Doctor Who, The End of Time. Let's be honest I was going to review it. I'm also going to take this chance to review one of the more controversial Dr Who head writers, Russell T. Davis
Alright then, onwards and upwards. Reviewing RTD's stories is difficult because on some levels it works and on others they... don't. As an action adventure story it's brilliant; laser fights, drama, spaceships, the whole universe in danger. It all coming down to a personal sacrifice only a true hero can make.
However on the other hand, just like every epic there is a great big fat reset button hovering there. This time, with twice the number of enemies we have twice the number of buttons. Still, while irritating, at least the Reset only solves the problem and leaves the emotional resonance, but there are other problems. When all the Doctor has to do is find the button (IE Christmas Invasion) it's not that difficult. That means that, especially in two part episodes, the second half is mostly padding.
The whole spaceship missile sequence, Donna, the last half hour, all that with the "Mysterious woman" All of it padding simply stuck on to make the whole thing more EPIC. That is my first problem with this Grand Final, too much padding and practically everything else comes from that.
My next problem was sort of fixed, but only if, like me, you know Who lore backwards. Evil Time Lords. Why? seriously. Before the Time Lords were adversaries not villains. It made them opponents, but philosophically. Making almost the whole race go power mad misses the whole point of the Time Lords. They are beyond good and evil, beyond power. An important foot note to the phase "power corrupts" is that "those who seek power do not deserve it". Time Lords don't seek power because they don't need to. They have all the power they need with practically total mastery over time itself. As such making the Time Lords evil simply because they had power and knowledge is a massive failure to understand just who and what they are.
Luckily this is solved by one word. "Rassilon". Filling in the gaps the Time Lords called on some of the greatest figures in their history to help lead them during the time war (hence the Masters resurrection mentioned in "Last of the Time Lords"). Rassilon, founder of Time Lord society, would be a logical choice to lead them through the war. Rassilon, however, was not quite the hero he was reported to be. He was ruthless with his enemies, heartless, cruel, even when it wasn't necessary. It's entirely possible that this dictator, who murdered his rivals and friends with equal abandon, twisted that which he created. If Dalton's character was indeed Rassilon you can ignore this problem. Only IF he was supposed to be Rassilon. The end credits list him as Lord President
Speaking of why did we need to name check President Obama in the first part. If Davis had just used the double and given him a name like Brian Rhamer I think the idea of a black President would have been close enough to get the point across without the viewer rolling his eyes at the obvious fake.
Davis also has a habit of including pointless humour, like the restraint chair down the stairs. He claims (in an interview immediately after the show) it was because of his need to interject humour into his last story. This is about as jarring as panning down during Grand Moff Tarkin's speech about destroying Alderran and seeing that Peter Cushing is wearing slippers. We want drama, acting and story. Not cheap jokes to plump up the story.
Problem five, Donna was sorely under used. I made a few predictions when Waters of Mars broadcast about how Donna would be an important part. She wasn't, just padding. I don't want to say it but if she had more to do, been more involved in the resurrection of the Master it would have had a lot more impact. She could have been searching for just what had happened during the months she forgot, leading her to the homeless resurrected Master who recognised what happened and used her as a weapon against the Doctor. It would have helped the actions have consequences theme that RTD has kept running through the show.
Out right ripping off other Sci-Fi shows is not called paying homage. Wilf in a laser gun turret is lifted straight from Star Wars, which belongs to a different branch of science fiction. Doctor Who is intelligent Sci-Fi, using brains and wits over brute force. It's not an action series, or a soppy soap opera, but a horror based drama. out right stealing from other shows (that see Doctor Who as an influence) is a bad idea. Not least taking from Stargate, a show so steeped in it's own mythology that it's tying itself in knots.
Ascension, as described in Stargate, is transcending the physical form and becoming pure energy. It's supposed to be the end goal of Evolution. Existing as pure thought, without needing a body to sustain it. Now this idea, while it's become popular in the last few years, has been there since Darwin and before. As ghost stories, heaven, life after death. Because it's not a new idea someone has thought about why Time Lords don't, or can't. The reason given, mostly in fan circles at least, that Time Lords haven't Ascended is that they, as a people, are far more intertwined with time and space than we are. They need their physical bodies and because of that can't ascend. Admittedly this is once again totally fan based, but it makes sense. Unlike Rassilon's plan which, to be honest, was totally crazy.
The "Mysterious Woman" was one hell of a wasted opportunity. Even if it was a late addition to the script something more could have been made of her. Making it a Time Lady who voted against Rassilon was pointless. It should have been either the Visionary (the mad old bat who scribbled on paper), which would have made the most sense, or the White Guardian. A representation of balance in the universe that foresaw the damage that unlocking the Time War would do, but as it has to work though a medium chose Wilf to prod the Doctor in the right direction.
Finally, in the end as he's saying goodbye, there is one thing missing. A single shot in between each scene of the Doctor's hand, white knuckled and shaking on a rail in the TARDIS. Clawing himself up, forcing himself to keep going just that moment more. To close every door behind him, to say those goodbyes, no matter the pain. Just something to show it was killing him by degrees not all in one at the end.
The End of Time is great though. It is fun, an action adventure with character moments that wrench your heart out. Stunning set pieces and ideas that really need to be explored somehow. I would love to know more about the Time War. Every crumb of information (or the banquet we get here) has imagery that has my mind spinning. The acting here blows anything else out of the water, the resonance with the audience is beautiful.
Crimmins puts on a performance that should win him some sort of award, I don't care if I have to go out there and make it myself, he should get some sort of recognition.
Tennent leaves the TARDIS as he came to it, a glorious chorus of madness and energy. Out acting everyone else out there with style. He really is one of the best Doctors. Thanks to him I can ignore the faults I see with RTD's writing. I can be amazed, entertained, enthralled, amused, saddened, gut-punched and even still cry inside.
Goodbye David, I'll miss you and so will a lot of people. Matt Smith, you have a big pair of shoes to fill, but I think you can do it. With Steven Moffet, the best writer of the new era, behind you I'm sure you'll win a place in the Doctor hall of fame soon. Just remember David's there already.
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