The new logo's fine. It's really in tune with the "Pertwee logo from the TV Movie" one we currently have on all things "Classic Who" so that transition won't be jarring (being as the plan is to unify classic and New Who). As for TV, I think I prefer it to the current new Who logo - something about me likes the big "WHO" which has been present it all other logos. We're supposedly getting a new opening sequence, so I expect it will be sympathetic to the new logo's ratio.
As for Doctor Who this year...
New Waters of Mars Trailer
<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.sw ... waters.flv">
While "The Waters of Mars" special will be shown in the near future, we've currently got a new series of The Sarah Jane Adventures to keep us entertained (which will of course feature The Doctor in a two-part story mid-run).
I've never liked (nor disliked) the Judoon. We've certainly had worse monsters, and we've also had better. I've always felt them a little workman like to be honest. While I know plenty hate the Slitheen, I actually like them because they look and act ridiculous (In the Aliens of London/World War III I expect the big reveal to be that the Slitheen were children because of their behaviour, but it was not to be).
But I feel differently about the Judoon now. The opening episode of SJA "Prisoner of the Judoon" Part 1 really made good use of the aliens. It's actually fleshed them out more and made us of them in many laugh-out loud moments. Seeing a Judoon driving a police car (after destroying the hand-break) is one of my favourite New Who images ever! I look forward to the Judoon rescue squad arriving in today's episode more than ever.
However, I wasn't so keen on the Veil possessed Sarah Jane. What's with the silly voice Elisabeth? Still, so far its been rollicking good fun.
See what the Stage says here
http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/200 ... dventures/
and here's the BBC trailer for Series 3, which sadly looks a bit poor and is badly edited together. I can't believe this is an official BBC trailer!
<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.sw ... sja3-1.flv">
The 2008-09 AND 2010 Doctor Who (& Spin-offs) Thread
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
The newly designed inside of the TARDIS has been revealed in some OB filming photos.
http://io9.com/5387162/first-glimpse-of ... s-interior
I'm somewhat disappointed. It doesn't seem to be as radical a change as we were led to believe. I was expecting it to return to white for example.
It seems like a slow devolution of the existing "coral" design retrofitted with a few more classic who elements.
ETA: Preview of the Doctor starring Sarah Jane Adventures story. Note how "the Gate" is mentioned - something which is going to have a major role in the Tenth Doctor's final two episodes.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s47/sara ... #yourviews
http://io9.com/5387162/first-glimpse-of ... s-interior
I'm somewhat disappointed. It doesn't seem to be as radical a change as we were led to believe. I was expecting it to return to white for example.
It seems like a slow devolution of the existing "coral" design retrofitted with a few more classic who elements.
ETA: Preview of the Doctor starring Sarah Jane Adventures story. Note how "the Gate" is mentioned - something which is going to have a major role in the Tenth Doctor's final two episodes.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s47/sara ... #yourviews
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
Steven Moffat talks Doctor Who's future at a screenwriters conference.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/docto ... uture.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/docto ... uture.html
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
Look! It's Brand New! And On Disney XD! (and actually co-funded by Disney! It's sort of on-topic!).
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See K9 Mk I regenerate into the new K9!
The New K9 Series!
Yes, it actually has been made and it actually has premièred in Europe! I almost fell out of my seat in shock just typing that!
I think even from this clip alone we can see how it compares to The Sarah Jane Adventures and I'd hazard a guess most people will say "not well" but I don't think it comes off that bad... It's certainly a lot better than I was expecting, even if the monsters do look sort of "Power Rangery". The effects are quite good. But it does lack a certain something. It seems to be American stylised, missing the "everyday ordinariness" of The Sarah Jane Adventures environments and characters (if indeed a show like SJA can be classed as possessing "ordinariness")
Regardless, it's guaranteed to be controversial for Doctor Who fans for the next 50 years! Is it canon or is it not? Forget UNIT dating, K9 legitimacy will be the new continuity talking-point!
Note that the K9 here who appears at the start of the clip looking like the K9 we all know and love is actually K9 Mk I which was left on Gallifrey with Leela. Mk II is in E-Space with Romana (or in another canon-dispute was also back on Gallifrey with President Romana), Mk III was given to Sarah-Jane (and was destroyed in School Reunion) and Mk IV is currently in The Sarah Jane Adventures. Of course Gallifrey was not only destroyed but wiped from the time-lines in the Time War according to New Who, so it looks like the professor's machine is even more impressive than even he knows if it can pluck K9 from a destroyed time-line!
Being as its specifically not made, licenced or funded by the BBC there should be no direct links to Doctor Who in any of the episodes. Personally, I'm going for non-canon.
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See K9 Mk I regenerate into the new K9!
The New K9 Series!
Yes, it actually has been made and it actually has premièred in Europe! I almost fell out of my seat in shock just typing that!
I think even from this clip alone we can see how it compares to The Sarah Jane Adventures and I'd hazard a guess most people will say "not well" but I don't think it comes off that bad... It's certainly a lot better than I was expecting, even if the monsters do look sort of "Power Rangery". The effects are quite good. But it does lack a certain something. It seems to be American stylised, missing the "everyday ordinariness" of The Sarah Jane Adventures environments and characters (if indeed a show like SJA can be classed as possessing "ordinariness")
Regardless, it's guaranteed to be controversial for Doctor Who fans for the next 50 years! Is it canon or is it not? Forget UNIT dating, K9 legitimacy will be the new continuity talking-point!
Note that the K9 here who appears at the start of the clip looking like the K9 we all know and love is actually K9 Mk I which was left on Gallifrey with Leela. Mk II is in E-Space with Romana (or in another canon-dispute was also back on Gallifrey with President Romana), Mk III was given to Sarah-Jane (and was destroyed in School Reunion) and Mk IV is currently in The Sarah Jane Adventures. Of course Gallifrey was not only destroyed but wiped from the time-lines in the Time War according to New Who, so it looks like the professor's machine is even more impressive than even he knows if it can pluck K9 from a destroyed time-line!
Being as its specifically not made, licenced or funded by the BBC there should be no direct links to Doctor Who in any of the episodes. Personally, I'm going for non-canon.
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
Considering the quality of the series, I'm going to go for non-canon too.
I've seen the first episode and though I didn't expect much (expected it to be very, very bad actually), it surprised me by being more boring than I'd imagined. I didn't care for ay of the characters, the story was bleak and really, I just don't feel the need to ever watch anything related to this series again.
I'll stick to the proper K9-revival in SJA. Which, btw, is having a pretty good third series.
I've seen the first episode and though I didn't expect much (expected it to be very, very bad actually), it surprised me by being more boring than I'd imagined. I didn't care for ay of the characters, the story was bleak and really, I just don't feel the need to ever watch anything related to this series again.
I'll stick to the proper K9-revival in SJA. Which, btw, is having a pretty good third series.
Asante sana, squash banana, wewe nugu, mimi hapana.
Yes, this year's SJA is a marked improvement on last year's. I think to some extent this years stories suffer from a common problem with 2 parters in that the opening episode of each story has been better than it's conclusion.
I was surprised at how spooky the opening of The Eternity Trap was considering its time-slot!
Rumour is K9 will die in the concluding serial. It was one of the reasons how the BBC got permission for an extended presence in series 3: by giving him a definitive end at its conclusion.
I was surprised at how spooky the opening of The Eternity Trap was considering its time-slot!
Rumour is K9 will die in the concluding serial. It was one of the reasons how the BBC got permission for an extended presence in series 3: by giving him a definitive end at its conclusion.
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
-
Escapay
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I still don't quite understand how K-9 Mark I could regenerate at all (time war or not). Surely Professor Marius wasn't *that* clever! Or did Leela give him some Gallifreyan overhaul that we never knew about.
I mean, if Mark I could regenerate, then K-9 Mark III (which should already be superior, hence the Mark III) should have survived his explosion too instead of being replaced by Mark IV.
Since I really can't find/believe/think of any plausible way that Mark I could survive the Time War (unless the new series is set post-RTD era), I'm content to give it non-canon status as well.
Hmm...maybe it's K-9 from Pete's World.
albert
I mean, if Mark I could regenerate, then K-9 Mark III (which should already be superior, hence the Mark III) should have survived his explosion too instead of being replaced by Mark IV.
Since I really can't find/believe/think of any plausible way that Mark I could survive the Time War (unless the new series is set post-RTD era), I'm content to give it non-canon status as well.
Hmm...maybe it's K-9 from Pete's World.
albert
WIST #60:
AwallaceUNC: Would you prefer Substi-Blu-tiary Locomotion?
WIST #61:
TheSequelOfDisney: Damn, did Lin-Manuel Miranda go and murder all your families?
AwallaceUNC: Would you prefer Substi-Blu-tiary Locomotion?
WIST #61:
TheSequelOfDisney: Damn, did Lin-Manuel Miranda go and murder all your families?
Wasn't part one of "Mona Lisa's Revenge" on TSJA fantastic? It was as bonkers as a bag full of baboons but absolutely brilliant! Camp, clever and superbly entertaining, I can't wait to see how this finishes tomorrow (while at the same time, ignoring the implications it may have on City of Death)!
I groaned when I heard Suranne Jones was going to be cast. But she is absolutely fantastic!
I groaned when I heard Suranne Jones was going to be cast. But she is absolutely fantastic!
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
I've only watched the first episode so far (actually paused to re-read what you said about it), but I don't like it. I just feel sorry for Sarah Jane and although things will turn out alright between her and Luke by the end of part two, there's still the realisation she'll end up alone again. I don't like the truth all that much 
Now, part two.
Now, part two.
Asante sana, squash banana, wewe nugu, mimi hapana.
The BBC Press Office have revealed information about the final 2 David Tennant episodes...
Spoiler-ish (more like Teasers)
Spoiler-ish (more like Teasers)
Doctor Who – The End Of Time: Part One
It's the Tenth Doctor's final journey – but his psychotic nemesis the Master has been reborn, on Christmas Eve. With both determined to cheat death, the battle ranges from the wastelands of London to the mysterious Immortality Gate, while the alien Ood warn of an even greater danger approaching, as a terrible shadow falls across the entire Universe.
David Tennant stars as the Tenth Doctor and guest stars include John Simm, Bernard Cribbins, Catherine Tate, Timothy Dalton, David Harewood and June Whitfield.
The End Of Time – Part One is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Euros Lyn. The producer is Tracie Simpson.
Doctor Who – The End Of Time: Part One is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
Doctor Who – The End Of Time: Part Two
The Doctor faces the end of his life as the Master's plans hurtle out of control. With the sound of drums growing louder, and an ancient trap closing around the Earth, the Doctor and Wilf must fight alone. But sacrifices must be made, and the deadly prophecy warns: "He will knock four times."
David Tennant stars as the Tenth Doctor and guest stars include John Simm, Bernard Cribbins, Catherine Tate, Timothy Dalton, David Harewood and June Whitfield.
The End Of Time – Part Two is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Euros Lyn. The producer is Tracie Simpson.
Doctor Who – The End Of Time: Part Two is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
Special Project 3 has been revealed: a series of BBC One Idents for Christmas starring Tennant as The Doctor.
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Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
But is it canon?Escapay wrote:
That was awesome.
We all love Donna (don't we?) and we're all eagerly awaiting her return in the End of Time episodes this Christmas. And we all love Catherine Tate too (don't we?) but it has to be said, she's not the most switched on when it comes to Doctor Who general knowledge...
Tomorrow night on BBC2 there is a special Doctor Who themed "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" hosted by David Tennant himself. Watch the clip to see just how little Catherine Tate knows about Doctor Who!
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Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
-
Escapay
- Ultimate Collector's Edition
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netty wrote:But is it canon?Escapay wrote:
That was awesome.
Yes!netty wrote:We all love Donna (don't we?)
Yes!netty wrote:and we're all eagerly awaiting her return in the End of Time episodes this Christmas.
Yes!netty wrote:And we all love Catherine Tate too (don't we?)
YES!netty wrote:but it has to be said, she's not the most switched on when it comes to Doctor Who general knowledge...
I was lol'ing at the clip. I liked the part when she said that companions aren't supposed to know anything, which is partly true! The whole point of the companion is to be unaware of the universe outside the world until they meet the Doctor, and thus, when they go traveling with him, they become excited when they visit a place like Planet of the Hats.
albert
WIST #60:
AwallaceUNC: Would you prefer Substi-Blu-tiary Locomotion?
WIST #61:
TheSequelOfDisney: Damn, did Lin-Manuel Miranda go and murder all your families?
AwallaceUNC: Would you prefer Substi-Blu-tiary Locomotion?
WIST #61:
TheSequelOfDisney: Damn, did Lin-Manuel Miranda go and murder all your families?
I'll comment on End of Time later when I've got more time (ironically).
However, here's the first 2010 Doctor Who trailer
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Yes - The Weeping Angels are back!
However, here's the first 2010 Doctor Who trailer
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Yes - The Weeping Angels are back!
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database
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Maerj
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I swa Catherine Tate on the Graham Norton show and she said that she really knew nothing about Doctor Who. She told a story about Russell T. Davies taking her aside to tell her Davros was back. He was all secretive about it and she said that she just thought 'Who is Davros?'2099net wrote:But is it canon?Escapay wrote:
That was awesome.
We all love Donna (don't we?) and we're all eagerly awaiting her return in the End of Time episodes this Christmas. And we all love Catherine Tate too (don't we?) but it has to be said, she's not the most switched on when it comes to Doctor Who general knowledge...
Tomorrow night on BBC2 there is a special Doctor Who themed "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" hosted by David Tennant himself. Watch the clip to see just how little Catherine Tate knows about Doctor Who!
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/77Wf9w0-bwQ&co ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/77Wf9w0-bwQ&co ... edded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Well, unlike the Eccleston's end, the departure of David Tennant is the end of an era - not only is the actor leaving, but so are the majority of the behind-the-scenes crew who have kept Doctor Who running so smoothly since its 2005 revival. Indeed, the 2010 series (apparently called "Series One" internally) is going to be just as fresh, exciting and potentially different as the 2005 revival was - new Doctor, new companion, new TARDIS interior and exterior, new logo, new head writer and new producer and possibly a new opening sequence and theme tune remix. It's and exciting time, and I'm really looking forward to it.
So... on to The End of Time
I know its going to sound like I'm down on the story from the following criticisms, but I think its fair for me to get the bad out of the way before praising what's good. I can't really think of how to do this in chronological order so I'll just mention each as they come to me.
The biggest disappointment is the fact that finally we get to see the Time War - well, I guess we don't, but the there's certainly a scene with the Time Lords council "in session" when the war is taking place. And despite the BBC's best efforts (loved the crashed Dalek saucers around Gallifrey in the establishing shot) it just cannot live up to our imagination. In fact, the War is condensed into nothing more than "a meeting". I don't think the "return" of the Time Lords was a bad idea (in fact, its thematically bang on target) it's a shame, when RTDs been so good at just letting Time War teasers slip out over the past five or so years, it couldn't have been done somewhat differently.
I'm also extremely disappointed Donna didn't do more. I was convinced The Doctor would somehow be with Donna when he regenerated and used the event to cure Donna's Meta-crisis. (Of course, that's probably too obvious), but really she contributed nothing here. Even the tension of her remembering her time with the Doctor didn't have a decent pay-off (I assume after her sleep she wakes up "reset"? If so, does this mean every future invasion of Earth she's going to end up falling asleep and missing it just like she did before she met the Doctor? I must admit, that does tickle my funny bone a little). I can only hope that some day in the future Moffet will decide to pick-up and truely conclude Donna's story.
Also, I really think the extended goodbyes pre-regeneration was a wrong choice. I understand why it was done - as I said, a great era has ended and there's no guarantee any the concepts or characters from the past five years will ever return - but to me, it felt both dramatically wrong and somewhat self-indulgent. Wasn't Journey's End, in part, a goodbye to RTD's supporting cast? I really would have preferred a quicker, shorter regeneration. If RTD wanted a final roll-call, I'm sure it could have been fitted in via some alternative method (hallucinations? flashbacks? The Doctor sending a message from his TARDIS out into space?)
But enough about complaints, what about praise?
I cannot get over how FUN these episodes could be, despite us knowing the Tenth Doctor was going to die and some of the content being quite dark. I know its something which has upset some "fans" but while there's always room for the odd exception to the rule, to me, Doctor Who should always have elements of fun. It's like a comic strip in live action, and I'm pleased to say these episodes managed to remember that.
I mean, how good was the Master becoming everyone on Earth? It's a silly concept really, played with good humour throughout (It's totally worth it just for the "breaking news" quote alone) but at times, it could also be quite sinister. The sequence where the Masters start to corner Donna in the back alley really could be disturbing, and were a far cry from the Master[s] messing about we saw at the end of Part One. (And we got to see John Simm in dresses!)
(As an aside, I really did think a plot device for part two would be the Masters all starting to squabble among themselves and thus sowing the seeds of their own defeat. Again, perhaps too obvious.)
Also the same could be said for the Master's resurrection in Part One - had lots of iconography associated with black magic/black masses but was all a bit tongue-in-cheek and fun. But let's face it, if I was a 10 year old watching I'm sure it would have been one of the coolest things ever! Again, its been criticised by some "fans", but I really think some fans have long lost sight of the public audience.
I can't finish talking about the Master without praising John Simm's performance. I always liked his Master, and here, more insane than ever he easily out did his earlier appearance. Really, in this story the Master not only had to show insanity but also a lot more honest emotions. And Simm was able to turn on a dime from campy insane fun to serious acting - sometimes in the middle of the same scene. Just like David Tennant is able to - and to me, that makes Simm an ideal Master for the Tenth Doctor. They're still the opposite of each other, while sharing certain similarities.
Unless I blinked and missed it, The Master does just disappear. I assume he expelled all his energy attacking the Time Lords to save the Doctor and just died/vanished. I did at the time think this was a weakness - but then I remembered the first rule of Comic Strips: Nobody is dead unless you see the body (and even then its not certain) so I'm happy. It means a return match-up of The Master against Matt Smith isn't out of the question.
I also loved the Vinvocchi [sp?]. I can remember how disappointed I was when they showed up on some of the pre-showing publicity photos. But I was wrong - they contributed a lot of humour to the story ("Worst. Escape. Ever.") and I soon grew to love them. That's what RTD does so well - better than - if I may be so bold to suggest - even Steven Moffat. He writes characters. Somehow, no matter how strange, alien or different to us, all his characters seem real.
And of course, we can't talk about characters seeming real without talking about Bernard Cribbins. It's insane really - the finale to not only the "season" but also the Tenth Doctor and they choose to have an 80 year old man as his companion. If it was any other series, I sure the creative team would be laughed out of the room and told never to pitch something to the BBC ever again. But, wasn't it a stroke of genius? Wasn't Wilf absolutely fantastic throughout. And isn't Bernard Cribbins himself simply fantastic? Some of the scenes between him and the Doctor were electrifying due to their emotion - especially the Cafe scene.
I also liked how the episodes skirt around continuity and remain somewhat ambitious. Who was "The Woman" - early newspaper reports said she was playing The Doctor's mother (and indeed, the man who also voted against the council could be his Father if that is the case), but personally I prefer to think she was an incarnation of Romana (or could she even be Susan?). Timothy Dalton played Rassilon - as surprise, but why not? If the Master was resurrected to fight the Time War, wouldn't the Time Lords want to ressurect the first and greatest Time Lord and have him lead them? Although its not been said, I can even justify future appearances of the Daleks by having them somehow escape from the Time Lock in the time the Doctor and the Time Lords were messing about at the Infinity Gate.
The End of Time really does tie-up all of the RTD plots - arguably it could be said it leaves Moffat a total blank slate on which to create his version of Doctor Who. It had a lot to do, in a run time no longer than most movies and while I have my doubts, he did so brilliantly, creating a sense of fun and celebration around what could easily have been a dour and depressing tale about the death of a hero. Perhaps our own imaginations pictured something different, perhaps we still think some of our imaginings are better than what the episodes become. But no matter, its impossible to please everyone at the same time and I know from television reviews RTD managed to please most of the people, most of the time. Thank you RTD for the past five years of Doctor Who.
So... on to The End of Time
I know its going to sound like I'm down on the story from the following criticisms, but I think its fair for me to get the bad out of the way before praising what's good. I can't really think of how to do this in chronological order so I'll just mention each as they come to me.
The biggest disappointment is the fact that finally we get to see the Time War - well, I guess we don't, but the there's certainly a scene with the Time Lords council "in session" when the war is taking place. And despite the BBC's best efforts (loved the crashed Dalek saucers around Gallifrey in the establishing shot) it just cannot live up to our imagination. In fact, the War is condensed into nothing more than "a meeting". I don't think the "return" of the Time Lords was a bad idea (in fact, its thematically bang on target) it's a shame, when RTDs been so good at just letting Time War teasers slip out over the past five or so years, it couldn't have been done somewhat differently.
I'm also extremely disappointed Donna didn't do more. I was convinced The Doctor would somehow be with Donna when he regenerated and used the event to cure Donna's Meta-crisis. (Of course, that's probably too obvious), but really she contributed nothing here. Even the tension of her remembering her time with the Doctor didn't have a decent pay-off (I assume after her sleep she wakes up "reset"? If so, does this mean every future invasion of Earth she's going to end up falling asleep and missing it just like she did before she met the Doctor? I must admit, that does tickle my funny bone a little). I can only hope that some day in the future Moffet will decide to pick-up and truely conclude Donna's story.
Also, I really think the extended goodbyes pre-regeneration was a wrong choice. I understand why it was done - as I said, a great era has ended and there's no guarantee any the concepts or characters from the past five years will ever return - but to me, it felt both dramatically wrong and somewhat self-indulgent. Wasn't Journey's End, in part, a goodbye to RTD's supporting cast? I really would have preferred a quicker, shorter regeneration. If RTD wanted a final roll-call, I'm sure it could have been fitted in via some alternative method (hallucinations? flashbacks? The Doctor sending a message from his TARDIS out into space?)
But enough about complaints, what about praise?
I cannot get over how FUN these episodes could be, despite us knowing the Tenth Doctor was going to die and some of the content being quite dark. I know its something which has upset some "fans" but while there's always room for the odd exception to the rule, to me, Doctor Who should always have elements of fun. It's like a comic strip in live action, and I'm pleased to say these episodes managed to remember that.
I mean, how good was the Master becoming everyone on Earth? It's a silly concept really, played with good humour throughout (It's totally worth it just for the "breaking news" quote alone) but at times, it could also be quite sinister. The sequence where the Masters start to corner Donna in the back alley really could be disturbing, and were a far cry from the Master[s] messing about we saw at the end of Part One. (And we got to see John Simm in dresses!)
(As an aside, I really did think a plot device for part two would be the Masters all starting to squabble among themselves and thus sowing the seeds of their own defeat. Again, perhaps too obvious.)
Also the same could be said for the Master's resurrection in Part One - had lots of iconography associated with black magic/black masses but was all a bit tongue-in-cheek and fun. But let's face it, if I was a 10 year old watching I'm sure it would have been one of the coolest things ever! Again, its been criticised by some "fans", but I really think some fans have long lost sight of the public audience.
I can't finish talking about the Master without praising John Simm's performance. I always liked his Master, and here, more insane than ever he easily out did his earlier appearance. Really, in this story the Master not only had to show insanity but also a lot more honest emotions. And Simm was able to turn on a dime from campy insane fun to serious acting - sometimes in the middle of the same scene. Just like David Tennant is able to - and to me, that makes Simm an ideal Master for the Tenth Doctor. They're still the opposite of each other, while sharing certain similarities.
Unless I blinked and missed it, The Master does just disappear. I assume he expelled all his energy attacking the Time Lords to save the Doctor and just died/vanished. I did at the time think this was a weakness - but then I remembered the first rule of Comic Strips: Nobody is dead unless you see the body (and even then its not certain) so I'm happy. It means a return match-up of The Master against Matt Smith isn't out of the question.
I also loved the Vinvocchi [sp?]. I can remember how disappointed I was when they showed up on some of the pre-showing publicity photos. But I was wrong - they contributed a lot of humour to the story ("Worst. Escape. Ever.") and I soon grew to love them. That's what RTD does so well - better than - if I may be so bold to suggest - even Steven Moffat. He writes characters. Somehow, no matter how strange, alien or different to us, all his characters seem real.
And of course, we can't talk about characters seeming real without talking about Bernard Cribbins. It's insane really - the finale to not only the "season" but also the Tenth Doctor and they choose to have an 80 year old man as his companion. If it was any other series, I sure the creative team would be laughed out of the room and told never to pitch something to the BBC ever again. But, wasn't it a stroke of genius? Wasn't Wilf absolutely fantastic throughout. And isn't Bernard Cribbins himself simply fantastic? Some of the scenes between him and the Doctor were electrifying due to their emotion - especially the Cafe scene.
I also liked how the episodes skirt around continuity and remain somewhat ambitious. Who was "The Woman" - early newspaper reports said she was playing The Doctor's mother (and indeed, the man who also voted against the council could be his Father if that is the case), but personally I prefer to think she was an incarnation of Romana (or could she even be Susan?). Timothy Dalton played Rassilon - as surprise, but why not? If the Master was resurrected to fight the Time War, wouldn't the Time Lords want to ressurect the first and greatest Time Lord and have him lead them? Although its not been said, I can even justify future appearances of the Daleks by having them somehow escape from the Time Lock in the time the Doctor and the Time Lords were messing about at the Infinity Gate.
The End of Time really does tie-up all of the RTD plots - arguably it could be said it leaves Moffat a total blank slate on which to create his version of Doctor Who. It had a lot to do, in a run time no longer than most movies and while I have my doubts, he did so brilliantly, creating a sense of fun and celebration around what could easily have been a dour and depressing tale about the death of a hero. Perhaps our own imaginations pictured something different, perhaps we still think some of our imaginings are better than what the episodes become. But no matter, its impossible to please everyone at the same time and I know from television reviews RTD managed to please most of the people, most of the time. Thank you RTD for the past five years of Doctor Who.
Most of my Blu-ray collection some of my UK discs aren't on their database