The Parting of the Ways

"Everything human has been purged."

Writer: Russell T Davies
Format: TV
Broadcast: 18th June 2005
Series: 1.13

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose, Captain Jack

Synopsis

As the Daleks attack the Game Station led by their Emperor, the Ninth Doctor finds himself helpless. He knows he must make big sacrifices if he is going to survive. But does this mean losing Rose?

With Captain Jack assembling an army and the Doctor powerless against the Dalek Emperor, a deadly net closes around the whole universe. One thing is for certain, not everyone will make it out of this deadly battle alive. But who or what is Bad Wolf? It's time for the Doctor and Rose to find out.

Verdict

The Parting of the Ways was a stunning conclusion to the story that already started with Bad Wolf. It's just a sublime finale and a fitting end to the Ninth Doctor's run. It really was fantastic and following on from the reveal of the Daleks and their survival of the Time War, the Dalek Emperor also returned in epic style. I really liked the dialogue concerning the Time War and the reaction of the Doctor was actually quite surprising though. He acknowledged that the Time Lords died for nothing but didn't seem to react much and instead was immediately concerned with eradicating the Daleks from existence for good. The Emperor explaining how his ship survived the Doctor's inferno was really good and it made us know that it was the Doctor who ended the Time War. The Daleks here were desperate though and the reveal that they had extrapolated cells from the human race to replenish and rebuild the Dalek race. The Doctor's reaction to that was excellent and I loved how he stated that they hated their own existence and that made them more dangerous than ever. The Daleks hated everything that wasn't them and now they even hated themselves. There might be no stopping them. Their invasion of the Game Station was tremendous and the rise through levels from 495 to 500 was superb and full of tension. They easily despatched of the obstacles and even exterminated Captain Jack at point blank range. Their hatred stretched so far that they went down to floor 0 and killed the hundred or so stranded people that weren't evacuated. Lynda's reaction to that was very sad and her extermination was incredible though. The way we didn't hear the Dalek say 'exterminate' but just saw the lights flashing on its head was superb. The verbal battles between the Doctor and Dalek Emperor were brilliant and I loved how the latter was constantly challenging the Doctor. One thing I did love was that the Doctor saved Rose in quick time, doing exactly what he said he would, and invoked fear in the seemingly emotionless Daleks. Their little step back so to speak was so powerful as to just what the Doctor meant to the Daleks. His building of the delta wave to wipe out the Daleks was good but it would wipe out Earth and everything on it too, and he was too much of a coward to do that, as he admitted. He surrendered and admitted that maybe it was time for his extermination which was surprising with the Earth being ravaged and continents being destroyed. He had no more answers but then Rose returned with the power of the Time Vortex running through her after she managed to get back after the Doctor harshly but selflessly sent her home. His reaction was one of shock and Rose revealed that she was the Bad Wolf. She created herself and sent the words through time to lead her here to save the Doctor and wipe out the Daleks. The Doctor took the power from her once she destroyed the Daleks and brought Jack back to life, but that would prove too much for him. The regeneration process had started and I liked how quick but detailed his hints at would now happen were. It was terrific and I liked how the Ninth Doctor's final words were simple and just fantastic in stating that both Rose and himself were just that. Overall, a superb finale!

Rating: 10/10