Review of Doctor Who 4x13: "Journey's End"
Jul. 6th, 2008 03:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flowrs4opheliaIt might have helped that I watched this episode prepared for the worst, but I loved it. It was heartbreaking in a good way.
- I knew he couldn't really be regenerating! YAAAAAY! That would have made the dumbest cliffhanger ever.
- JACKIE AND MICKEY! I squeaked a little because it was so nice to see them again.
- ROFL, Jack seems to be a little turned on by the idea of three doctors in the same place.
- Oh lord, all the Daleks getting spun around and helplessly flailing their useless "arms." That might be one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen.
- So, I have to completely disagree with all the Ten/Rose shippers who think the way they ended up was a cop-out. A cop-out way of doing what? Giving them a happy ending? I don't think it's really possible for the Doctor and Rose to have that, and I don't think that's necessarily what we're supposed to feel like they got. I really do believe she loved him enough to stay with him forever and deal with all the downsides it would eventually involve, but that's just not Doctor Who. Maybe it's sadistic of me but I enjoy the tragic, lonely aspect of the Doctor that makes the show not just happy sunshine even if the world always gets saved, and I want him to stay that way.
At least this way we get more of a bittersweet resolution to their story rather than being left with just the wholly tragic end "Doomsday" gave us. Maybe there couldn't be a 100% satisfying way to resolve this after bringing Rose back again. Though it was devastating, the way season 2 ended was a greatly written conclusion and maybe from an artistic viewpoint it would have been a better decision to keep everything between her and the Doctor left the way it was then. But instead he did tell her he loved her, in a way, at the same time that he didn't really have to tell her, in a way. And he also finally kissed her...in a way. And I'm just glad we got that much.
...Well, even if it breaks my heart that she and the real Doctor don't really get a proper goodbye. They didn't kiss or even hug each other. But it seemed to make sense because it was clearly really hard for him to turn around and leave her, and it shows how much he knew he needed to let go.
Also, I love that blue-suit Doctor apparently has a personality closer to the ninth Doctor and Rose sort of gets to have both of them. The moment I heard that line about how he's like the Doctor when she first met him I could practically hear the rejoicing of everyone who was a big fan of Rose/Nine. Somehow it makes the whole concept of her having been in love with both of them in different ways less weird and complicated and makes me want to go back and re-watch season 1 and ship them a lot harder. Haha.
- Donna. :'( Really, what is there to say about Donna except *sob*. In a lot of ways she was exactly what the Doctor needs in a companion after everything he's lost. I really loved her.
If I had really thought much about it I might have realized it was probably inevitable, but it's still kind of a shock that the Doctor's all on his own again. As others have pointed out, the title of this episode makes so much sense because it really marks the end of an era of the series as we say goodbye to all these regular faces. It's such a relief to know that David will still be around, but now I still can't help but think...What exactly is there to keep watching the show for? Even though I know I could still fall totally in love with the next characters to be introduced, it's going to feel weird for a while.
- I knew he couldn't really be regenerating! YAAAAAY! That would have made the dumbest cliffhanger ever.
- JACKIE AND MICKEY! I squeaked a little because it was so nice to see them again.
- ROFL, Jack seems to be a little turned on by the idea of three doctors in the same place.
- Oh lord, all the Daleks getting spun around and helplessly flailing their useless "arms." That might be one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen.
- So, I have to completely disagree with all the Ten/Rose shippers who think the way they ended up was a cop-out. A cop-out way of doing what? Giving them a happy ending? I don't think it's really possible for the Doctor and Rose to have that, and I don't think that's necessarily what we're supposed to feel like they got. I really do believe she loved him enough to stay with him forever and deal with all the downsides it would eventually involve, but that's just not Doctor Who. Maybe it's sadistic of me but I enjoy the tragic, lonely aspect of the Doctor that makes the show not just happy sunshine even if the world always gets saved, and I want him to stay that way.
At least this way we get more of a bittersweet resolution to their story rather than being left with just the wholly tragic end "Doomsday" gave us. Maybe there couldn't be a 100% satisfying way to resolve this after bringing Rose back again. Though it was devastating, the way season 2 ended was a greatly written conclusion and maybe from an artistic viewpoint it would have been a better decision to keep everything between her and the Doctor left the way it was then. But instead he did tell her he loved her, in a way, at the same time that he didn't really have to tell her, in a way. And he also finally kissed her...in a way. And I'm just glad we got that much.
...Well, even if it breaks my heart that she and the real Doctor don't really get a proper goodbye. They didn't kiss or even hug each other. But it seemed to make sense because it was clearly really hard for him to turn around and leave her, and it shows how much he knew he needed to let go.
Also, I love that blue-suit Doctor apparently has a personality closer to the ninth Doctor and Rose sort of gets to have both of them. The moment I heard that line about how he's like the Doctor when she first met him I could practically hear the rejoicing of everyone who was a big fan of Rose/Nine. Somehow it makes the whole concept of her having been in love with both of them in different ways less weird and complicated and makes me want to go back and re-watch season 1 and ship them a lot harder. Haha.
- Donna. :'( Really, what is there to say about Donna except *sob*. In a lot of ways she was exactly what the Doctor needs in a companion after everything he's lost. I really loved her.
If I had really thought much about it I might have realized it was probably inevitable, but it's still kind of a shock that the Doctor's all on his own again. As others have pointed out, the title of this episode makes so much sense because it really marks the end of an era of the series as we say goodbye to all these regular faces. It's such a relief to know that David will still be around, but now I still can't help but think...What exactly is there to keep watching the show for? Even though I know I could still fall totally in love with the next characters to be introduced, it's going to feel weird for a while.
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 09:39 am (UTC)And I'm totally convinced that Donna will make some sort of comeback.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 09:53 am (UTC)There's still plenty to watch the show for - Donna took ages to grow on me but the show was still great.
It'll be interesting to see if they introduce a new companion in the specials or wait for the new series in 2010.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 06:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 01:53 pm (UTC)I liked the wrap-up with Rose very much. As a character she never really grew on me, so I am happy if that's the last I see of her and she has the pseudo-doctor, the now-human part of himself which is all the proper doctor could have ever given her. Come to think of it, it's very reminiscent of the John Smith of Family of Blood, isn't it?
Wouldn't change a thing except, perhaps, lessening a bit of the heavy angst of the final scene of the Doctor alone. I would have given him a bittersweet/sad smile, I think.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 02:12 pm (UTC)And also to leave room for fic.And yeah, I kind of liked that Ten-ver.20 has hints of Nine and Donna.
SPEAKING OF DONNA. I'd seen spoilers so I wasn't surprised but OMFG, TRAGIC. Sorry s3 Martha and s3 Rose, I love you both but Donna Noble just kicked your ass for "saddest departure ever in the world omfg". )= awoghaiowhtaiwt and Ten's face when she gave her flippant "yeah 'k" of a goodbye and... oh, tragic.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 03:35 pm (UTC)Oh I agree entirely with this statement. All I've ever feared is for us to get a Happy in luv doctor... shudder, that's just wouldn't be the Doctor we know...
I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole thing, but when I read spoilers I had started to get Farscape flashbacks with the two Johns!
I have to watch again, but overall my heart aches for Donna! DONNA!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 03:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 03:57 pm (UTC)I think lots of people would be irritated if Jenny came back, but Jenny is probably one of the few people who could probably instantly cheer up Ten. Not that he ever stays cheered up for long, but y'know.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 04:01 pm (UTC)I actually imagine that Jenny wouldn't be so much a permanent companion as she would be just around sometimes and gone most of it. Kinda leaving when she wants to, somehow finding him again with a bright 'Hey Dad!' and a hug for Sally, off to her quarters for rest and a shower, and then the next day ditching them while they explore some planet or another.