Doctor Who Series 4 Episode 13 Journey’s End: Television’s Finest Hour

BY: ORANGECHAIR

Four seasons, four full seasons of television have been building to this series 4 finale. Like cockroaches, the Daleks somehow managed to survive, return to power and threaten the entire universe This time however, the Daleks returned with their creator, Davros, and have found a way to wipe out all of reality. By stealing planets and aligning them in the correct order, the Daleks have created a power source capable of enhancing their reality bomb (a weapon with the ability to destroy reality) to reach the entire universe. To save the day, the Doctor and his companions must band together and destroy the Dalek’s new empire.



The Doctor’s companions seem to crawl out of the woodwork when the Earth is stolen and humanity itself is threatened. Official companions Donna Noble, who is the Doctor’s companion for all of Series 4, Sarah Jane and Martha Jones, the Series 3 companion, ban together to help save the Earth. Unofficial companions also join the battle. Captain Jack, head of Torchwood, returns and puts his inability to be killed to good use. Mickey Smith returns from the parallel universe and even brings Jackie Tyler. Though it was nice to see all the mentioned characters again, nothing made me happier than seeing the triumphant return of Rose Tyler.



This hour long episode of Doctor Who was the most enjoyable hour of television I have had the pleasure of watching. Each character that returned was a wave of happiness and nothing was more satisfying than seeing the Doctor and his companions fly the TARDIS, and with it the earth, home. No episode better showcases the wit, skill and absolute brilliance of the Doctor Who team of writers. Everything that Doctor Who fans crave happens in this episode. Rose Tyler returns across a universe to see her Doctor one more time. Donna Noble finally realizes how important her role in the universe is. The Doctor’s secret army, his companions whose lives he has changed forever, ban together to save the Earth in the Doctor’s absence and they all survive (except for Captain Jack but death doesn’t really faze him). Despite all of this however, the show cannot leave us with simple happiness. Once again, the show left me devastated.

Last time it was Rose Tyler leaving the universe but this time it was Donna Noble. After a full season of self doubt and some fairly horrible events (getting a “fake” family in the library, having her history rewritten, destroying Pompei ect.) Donna is finally given her moment to shine. Inadvertently sparking some of the Doctor’s energy, Donna becomes the first half human half Time Lord. Using the knowledge she gained from the Doctor, Donna single handedly saves all of reality. Releasing the Doctor and his army, Donna helps to right the wrongs the Daleks caused and returned everybody to their rightful places. Once the day is saved and Donna’s rightful place in the universe is revealed, it becomes clear what sacrifice she must make. Reality could have only been saved by a human Tim Lord but there is a reason a human Time Lord has never existed. Donna’s mind cannot handle the knowledge and power that comes with being a Time Lord. To continue living, she must forget that she is a Time Lord which means she must forget anything that could remind her of the Time Lords. To save her life, the Doctor must erase every memory of himself and their time together from Donna Noble’s head.



Where Rose Tyler was originally stuck in another world without the Doctor, she at least had her memories with him. Donna is afforded no such luxury. Instead, to keep her alive, the Doctor himself must wipe every happy memory they had together from her mind. Doctor Who proves itself to be an outstanding television show. Easily taking me through a vast range of emotions in a single hour, this finale makes me wonder what is going to happen to this amazing show when David Tennant lets go of the reigns and the Doctor regenerates.