The End of Time

"Every night we have bad dreams."

Writer: Russell T Davies 

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 December 2009 - 1 January 2010

Series: 2009 Christmas Special / 2010 New Year Special 

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Ood have given a warning to the Doctor. The Master is returning yet that is not the biggest threat he will face. A darkness is coming which brings with it the end of time itself...

Verdict

The End of Time was a fitting finale to an incredible era of Doctor Who. It’s the first story of the modern era to span more than one episode sharing the same name (I do love the nostalgic element of getting a ‘part one’ and ‘part two’ in the title) and it bids farewell to a host of characters. Of course, this is a regeneration story for the Tenth Doctor but we’ve known that ever since Planet of the Ood thirteen episodes prior. It’s also the swan song for Russell T Davies at the helm on his first go around, and the way the final fifteen minutes or so draws upon so much good of that era is rather beautiful. There’s obviously the Christmas element with it being a festive special split across the holidays, but thankfully that didn’t play as big of a part as other Crimbo stories. It wasn’t the focus and that’s how it should be. I think part one is a good way to bring the Master back to life after his refusal to regenerate in Last of the Time Lords, and the way that happens with the Saxon acolytes and worshippers using the biometric ring and the DNA from Lucy Saxon’s lips is quite fun. It wipes her out but the Master’s resurrection goes wrong, but not completely off. He does escape but he’s more sadistic and mad than ever! John Simm is tremendous and I liked how the quiet barmy scheme of turning the human race into his own image with the immortality gate is used to address the drumming in his head. Of course, that’s what we assumed the prophecy for told in Planet of the Dead was referring to but the truth was so different. It was so powerful. I’ll just jump around in this blog entry as it’s far from the first time I’ve watched this story, but it was the first time alongside my girlfriend Gemma as we (slowly) embark through the modern era rewatch together. She was quite emotional with the interaction between the Doctor and Wilf throughout and the latter really is tremendous in this story. The humour that comes from his pensioner bus finding the Doctor in just a few hours was great and then the power of his reaction to the Doctor refusing to take the gun to kill the Master was sensational. It really was full of emotion and feeling. I remember on broadcast being so delighted by the cliffhanger finish as the narrator revealed himself to be Lord President of the Time Lords, and after long last we would see the Doctor’s own kind return. We got to visit the last day of the Time War on Gallifrey and it was phenomenal stuff. Pondering on the Doctor having the Moment in his possession tied in very well with what we would see in The Day of the Doctor and the prophecy foretelling of the Doctor and the Master living on after the War ended was fantastic. I really enjoyed seeing the Master’s reaction to the Doctor hearing the drumming in his head as confirmation of his existence, and using the six billion population of his own self to track the source was a fine way to bring Gallifrey through. The High Council were there to confront the Master and the Doctor brilliantly, but the former wanted to imprint himself on every Time Lord too. Endless regeneration of endless Masters. Imagine. The moment the white point start diamond comes through is sublime and the Doctor grabbing the gun after so firmly refusing it really sold just how terrible the Time Lords had become during the Time War. Their plan to ascend and end time itself is barmy, but they refused defeat. The Doctor telling the Master to get out of the way as he shot the diamond and broke the link was good, and I never really realised how simple of a resolution that is. The Master then being angered and telling the Doctor to get out of the way was excellent as he went off with them back into the Time War. It was a fitting demise and Rassilon returned to be obliterated by the Moment. The Doctor’s reaction when he realises he’s survived is outstanding and then the realisation of what is to come when Wilf knocks four times is incredible. The farewell tour is a fantastic love letter to the era, although I do wish the regeneration wasn't so delayed. Regardless, the Eleventh Doctor arrives in emphatic style as the TARDIS interior is destroyed. Overall, a terrific story!

Rating: 9/10