I'm afraid TSE/JE didn't really work for me. Donna's story was great, and the final few minutes were heartbreaking, but the rest of it I didn't get much from. Which isn't to say I didn't enjoy it- beats no episodes, and there was the odd very funny moment (particularly German Daleks) but overall it just seemed a bit of a mess.

The cliffhanger was good, and I really wish the regeneration had gone ahead there and then- it would have changed the story significantly (for the better I think) had a new Doctor been dealing with the problems ahead. I understand why they didn't, but the shock was great, the excitement of maybe they've actually kept the secret really well and we're about to see a new Doctor- such a disappointment when he didn't regenerate.

Overall though, too many companions who didn't really do all that much, too much overt sentimentality, and a very silly plot that, Donna's story aside, really didn't live up to the expectation from Turn Left. Davros also didn't work for me- I know many people here think he was wonderful, but I've rewatched the episode and I still don't see what all the fuss was about. He made one good jibe at the Doctor, other than that he seemed as ineffective as a huge army of Daleks. And the Dalek remote with the 'twiddle this for utter chaos' setting was just daft- while I get that the important bit was that Donna and 10.5 were there and hence could save the day, surely there could have been a slightly better way to do it than that?

Didn't like the towing the Earth thing either- just ridiculous Sorry. I know, it's supposed to be a bit silly (one of the reasons I like it) but that was just too absurd for me.

The Next Doctor, on the other hand, I liked. It wasn't one of my top few, but the story and characters worked, Jackson Lake and Rosita were both great, as was Miss Hartigan. I liked the setting, the cybermen and snow were good, and while the cyberking was a bit OTT, I can forgive it on the basis that it's a Christmas episode- and a massive steampunk cyberman is just cool. I liked the use of past Doctors, the infostamp idea worked well enough, and the balloon was brilliant, I like balloons.

Stolen Earth was decent, not great, but okay. Journey's End though.. it was everything that I hate about New Who. It's actually the second worst story in the entire run for me (Last of the Timelords being the worst). It felt like a parody of the series at times, the resolution was weak and the Tardis pulling the Earth back into orbit

It's only bright spot was Julian Bleech who excelled as Davros.

Aaah...ShinyTeapot has definately highlighted one of the really negative points of JE.

The TARDIS towing Earth back to it's original position was just over the top, waaaaaay over the top. It ruined quite a bit for me in that part. But. IMO the rest of it was so fantasically good, I can just ignore that slight bit of mind boggling ridiculousness and look back on the great bits.

Sigh.

:O Eeevil! Haha

Maybe the resolution was a bit too quick, I dunno... cos you spent the whole week waiting for the answer and all the cliffhangers were over within a minute but then it was a while before we saw Doc 10.5 so you're left wondering what on earth happened.

Or rather...what on the crucibal happened XD

I've been an on/off Doctor Who fan for many years (currently "on") and I hated the fake regeneration in The Stolen Earth.

It was of course a successful as a ratings winner at the time - but in hindsight I felt it was just a cheap trick.

I also agree with any other posters who said that the story tried to cram in too many characters.

The regeneration happend for two main reasons...or tow and half shall I say if you want to count the DoctorDonna's mind wipe thing as seperate...one was to give a cliffhanger, and the other was to create the other Doctor and DoctorDonna....it may have been interesting to see if the they could have carried out a suprise regeneration....but in all fairness, I think we were the fools in the fact that the Next Doctor had already been shot, pictures leaked and so on...with DT very much visibly there....and to think that they would go as far as hiring DT to just pointlessly appear on set, just to keep a big regeneration a secret...well then we were fools...and I count myself too, because I was in two minds, one I thought..."OMG he is regenerating, and how the hell did they keep that a secret?"...and then next..."nah it was too sudden, DT deserved a better send off than just that, and what about the shooting for the Xmas special???"

So basically I happy with the way things turned out....I love the fact that the regeneration and the handy-hand turned into another version of the Doc, quite clever I say....the emphisis on the hand was quite a lot during series four, as we know that it even managed to control the Tardis to take the Doc and co to see Jenny.



A love TSE/JE...more so the first one...there is something missing from JE for me, I can't put my finger on it...but saying that I enjoy it emensly whenever I watch it. I can easily point out what doesn't work for me in LOTTL, but not JE. For LOTTL its the execution of the power of words scene...which make the idea, which I love, look more like if it is just magic, and the way they say "Doctor"....and also not enough scenes between the Doctor and Master without the Doctor being a dobby...other than that, I love everything about it...but still can't put my finger on JE. I love the story, even the crazy moments of the earth being towed home (especially after seeing the kids at the prom saying to that music) I love the endings...all those companions don't annoy me, because I don't believe that everyone who is in a story needs to actually do something to "enhance the plot", some people happen to be there sometimes...fact of life, Rose ended up there because the void had vanished, Martha was doing the job that Unit gave her, Mickey and Jackie being protective of Rose, naturally followed, Jack and SJS had been contacted by Harriet, and would jump at the chance to help, even if they can't actually do anything. So no the amount of people doesn't bother me.

Maybe its the fact that I know its a bittersweet ending, always leaves me feeling sad...because throughout before I am either laughing or smiling, or the egde of my seat...and then I am sad, with Donna's memories gone...and the Doctor alone..

None the less, I love it!!!



I agree with everything there...including the last bit!!!



Who is to say that is why our Doctor dumped Rose with this other Doctor...now Jack only still has one Doctor!!!



I ended up watching it fully the other day, with only the intention of looking for some clips, I agree with all that...but I have to say that I also love the Cyberking...it brings the child out of me!!!!

This story

That's what I loved about it though cos you never really thought DT was stepping down but there it was right there in the full process of regenerating, it really boggled the mind. It was a moment that just fooled you because you couldn't forget that image of the Doctor glowing with that golden shine.

well, if there was any reason to have a NEWHO movie ..... edit together TURN LEFT, THE STOLEN EARTH and JOURNEY'S END would do the trick for me

Or Utopia, The Sound of Drums, Last of the Time Lords would do the trick for me as a feature length episode.

Just what the universe needs - another lovelorn desperate person trapped on the other Earth willing to destroy the universe in order to be reunited with the object of their affection.