![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lostcarparkLast night's Doctor Who episode was eagerly anticipated. After last week's set up, we knew we were in for something big, and anyone who's been following the news knew Rose would not be coming out of it.
I had a pretty strong feeling after the earlier Cybermen two-parter that we had not seen the last of the Cybermen, and my gut feeling was that they'd be back for the season finale. This was confirmed by the the teaser at the end of Fear Her. This was no surprise. After all, we're already used to Russel Davies bringing in a major villain mid-season, and bringing them back for the final two-parter.
This seems straightforward enough with Army of Ghosts. It's not hard to guess that the ghosts are Cybermen, and that by the end of the episode they'll be a very real threat. It's also not hard to guess that Torchwood would play a central role - after all, they've been mentioned in almost every episode of the season. They're practically old friends at this stage (although I have a question mark about their corporate image - I mean do top secret government organisations have their logo embossed on the glass of their ofices?).
But the Daleks - who was expecting that? And introducing them in the very last seconds of the episode. It was up there with the very best cliff-hangers of the old series. Pure genius.
And I have to say part 2 was no disappointment. I was expecting an epic story, and a war between the Cybermen and the Daleks is about as epic as you can get. The Daleks were brilliant. I love the black one. And the line "this isn't war, it's pest control." And I loved the way the Daleks weren't phased by five million Cybermen, but the meer mention of the Doctor clearly caught them off gaurd.
The Genesis Arc was a great idea - a Time Lord prison ship, carrying millions of Daleks. And the resulting scenes of destruction as the Daleks and Cybermen fight it out were great (though you almost feel sorry for the poor Cybermen, getting a pasting).
Rose was fantastic, as usual, so it's very sad to be saying goodbye to her. It was quite clever giving a hint that she might die, and engineering situations where it really looks like she will. They really had me going for a minute or two. Until Pete grabbed her, I really thought she was a gonner.
The farewell scene was touching. It was a brilliant way to end the series. In fact it ties up nicely the story arc that's been running the last two years, particularly bringing back the "Bad Wolf" theme (though I don't see why they had to go by Land Rover - surely Pete could procure an airship).
It was a wonderful way for the two to part. Clearly there was no way Rose would ever willingly leave the Doctor, so if she was going to live, there would have to be a universe dividing them. We know that if there was any way the Doctor could possibly come and get her he'd do it. But in a way she was his escape from the loss of the Time Lords, and for him to move on from that loss, he hass to move on from Rose.
My favourite thing about it is the way that seemingly unrelated episodes from earlier in the series suddenly come together. We had previewed this in School Reunion where we find out what it was like to be left behind, and a whole lot of other connections I'm too lazy to go into. When you think about it, the last two years have been about Rose and her travels with the Doctor, rather than the other way around.
I've already said I think Billie Piper has been absolutely brilliant throughout the series. She is probably the best companion ever (with the only strong competition coming from Sarah Jane Smith). Keeping her Mum and her boyfriend as regular characters proved to be a great move, as we see them develop as a result of Rose's relationship with the Doctor. She will be a tough act to follow.
David Tennant has also been a revelation. Christoper Eccleston was great, but I think Tennant is actually better. It's clear playing the Doctor is his life long dream, and he brings so much to the role. There are touches of of previous Doctors throughout his performance, but with a healthy dose of his own flair. It's clear he wants to do the absolutely best job he can and he doesn't want to let the fans down no matter what. I could see him being the new Tom Baker, sticking out the role for a long time and building up a huge fan base.
The next series will clearly see quite a big shift, since the last two years have been driven by Rose. I wonder whether the next series will continue to be driven by the companion, or whether companions will now take on a more traditional companion role.
A chapter has now closed, and in many respects the departure of Rose is more significant than the Doctor's regeneration. I think there is a lot to hope for from the next season.
I'm hopeful it will continue to be wonderful, but I know it will be different.
I had a pretty strong feeling after the earlier Cybermen two-parter that we had not seen the last of the Cybermen, and my gut feeling was that they'd be back for the season finale. This was confirmed by the the teaser at the end of Fear Her. This was no surprise. After all, we're already used to Russel Davies bringing in a major villain mid-season, and bringing them back for the final two-parter.
This seems straightforward enough with Army of Ghosts. It's not hard to guess that the ghosts are Cybermen, and that by the end of the episode they'll be a very real threat. It's also not hard to guess that Torchwood would play a central role - after all, they've been mentioned in almost every episode of the season. They're practically old friends at this stage (although I have a question mark about their corporate image - I mean do top secret government organisations have their logo embossed on the glass of their ofices?).
But the Daleks - who was expecting that? And introducing them in the very last seconds of the episode. It was up there with the very best cliff-hangers of the old series. Pure genius.
And I have to say part 2 was no disappointment. I was expecting an epic story, and a war between the Cybermen and the Daleks is about as epic as you can get. The Daleks were brilliant. I love the black one. And the line "this isn't war, it's pest control." And I loved the way the Daleks weren't phased by five million Cybermen, but the meer mention of the Doctor clearly caught them off gaurd.
The Genesis Arc was a great idea - a Time Lord prison ship, carrying millions of Daleks. And the resulting scenes of destruction as the Daleks and Cybermen fight it out were great (though you almost feel sorry for the poor Cybermen, getting a pasting).
Rose was fantastic, as usual, so it's very sad to be saying goodbye to her. It was quite clever giving a hint that she might die, and engineering situations where it really looks like she will. They really had me going for a minute or two. Until Pete grabbed her, I really thought she was a gonner.
The farewell scene was touching. It was a brilliant way to end the series. In fact it ties up nicely the story arc that's been running the last two years, particularly bringing back the "Bad Wolf" theme (though I don't see why they had to go by Land Rover - surely Pete could procure an airship).
It was a wonderful way for the two to part. Clearly there was no way Rose would ever willingly leave the Doctor, so if she was going to live, there would have to be a universe dividing them. We know that if there was any way the Doctor could possibly come and get her he'd do it. But in a way she was his escape from the loss of the Time Lords, and for him to move on from that loss, he hass to move on from Rose.
My favourite thing about it is the way that seemingly unrelated episodes from earlier in the series suddenly come together. We had previewed this in School Reunion where we find out what it was like to be left behind, and a whole lot of other connections I'm too lazy to go into. When you think about it, the last two years have been about Rose and her travels with the Doctor, rather than the other way around.
I've already said I think Billie Piper has been absolutely brilliant throughout the series. She is probably the best companion ever (with the only strong competition coming from Sarah Jane Smith). Keeping her Mum and her boyfriend as regular characters proved to be a great move, as we see them develop as a result of Rose's relationship with the Doctor. She will be a tough act to follow.
David Tennant has also been a revelation. Christoper Eccleston was great, but I think Tennant is actually better. It's clear playing the Doctor is his life long dream, and he brings so much to the role. There are touches of of previous Doctors throughout his performance, but with a healthy dose of his own flair. It's clear he wants to do the absolutely best job he can and he doesn't want to let the fans down no matter what. I could see him being the new Tom Baker, sticking out the role for a long time and building up a huge fan base.
The next series will clearly see quite a big shift, since the last two years have been driven by Rose. I wonder whether the next series will continue to be driven by the companion, or whether companions will now take on a more traditional companion role.
A chapter has now closed, and in many respects the departure of Rose is more significant than the Doctor's regeneration. I think there is a lot to hope for from the next season.
I'm hopeful it will continue to be wonderful, but I know it will be different.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-07-09 09:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-10 07:06 am (UTC)And I loved the "Pest control" comment too :)
I haven't been watching all of it, cos I'm not a die-hard fan, and I have these odd moments with TV where I just need to get away, but the bits I have seen were good.
Best season ever
Date: 2006-07-10 01:37 pm (UTC)The 2005 season was good, but wasn't as polished - this season had pure brilliance in places.
The Girl In The Fireplace was the most emotionally resonant story I've ever seen in Doctor Who, bar none. School Reunion set it up marvellously.
Impossible Planet / Satan Pit was a tour de force, and absolutely riveting TV.
The early cybermen episodes didn't sit well with me - I think Doctor Who isn't at its best when trying to pull off big action sequences - but the finale was pretty good.
Tennant is perfect. Yeah, perfect. He doesn't miss a beat. He has exactly the right balance of all the elements, is completely believable. Even when the story seems paper-thin, he's in total command and owns every scene.
I'll miss Rose; she was a fantastic sidekick.