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TARDIS Guide

Overview

First aired

Friday, January 1, 2010

Production Code

4.18

Written by

Russell T Davies

Directed by

Euros Lyn

Runtime

72 minutes

Time Travel

Past, Present, Future

Story Arc (Potential Spoilers!)

He will Knock Four Times, Time War

Location (Potential Spoilers!)

Earth, England, Gallifrey, London

UK Viewers

12.27 million

Appreciation Index

89

Synopsis

With the sound of the drums growing louder in the Master's head and an ancient trap closing around the Earth, the Doctor and Wilfred Mott must fight alone. Sacrifices must be made, and the deadly prophecy warns: "He will knock four times."

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How to watch The End of Time – Part 2:

Reviews

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6 reviews

This review contains spoilers!

Immense scale with masterful (HAHAHAHAHA) performances all the way through, a really interesting way to wrap up RTD's vision of the time war and version of how the characters involved handled it. The story-line does feel somewhat overcrowded despite the small cast, it sort of gets in its own way, constantly raising the stakes to beyond where they should be at an almost nauseating pace. The ending however, is thankfully brilliant. The return of Gallifrey, 10 and Wilf's duologue, The Master's switch and the impeccable realisation of the four knocks prophecy.

Most of the Doctor's present their 'alien-ness' in varying ways, Tennant's most consistent showcase of his otherness was his superiority and power in whatever situation he found himself in. This version of the Doctor was heavily mythologised (as seen in the first part of his finale and 'The Fires of Pompeii') to the point he was represented as more of a Time God than a Lord. The Doctor himself realised this. Perhaps more than other incarnations, this incarnation grappled with loss and loneliness - whenever he found someone to drown out his survivor's guilt, he lost them not too long after. As I say, this Doctor is repeatedly hailed as a hero, and a winner by those he saves - and even by himself at his darkest. At the point we find him in The End of Time, these titles are practically the only thing left he has in his life.

All of this to say, the resolution of the four knocks is beautifully poetic. The 10th Doctor, the hero, the winner chooses to lose. When all is said and done, The Doctor saves people, not for the glory but because he knows it's the right thing to do. This moment is one of the heights of the series, lifted there by some of the best performances ever put to screen and supported by THE Murray Gold, who actually might be a god.

The episode probably should end here, but the slightly self indulgent rehash of Journey's end is nice enough. Of course 10 wouldn't want to be alone at the end, what's to come for him is already scary enough.

When Tennant eventually regenerates, it's devastating and bleak. His final plea to stay has traumatised generations of fans. One of the most beloved Doctors of all time, and maybe its out of fashion to say it these days, but rightfully so.


GodofRealEstate

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piece of shite episode.


Dullish

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eu amo esse episodio mas não gosto do que fazem com o mestre, aqui o plano dele é horrível, esses poderes dele não da pra tankar, tudo que envolve o mestre nessa historia é bem ruim mas fora do mestre eu acho maravilhoso, os ápices são muito bons, estou seguindo meu coração!!!!!!!!!!!


GGVICTOR

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In my opinion, The End of Time – Part 2 is solid episode, being both exciting and emotional.


Bongo50

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Quotes

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Transcript + Script Needs checking

[Black void]

(Gallifrey is in ruins. Only the Citadel stands inside its protective dome. The man we saw as the Narrator in part one strides across a bridge followed by two acolytes and takes his seat at the head of a table. Six time lords sit, three on each side, whilst a woman is at the far end, scribbling on parchments. The rest of the space is in darkness.)

RASSILON: What news of the Doctor?
CHANCELLOR: Disappeared, my Lord President.
PARTISAN: (a woman) But we know his intention. He still possesses the Moment, and he'll use it to destroy Daleks and Time Lords alike.
CHANCELLOR: The Visionary confirms it.

(The Visionary is the woman at the end of the table. She has henna tattoos on her face and hands.)

VISIONARY: Ending, burning, falling. All of it falling. The black and pitch and screaming fire, so burning.
CHANCELLOR: All of her prophecies say the same. That this is the last day of the Time War. That Gallifrey falls. That we die, today.
VISIONARY: Ending. Ending. Ending. Ending!
PARTISAN: Perhaps it's time. This is only the furthest edge of the Time War. But at its heart, millions die every second, lost in bloodlust and insanity. With time itself resurrecting them, to find new ways of dying over and over again. A travesty of life. Isn't it better to end it, at last?
RASSILON: Thank you for your opinion.


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