pm

        It almost seems like as he was creating these characters he didn't want to stop to think up good names for them, so he used "Jones" and "Smith" as placeholders, but then forgot to go back and change them.

        But that's the kind of thing I'd do, not the kind of thing a professional would do. Right?

        • ThreeBooks says:
          March 4, 2011 at 9:30 pm

          Not if you were a professional writing for a show with an insane amount of crackfic and broken base. Then it would be a very good idea.

    • Openattheclose says:
      March 4, 2011 at 3:56 pm

      "Seriously, in that four-way phone call you had Harriet Jones, Martha Jones and Ianto Jones." I always think of that when I watch this! You could count Martha's mum too. And later, when they reach the Doctor, there are three Smiths (if you count the Doctor as "John Smith" and count Luke even though I think he isn't in the frame at that time). Actually, now that I think of it, there's four with Mr. Smith.

    • Tauriel says:
      March 4, 2011 at 4:07 pm

      And Jo Jones (née Grant)…

    • virtual_monster says:
      March 4, 2011 at 4:42 pm

      To be fair to RTD the preponderance of Joneses isn't that improbable – it accounts for about 1% of the population of the UK as a whole and about 13% of the population of Wales. Yes, that's over one in ten, it's by far and away the most common surname in Wales, with twice the number of occurrences of the next most popular Welsh surname, Williams.

      Now, you could argue that RTD should name his character with different and interesting names for dramatic purposes, but it always strikes me as being a bit improbable that no one shares the same name in most fiction.

      • Generation Coax says:
        March 4, 2011 at 7:39 pm

        Well, but remember Bad Wolf? I mean, the repetition was supposed to be REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT once, but we're not supposed to notice it when it comes to names?

        I just still wish it were sinister. None of this is sinister. Hmmm…. (off to contemplate writing fanfic.)

    • notemily says:
      March 4, 2011 at 5:29 pm

      Actually apparently Smith and Jones are really common names in the UK. That's why JKR made sure to have at least one Smith and one Jones in Harry's year at Hogwarts.

    • Starsea28 says:
      March 5, 2011 at 5:25 am

      Jones is one of the UK's top ten most common surnames. In Wales, it's the MOST common surname. In England, the most common surname is Smith. For a British viewer, it's not something out of the ordinary, but it is fun to make "keeping up with the Joneses" remarks. 🙂

  98. hassibah says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Question: could you stop a Dalek from killing you by throwing a sheet over its head? Has this been attempted?

    Also wasn't Dalek Khan the armorless Dalek? Khan was the one with a super deep voice before ie the best Dalek EVER it makes me all kinds of sad that they changed him.

    Also, since the Capn was leaving Torchwood and knew they would be a target after Harriet Jones, it would have been nice if he could have left the Dalek-killing gun with them.

    Anywho, this is one of those episodes I thought was fun but just kind of liked ok, but you guys are actually making me appreciate it a lot more. Now to go rewatch part 2.

    • ThreeBooks says:
      March 4, 2011 at 9:33 pm

      …Okay, in case of death by Dalek, I will immediately try to toss a sheet at it. And feel either like a total loser or the best loser in the world, depending on how it goes 😀

      I can just imagine it… spinning in little circles, trying to rip the sheet off… "HELP, HELP, VI-SION IM-PAAAIRED!"

    • Starsea28 says:
      March 5, 2011 at 5:25 am

      Ha, yes. I was like "So you took the only Dalek-destroying gun, Jack? NICE. -__- It's not like you're IMMORTAL or anything."

  99. LittleCaity says:
    March 4, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    You are not prepared.

    You cannot BE prepared.

    Your mind is going to explode repeatedly. You are so lucky, getting to see the end of this story tomorrow. We had to wait a week. It was literally ALL that people talked about for days here. We were all so ":o what what WHAT?"

    And tomorrow we shall give you all the hugs because you will NEED. THEM.

  100. Cyna says:
    March 4, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    Not gonna lie, the best moments of new!Who for me are the ones involving the emotional moments between the Doctor and Rose. I swear to God that's when Tennant and Piper do their best acting – the expressions on their faces in Doomsday as they lose one another and then the ones here as they race to be reunited again – they don't ever need to speak because you can see every goddamn emotion they're feeling right on their faces.

    <img src="http://img84.imageshack.us/i/nowaid.jpg&quot; />
    NO FUCKING WAY

    <img src="http://img710.imageshack.us/i/yepeq.jpg&quot; />
    Yep

    <img src="http://img64.imageshack.us/i/omgpm.jpg&quot; />
    Oh my god

    <img src="http://img535.imageshack.us/i/30173185.jpg&quot; />
    Hi 😀

    <img src="http://img688.imageshack.us/i/roseu.jpg&quot; />
    OH MY GOD MY ROSE

    <img src="http://img25.imageshack.us/i/doctormu.jpg&quot; />
    MY DOCTOR!

    I'm a hopeless Ten/Rose shipper I admit, but these moments are just so perfect.

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