The End of Time – Part 2

The end of an era! Or at least Russell T Davies’ first era. You have to marvel at everything that was achieved between 2003-2009 by that team. The resurrected a beast that, even now, looks so difficult to kill. In no small thanks to David Tennant who gives it his all here.

My marathon is going at a very leisurely pace nowadays as I make time for all the contemporary DWMs, commentaries, Confidentials, books, podcasts and more. I’m doing this marathon once and I’m doing it throughly!

The End of Time Part One leaves a nasty taste in the mouth unfortunately. It’s schlocky. A potion bringing back the master, who is now a magic Skeletor version of himself who can fly high into the air and shoot beams of destructive light from his palms?? That’s definitely worse than when The Master was a snake. John Simm is very good in the role, making more than the most with what he is given, but it doesn’t clear up the mess.

I was surprised that after several years of not watching Part One that it was… not that great? An epic finale devoid of sense and full of random chance. Unusually, the reliable Murray Gold has gone crazy as well; the whiplash between kooky and moody sections simply don’t work providing an annoying soundtrack track. The Master’s plan with the eternity gate changing everyone’s genetic template falls very closely to that of the nanogenes in The Doctor Dances, much worse effect of course.

Part Two however pulls this all back. After resolving the events of Part One successfully, it zones in on the emotional beats that RTD is so good at writing, making the most of the incredible cast through exploring the relationship between the Time Lords and The Master; The Master and The Doctor; then finally The Doctor and all of his companions. David Tennent’s death march is indulgent but beautiful and totally earned. You get the final appearance of characters we have come to love, all given their moment in the sun, and a beautiful sign off from a brilliant producer and Doctor. There is a fitting final appearance for Sarah-Jane in the main show.

It is Bernard Cribbins’ Wilf though, who steals the show, providing an emotional anchor through which we can appreciate the 10th Doctor’s passing. The one on one conversations between him and The Doctor, describing his time in the war and his willingness to sacrifice himself for people he loves is so tender, so pure.

All in all, Part Two manages to pull back The End of Time from a dire place and make it, in the end, utterly compelling, emotionally heightened viewing. I’m looking forward to seeing what this production team and Doctor do next!