So - what did you think about David Tennant's big exit?
By jazzsue58
@jazzsue58 (2666)
January 1, 2010 3:50pm CST
I got very confused with the whole Time Lords thing. To me, it seemed Russell T. Davies was trying to put all his unused plotlines into one big ending. I can kind of get my head around the fact the Time Lords weren't dead after all, but in a "time Bubble" or something (which makes a lot of what the Doctor said in previous episodes nonsense 
) BUT my real gripe is the ending-that-wasn't.
The Doctor gets a mega blast of radiation, right? Yet in true operatic finale style, he still gets to sing a few high notes by rescuing Sarah Jane's son/Martha Jones/Donna's bank balance from certain anhialation. And then, to cap it all, he meets Billie Piper - and her mother. It all seemed a bit "Damn - it ends at bang on 60 minutes. Quick, how can I make this end at 75 instead?" to me.
In other words - does anyone else feel those final scenes were TOTALLY UNECCESSARY and agree that David Tennant's Doctor should have expired in the radiation chamber - or at least, shortly after? The writers could still have fed in the death in the Tardis scene (the Tardis could have come to the doctor, knowing he was dying, for example) 'cos it's fairly obvious Russell T. loves his exploding polystyrene bits - but having Martha suddenly fighting Sontarans after all the big Time Lord thing was just totally WRONG, in my mind. Never mind Donna's wedding and the winning lottery ticket.
An overegged Christmas Pudding. And that's coming from a Dr Who lover.
) BUT my real gripe is the ending-that-wasn't.
The Doctor gets a mega blast of radiation, right? Yet in true operatic finale style, he still gets to sing a few high notes by rescuing Sarah Jane's son/Martha Jones/Donna's bank balance from certain anhialation. And then, to cap it all, he meets Billie Piper - and her mother. It all seemed a bit "Damn - it ends at bang on 60 minutes. Quick, how can I make this end at 75 instead?" to me.
In other words - does anyone else feel those final scenes were TOTALLY UNECCESSARY and agree that David Tennant's Doctor should have expired in the radiation chamber - or at least, shortly after? The writers could still have fed in the death in the Tardis scene (the Tardis could have come to the doctor, knowing he was dying, for example) 'cos it's fairly obvious Russell T. loves his exploding polystyrene bits - but having Martha suddenly fighting Sontarans after all the big Time Lord thing was just totally WRONG, in my mind. Never mind Donna's wedding and the winning lottery ticket.
An overegged Christmas Pudding. And that's coming from a Dr Who lover.4 responses
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
1 Jan 10
Hiya jazzsue,
Well I don´t follow Doctor Who but I really would love to but it has been many moons since I saw any Episode of my beloved Dr. Who. Sounds a very typical ending or whatever to a Series or just the end of the season program?
What are they planning to polish off Dr. Who altogether then that would be a great shame. My very favourite Dr. Who when I could get to watch him was William Hartnell but as I said before I was always at work when this was on and then I got married and came here to live and they ai´nt ever heard of this guy.
At least not on National Television they have´nt I imagine the Tardis is still the same that was my favourite bit too where it suddenly took off and vanished into nowhere and the noise it used to make.
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@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
1 Jan 10
David Tennant is bowing out, Matt Smith is coming in to replace him. DT was the 10th doctor - he was one of the best. I loved him in Casanova, anyway - guess I'm biased!
Like you, I remember the old Dr Who - Jon Pertwee was my all-time fave. I was sooo glad when the beeb brought it back,and the SFX are to die for. Christopher Eccleston was the first of the "new" doctors (if you don't count the TV movie with Paul McGann) Thanks for sharing your views - and memories!
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
1 Jan 10
Hiya jazzsue,
I get it now he´s bowing out then? I still don´t know who the other one is I will make an effort to look him up on Youtube. William Hartnell being the first Doctor was my favourite then probably there would be other Doctor Whos that I would like but as I say I just ai´nt seen them over here I don´t have BBC or Sky Television or Eurosport the latter being my favourite of all.
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@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
2 Jan 10
In the UK we have BBC iplayer - but I'm not sure that would work for you. Your best bet is definitely youtube - so long as you don't mind 10 minute segments!
My mum always liked Hartnell - she stopped watching once he'd gone. She now watches the new Doctor Who, but says it's like a different program altogether. She actually said, "Oh - so they still use polystyrene and explosions on set, then? I thought with that budget they'd be a bit more advanced by now." Just goes to show - the old ways are still the best, wobbly sets not withstanding!
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
2 Jan 10
Hi jazzsue58,
I have to say although I enjoyed the two Christmas specials, they were not all I had hoped for. Tonight's episode was clearly the better of the two. It was good to see The Master back in action, even if his new look and powers were a bit suspect.
I would tend to agree with you that RTD did try to use any unused plot lines he may have had. I watched the Doctor Who confidential on BBC 3 and RTD did want to give all the companions a look in and send the Doctor off, so you are right he wanted to go out in an operatic finale. He even said that the new team might not use any of the old companions in the new series so maybe it was a good thing to see them one last time. Jack in the Star Wars Cantina scene had me laughing though.
They also showed a preview of the next series after confidential which did look rather good, I seen a few Daleks in there and the creatures from the episode Blink.
I know I for one will miss Tennant. I just hope Matt Smith is up to the task as he has some big shoes to fill.
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@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
2 Jan 10
I agree about Matt Smith. My immediate thought was, "He's copying David Tennant!" Surely after the Doctor had been through all that - his arch-nemesis PLUS the return of the Time Lords, playing billiards with the planets again, the End of Time etc ... his next incarnation would have been older, a bit darker, maybe? Matt Smith is only one stage removed from an embryo, IMHO.
Then again, I do remember the originals in black and white. I even said hallo to Terry Nation, once.
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
2 Jan 10
Glad you noticed the nod towards Star Wars as well! Guess everyone who watched got the Cantina scene reference. Not too sure Harrison ford would have clocked Luke Skywalker in QUITE the way Captain Jack clocked the Titanic guy, though!
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@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
3 Jan 10
Yeah I would have thought the reincarnation would have been into a darker Doctor but we got Matt and I guess we will have to go with it. I think he copied Tennant at that stage cause it was a regeneration and is still not himself yest, just like when Tenant took over from Eccleston. I know Matt will make the Doctor his own character in the next series.
I think we needed Jar Jar in the Star Wars scence to shake things
up
up
@Jaytech (2251)
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2 Jan 10
I found the big exit quite an anti climax to be honest. The return of the Time Lords & it was all over in a few minutes after a small brawl in a room full of flashing lights. Then there is the passing planet that in reality would have caused mass destruction world wide, the oceans would have become Tsunamis, earth quakes, volcano eruptions & extreme weather conditions. Yet it seemed to pass over causing a few people to look up & faint, & it was all over a few minutes later.
They seemed to try & cram in every piece of CGI graphics as possible, with little story line or plot.
@Jaytech (2251)
•
2 Jan 10
I'd prefer they used an older actor such as Patrick Stewart (Jean Luke Picard) & slowed the pace down a bit allowing them to focus more on script & substance. I found the whole regeneration episode over-paced & rushed. With what they put into it you could have based an entire series on, the return of the Time Lords is a huge event & it was treated like a brawl in the Queen Vic, I'm most disappointed 
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@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
2 Jan 10
Hear hear! There are loads of good actors out there who would die for the part - and do it justice. The beeb are placing too much emphasis on all-out adventure, thinking only kids who play "shoot 'em up" games will want to watch.
Sometimes I feel like yelling, "Hey! give those of us who are responsible for PAYING the licence fee a chance, too! We're not all 16 year olds with skateboards and acne, you know!"
Then again, my own kids were bemoaning the fact there was too much "Wham bam" and not enough substance in this latest story. The time Lords returning, after the Doctor kept telling people Gallifrey was destroyed, and he was the last of his kind, needed something more than five minutes of Harry Potter effects.
And whiting out the time Lords and Masteras a way of saying, "Right, that's that little plot-end taken care of," rankled, as well ...
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@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
2 Jan 10
I agree - I mean, I know the Earth the Doctor gets involved with is a bit different to the one we all live in, but come on - Gallifrey didn't even knock the Moon out of orbit! And how come both planets suddenly ran out of atmosphere?! Or gravity, coming to that ...
Still about the best thing worth watching, though. I figured out the whole Donna wedding scene and Billy Piper sketch - THEY WERE CHEAP! In a way that wrecking the Tardis set wasn't.
Matt Smith - hmmm, we'll see ... He played that whole scene wrong, in my opinion. Kind of, "I have no idea what the last 70 minutes was all about so ... I know, I'll just wing it the way David Tennant would ..." Except he wouldn't have done.
The doctor's rebirth needed a mature, introspective, tortured soul look about it - more like Paul McGann did, in the TV movie many years ago.
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@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
6 Jan 10
I have not gotton to see the latest season yet. It was broadcasted on BBC America sat channel but I found out too late. I have been busy with other things so I have not gotton to watch as much tv as I have in the past. maybe I will catch up latter on.
