Doctor Who: The End of Time Part One
Before moving on to the actual write-up, let’s take a moment to offer some high praise to BBC America for showing this episode a day after it first screened in the U.K. A day! For the first time on American TV, we aren’t seeing the premiere of a “Doctor Who” Christmas special when it’s warm outside, and the Christmas-themed portions of the story don’t seem hopelessly out of place. Back when I wrote up “Journey’s End,” I pleaded with Syfy to show the various David Tennant specials in a timely manner, so that audiences wouldn’t be forced to go elsewhere to get their “Who” fix or, even worse, get bored and forget about the show altogether. Good thing Syfy no longer has first-run rights here in the States, because I highly doubt they would’ve made the same programming move that BBC America made. Further, BBC America is committed (at least for the time being) to showing the episodes uncut, which is just as if not more important. Keep it up BBCA, and you’ll keep building a devoted audience. Heck, even a week or two after the U.K. premieres would be more than acceptable in my book.
It’s always difficult to write about the first half of a two-part finale, and never more so than in this case. This episode is all over the place in tone, and yet hangs together quite nicely, although it took me two viewings to realize the latter. Yet whatever one might think about “The End of Time Part One,” there’s no denying that the bigger picture has yet to be seen, and what Russell T. Davies unveiled in this hour is only a setup for the real finale. About the first 15 minutes of this thing just zoom by, setting up one aspect of the story after another. In fact, there are so many elements that are set up throughout the hour that one wonders how they can all be addressed in the finale proper.
A narrator (Timothy Dalton) tells us that the human race is having nightmares, most of which appear to involve the cackling visage of the Master (John Simm) – but they forget the visions in their waking hours. Only one man seems to remember – Wilfred Mott (Bernard Cribbins). In a wonderfully effective intro, he’s drawn to a church which he ducks into and studies a stained glass window, only to find that the TARDIS is part of the window’s design. A mysterious woman (Claire Bloom) in white appears behind him, and tells him the story of the window, and how a demon once appeared and the “sainted physician” dealt with the creature. She says he is coming back, and then the Master’s cackling fills the screen.
The tale jumps to the Doctor returning to the Ood Sphere, having seen the vision of the Ood from the end of “The Waters of Mars” as something of a psychic distress signal. He looks more pompous than ever, decked out in a funny hat, sunglasses, and a lei – wholly inappropriate attire for the snowy world around him. Apparently, as he tells Ood Sigma, he’s taken his time getting there and has involved himself in numerous adventures along the way. He joins hands in a circle with an Ood elder (voiced by Brian Cox; while it’s great to have an actor of Cox’s caliber gracing a “Who” episode, it’s a huge shame we don’t get to actually see him), and in short order he sees visions of Wilfred, Joshua and Abigail Naismith (David Harewood and Tracy Ifeachor) and Lucy Saxon (Alexandra Moen). The Doctor shows the Ood the events of “The Last of the Time Lords”, and they in turn show him the woman who picked up the Master’s ring from the base of the funeral pyre. The Doctor realizes that the Master is returning, but the Ood explain that his nemesis is only part of the greater design, which really seems to explain the episode as a whole. Everything here seems like primer for the last episode, and even though “Part One” gets awfully silly at times, it’s probably important to remember that it remains a Christmas episode, and therefore it “must” be entertaining and goofy, although I’ll give Davies due credit for balancing so many elements so successfully throughout the 60-minute running time.
The episode moves on to another excellent sequence featuring the failed resurrection/execution of the Master involving a handful of his female disciples and Lucy. Meanwhile, the Doctor speeds across time and space, and arrives only to discover he’s too late. Is Lucy dead? Seemingly so, but she may yet return before all is said and done, yet the Master lives again. And while this is all going on, Wilf is trying to find the Doctor, and the Naismith’s have stumbled across some alien technology known as the Immortality Gate, and they need the Master to get it up and going. It’s around this point the episode slows down just a bit and imbibes in some of the silliness I’ve been speaking about. The Master is hungry – really hungry, and some sandwich vendors and a couple homeless guys end up victims of his insatiable appetite. Simm is hilariously disturbed in these sequences, as clearly something went wrong with his resurrection, and aside from being hungry, he’s got a cache of nifty, almost godlike powers, but the downside of it all is that he’s burning through his lifeforce rather quickly. In once scene, in order to summon the Doctor, he bangs four times against a barrel, but I think this may be a red herring, and not the four knocks we’ve been expecting, as this merely echoes the sound the Master hears in his head.
Wilf and the Doctor finally meet again, and the Doctor says to him something similar to what he once told Donna – about how they must be connected. There is indeed something strange about Wilf, and I’m wondering – just pure speculation here – what if Wilf was the Doctor’s father (only the knowledge is hidden from him with Chameleon Arch technology), and the woman in white – who appears only to Wilf throughout the episode – was the Doctor’s mother? I’ve no idea how this would impact Sylvia and Donna, and I’m probably wrong, but there’s definitely something deep and secretive going on here, and it’ll be fascinating to see how it all plays out. There are some lovely back to back scenes between Tennant and Cribbins and Tennant and Simm that really allow the episode to breathe, and give it an immense amount of character. Actually, the two scenes are broken up by more narration, and we finally see the face and shoulders of the narrator, who’s decked out in Time Lord robes.
The Master is kidnapped by Naismith and put to work on the Immortality Gate. Wilf and the Doctor infiltrate that facility, and discover two aliens – the Vinvocci – planning to steal the technology, which we also find out more about. The Immortality Gate has the power to heal entire planets, and it seems very reminiscent of the nanogene technology from Season One’s “The Empty Child” two-parter. The Master steps into the Gate, and sends his template all over the world, thus bringing an end to the human race, and bringing into existence “the Master Race,” which is warped, scary and funny all at the same time (but mostly just funny). And then, just to make sure things haven’t gotten too silly, Timothy Dalton’s Time Lord returns along with all the Time Lords of Gallifrey, resurrected, waiting for Part Two.
Like I said, a hard episode to write about since it mostly concerns questions rather than answers, but then again, that’s the whole point of an episode like this. The problem with me writing this up is that rather than sit around speculating for a week, I much prefer to just let the resolution take me wherever it’s going, lest I end up disappointed that expectations aren’t met. I didn’t even get around to mentioning Donna, but it seems obvious she’s going to be a much bigger player in the second half, as her memories returned to her in the final moments. If there’s one thing I specifically didn’t like about this episode it was the use of Barack Obama, which was totally unnecessary. I wonder what exactly got under Davies’ skin that made him want to do this? In the past, he’s used entirely fictitious political figures (the Queen notwithstanding) – why use Barack Obama and the recession in an episode that is so thoroughly grounded in fantasy? It really took me out of the fantastical world that is “Doctor Who” and brought me somewhere else. We saw the President of the United States killed by the Master at the end of Season Three, and it wasn’t George Bush. How exactly does Obama fit into the Whoniverse?
Next Week: The Time Lords, the Doctor’s regeneration (I can only assume) and ?.
Classic Who DVD Recommendation of the Week: “Arc of Infinity” starring Peter Davison and Colin Baker as Maxil, the head of the Time Lord police.
Posted in: Doctor Who
Tags: Alexandra Moen, Barack Obama, Bernard Cribbens, Brian Cox, Catherine Tate, Claire Bloom, David Harewood, David Tennant, Doctor Who, Doctor Who 2009 Christmas special, Doctor Who Blog, Doctor Who The End of Time Part One, John Simm, The End of Time Part One, Timothy Dalton
Ross,
Having finally just completed and sent off my piece for the House, I’ve come over here to see what you thought. I’m surprised at the lack of comments – is everyone still on Christmas break? Or just refusing to speculate on what happens next?
Glad to see you also noticed the similarity with the nanogenes in “The Empty Child”. How long in advance did you spot that terrible “Master race” pun? I think I started laughing about five seconds before he said it… Still, it made for a nicely different kind of cliffhanger instead of the usual zillion aliens invading the Earth.
To my surprise, I actually found the arrival of the Time Lords quite thrilling, since one of the great decisions RTD made at the start of the new series was to get rid of the guys in the funny collars. I believe Moffat isn’t too fond of them either, so they may end up banished again after next week. Looking forward to finding out.
Steven – I look forward to reading your recap, because I suspect it’ll be deeper than mine. These penultimate eps are a bitch to write about, and I know I missed some really important stuff, such as the Doctor’s thoughts on how traumatic regeneration is for him – surely a first for this series. Can’t believe I glossed over it.
The “Master race” bit – maybe I got it two seconds before it happened – but I was blissfully ignorant ‘til then. I am such a schmo.
The revival of the Time Lords was THE highpoint of the ep for me. I’ve no idea why. I wasn’t aching for their return. The show could’ve gone on just fine without them – yet it moved me, in a big way. I suspect anyone who’s an old-school fan felt the same.
As an old-school fan. I can say that I certainly love a good regeneration story. Some of the best DW stories are. Not only did I dig it for The Master making a return, but also my love for the spicy and humorous Donna. Deep down inside, I wish she would have been the next Doctor, if only for one story arc. In a way she was already the Doctor, and I’m curious to see how she deals being in the mind of a Timelord in the second part.
Davies seemed to be inserting a lot of personal baggage here, like a disdain for the gluttony at Christmas (a.k.a the pagan warding off of the darkness). And it sounded like the choir in the church was singing an odd minor key parody of Rutter. So we get it: Davies doesn’t like Christmas, dare we say is Scrooge-like in that way: the brass band at the beginning is playing “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” which Dickens put into “A Christmas Carol.”
The good thing for me in this wind-up was Donna and the reference to DoctorDonna. It was nice that that thread was picked up again. Nice also to see Claire Bloom and Timothy Dalton getting into the act.
You mentioned that it is hard to write about this episode and I think that’s true of any RTD written multi part story. The problem with all of them thus far has been the build ups have been brilliant and promised a seriously kick arse conclusion, only to have them die with a bit of a whimper. Like you, I have no idea how he is going to tie the three thousand threads he’s created together at the end, but I really hope he manages it. Regen stories should be a highlight and most of them in my opinion are rather ordinary, although Caves of Androzani is the obvious exception to that rule.
I agree with you on pretty much everything here, although I hadn’t thought about the woman in white being the Doctor’s mother. Have you considered that it might be Romana?
Very much looking forward to seeing how this all pans out in a few days.
Typical Davies fluff with this episode. The entire “story” of this first part can be told in 20 minutes by a better writer AND it wouldn’t involve the Master being able to fly. Not sure which I hate more: the Master slithering on the floor leaving goo behind or having him jump around like a cross between a Jedi and Iron Man. I mean seriously, this episode had it come out in 1975 would’ve been ONE 23 minute episode (and better!)
Nowhere have I seen it better displayed than in this episode just how savior-ish Davies views the character of the Doctor as is witnessed by the T.A.R.D.I.S. being part of stained-glass in a church. (Ick!)
What does Davies have against delving into an actual motivation for the Master? Why did it feel like the story just kinda started and you HAD to have been following the whole “He will knock four times” thread from the previous episodes? Where is the actual caliber of writing that was put into “Father’s Day” or “Boom Town”?
Granted that the ending was a surprise but that’s only one thing that Davies does well. But even a magician can’t always rely on that rabbit hidden in his hat.
Michael T. – I really thought we got enough of that with Donna in “Journey’s End.” Surely we won’t be going down the same path with her again?
Peel – Maybe Davies is just bored with having to shoehorn a story into the Christmas frame every year?
Paul – I’ll be hugely disappointed if the finale isn’t at least on par with “Parting of the Ways,” which I thought was a very good regen story. I mean, if Davies can create something that classy for Eccleston after one season, he really should be able to give Tennant something of equal or greater importance. I think I may be a bit more forgiving when it comes to the season finales than you are, as in general I’ve enjoyed them a great deal, even though they rarely score as the highlight of any given season. “Doomsday” remains the only one that I find a disappointment (the last 15 minutes aside).
Romana had not occurred to me! Interesting…nice to see you posting here, by the way!
Michael O – Your mention of the slithering Master from the TVM reminded me that the effect this episode used to shift the human race into the Master race was highly reminiscent of the way the Master looked in the TVM when he was trying to take over the Doctor’s lives. Probably doesn’t mean anything, but I thought I’d throw it out there. As I hinted at in the review, I like the episode much better on the second viewing – after the first it seemed like a big mess; not so much after the second viewing.
It doesn’t really make sense to get Claire Bloom at age 78 to play Romana when they could just as easily have gotten Lalla Ward 58.
i think Romana is still in E-Space if she wasnt wiped out by the Time War
the woman might be the Rani or possibly the white guardian since shes wearing all white and is doing the kinds of things the almost-all powerful black and white guardians could do.
I would hate it if she was the Rani – there’s a character I can live without ever seeing again. Like the White Guardian idea, though!
All said and done the return of the Time Lords is paramount in my mind. I love the idea of the Doctor still being the cosmic hobo and getting his nose in places where it shouldn’t/should belong. The Master is his arch-nemesis and where the Doctor is so is the Master. They are the arch types from the founding of humanity…. Light vs Dark. I do however not like the way the powers that be have handled the destruction of Gallifrey in the first place. That whole time war thing is just silly, as for the Time Lords that could and should still be around what about Draxx? from Armegeddon Factor? He had the kind loony mind that the Doctor has plus he was always on the go.
Oh one thing I thought but could be mistaken the woman in white is Harriet Jones is it not?
The great Sir Derek Jacobi played the Master in his late 60s and regenerated at the end of the episode. TV canon (the only one that truly counts if you ask me) says nothing of Romana since she left the Doctor at the gateway many moons ago. She has more than likely regenerated at least once in this time and could easily have been involved in the Time War. Knowing RTD, he may even go for the double regeneration episode for his big finale, which is why he chose an older and different Romana.
This is all supposition though. I’ve read no spoilers – it’s just an idea that I thought was feasible. Admittedly, I’d love it if it were Romana, and could handle the White Guardian, but it better not be the Rani (and would be surprised if it was).
You could be right Ross, maybe I am less forgiving on the finales than you, but remember Aliens of London/WW3? He botched that one royally after what in my opinion was a pretty decent first half, and has done it to most of his own 2 parters since. I didn’t mind Doomsday so much but Last of the Time Lords is probably the most disappointing episode of the whole new series for me (save the Helen Raynor Dalek debacle).
Romana was Lord President of Gallifrey last we saw. She obviously left E-Space and made it back. Just check out SHADA online where she runs around with the Doctor (#8).
I have to say that the high-point of the episode for me was the scene in the cafe. THAT is the caliber of writing that allows me in as a viewer.
I think I’ll go on record as saying that I sincerely think that (like Eric Roberts) John Simm does not a Master make.
Two moments (both already discussed here) stood out for me in this episode.
The reunion of the Doctor and Wilf was a definite highlight. I can’t explain why, but something in the character (and Bernard Cribbins’ performance) grabbed me even in “Voyage of the Damned”. A dignity, nobility, something of greater consequence that made me glad to see him return, and gladder still to see him as the Tenth Doctor’s last companion. No coincidences indeed…
On the other highlight, Ross, I’m with you again – it’s the return of the Time Lords. It was a shocker, but not really a surprise. When ‘Doctor Who’ returned, it seemed that Davies was determined to establish the new series as its own entity. But once that was accomplished, once its fate was secured, we’ve seen the show invoke more and more of its own history, from the return of favorite characters to changes in the theme (the restoration of the middle eight, then the Peter Howell chords reintroduced in “Voyage”) to the retro feel of the Eleventh Doctor’s costume and logo. Resurrecting the Time Lords fits in pretty well with that – could we see the return of the Doctor as a fugitive from Gallifrey? Not sure how I feel about that, but I’m optimistic that if that’s where they’re going, Moffat can do something with it…
Braden – The woman in white was definitely not Penelope Wilton, who played Harriet Jones. She’s played by Claire Bloom, whom you might remember as Hera in “Clash of the Titans” (among other things).
Paul – Def agree about WW3, which was about as rotten a conclusion as anything I’ve seen in the new series, after what was a fairly engaging setup. I’m always surprised to see so much hate for “Last of the Time Lords”! Across the board that seems to be the one season finale that racks up the most dislike. While there were several aspects of it I didn’t care for, by and large I was quite fond of that one.
Michael – As Paul mentioned, he’s only counting TV canon, which the McGann “Shada” doesn’t fall under. Canon’s always a tricky subject when it comes to DW, and that story in particular is an odd duck – does the aborted TV serial even count as canon? I’ll grant that I find it unlikely that Romana is still hanging about it E-Space.
I think Simm is an excellent Master – a twisted revision of the character for a new series and audience. Love him!
Lee – As I understand it, Cribbins’ role in the series was something of a happy accident. He only became Wilf, rather than just the newspaper vendor, after the actor who played Donna’s father in “Runaway Bride” suddenly passed away, and the series scrambled to create a new character to fill the void. Presumably, Davies just liked Cribbins so much that he reenvisioned the newspaper vendor as Wilf, and the rest is history. Can’t imagine it having gone down any other way at this point – I agree, he’s something really special for this show.
Last but not least – and something I meant to mention in the write-up – WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE GIVE TIMOTHY DALTON A SPIT GUARD!?
Legend has it that Time Lord spit can create worlds.
Ross – Actually it was producer Phil Collinson who had the idea to reuse Bernard Cribbins’ character, after Howard Attfield became too ill to continue and RTD decided to replace Donna’s father with her grandfather.
All this sort of stuff is detailed in The Writer’s Tale, the book Davies wrote with Benjamin Cook – a substantially revised and expanded edition of which is being released on January 14, extending the coverage all the way to the end of Davies’ time on Doctor Who. I can’t recommend this book highly enough to anyone who wants to understand where RTD is coming from as a writer, or the sort of behind-the-scenes pressures that have shaped the new series.
As for the suggestions that the woman in white is Romana, the Rani, or the White Guardian, none of those have even been hinted at anywhere in the new series so far. I can’t see RTD making a major plot element — which the Woman clearly is — hinge on a classic series reference that would be totally obscure to over 99% of the audience. I have no idea what’s coming in Part Two, having done my best to avoid the spoilers and speculation, but I suspect she’ll be someone new.
I just finished watching pretty much all of the specials back to back. Personally, I’m really glad they brought Simm back as the Master. I was certain they’d had to have gotten someone else due to regeneration, but that wasn’t how he came back now was it?
I’m very curious about the woman in white, and I have a rather lame theory about that. I’ll say first that I haven’t seen as many old episodes as I’d like. I’m rather fond of the idea that the woman was Doctor’s mum, but I like toying with this other idea. We know Doctor had children from the episode with Jenny. I remember the Doctor stressing that he was the last, but I couldn’t figure out where that left his grandaughter, Susan. It’s said Doctor left her on Earth at some point, but she still would live long enough that Doctor couldn’t be the last Time Lord in existance. One of my friends said that she probably got called back for the Time War and got stuck. If she didn’t regenerate, is it possible she’s Susan? (As annoying as I also found her, I suppose she’d mature somehow.)
I wouldn’t even suggest it as a possibility, but when Wilf asked the Doctor who she was he just stared at Donna — Wilf’s grandaughter. Maybe I just want Susan not to be useless…
Sissy – I’ve seen the Susan theory floated out there already. It isn’t without merit, and I think, perhaps, the beauty of the woman in white is that she can be whomever the viewer wants her to be.
I hope you’ll come back and check out my piece on “Part Two” which should be published here sometime shortly.