Doctor Who 4x13 Journey's End
Jul. 6th, 2008 03:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starsthatshineSo, what did I think of the season finale of Doctor Who?
Well. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Sure, it's not Parting of the Ways but at least it's not The Last of the Time Lords (or whatever that episode was called, frankly - I've supressed it from my memory) but what continues to be Mister Rusty's greatest weakness is making everything Epic. I think the strength in POTW was that it was, in comparison to, for example, LOTTL and now JE (Doomsday being an acceptable mix between POTW and JE), was that it was relatively concise finale with emphasise on the characters rather than the actual events.
For starters, perhaps some of the background plots would've been resolved in The Stolen Earth and they should focus Journey's End on what was important. What the season has been all about. For example, one might argue that the point of the season would be the big-ass reunion with all the companions but I disagree. Sure, it was partly that but I think that that should've been the focus in TSE and left to what I think was the three most important things; a) Donna's fate and what she was b) Fight the Daleks c) Rose's family's return.
Anyway, that aside, I loved some things. I loved seeing Jackie again, even if it was only briefly. I love her to bits and pieces. I think I missed her even more than her daughter, simply because she pwns all of them. And Mickie (or is it Mickey? I've forgotten how to spell his name *headdesk*). That was what I loved the most. Seeing them again. Also, the reunion between Mickey and Jack was nice (although somewhat weird, if you ask me).
It bothered me that Mickey (I'm going with the y simply because it looks better) seemed to have no trouble whatsoever leaving Jackie and Rose. I can understand that he's gotten over Rose and whatnot but it seemed to me like he was part of their family. I think they just neglected that so that Mickey could come and join Torchwood (seriously though, if Martha joins Torchwood, I will contemplate never watching that show again. It was sort of bad to begin with and adding Martha in - as a regular - would just ruin it, at least for me. I guess I can accept Martha as a character, but I do not think that Freema can act. I think she has about two facial expressions and I think she can sometimes sound like she means the lines she's saying but I think she can't express them in any way besides in the tone of her voice and even then it's sometimes almost overacting it. I'm not saying that's the truth, and people are welcome to disagree with me, but that's how I feel). Major let-down.
Let's see... What else? I can probably say a million things that bothered me and such but... if you want me to comment on a special thing in the episode, lemme know? I wrote a fic after watching the episode so it was about... five hours ago I saw the actual episode.
Before I go, I should probably just mention the Doctor/Rose ending. It was a good ending, which was sweet to watch (even if it felt bittersweet at the time, but after some contemplation it feels like it more or less was the only outcome) and I think that Billie and David have a lovely chemistry. I completely understand Rose's feelings during the whole thing and it must seem weird to her. I think it was really touching how the half-human!Doctor whispered 'I love you' in her ear. It was so heartbreaking and with the Doctor (full Time Lord!Doctor) not being able to say it. I think that if he would've said it out loud I think he would've been unable to leave her because then he would have to acknowledge the fact that he was giving her up. And I think if he did that, I wouldn't be able to just walk away and give her the future that she deserves. He gave himself to her, but he still lost her in a way since it wasn't physically him that he was giving away. Oh well... I think they will be very happy, Rose and Clone!Doctor.
Well. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Sure, it's not Parting of the Ways but at least it's not The Last of the Time Lords (or whatever that episode was called, frankly - I've supressed it from my memory) but what continues to be Mister Rusty's greatest weakness is making everything Epic. I think the strength in POTW was that it was, in comparison to, for example, LOTTL and now JE (Doomsday being an acceptable mix between POTW and JE), was that it was relatively concise finale with emphasise on the characters rather than the actual events.
For starters, perhaps some of the background plots would've been resolved in The Stolen Earth and they should focus Journey's End on what was important. What the season has been all about. For example, one might argue that the point of the season would be the big-ass reunion with all the companions but I disagree. Sure, it was partly that but I think that that should've been the focus in TSE and left to what I think was the three most important things; a) Donna's fate and what she was b) Fight the Daleks c) Rose's family's return.
Anyway, that aside, I loved some things. I loved seeing Jackie again, even if it was only briefly. I love her to bits and pieces. I think I missed her even more than her daughter, simply because she pwns all of them. And Mickie (or is it Mickey? I've forgotten how to spell his name *headdesk*). That was what I loved the most. Seeing them again. Also, the reunion between Mickey and Jack was nice (although somewhat weird, if you ask me).
It bothered me that Mickey (I'm going with the y simply because it looks better) seemed to have no trouble whatsoever leaving Jackie and Rose. I can understand that he's gotten over Rose and whatnot but it seemed to me like he was part of their family. I think they just neglected that so that Mickey could come and join Torchwood (seriously though, if Martha joins Torchwood, I will contemplate never watching that show again. It was sort of bad to begin with and adding Martha in - as a regular - would just ruin it, at least for me. I guess I can accept Martha as a character, but I do not think that Freema can act. I think she has about two facial expressions and I think she can sometimes sound like she means the lines she's saying but I think she can't express them in any way besides in the tone of her voice and even then it's sometimes almost overacting it. I'm not saying that's the truth, and people are welcome to disagree with me, but that's how I feel). Major let-down.
Let's see... What else? I can probably say a million things that bothered me and such but... if you want me to comment on a special thing in the episode, lemme know? I wrote a fic after watching the episode so it was about... five hours ago I saw the actual episode.
Before I go, I should probably just mention the Doctor/Rose ending. It was a good ending, which was sweet to watch (even if it felt bittersweet at the time, but after some contemplation it feels like it more or less was the only outcome) and I think that Billie and David have a lovely chemistry. I completely understand Rose's feelings during the whole thing and it must seem weird to her. I think it was really touching how the half-human!Doctor whispered 'I love you' in her ear. It was so heartbreaking and with the Doctor (full Time Lord!Doctor) not being able to say it. I think that if he would've said it out loud I think he would've been unable to leave her because then he would have to acknowledge the fact that he was giving her up. And I think if he did that, I wouldn't be able to just walk away and give her the future that she deserves. He gave himself to her, but he still lost her in a way since it wasn't physically him that he was giving away. Oh well... I think they will be very happy, Rose and Clone!Doctor.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 06:44 pm (UTC)I happen to think Torchwood is great! But if they got rid of Burn Gorman (Owen) to get Freema Ageyman (Martha)? Yeah, I'll probably watch the premiere, but that might be it. I hate Martha (yes, HATE), and I also think Freema can't act. AT ALL. And it pisses me off how easily they're kinda pushing these characters to the wayside. Ugh. And Burn Gorman is an AMAZING actor, imo, so having Freema replace him? THAT SHIT IS NOT ON! UGHHHHHH. When I think about Torchwood, I get so irritated. :(
You liked the Rose/Clone!Doctor ending? Man, I thought it was weird/so bad. =/ Like, at first she's like, "Doctor, I want you!" And then Clone!Doctor whispers ILU and she's all omg and makes out with him. Then the Doctor leaves and she lets go of Clone!Doctor and is like, "HEY WAIT!" *facepalm* Did she want both of them!?
I like the Rose from seasons 1 and 2. The Rose in season 4 was badass and cool at first, but her ending/her character just irked me by the end of "Journey's End". It's not necessarily Billie Piper's fault or Rose's fault--mostly Russell T. Davies' fault. I think it was brilliant to bring her back in "Turn Left" to help out Donna, but putting so much focus on Rose this season completely overshadowed Donna/Catherine Tate. And apparently, Rose came back to tell the Doctor that the universe was collapsing. Ummm, he's the Doctor, sweetie. He would've figured it out. Oh, so she came back for Ten? Okay, then RTD, WHY were we left with Rose/Clone!Ten at Bad Wolf Bay? Why was Rose okay with that one second, not okay the next, and why were we expected to be CONTENT? That was just ridiculous. Bringing Rose back completely erased the significance of "Doomsday" for me. I mean, the episode ended with Rose saying she did still love the Doctor, but she'd moved on--she was OKAY. There was no need to put so much attention on her this season. No, I don't hate Rose or anything--I just hate that because RTD wants Rose in his pants, Donna/Catherine Tate got SERIOUSLY jipped. Not only was CT overshadowed by Billie Piper's ~*~mysterious~*~ return, but Donna got such a CRAP ending! After EVERYTHING she did, she won't know about any of it. And Donna's kinda scatter-brained and silly at times, but she's SMART. How does RTD expect us to believe that Donna will ignore all the pictures and video footage and junk obviously left behind from THE PLANET MOVING AND ALIENS INVADING? She's got a BRAIN. UGH.
asdlkjfalsdf
Like you said, it was okay, but not brilliant (LIKE DONNA ♥). :(
no subject
Date: 2008-07-07 05:35 pm (UTC)Torchwood is great, although a bit silly, but it's the silliness that makes it amusing. Except the whole Ianto/Jack/Gwen/Rhys thing that needs to die. NOW. I've been a fan of Burn Gorman since I saw Bleak House (pre-Torchwood) so I was very happy to see him on the show. He's so awesome. Seriously though, Freema, I'm not happy if she joins the team. I don't understand the love she has in the fandom from certain directions. Sure, she might be a good person but she's not a good actress IMO.
I think that at first I felt like it was really really sad and bitter but then I started to think about it
wrote a ficand whatnot and then I sort of decided that I liked the ending. It was the best one DR fans could've gotten considering the circumstances and I think that towards the end of the scene, Rose understood that they were the same Doctor, only that one was mortal. Because there weren't any differences besides the fact that Clone!Doc was a bit more like Nine but that also means that they can start fresh in a way and sort of forget about the past. And I think that would be good for both of them. Clone!Doc and Rose I mean.S4!Rose wasn't perhaps her best moment since the energy of the show and the writing style and emphasis of the show has sort of turned elsewhere since she left. Now it's more gadgets and monsters and stuff whereas there was a more of an emotional emphasis when she was on the show, I think.
And I do agree that Donna went a little bit in the shadows because of Rose's return as the same time as her return was shadowed by the big-ass reunion with all the companions we've seen in New Who.
Actually, I think that Donna got a really beautiful, but tragic ending. To be honest, even though she sort of became reduced to her former self and lost all of these amazing qualities about her, she is - I think - the only one of the Doctor's companions who is able to go back to a normal life - even if she didn't choose it.
I just hope she finds Lee though. I thought he and Donna were really sweet.
I think Rose is perhaps my favourite companion (mostly because she was THE companion for me and the first one and S1 still remains as my favourite season) but if I had to choose to be one, I'd be Donna.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-07 12:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-07 05:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-07 03:50 pm (UTC)It's so refreshing to see someone else being truthful about Freema's poor acting. I think that she could be a great supporting character, but should not form part of a main cast and I also agree that she could ruin Torchwood.
Enough spamming from me, I'm to check out your lastest artwook.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-07 05:41 pm (UTC)To be honest, I'm just glad someone agrees with me. I can't understand the love she gets because not only was she poorly developed (Martha that is) and she was just... ewww. No. Unless Freema learns to display more than two facial expressions (for example, I think she has an ability to make it look like her head is filled with air when she's afraid but I don't know...), and she does become a member of Torchwood full-time, I'm not going to watch. I'd rather see Andy enlisting :)
No worries about spammage :D I very much approve of spammage :D Feel free to do it again :D
no subject
Date: 2008-07-07 07:48 pm (UTC)*cries* you expressed my feelings really well. I think fangirls like me couldn't take another ending at the bad wolf bay like in the second season again. But they gave us some kind of satisfaction. Clone Who :P still it doesn't felt same :/ At the end he is still all alone :((