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Doctor Who: The End of the World
Sep. 8th, 2006 01:31 pmWritten by Russell T. Davies
Directed by Euros Lyn
Having told Rose that the TARDIS travels in time as well as space, the Doctor demonstrates by taking her to the far, far future, to the day that the sun expands and finally swallows the Earth. They arrive on Platform One, a space station where important guests are gathering to watch the Earth's death, which is scheduled in about half an hour. With a little help from some slightly psychic paper, the Doctor and Rose are mistaken for guests at the main event. Rose, thinking that they're going to save the planet, is a bit distressed to learn otherwise -- "Time's up," the Doctor cheerfully informs her.
The guests are announced and Rose finds herself surrounded by aliens. And when the Last Human is announced and turns out to be a "bitchy trampoline" -- a face and skin stretched in a frame, Rose finds herself overwhelmed by the strangeness and wanders off for some time alone.
But, this being a stop on the Doctor's long journey, danger is not far behind. Soon Rose is in trouble, the guests are in trouble, the station is in trouble, and the sun is still expanding.
"The End of the World" is the second episode of Christopher Eccleston's single season as the Doctor, and this is the episode, far more than the preceeding one ("Rose"), which explores the characters of the Doctor and his companion Rose Tyler.
This episode gives us something rare in the annals of Doctor Who: a companion having difficulty adjusting to life with the Doctor. In the past, they've just hopped aboard the TARDIS and gone on their merry way, rarely questioning anything they come across. Here, Rose is having second thoughts about her impulsive decision to run aboard the TARDIS with a man whose name she doesn't even know. Rose's struggle to accept the aliens surrounding her is beautifully written and deftly handled by Billie Piper.
Throughout his run, Christopher Eccleston was brilliant as the Doctor, displaying just the right amount of arrogance and good humor. He will be missed in the role. In this episode, he also gives us something rare: the Doctor showing moments of vulnerability, first when Rose confronts him about bringing her so far from all she's known (where she's really berating herself for allowing it) and later, when the tree-woman Jabe recognizes him as a Time Lord and lays her hand on his arm, compassionately acknowledging his hidden sorrow.
All in all, an extremely satisfying episode and a good indication of what we could expect for the rest of the season.
Directed by Euros Lyn
Having told Rose that the TARDIS travels in time as well as space, the Doctor demonstrates by taking her to the far, far future, to the day that the sun expands and finally swallows the Earth. They arrive on Platform One, a space station where important guests are gathering to watch the Earth's death, which is scheduled in about half an hour. With a little help from some slightly psychic paper, the Doctor and Rose are mistaken for guests at the main event. Rose, thinking that they're going to save the planet, is a bit distressed to learn otherwise -- "Time's up," the Doctor cheerfully informs her.
The guests are announced and Rose finds herself surrounded by aliens. And when the Last Human is announced and turns out to be a "bitchy trampoline" -- a face and skin stretched in a frame, Rose finds herself overwhelmed by the strangeness and wanders off for some time alone.
But, this being a stop on the Doctor's long journey, danger is not far behind. Soon Rose is in trouble, the guests are in trouble, the station is in trouble, and the sun is still expanding.
"The End of the World" is the second episode of Christopher Eccleston's single season as the Doctor, and this is the episode, far more than the preceeding one ("Rose"), which explores the characters of the Doctor and his companion Rose Tyler.
This episode gives us something rare in the annals of Doctor Who: a companion having difficulty adjusting to life with the Doctor. In the past, they've just hopped aboard the TARDIS and gone on their merry way, rarely questioning anything they come across. Here, Rose is having second thoughts about her impulsive decision to run aboard the TARDIS with a man whose name she doesn't even know. Rose's struggle to accept the aliens surrounding her is beautifully written and deftly handled by Billie Piper.
Throughout his run, Christopher Eccleston was brilliant as the Doctor, displaying just the right amount of arrogance and good humor. He will be missed in the role. In this episode, he also gives us something rare: the Doctor showing moments of vulnerability, first when Rose confronts him about bringing her so far from all she's known (where she's really berating herself for allowing it) and later, when the tree-woman Jabe recognizes him as a Time Lord and lays her hand on his arm, compassionately acknowledging his hidden sorrow.
All in all, an extremely satisfying episode and a good indication of what we could expect for the rest of the season.
