The End of Time

[[deleted user]]

Well... what'd you think?

I thought it was pretty good, but a bit overwrought at the end. I thought it was a neat effect in the past when the fourth and fifth Doctors had visions of their companions as they died, but they sure gave the tenth quite a bit of time to jaunt about the universe to say goodbye to everyone. It was a little too much for me. If it were up to me, I'd have him 'die' inside the chamber after sucking up the radiation (a very Spock way to die) and then regenerate.

Speaking of radiation... how many times has the Doctor regenerated due to some form of radiation and/or poisoning? Five? I wish a Zygon would pop up and blast him every now and then just for a change.

I thought Bernard Cribbons was fantastic. And Timothy Dalton was an excellent Rassilon.

And of course, Matt Smith. Well - he looked fine in his opening forty-five seconds of screen time. Can't really judge by that, can you?

[Andy]

I like the way they used the Master's beat of four all through the show to mislead you till the end when Wilfred tapped 4 times on the glass.

I knew they were going to send David off big so I actually enjoyed a slow regeneration for a change.

I'm looking forward to seeing David Tennant again as the Doctor in the Sarah Jane Adventures. He apparently lands the Tardis in her Attic from the photos in Dr Who Magazine.

If he had stayed one more year he would have officially been my favorite Doctor. Which is hard to say because of the huge Tom Baker fan I am. But I will say that David and Tom are now tied for my favorite Doctor.

http://bubbaworldcomix.com

[Mark]

I agree that it was very good, although the last 20 minutes did drag the regeneration out a bit. In the past the regenerations have usually been fairly quick affairs and I think some of the drama was lost here. You didn't really get the feeling that he was about to die. Other that that it was a fitting finale I feel.

Over here in the UK, they have shown a trailer for the upcoming Matt Smith series and he does look very good judging by that. I think you get a slightly better idea of what his Doctor will be like from that.

In answer to your question Matthew, I think the Doctor has regenerated 4 times after some form of radiation and/or poisoning: 3rd to 4th, 5th, to 6th, 9th to 10th (if you count the time vortex energy as a form of radiation) and 9th to 10th.

[[deleted user]]

In answer to your question Matthew, I think the Doctor has regenerated 4 times after some form of radiation and/or poisoning: 3rd to 4th, 5th, to 6th, 9th to 10th (if you count the time vortex energy as a form of radiation) and 9th to 10th.

I'm going out on a limb and saying 6th to 7th as well. I know on-screen we're only shown the 6th Doctor (a very short 6th Doctor with a bad wig) bumping his head on the console and dying, but the BBC Books PDA Spiral Scratch acts as Colin's regeneration story, in which he absorbs a lethal dose of chronon energy at the climax and begins withering away just as the Rani's tractor beam hits the TARDIS (a good explanation as to why a simple knock on the head would finish him off).

And the preview for the new series with Matt Smith? Looks pretty nice to me. Rumor has it this Doctor is going to be a bit short-tempered like the 1st and 6th Docs (although for a different reason), which could possibly explain him punching someone's lights out during the trailer.

[Andy]

They do have a examples of long regenerations in the old series. A third Doctor show had an Old Tibetan Monk and his assistant who was actually a Timelord the Doctor knew. The assistant turned out to be a projection of his future regeneration that he had at the end of the show. Then Tom Baker's regeneration, although seeming short, had a projection of his future self that was called the watcher. The viewers just didnt know it till the end of the show. Using the other show as reference that means he was preparing to regenerate for the entire show.

[Mark]

Andy wrote: "They do have a examples of long regenerations in the old series. A third Doctor show had an Old Tibetan Monk and his assistant who was actually a Timelord the Doctor knew. The assistant turned ou..."

Good point, I'd almost forgotten about the Tibetan (K'anpo?). And you're right about the 4th Doctor's regeneration being foreshadowed too. But the 4th Doctor finding out about his impending regeneration actually seemed to add the drama. And the regeneration itself took place very quickly after the Doctor took a great fall. The 10th Doctor's regeneration seemed to take place hours after he absorbed the radiation. While, logically it makes sense that it might take a while for the regeneration to kick in, especially if the radiation was destroyig his body slowly like a cancer, from a dramatic point of view it seemed to diminish the impact a bit.

But,that said, the Tenth Doctor's final scene still made my girlfriend cry and even I was moved by it so it still worked.

[Andy]

"I dont want to go" . I wasnt expecting a line like that but loved that they put that in. I definitely wasnt expecting his regeneration to affect the Tardis so much. I wonder if they will use this as a way to reset the "theme' , I guess that's what happens when you fight a regeneration.

On Thursdays I do a comic strip called CAPN' GEEZER who travels thru time with companions. Yes it is a tribute to the 70's sci fi I grew up on but his arch nemesis , Major Evil, tends to resemble an 'old school' master type look. And he travels thru time and space in a port-o-pottie time machine that is actually quite cramped.
http://bubbaworldcomix.com

[[deleted user]]

Yeah, the violent regeneration is most likely going to be used as the reason behind the TARDIS set changing (back to a more white 'retro' design - yay!).

As far as the best regeneration scenes, the fifth Doctor's is still my favorite, and not just because you get to see a lot of Peri cleavage. I like how he didn't even know if he was going to regenerate or not ("Is this death?" and then "I might regenerate. I don't know. It feels... different this time.").

[The Master]

By the end of the story, I was thoroughly done with the Russell T Davies era, and his self-indulgent traipsing down memory lane. Too predictable, too rehashed.

The Doctor is dead. Long live the Doctor! Bring on the Moffatt era!

--The Master

[Ivan]

I loved it. I only just popped it out of the DVD player. I thought it quite touching his going back and having a look at all his friends. Mickey and Martha was a nice touch (and I always wondered why they didn't join Capitain Jack at Torchwood - they need a doctor after what happened to Owen).

[Katelyn]

Andy wrote: "And he travels thru time and space in a port-o-pottie time machine that is actually quite cramped."

Was that at all inspired by the big finish serial "The One Doctor"? :P

I quite liked the 20 minutes of goodbyes. (Especially the book signing, and the lottery ticket)

Honestly, I think that landing in the middle of the room like that was enough to start his regeneration - And that was the only reason why he survived that much radiation - And was able to stand up again after that fall. :P

[[deleted user]]

Kamahl wrote: "Honestly, I think that landing in the middle of the room like that was enough to start his regeneration - And that was the only reason why he survived that much radiation - And was able to stand up again after that fall. :P "

That was another thing that irked me about this episode. Tennant's Super-Doc surviving that kind of fall totally undermines Tom Baker's regeneration. I demand justice!

...okay, I shall pull my tongue from my cheek now.

[Travis]

Bit over done and over dramatic, but a fitting grand finale to the RTD/Tennant era.

Wasn't a big fan of turning the Master into a hoodie wearing super villain, but Timothy Dalton was impressive, I liked the cactus people, Wilf is now my favorite Tennant companion, we got one last 'allon-zee', the good-byes were nice and he had a great last line.

Most importantly, it was good enough that I forgave RTD for of the not as good stuff he.