30 Days of Nu-Who: Day 13

[annissamazing]

Day 13 - Favorite Era visited by The Doctor & Co.



Despite my interest in history, I'm not a big fan of the historical episodes of this show. I am more interested in the episodes that take place in the far future. My favorite era the show visits is the end of the world.

The Doctor: You lot, you spend all your time thinking about dying, like you're gonna get killed by eggs, or beef, or global warming, or asteroids. But you never take time to imagine the impossible. Like maybe you survive. This is the year 5.5/apple/26, five billion years in your future, and this is the day... Hold on... This is the day the sun expands. Welcome to the end of the world.

The Doctor takes Rose to the year five billion to witness the expansion of Sol and the destruction of Earth. It's not the end of the human race. They have moved to other star systems, mingled with other species, and continue to thrive and multiply throughout the universe. Still, the end of the world is upsetting to Rose, especially since they were so busy trying not to die that nobody was watching when it passed.

I may not have found the end of the Earth as upsetting as Rose did, but I thought it was an interesting counterpoint to the Doctor's revelation that Gallifrey is also gone. I think he was trying desperately to have someone understand what he was going through at that time. I think it made Rose uniquely able to understand him.

Rose: The end of the Earth. Its gone... we were too busy saving ourselves, no one saw it go. All those years, all that history and no one was even looking. It's just...

The Doctor: Come with me...

...

The Doctor: You think it'll last forever, the people and cars and concrete. But it won't. One day it's all gone, even the sky. My planet's gone. It's dead. It burned like the Earth. It's rocks and dust before its time.

Rose: What happened?

The Doctor: There was a war, and we lost.

Rose: A war with who? ... What about your people?

The Doctor: I'm a Time Lord. I'm the last of them. They're all gone. I'm the only survivor. I'm left traveling on my own because there's no-one else.

Rose: There's me.

Day 1 - Favorite Incarnation of the Doctor: Nine
Day 2 - Favorite Companion: Donna Noble
Day 3 - Favorite Villain/Monster/Alien/Baddie of the Week: The Entity from "Midnight"
Day 4 - Favorite Character: Wilfred Mott
Day 5 - Favorite Guest Star: Anthony Stewart Head
Day 6 - Least Favorite Character: Lady Christina de Souza
Day 7 - Favorite Episode: "Midnight"
Day 8 - Favorite Series: Series Four
Day 9 - Least Favorite Episode: "Planet of the Dead"
Day 10 - Favorite Scene/Moment: "Don't... just don't."
Day 11 - Scene/Moment that makes you cry: Ten rages against the dying of the light
Day 12 - Scene/Moment that makes you giggle: Jackie Tyler smacks the Doctor
Day 13 - Favorite Era visited by The Doctor & Co: The End of the World
Day 14 - Fave Doctor Moment
Day 15 - Fave Rose Moment
Day 16 - Fave Martha Moment
Day 17 - Fave Donna Moment
Day 18 - Fave Amy Moment
Day 19 - Favorite Ship
Day 20 - Prettiest Scene
Day 21 - Favorite Location
Day 22 - Something Silly
Day 23 - Something Epic
Day 24 - Favorite Accessory of the Doctor's
Day 25 - Favorite TARDIS Team
Day 26 - Scene/Moment that made you go 'awww'
Day 27 - Scene/Moment that made you go 'argh'
Day 28 - Favorite Series Arc
Day 29 - Favorite Music/Song
Day 30 - Why Do YOU Love Doctor Who

Comments

[ladyprydian.livejournal.com]

*waves*
Hello new friend! I just re-watched this episode last night and must admit that it's one of my favourites. In particular the scene you quoted. Goodness, Christopher Eccleston was a special kind of beautiful there.

I also really like Rose's costume in this episode. It looks right on her.

[redknightalex.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they never do seem to get those historical episodes right, do they?

This was an interesting episode overall, mostly because even if Nine took Rose on as a companion, he rather forgot about her, she almost dies, and then has a huge character development moment (in the second episode!) where she sees her world die and then come back to life. Personally, I would have been just as upset as Rose if that had happened to me; a numbness after seeing the death and birth of your own race.

Plus, you're right about the contrast with the Doctor's own story about Gallifrey: Rose was able to see her planet return to life (resurrected in a way), but the Doctor never can. Maybe a little vicarious living for him?

P.S. - When we did the rewatch a few weeks ago, I kept wanting to yell out "Galaxy Quest moment!" whenever Nine was near the fans in the engine room but figured most were too involved in CE and his angst than to deal with my silliness. I hope you at least get my reference. :)

[flydye8.livejournal.com]

CE was wonderful in this episode. I think the part that touches me the most about this episode is when Jade tells him that she is sorry for his loss.
Great choice