The plot here isn’t anything special honestly. The Daleks and the Cybermen have their showdown. The Daleks easily win, which then robs any further showdown between them of most of its potential excitement or tension. If we know the Daleks can just mow down the Cybermen without taking any real damage, then there’s no tension here. The Cybermen just become fodder for the Daleks to kill, except because the Cybermen are also villains there isn’t even any tension as to whether or not they survive. The previous episode set up this grand climax with the Doctor’s 2 biggest, most iconic enemies. Then one of those enemies is immediately shown to be basically ineffectual for most of the story. So basically these whole Dalek vs Cybermen story very quickly becomes pretty underwhelming.

There is the whole plot about the Genesis Ark. But, on this rewatch I realised that this is all a big load of nothing. If it wasn’t in the episode at all it wouldn’t really make any difference. I mean you setup that the Daleks have this weapon called the Genesis Ark, and that it’s Time Lord technology. That’s cool, I’m intrigued, I wonder what it’s going to be. The answer is just more Daleks. So honestly what was the point? It doesn’t change anything in the episode. Before the Ark is open the stakes are that the Daleks, are fighting the Cybermen, people are getting caught in the middle & killed, and humanity may not survive the chaos and destruction. After the ark has opened the stakes are are that even more Daleks, are fighting the Cybermen, people are getting caught in the middle & killed, and humanity may not survive the chaos and destruction. It doesn’t make a shred of difference to the Doctor either. Once the ark has opened and we’ve explained what’s inside, I don’t think the Doctor mentions anything about it again. He just continues with his plan, which is exactly what he would’ve done if there was a Genesis Ark in the story or not. Considering how much time they spend on this plot point, it has basically no actual impact on the episode. It just makes the episode look bigger I guess.

Whilst the villains are fighting each other, the Doctor figures out how to send them all back into the void. The catch is that anyone who has crossed from one dimension to another will also get sucked in as well. This includes everyone from Pete’s world, and of course the Doctor and Rose. The Doctor wants everyone (including Rose, Mickey and Jackie) to transport over to Pete’s world to stay safe whilst he just holds on tight. Rose obviously refuses and transports herself back to be with the Doctor. They successfully suck everyone in, but Rose has to let go to stop the void from closing too soon, and is subsequently getting sucked into the void. Just before she dies, Pete pops back to grab her and deliver her safely to the alternative Earth. The world is saved, all the villains are trapped in the void, and it’s a nice tidy ending. Except of course that the Doctor and Rose are separated, and now that the void has closed they have no way to get back together.

And this is where the episode really shines. The world ending stuff may not be that compelling, but that’s because the episode is far more interested in its characters and their emotional arcs. As much as I’d like a good end of the world story in this finale, I’d rather have the story focus on its characters. If the episode is unable to deliver both, they at least chose the correct side of the finale to focus on.

The end of this episode is entirely focused on the characters. The day has been saved and Rose (with her family) is stranded on another Earth, unable to get back to the Doctor. There are tears, a vague dream, and a chance to say goodbye on a Norwegian beach whose name translates as Bad Wolf Bay. The Doctor is able to transmit a hologram of himself to interact with Rose for a couple of minutes before the cracks between dimensions are all finally closed.

I don’t like the 10th Doctor and Rose together. I think they bring out the worst in each other, and I find their default dynamic comes across as self-satisfied and self-absorbed. Their relationship feels somewhat co-dependent. Even in this episode when Rose is talking about staying with the Doctor and not with her family, I find her to be very dismissive and disrespectful to Jackie. All season it has been a detriment to the characters and to the show.

I also don’t like how RTD has written multiple times in the Series leading up to this finale that Rose was going to die (both parts in the two part finale start with Rose saying this) and it’s said in other episodes as well. She doesn’t die. I don’t care that you can argue that she’s listed amongst the dead, so is officially listed as having died in the battle of Canary Wharf. I don’t buy any argument along the lines of “she’s died emotionally”. She doesn’t die. It was all just a cheap way to force some extra drama into the finale.

I also think when you look at it Rose gets a mostly happy ending. She has her Mum, her Dad is (sorta) alive again, she’s even still got Mickey. Heck she’s even rich now. It’s sad that she can never see the Doctor again, but she still gets a much better life as a result of her adventures with the Doctor. When you stop and think about it, Rose’s ending here is not nearly as tragic as the show would have you believe.

Except of course that it is as tragic as the show would have you believe. I may have problems with a lot of the lead up to this moment. I may have quibbles after the fact when I think about it. But when I watch the episode I can’t help but feel the tragedy of their parting. The performances and Murray Gold’s score in that final scene completely sell it. Even the things that I might’ve found unbearably smug in other episodes (the Doctor saying ‘Quite right too” for example) are pitched just right here. I don’t think this ending is as devastating as some people do. I definitely still don’t want these two to be together. But I absolutely believe how much they want to be together. I absolutely believe how much it hurts them to be apart. Their heartbreak is absolutely heart-breaking to watch.

I still prefer the finale to the first season. That finale is also more interested in the characters than the battles. But the threat here feels pretty run of the mill and doesn’t even have enough actual plot to sustain the episode. Whereas the threat in ‘The Parting of Ways’ was more experimental and gave the Doctor an interesting moral conundrum. I also find the character/emotional arcs more satisfying in Series 1. But somehow against all odds, I find myself moved by this finale and actually invested in the Doctor and Rose.

While Doomsday is a little melodramatic for my tastes near the end with Rose, and a little heavy-handed because of that content, I still like it quite a bit. It's a fun story with a very memorable clash between the Cybermen and Daleks. That is, by far, my favourite part of the episode. Not only does it lead to a very funny and famous scene where the two legendary monsters have a well written clash of words, they also do a great job showcasing the nature of these two beings as what kind of threat they are. The Cybermen are really brutal converting people here while the Daleks really come across as a threat, being severely outnumbered yet more than a match for both Cybermen and humans. Not a lot of franchises would be willing to do that instead of treating both villains as equal, but I think Doomsday is really effective at showing just how monstrous the Daleks truly became during the Time War here.

It's very strong overall, even if the effects can be a little janky at times. I don't love the Doctor-Rose stuff, but I certainly won't deny it wasn't well acted. The only person who doesn't hold up well is Noel Clarke. It's not something I noticed the first time around, but he's a little out of place here to the point it feels like his character no longer serves much of any person this deep into Rose's arc. Her character feels long past him while Clarke's real life behaviour doesn't exactly make him feel like a welcome presence these days. Still, Doomsday is a pretty strong ending to Series 2, an uneven season of Doctor Who, but one with a lot of memorable moments. This episode is no exception.

📝6/10

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

THIRD IMPRESSIONS: “DOOMSDAY”

One issue I have with Army of Ghosts and Doomsday is that the episodes feel overly packed—Russell T. Davies crammed in every major plot thread and character from the season into one story. While this certainly adds to the epic scale, it also leads to a fractured and overstuffed narrative. These episodes didn’t need to juggle the return of both the Cybermen and the Daleks, set up Torchwood and Pete’s World, reunite Jackie and Pete, and write out Rose all at once.

The main focus of Doomsday initially revolves around the clash between the Cybermen and the Daleks, which delivers plenty of laser battles and memorable one-liners. The conversion scenes are especially brutal and impactful, even more so than earlier in the season. The introduction of the Cult of Skaro, which escaped the Time War and hid in the Void, serves as a clever setup for future Dalek stories, including their eventual grand return in Victory of the Daleks in Series 5.

Jake and Pete’s reappearance from Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel feels somewhat unnecessary, except for establishing the connection between our world and Pete’s World, which is crucial for Rose’s exit. Still, the heartfelt reunion between Jackie and Pete is undeniably a standout moment.

The third act ramps up the melodrama as Rose resists being sent to safety, culminating in her being pulled into the other universe while trying to hold the gateway open. It’s an intense, emotional moment, and the goodbye sequence on Bad Wolf Bay is beautifully executed. The Doctor being a jerk and draining a star to communicate with Rose adds a dramatic touch, and both David Tennant and Billie Piper deliver excellent performances. While I’m not a fan of Rose or her dynamic with Ten, her farewell scene is one of the most memorable in Doctor Who history—though I could have done without the “I love you” exchange at the end.

Rose comes across as particularly overconfident here, which makes her fate feel earned. Tennant, meanwhile, leans into smugness, especially in his scenes with Piper. Noel Clarke (Mickey) is largely sidelined, and Tracy Ann Oberman (Yvonne Hartman) doesn’t get many moments to shine, apart from one cool Cyberman scene.

Doctor Singh’s death is especially graphic and unsettling, standing out as one of the more visceral moments in the revived series.

From a production standpoint, Doomsday must have been a dream project for Nicholas Briggs, who voices both the Cybermen and the Daleks. The famous verbal sparring match between a Dalek and a Cyberman is equal parts amusing and awkward.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:

• I love the Tenth Doctor’s line about the sonic screwdriver being good at opening doors. It’s a fun and quintessentially Doctor-ish moment.

Thirteen-year-old me thought this was a definite high for the show. It impressed its intended audience. It penetrated the public consciousness as well and created memories that people still cherish today. But, whilst its still a good romp, I'm not sure it stands up quite to that level today.

The good elements were, as with all RTD stuff, the long running characters who we have built a close investment in. Rose, her boyfriend and her family have built up such a close bond onscreen that it feels like the end of an era saying goodbye to them all at once. Billie Piper especially, in the tragic final beach scenes totally nails the sense of drama - whilst I didn't cry this time, I've cried many times watching this. Both David Tennant and Billie also create a beautifully iconic sequence pressing up against their sides of the wall. Murry Gold's finest music score for the show accompanies this moment. Among all this, I'm not sure we needed Jake back - he didn't add a great deal.

The actual plot seems to take a back seat in this one. There's a lot of shouting. The Daleks vs. Cybermen plot is great fun, the best moment being the reveal itself which I could not get over on transmission. It remains a special memory.

The human moments are directed very well by Grahame Harper, but the more action packed, effects sequences feel a little more staged. The worst offender being Rose sucked into the void, before Pete randomly appears at the last moment to catch her. The direction and writing match up to a slightly dud moment there - when you should be caught up in the height of emotion.

The campy, quirky humour throughout, mixed with the shallow plot, big monsters and huge human emotions make this an iconic, if flawed finale. Its uneven in tone but gets more right than wrong. Which is probably how I'd describe this whole series to be honest. Maybe even the whole show!

Disclaimer: This and my Review to 'Army of Ghosts' are the exact same. Why? While separate Episodes, my Opinion doesn't shift too much between those Two Parters in terms of Quality.

Yeah this was okay.

Honestly I don’t feel strongly about this Two Parter one way or the other, at best it has some great bits and is competent (something which I can’t say for many of the future RTD Finales), at worst it’s a bit too melodramatic and loses focus quickly. The Idea of Daleks vs Cybermen is great, but one executed by somebody where you can clearly tell he loves the daleks and, at best, thinks the Cybermen can be cool. Some of my Issues relate to the Cybermen are continued here, again NuWho rarely gets them right and while yes there are arguably some great bits to them here too, unlike their former Two-Parter, this feels like yet another step to make them “Robots”. (Probably something I will elaborate further, when we reach the Smith Era, where they often lack the feeling of being real Cybermen, in my mind).

The Daleks are great here and offer for a nice Cliffhanger, but part of me wonders if RTD mainly inserted them here because he couldn’t really think what else he could do with the Cybermen (something that is also an apparent issue with The Next Doctor).

Then you have all the Pete Worlds Stuff, which was a neat Idea in that one Two-Parter, but feels a bit tiring here already.
There is also of course the big finale with Rose and Ten and while acted pretty solid, it feels so tiresome. I can see how people get emotional with it, especially if you got really invested in their romantic interest between each other, but I really didn’t like it, so this finale Moment leaves me cold. At best is a competent dramatic bit that doesn’t work for me, at worst feels overly melodramatic and gets on my nerves at times. Piper does a great Job here, but I would lie if I didn’t say I am looking forward to a Post Ten much more.

Ehh the whole Concept with the Ghosts was a neat Idea and is used pretty well for the most Part and there are some nice character interactions to be found for sure. The first part is definitely stronger, while the second gets a bit loose with its focus and do neither the Cyber vs. Dalek, the entire tragic romantic ending nor some other aspects right for me. But credit, where credit is due, at least this Finale ends with honestly one of the best RTD Cliffhanger we had!

New Who Review #27

Doomsday

Continuation of part 1.

This episode marks the end of new who's first companion rose Tyler. This episode was fun. It was a big battle between the cybermen & The Daleks. That big question of who is better has been answered. I liked the idea of this episode which was cool. The ending isn't as sad as people say. It might be because I never liked Rose Tyler anyway and I'm happy she's gone. This episode gets an 8/10 the whole story gets a 9/10

This is not war, this is pest control!

Finally we get to see a showdown between Cybermen and Daleks. The trash talk between the two is one of my favorite scenes in the show, and the Cybermen are clearly outmatched there and physically.

This episode brings back a lot of ideas from the last couple seasons, like the touch of a time traveller, travel between universes, and meeting alternate family members. Mickey has turned into a total badass, though not badass enough to be taking out daleks yet. Alternate Pete and our Jackie meet and decide to marry.

The Doctor manages to solve the crisis in a way that makes sense for it to work, despite how brutal this situation is. Rose is separated from the Doctor as the rifts between universes are closed, saved by Pete who somehow knew she was falling. It’s a sad ending for Rose (for now), and they twist the knife by not letting the Doctor finish his last words to her

And so Rose’s time as a companion comes to an end. The music in this episode is so incredibly good, I think “Doomsday” is definitely up there as one of my favorite Murray Gold compositions. The sassiness between the Cybermen and Daleks is iconic. As with most companions, it’s somewhat of a somber close but with the foreknowledge that she returns, it doesn’t strike as hard as it would a first time viewer.