29.13: Last of the Time Lords

[Lenny]

Earth has been conquered and the Master rules supreme, with the Doctor his prisoner. Can Martha Jones save the world?

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Whilst I don't think it was as good as last weeks episode, it was still a nice end to what has been, in my opinion, the best Doctor Who series since the program has come back to our television sets.

One thing I thought was a bit silly - the way that everyone in the world chanted the Doctors name, allowing him to come back as a shining entity to defeat The Master (who I quite liked, truth be told).

Other than that, it was good. The revelation that the Toclaphane were humans from Utopia surprised me somewhat - I was expecting some kind of new Dalek, and thought that I was right, especially when the sphere was first opened (second thoughts were "OMGZ! The Face of Boe has had six billion kids!").

Two things right at the end that I liked - how it is implied that Jack become the Face of Boe, and how we saw a hand, with red fingernails, picking up The Masters ring.

The Titanic Christmas episode should be interesting, and I'm wondering under what circumstances Martha will return (if a companion has left, then by now we'd know who is replacing her, through the magic of the media).

[Foxbat]

I quite enjoyed this one. I did find the temporary apotheosis of The Doctor just a little bit too convenient for plot resolution. I’d have preferred that everybody thought of a word rather than ‘Doctor’. My choice of word would have been, quite simply ‘No’ (could have caused a positive feedback loop, destroying the Paradox Machine etc etc)


But then again, that’s probably why RTD is writing the script and not me.

Good little revelation about the Face Of Bo and I did like the ending. On the whole, it has its flaws but an enjoyable episode.

[SJAB]

Originally Posted by Lenny

and how we saw a hand, with red fingernails, picking up The Masters ring.

Which character was in red during the whole show, complete with nails, who started to act rather strangely for the last 10 mins and then "shot" the Master????

Body switch and brain washing anyone??

I would add, its been a good series, nice, light, don't take to serious TV.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Lenny

Earth has been conquered and the Master rules supreme, with the Doctor his prisoner. Can Martha Jones save the world?

---
and how we saw a hand, with red fingernails, picking up The Masters ring..

Pure Flash Gordon!

[Sattrega]

I thought it was dire for the most part. I did not take to John Simm as The Master from the start of this run of episodes and he just got worse as it went along. Granted, he had one or two cracking lines but overall he was far too camp and comical. I can't believe they picked him over Derek Jacobi.

Three things about the episode were good...

- The **possible** departure of Martha. I sincerely hope it is. One of the worst companions ever. I'd love to see Sally from "Blink" take over.

- The Face of Bo revelation.

- The lady who picked up the ring at the end. My hunch was always that The Master's "missus" was in fact The Rani. So The Doctor might not be the last of the Time-Lords after all.

[sanityassassin]

I thought this episode was a lot better than last weeks and the revelation about the Face of Bo was a surprise. I think this has been one of the best seasons of doctor who I've seen, it has been a lot more action originated than the previous seasons and I think it has made it a lot more enjoyable

[Talysia]

Not a bad episode, all in all pretty good, although there were a few things I didn't like. Some good revelations, too. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the Christmas special.

[PTeppic]

Don't think it was quite as good as last week. Any show which conveniently loses a whole year, even if they then take it back, somehow switches me off a little bit. And the becoming-an-avenging-angel thing? So how in Gallifreyan DNA does that happen. Interesting concept though: everyone thinking the same. Should have had everyone jump on the spot, whilst at it and see what happens...

Loved the Boe revelation - ironically I was just thinking earlier in the evening that one of the early Confidentials had mentioned something that I'd forgotten. I remember now: RTD saying we hadn't heard the last of Boe! So yet another of the season's episodes linked into this arc. Definitely need to re-watch "Gridlock" again...

As for Christmas special: my video switched to Confidential at the appointed hour and I only saw the painted nails doing Flash Gordon. So I'll have to wait till tomorrow to see the ending properly...

And Martha: I thought she got some great lines, unpredictable ones that made things more interesting, but ENOUGH OF THE LOVE INTEREST, Mr Davies, please. I wouldn't want to compare Freema with Billy, they're chalk and cheese, but perfectly serviceable as a Companion in my book.

[Lenny]

Talking about the Face of Boe, and the Gridlock episode - if Jack does become tFoB, then why does the face eventually die? Surely, if it's Jack, he'll just come back again? I doubt even age would be able to finish him off with part of the TARDIS inside him.

[The Ace]

Sheesh so Lucy's actually going to do something instead of hovering in the background, about time.

[Dave]

Great ideas here about the Master's misses being the Rani and the red fingernails. I never thought of that myself.

Originally Posted by pyan

Pure Flash Gordon!

Sure it is! But that's no bad thing!

If Jack is the Face of Boe it explains why he knew there was another Time Lord and much else besides. That was a great exposition. If the lady in red is actually now the Master, then Jack/Boe wouldn't know that either, which is very neat. Why does Boe die? Well, nothing lives forever (except the Master!)

The TARDIS being the cause of the sinking of the Titanic is a bit lame. How will they afford Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet?

I also didn't like the Doctor turning from Gollum to shining entity in one easy step, and found it too convenient. I also didn't expect the Toclaphane to be the humans from Utopia, but maybe I'm a little tired this evening.

Martha is apparently not leaving, so all of that will she won't she business at the end became a little tedious. I don't know how she will be written back in, but it sounds like there might be more present day Earth-based adventures next Season, and maybe we will see Dr Milligan again.

[pyan]

Martha taking a break also sets the scene for a guest Companion for the Christmas Special, a la Catherine Tate.

[thecommabandit]

Originally Posted by Dave

The TARDIS being the cause of the sinking of the Titanic is a bit lame. How will they afford Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet?

No no no no! You don't get it do you?! The TARDIS didn't sink the Titanic! Think about it, the inside of the TARDIS exists in its own pocket dimension-thing right? That's how it fits inside the police box. So I reckon that they'll be an alien-conspiracy kind of thing going on with the Titanic in the Christmas special, something like it's teleported about by some alien force and it winds up in the same dimension the inside of the TARDIS occupies, hence why it crash-bangs the wall.

I'll be very disappointed if I'm wrong about that, I want to lord it over everyone that I came to that conclusion within the first few seconds of seeing the Titanic crash through the wall if I'm right.

Also, I agree with the "enough of the love interests" remark. It might be interesting to have a male companion for once in the whole series, perhaps with a sharp enough wit to match even the Doctor's?

[Lenny]

It'll be those Santa robots with the flame-throwing trombones, gotta be. And there'll be something mentioned in the episode that will be the theme for the fourth series.

[Lucien21]

Another Deus Ex MAchina ending with a giant reset button.

Dissapointing ending. Dobby the Tardis Elf gets ressurrected by "I belive in Faries" magic. *Jeez*

Truely dreadful.