The End of Time, Part 2 US Airing Grading and Discussion

[SG-17]

I know there is already a TEOT Part 2 thread, but I made this for the US fans who will be watching it for the first time tonight on BBC America so that we can discuss it live without worrying about reading too many spoilers in the other thread.

It starts at 8:30 pm EST (GMT-5) on BBC America.

 

[Skywalker]

Watching the David Tennant special right now. Ordered Chinese food for dinner, which just got here, so I'm all set for the show.

My only regret is that I don't get BBC America in HD.

 

[shivkala]

Watching it now. Wilf is still the man! Could the woman Wilf keeps seeing be Susan?

And was that RTD running past my screen?

And is that Rose's theme? (I feel like I'm talking to myself).

 

[SG-17]

I felt that most of the episode has just been deus ex machina after deus ex machina (especially Rassilon turning everyone back to human). Despite this I have been enjoying it.

 

[Chris3123]

Wow. just, wow.

The episode as a whole, Fantastic. Just the last 30 minutes, Brilliant, no question.

While I had been spoiled on much of what happened and who would appear, I had no idea about the cameos at the end.

Tennant's performance was excellent. I actually started to feel the same way as the Doctor. I didn't want him to "die". I almost actually shed a tear the ending was so powerful.

And I'm glad Matt Smith's appearance was more than Tennat's was at the end of "The Parting of the Ways".

"I'm a girl?!"

So long, 10. We'll miss ya.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It's the first time they've made it clear: the Doctor dies when he regenerates. 10 knows it. That made him human, and his end affecting in a way that no previous incarnation has been.

Much as I would have liked Eccleston to go on for another couple of years, I guess it's true that Tennant was my Doctor.

 

[Icemizer]

The Doctor is dead. Long live the Doctor!

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I was keeping my eyes peeled but our next season preview had nothing new. I was hoping somehow something new might have snuck out...

 

[Chris3123]

Oh, I forgot to mention how interesting it was for that mystery woman to turn out to be the Doctor's mom. Quite surprising.

What was more surprising was to hear that the "current" President of Gallifrey was none other than Rasillon himself!

It's the first time they've made it clear: the Doctor dies when he regenerates.

If you mean physical death, that's not true. He even stated himself (and we saw it occur in the alternate timeline in "Turn Left") that it's quite possible for the Doctor to physically, permanently die before regeneration can take effect. If you mean the individual ceasing to exist, that has been quite clear for a long time. What exactly are you referring to?

 

[The Lensman]

The last 30 minutes was indeed powerful....and even though I've been ready for Tennet to go and Smith to take over, at the end......I didn't want him to go. And that's the perfect way to leave the role.

Now, having said that, it was hard to maintain the emotion because BBCA had two considerable commercial breaks during this emotional sequence. Yeah, I'll pick it up on DVD, but the full impact of the moment, the first viewing, is lost in away that cant be recaptured.

Looking forward to the future.....

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It's the first time they've made it clear: the Doctor dies when he regenerates.

If you mean the individual ceasing to exist, that has been quite clear for a long time. What exactly are you referring to?

Of course that's what I mean, and 10 made it clear that this is everything to him that our deaths are to us. That was rather staggering in the emotional weight it gave to the show.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

That was all very epic.

I'm not a huge Dr. Who fan, but Tennant was amazing in the role.

Timothy Dalton, in a thankless villain role, also shined.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm not a huge Dr. Who fan, but Tennant was amazing in the role.

He was indeed - he enlarged it.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Now, having said that, it was hard to maintain the emotion because BBCA had two considerable commercial breaks during this emotional sequence.

No disagreement. The commercial breaks interrupted the flow.

 

[Chris3123]

It's the first time they've made it clear: the Doctor dies when he regenerates.

If you mean the individual ceasing to exist, that has been quite clear for a long time. What exactly are you referring to?

Of course that's what I mean, and 10 made it clear that this is everything to him that our deaths are to us. That was rather staggering in the emotional weight it gave to the show.

That's what I thought you meant. I was just saying that the idea that each regeneration causes an individual to cease to exist (death) is as old as the concept of regeneration itself. What was made clear here was not that the Doctor "dies", but rather what that death means to him, emotionally.

 

[Marc]

Now, having said that, it was hard to maintain the emotion because BBCA had two considerable commercial breaks during this emotional sequence.

No disagreement. The commercial breaks interrupted the flow.

Sci-Fi in Canada was just as bad.

I wonder if the Time Lords were in such dire straits with the Time War that they found it necessary to bring Rassilon back?

Was this the ulimate form of the corruption alluded to by the 6th Doctor in Trial Of A Timelord?

Have we seen redemption for the Master (driven made by plans of the high council).

 

[Neroon]

I watched Pt 2 in the company of good friends earlier this evening. While I loved it tremendously.... it didn't quite end up in my list of top favorites. Part of that is because they didn't explain just what happened when Lucy tried to destroy the Master and it didn't work out. Perhaps it wasn't a critical plot point, but I'd have still enjoyed a little bit more of a detail of what was going on. Somehow... the resolution seemed stretched out a bit longer than I'd have preferred. Maybe, or maybe not. I really need to watch it again.

But overall I enjoyed. I did NOT see the "4 knocks" source coming... not at all!

Wilf's breakdown as he pleads with the Doctor to take come step to keep from dieing... holy smokes that as a piece of beautiful work.

Murray Gold again did a very nice job on his music score.

Oh skip it... I have to go watch it again!!!

 

[ParticleMan]

Now, having said that, it was hard to maintain the emotion because BBCA had two considerable commercial breaks during this emotional sequence.

No disagreement. The commercial breaks interrupted the flow.

Because I thought I wasn't going to be home tonight to catch it on BBC America, I "cheated" and watched it late last night. I was home after all tonight and rewatched the broadcast...it did take something away from the emotional climax to have the commercials inserted. And I also found that I enjoyed part 1 much more when I watched it uninterrupted as well.

Great, great episode all around though...

Oh, and my vote for the lady in white is Susan...

 

[Cutter John]

Commercials. Thats why I've never been able to bring myself to watching US or Canadian broadcast versions.

Jeez, 24 hours since I've seen it and I have to confess I'm still kind of upset over the change. Which surprises me becuase I've seen other regenerations and its never had that much of an emotional effect on me.

Or maybe its just the fact that I went from near tears (Tennants final minute. I was doing fine til that damn Ood choir started in)) to giddy happiness (Smiths lovely first moments) in just a matter of seconds. I think I may have ruptured a few braincells.

And someone mentioned seeing RTD in a crowd scene. I double checked later and it wasn't him. Just some bloke with glasses.

 

[Samson88B]

Oh, I forgot to mention how interesting it was for that mystery woman to turn out to be the Doctor's mom. Quite surprising.

What was more surprising was to hear that the "current" President of Gallifrey was none other than Rasillon himself!

It's the first time they've made it clear: the Doctor dies when he regenerates.

If you mean physical death, that's not true. He even stated himself (and we saw it occur in the alternate timeline in "Turn Left") that it's quite possible for the Doctor to physically, permanently die before regeneration can take effect. If you mean the individual ceasing to exist, that has been quite clear for a long time. What exactly are you referring to?

I thought the episode was brilliant! The interaction between Bernard and David was top notch. The performance and dialog between them could not have been any better. I have to admit that the commercial interruptions did indeed distract somewhat from the total emotional impact, but I still had a tear or two in my eyes in the last 30 to 40 minutes.

I felt that the Time Lords were definitely presented in a negative light, and rightfully so. It gave the newer fans of Who to see why the Doctor made the decision to disassociate himself from the bureaucracy of his race. I also liked the explanation of how he made the decision to destroy or allow the Time Lords to be destroyed in the Time War.

The situation with the Master is a interesting one. I genuinely felt pity for him as he realized that the suffering of his entire life was orchestrated by the Time Lords as a tool to save themselves. From the standpoint of being a classic Who fan from the 70's, I think the sound of the drums that were placed by the Time Lords in his head were a very good way to create a back story as to why the Master may have always seemed to be so evil or insane.

I have to agree that the presence of Rasillon as the president himself showed how desperate the Time Lords may have been by the events of the Time War.

Chris3123 I do have a question.... Not to knock you just genuinely curios. As my family and I watched I also thought that the woman might have been the Doctors mother in the end but I never saw or heard of any direct evidence of that. You spoke of it as if it was proven. What part of the episode made you draw that conclusion? I DVR'd the episode so I will go back and watch it, but I just don't remember. I really do hope that was his mother though.

I also have to say to Chris3123 and some others that commented that I also hated to see David go. When he said "I don’t want to ..." I felt his pain and wanted him to stay. Looking back on David’s entire performance over his tenure is going to make me "Reorganize" who my favorite Doctors are.

I also like the little preview of seeing at least some small performance of next Doctor. "I'm a girl" was hilarious.

David.................You will be sorely missed and never forgotten. Thank you for your diligence in your tenure as the Doctor and for all of the wonderful times and memories you have created for me and my family. Good Luck on your new endeavors and know that you already have a fan!
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