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"'''Journey's End'''" is the thirteenth and final episode of the ] of the British ] series '']'', which was first broadcast on ] on 5 July 2008. It is the second episode of a two-part ] story featuring the characters of spin-off shows '']'' and '']'', preceded by "]", which aired on 28 June. At 65 minutes in length, it was approximately 20 minutes longer than a standard fourth-series episode.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|author=Carter, Lewis|title=Doctor Who finale to be watched by 10 million|newspaper=]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2218003/Doctor-Who-finale-to-be-watched-by-10-million.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630203026/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2218003/Doctor-Who-finale-to-be-watched-by-10-million.html|url-status=live|archive-date=30 June 2008|date=29 June 2008|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref> It marked the final regular appearances of every companion introduced in the Russell T Davies era, including ] as ]. "'''Journey's End'''" is the thirteenth and final episode of the ] of the British ] series '']'', which was first broadcast on ] on 5 July 2008. It is the second episode of a two-part ] story featuring the characters of spin-off shows '']'' and '']'', preceded by "]", which aired on 28 June.


In the episode, the former travelling ] of the ] ], prepare to counter the ]s' universe-destroying Reality Bomb with devastating weapons of their own. It was longer than the standard episode length for ''Doctor Who''. It marked the final regular appearances of every companion introduced in the Russell T Davies era, including ] as ]. In the episode, the former ] of the ], prepare to stop the ]s' universe-destroying Reality Bomb.


"Journey's End" received mostly positive reviews, although some were more mixed than the previous episode, "The Stolen Earth". "Journey's End" received mostly positive reviews, largely for the emotional core of the episode and its effect on characters. Some reviews were more mixed than the previous episode, finding the plot to be under-developed and silly. The episode was the most-viewed programme of the week, the first ''Doctor Who'' episode to receive this rank.


==Plot== ==Plot==
Line 55: Line 55:
Inside the ], the ] is ]. He halts the transformation by transferring the remaining energy into his severed hand.{{refn|group=N|The Doctor's hand was originally severed from his wrist in the 2005 episode "]".}} The regeneration has progressed enough to enable the Doctor's body to heal, but not change his physical appearance. ] and ] find safety in an impenetrable time lock and ] is saved from ]s by ]'s ex-boyfriend ] and her mother ]. Inside the ], the ] is ]. He halts the transformation by transferring the remaining energy into his severed hand.{{refn|group=N|The Doctor's hand was originally severed from his wrist in the 2005 episode "]".}} The regeneration has progressed enough to enable the Doctor's body to heal, but not change his physical appearance. ] and ] find safety in an impenetrable time lock and ] is saved from ]s by ]'s ex-boyfriend ] and her mother ].


The TARDIS is captured by the ]s and transported to their flagship the ''Crucible''. Sarah Jane, Mickey, and Jackie surrender themselves to get aboard. The Supreme Dalek orders the TARDIS to be destroyed, with Donna Noble locked inside; in the process, Donna touches the severed hand, enveloping her in regeneration energy and causing a new, cloned Doctor (the ]) to form, who saves the TARDIS from destruction. The TARDIS is captured by the ]s and transported to their ] the ''Crucible''. Sarah Jane, Mickey, and Jackie surrender themselves to get aboard. The Supreme Dalek orders the TARDIS to be destroyed, with Donna Noble locked inside; in the process, Donna touches the severed hand, enveloping her in regeneration energy and causes the creation of a new Doctor (the ]), who saves the TARDIS from destruction.


], creator of the Daleks, explains that the stolen planets form a "Reality Bomb" which would destroy all matter in every universe. To stop the bomb, ] threatens to destroy Earth, and Sarah Jane, Mickey, ], and Jackie threaten to destroy the ''Crucible''. Davros mocks the Doctor for acting the champion of peace while turning those around him into weapons. The Supreme Dalek transports both groups in front of Davros. The Meta-Crisis Doctor and Donna also arrive and try to use a device to refocus the bomb onto the Daleks. Davros blasts them both with electricity. Donna becomes imbued with ] knowledge that she gained during the Meta-Crisis Doctor's creation and disables the bomb and the Daleks. The two Doctors and Donna relocate the missing planets, but the control panel is destroyed before Earth can be relocated. Motivated by Dalek Caan's prophecy of the Daleks' extinction, the new Doctor destroys the Daleks and the ''Crucible''. The original Doctor offers to save Davros, who refuses. The companions flee into the TARDIS and "tow" the Earth back into its original orbit using the Cardiff Rift as a "tow rope". ], creator of the Daleks, explains that the stolen planets form a "Reality Bomb" which would destroy all matter in every universe. To stop the bomb, ] threatens to detonate nukes and destroy Earth. Davros mocks the Doctor for acting the champion of peace while turning those around him into weapons. The Supreme Dalek transports both groups in front of Davros. The Meta-Crisis Doctor and Donna also arrive and try to use a device to refocus the bomb onto the Daleks. Davros blasts them both with electricity. Donna becomes imbued with ] knowledge that she gained during the Meta-Crisis Doctor's creation and disables the bomb and the Daleks. The two Doctors and Donna relocate the missing planets, but the control panel is destroyed before Earth can be relocated. Motivated by Dalek Caan's prophecy of the Daleks' extinction, the new Doctor destroys the Daleks and the ''Crucible''. The Doctor offers to save Davros, who refuses. The companions flee into the TARDIS. They return the Earth back into its original orbit and then return home.


Sarah Jane returns home; Martha and Mickey leave with Jack; and the Doctor returns Rose and Jackie to the parallel universe in which they were previously trapped.{{refn|group=N|As depicted in the 2006 episode "]".}} He also sends the Meta-Crisis Doctor into the parallel universe to accompany Rose, as the Meta-Crisis Doctor is part-human and will grow old along with her. After departing, Donna's human mind becomes overwhelmed by the Time Lord knowledge and starts to deteriorate. Against her wishes, the Doctor wipes her mind and brings her to Wilfred and Sylvia. The Doctor tells them that although Donna's life has been saved, she can never know the details of her time with him, or she will die. He then departs from the Noble household, alone. The Doctor returns Rose and Jackie to the parallel universe in which they were previously trapped.{{refn|group=N|As depicted in the 2006 episode "]".}} He also sends the Meta-Crisis Doctor into the parallel universe to accompany Rose. After departing, Donna's human mind becomes overwhelmed by the Time Lord knowledge and starts to deteriorate. Against her wishes, the Doctor wipes her mind and brings her to Wilfred and Sylvia. The Doctor tells them that although Donna's life has been saved, she can never know the details of her time with him, or she will die. He then departs from the Noble household, alone.

===Continuity===
The episode is the culmination of all four series of '']'' produced by ];<ref name="PiCpreview">{{cite journal|last=Spilsbury|first=Tom|date=April 2008|title=The Gallifrey Guardian: Series Four Episode 1: Partners in Crime: Back in Business!|journal=]|publisher=]|location=], ]|issue=394|pages=6–7}}</ref> dialogue in the episode refers to the events of "]", in which the Doctor had his hand amputated and regrown while fighting against the Sycorax.<ref name="smithka">{{cite book|last1=Lewis|first1=Courtland|last2=Smithka|first2=Paula|title=Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside|date=2010|publisher=Open Court|isbn=9780812697254|pages=32–33|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShPnLHcKqUwC&q=doctor%20who%20severed%20hand&pg=PA32|access-date=4 November 2017|language=en|chapter=What's Continuity without Persistence?}}</ref> The episode refers to '']''; Davros mentions Sarah Jane's presence on ] at the creation of the race.<ref name="Fact File">{{cite news
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=s4_13&action=factfile
| title = Fact File
| date = 5 July 2008
| access-date = 5 July 2008
| publisher = ]}}</ref>

The Doctor's reply to Rose's statement of love is specified to Rose but left unheard to the audience; Davies deliberately left the reply ambiguous when he wrote "]". Executive producer ] stated on the "Doomsday" commentary and the '']'' special for "Journey's End" that the Doctor requited her love.<ref name="pod">{{cite video
|people=], ], ]
|title=Commentary for "Doomsday"
|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/mood-commentary.mp3
|format=mp3
|publisher=]
|access-date=30 October 2007
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070120043211/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/mood-commentary.mp3
|archive-date=20 January 2007
}}</ref><ref name="End of an Era">{{cite episode | title = ] | series = ] | credits = Gillane Seaborne (producer) | network = ] | station = ] | airdate = 5 July 2008}}</ref>

The music during the travel back to Earth's original place is the "Song of Freedom" heard at the end of "]" and appearing on the series' ].<ref name="proms">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_100721_01|title=The Proms are Almost Here!|date=21 July 2010|publisher=]|access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>


==Production== ==Production==


===Writing=== ===Writing===
The episode is the culmination of all four series of '']'' produced by ];<ref name="PiCpreview">{{cite journal|last=Spilsbury|first=Tom|date=April 2008|title=The Gallifrey Guardian: Series Four Episode 1: Partners in Crime: Back in Business!|journal=]|publisher=]|location=], ]|issue=394|pages=6–7}}</ref> dialogue in the episode refers to the events of "]", in which the Doctor had his hand amputated and regrown while fighting against the Sycorax.<ref name="smithka">{{cite book|last1=Lewis|first1=Courtland|last2=Smithka|first2=Paula|title=Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside|date=2010|publisher=Open Court|isbn=9780812697254|pages=32–33|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShPnLHcKqUwC&q=doctor%20who%20severed%20hand&pg=PA32|access-date=4 November 2017|language=en|chapter=What's Continuity without Persistence?}}</ref> Russell T Davies started writing "Journey's End" in January 2008.<ref name="rtd-wt">{{cite book|last1=Davies|first1=Russell T |author-link=Russell T Davies|last2=Cook|first2=Benjamin|author-link2=Benjamin Cook (journalist)|title=The Writer's Tale |edition=1st|date=25 September 2008|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-84607-571-1|chapter=Day Old Blues}}</ref> At 65 minutes in length, it was approximately 20 minutes longer than a standard fourth-series episode.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|author=Carter, Lewis|title=Doctor Who finale to be watched by 10 million|newspaper=]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2218003/Doctor-Who-finale-to-be-watched-by-10-million.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630203026/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2218003/Doctor-Who-finale-to-be-watched-by-10-million.html|url-status=live|archive-date=30 June 2008|date=29 June 2008|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref>
Russell T Davies started writing "Journey's End" in January 2008.<ref name="rtd-wt">{{cite book|last1=Davies|first1=Russell T |author-link=Russell T Davies|last2=Cook|first2=Benjamin|author-link2=Benjamin Cook (journalist)|title=The Writer's Tale |edition=1st|date=25 September 2008|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-84607-571-1|chapter=Day Old Blues}}</ref> A scene filmed showed the Doctor giving Rose's Doctor a small piece of "coral" from the TARDIS so that he could grow his own TARDIS.<ref name="Fact File" /> This was removed in the last edit of the episode, but was ultimately cut because the production team felt it made the Bad Wolf Bay scene "too long and complicated"<ref name="dwm398">{{cite journal|date=24 July 2008|title=Grow your own TARDIS|journal=]|publisher=]|location=]|issue=398|page=18}}</ref>
and that producing another TARDIS should not be seen to be so easy.<ref name="dwm398"/> The clip was included on the Series 4 DVD boxset.<ref name="dwm398"/>


The music during the travel back to Earth's original place is the "Song of Freedom" heard at the end of "]" and appearing on the series' ].<ref name="proms">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_100721_01|title=The Proms are Almost Here!|date=21 July 2010|publisher=]|access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>
Another additional scene with Donna was cut from the final episode: ''"There was an additional Donna bit after this goodbye from the Doctor, which is when he goes outside into the TARDIS, we cut back into the kitchen, and there's a moment where Donna hears the TARDIS... there's a moment of realisation, and then she turns back round and carries on talking into the phone."''<ref name="alt ending">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CllZakdL8YE|title=Journey's End - Original Ending &#124; Doctor Who Series 4|date=22 May 2019 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Gardner considered this scene untruthful and too confusing, since Donna remembering would lead to her death, and since she didn't recognise the Doctor it wouldn't make sense to assume she would recognise the noise of the TARDIS.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=''Doctor Who'' "Journey's End" commentary with Phil Collinson and Julie Gardner|archive-date=2016-01-23 |url-status=live |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_13?playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_13/audio/s4_13_aud_06.xml&audio=1&date=&summary=With%20Julie%20Gardner%20and%20Phil%20Collinson.&promo=/doctorwho/medialibrary/images/main-promo/s4_01_trl_03.jpg&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_13_aud_06 |website=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123144211/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_13?playlist=%2Fdoctorwho%2Fplaylists%2Fs4_13%2Faudio%2Fs4_13_aud_06.xml&audio=1&date=&summary=With%20Julie%20Gardner%20and%20Phil%20Collinson.&promo=%2Fdoctorwho%2Fmedialibrary%2Fimages%2Fmain-promo%2Fs4_01_trl_03.jpg&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_13_aud_06 }}</ref>


This episode's original ending involved the Doctor, following the final scene where he is alone in the TARDIS, being alerted to something on the monitor and as he checks two ] rise up behind him.<ref name="alt ending"/> This was supposed to lead directly into the 2008 Christmas special "]", but Davies was convinced by ] (who was corresponding with Davies for the book ''Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale'') to drop the scene, as he felt that a cliffhanger was not appropriate after such a sad ending. This episode's original ending involved the Doctor, following the final scene where he is alone in the TARDIS, being alerted to something on the monitor and as he checks two ] rise up behind him.<ref name="alt ending">{{Cite web |date=22 May 2019 |title=Journey's End - Original Ending &#124; Doctor Who Series 4 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CllZakdL8YE |via=YouTube}}</ref> This was supposed to lead directly into the 2008 Christmas special "]", but Davies was convinced by ] (who was corresponding with Davies for the book ''Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale'') to drop the scene, as he felt that a cliffhanger was not appropriate after such a sad ending.


===Casting=== ===Casting===
Mickey Smith and Jackie Tyler make their first appearances in ''Doctor Who'' since "]".<ref name="Doomsday">{{cite episode | title = ] | series = ] | credits = ] (writer), ] (director), ] (producer) | network = ] | station = ] | airdate = 8 July 2006}}</ref> K9 Mark IV (voiced by ]) makes his first appearance since '']'' story '']'',<ref name="The Lost Boy Part Two">{{cite serial | title = ] | episode = Part Two | series = ] | credits = ] (writer), ] (director), Matthew Bouch (producer) | network = ] | station = ] | airdate = 19 November 2007}}</ref> and his first in ''Doctor Who'' since "]".<ref name="School Reunion">{{cite episode | title = ] | series = ] | credits = ] (writer), ] (director), ] (producer) | network = ] | station = ] | airdate = 29 April 2006}}</ref> ] and ] make their first appearances in ''Doctor Who'' since "]".<ref name="Doomsday">{{cite episode | title = ] | series = ] | credits = ] (writer), ] (director), ] (producer) | network = ] | station = ] | airdate = 8 July 2006}}</ref> ] (voiced by ]) makes his first appearance since '']'' story '']'',<ref name="The Lost Boy Part Two">{{cite serial | title = ] | episode = Part Two | series = ] | credits = ] (writer), ] (director), Matthew Bouch (producer) | network = ] | station = ] | airdate = 19 November 2007}}</ref> and his first in ''Doctor Who'' since "]".<ref name="School Reunion">{{cite episode | title = ] | series = ] | credits = ] (writer), ] (director), ] (producer) | network = ] | station = ] | airdate = 29 April 2006}}</ref> Several former companions return for the episode including ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=Doctor Who companions in order: From Susan Foreman to Belinda Chandra |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-companions-in-order/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Former '']'' presenter ] controlled one of the Daleks that escorts the human prisoners aboard the Crucible.{{Clarify|why is this notable or important, why not a regular operator?|date=July 2010}}<ref name="The Doctor Who News Page">{{cite news
|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/news.php
|title=Media round-up
|date=28 June 2008
|access-date=6 July 2008
|last=Hayes
|first=Paul
|publisher=The Doctor Who News Page
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630053259/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news.php
|archive-date=30 June 2008
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> He previously played a ] in "Rise of the Cybermen" and has made a ] as himself in ''Doctor Who'' spin-off ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' in the episode "]".<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web
| url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1693955/
| title = Gethin Jones
| date = 6 July 2008
| access-date = 6 July 2008
| website = ]}}</ref><ref name="Invasion of the Bane">{{cite episode | title = ] | series = ] | credits = ], ] (writers), ] (director), ] (] | station = ] | airdate = 1 January 2007}}</ref>


===Filming=== ===Filming===
], situated close to ''Doctor Who'''s ], is used as the German castle.<ref name="SFX">{{cite magazine |last=Golder |first=Dave |date=5 July 2008 |title=TV REVIEW Doctor Who 4.13 "Journey's End" |url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=tv_review_doctor_who_413 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709192654/http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=tv_review_doctor_who_413 |archive-date=9 July 2008 |access-date=5 July 2008 |magazine=]}}</ref> The beach at ], a few miles west of ], is used once more as ]'s fictional Dårlig Ulv Stranden (Bad Wolf Bay).<ref name="Fact File" /><ref> ], situated close to ''Doctor Who'''s ], is used as the German castle.<ref name="SFX">{{cite magazine |last=Golder |first=Dave |date=5 July 2008 |title=TV REVIEW Doctor Who 4.13 "Journey's End" |url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=tv_review_doctor_who_413 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709192654/http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=tv_review_doctor_who_413 |archive-date=9 July 2008 |access-date=5 July 2008 |magazine=]}}</ref> The beach at ], a few miles west of ], is used once more as ]'s fictional Dårlig Ulv Stranden (Bad Wolf Bay).{{sfn|Pixley|2008|p=127}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Walesarts, Southerndown beach, Vale of Glamorgan |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/southerndown-beach |access-date=30 May 2010 |publisher=BBC}}
{{cite web |title=Walesarts, Southerndown beach, Vale of Glamorgan |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/southerndown-beach |access-date=30 May 2010 |publisher=BBC}} </ref> Some exterior scenes, including various companions interacting with Daleks, were shot at Arcot Street, ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Walesarts, Harbour View Road and Arcot Street, Penarth |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/penarth-harbour-view-road-arcot-street |access-date=30 May 2010 |publisher=BBC}}
</ref> Some exterior scenes, including various companions interacting with Daleks, were shot at Arcot Street, ].<ref>
{{cite web |title=Walesarts, Harbour View Road and Arcot Street, Penarth |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/penarth-harbour-view-road-arcot-street |access-date=30 May 2010 |publisher=BBC}}
</ref> </ref>


One significant feature of this episode is the creation of another Doctor. Unlike the multiple Doctors of stories such as '']'', "]" and '']'', where his previous incarnations were played by actors or depicted in old footage, this Doctor is identical in appearance to the Tenth Doctor. In the accompanying '']'' for this episode, Davies explains "This is so busy and so ''mental'' and so epic and universal in scale that of course you need two Doctors to solve it."<ref name="End of an Era" /> Phil Collinson, Graeme Harper, and David Tennant discuss the use of the double, a musician named Colum Regan<ref>Colum Regan is credited as body double to David Tennant, '']'' – </ref> who is a very good physical match for Tennant. Collinson explains that while with an unlimited budget they would use Tennant in every shot, "we only have a certain number of effects shots where you can see the two Doctors together, so we have to pick those carefully." One significant feature of this episode is the creation of another Doctor. Unlike the multiple Doctors of stories such as '']'', "]" and '']'', where his previous incarnations were played by actors or depicted in old footage, this Doctor is identical in appearance to the Tenth Doctor. In the accompanying '']'' for this episode, Davies explains "This is so busy and so ''mental'' and so epic and universal in scale that of course you need two Doctors to solve it."<ref name="End of an Era">{{cite episode |title=] |series=] |network=] |station=] |airdate=5 July 2008 |credits=Gillane Seaborne (producer)}}</ref>


Harper is then shown directing a scene in which both Regan and Tennant are shown around the TARDIS console. Harper explains that in "two or three wide shots" they were able to use Regan and Tennant together. For the most part the double is used for scenes where one or the other Doctor is only seen from behind, or only an arm or back of the head is seen in a shot. The double has appeared in other episodes throughout the series. Over documentary footage showing the shooting of the scene where the new Doctor emerges from the TARDIS, Tennant describes the procedure for making an effects shot involving Tennant as both Doctors. The camera is locked in place while Tennant goes off and changes clothing, with Regan holding his place. A shot is made for reference with Regan, then another shot is made without Regan. This enables the shots to be merged during editing to create the effect of having David Tennant in two places in the same shot.<ref name="End of an Era" /> ], ], and David Tennant discuss the use of the double, a musician named Colum Regan<ref>Colum Regan is credited as body double to David Tennant, '']'' – </ref> who is a very good physical match for Tennant. Collinson explains that while with an unlimited budget they would use Tennant in every shot, "we only have a certain number of effects shots where you can see the two Doctors together, so we have to pick those carefully." Harper explained that in "two or three wide shots" they were able to use Regan and Tennant together; for the most part the double is used for scenes where one or the other Doctor is only seen from behind, or only an arm or back of the head is seen in a shot. The double has appeared in other episodes throughout the series. Tennant described the procedure for making an effects shot involving Tennant as both Doctors. The camera is locked in place while Tennant goes off and changes clothing, with Regan holding his place.<ref name="End of an Era" />


A scene filmed showed the Doctor giving Rose's Doctor a small piece of "coral" from the TARDIS so that he could grow his own TARDIS.{{sfn|Pixley|2008|p=140}} This was removed in the last edit of the episode, but was ultimately cut because the production team felt it made the Bad Wolf Bay scene "too long and complicated"<ref name="dwm398">{{cite journal |date=24 July 2008 |title=Grow your own TARDIS |journal=] |location=] |publisher=] |issue=398 |page=18}}</ref> and that producing another TARDIS should not be seen to be so easy.<ref name="dwm398" /> The clip was included on the Series 4 DVD boxset.<ref name="dwm398" /> The Doctor's reply to Rose's statement of love is specified to Rose but left unheard to the audience; Davies deliberately left the reply ambiguous when he wrote "]". Executive producer ] stated on the "Doomsday" commentary and the '']'' special for "Journey's End" that the Doctor requited her love.<ref name="pod">{{cite video |url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/mood-commentary.mp3 |title=Commentary for "Doomsday" |publisher=] |access-date=30 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070120043211/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/mood-commentary.mp3 |archive-date=20 January 2007 |url-status=dead |format=mp3 |people=], ], ]}}</ref><ref name="End of an Era" />
==Broadcast and reception==


Another additional scene with Donna was cut from the final episode: "There was an additional Donna bit after this goodbye from the Doctor, which is when he goes outside into the TARDIS, we cut back into the kitchen, and there's a moment where Donna hears the TARDIS... there's a moment of realisation, and then she turns back round and carries on talking into the phone."<ref name="alt ending" /> Gardner considered this scene untruthful and too confusing, since Donna remembering would lead to her death, and since she didn't recognise the Doctor it wouldn't make sense to assume she would recognise the noise of the TARDIS.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_13?playlist=/doctorwho/playlists/s4_13/audio/s4_13_aud_06.xml&audio=1&date=&summary=With%20Julie%20Gardner%20and%20Phil%20Collinson.&promo=/doctorwho/medialibrary/images/main-promo/s4_01_trl_03.jpg&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_13_aud_06 |title=Doctor Who "Journey's End" commentary with Phil Collinson and Julie Gardner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123144211/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_13?playlist=%2Fdoctorwho%2Fplaylists%2Fs4_13%2Faudio%2Fs4_13_aud_06.xml&audio=1&date=&summary=With%20Julie%20Gardner%20and%20Phil%20Collinson.&promo=%2Fdoctorwho%2Fmedialibrary%2Fimages%2Fmain-promo%2Fs4_01_trl_03.jpg&info=&info2=&info3=&tag_file_id=s4_13_aud_06 |archive-date=2016-01-23 |url-status=live |website=]}}</ref>
===Broadcast===
The episode was screened free in ] in ] as part of ]; the ] ] was planned to be shown during the 2007 event, but was cancelled as a security measure.<ref name="OG Pride">{{cite news|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=7-2007#newsitemEElFkAZAyyvWqDoaUZ |title=Doctor Who dropped at London Pride 2007 |publisher=] |access-date=2 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911231045/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=7-2007#newsitemEElFkAZAyyvWqDoaUZ |archive-date=11 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A ] was appended to promote the ].<ref name="Doomsday" />


==Release==
"Journey's End" was watched by 10.57 million viewers when broadcast on ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |date=16 July 2008 |access-date=16 July 2008 |publisher=] |title=Weekly Viewing Summary w/e 06/07/2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418100604/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |archive-date=18 April 2007 }}</ref> giving it a 45.9% share of the total television audience. The episode was the most-viewed programme of the week; "Journey's End" is the first ''Doctor Who'' episode to receive this rank. It also received an ] score of 91, equalling the record for the programme set by its predecessor "The Stolen Earth".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EkEVuFppyybCfstIhg&tmpl=newsrss&style=feedstyle|title=Outpost Gallifrey: Doctor Who RSS News Feed<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040402091616/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news.php#newsitemEkpVZAFlFErJvvglkz |date=2 April 2004 }}, ''Journey's End – Overnight Ratings'', 6 July 2008, ] website.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Doctor Who finale watched by 9.4m |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7491981.stm |work=] |date=6 July 2008 |access-date=7 July 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Digital Spy">{{cite web |title='Doctor Who' finale pulls in 9.4 million |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a108225/doctor-who-finale-pulls-in-94-million.html |last=West |first=Dave |website=] |date=6 July 2008 |access-date=7 July 2008 }}</ref>

A story on the ] described fan reaction of the serials on the ] and ] forums as "mixed".<ref>, ], 7 July 2008</ref><!--DON'T put primary sources (e.g. forum postings) here. They will be removed. -->
===Broadcast===
The episode was screened free in ] in ] as part of ].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The ] ] was previously planned to be shown during the 2007 event, but was cancelled as a security measure.<ref name="OG Pride">{{cite news|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=7-2007#newsitemEElFkAZAyyvWqDoaUZ |title=Doctor Who dropped at London Pride 2007 |publisher=] |access-date=2 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911231045/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=7-2007#newsitemEElFkAZAyyvWqDoaUZ |archive-date=11 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A ] was appended to promote the 2008 Christmas Special, "].<ref name="Doomsday" />


"Journey's End" was watched by 10.57 million viewers when broadcast on ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/?_s=4 |title=Weekly Top 30 Programmes |publisher=] |access-date=25 October 2024}} (No permanent link available. Search for relevant dates.)</ref> giving it a 45.9% share of the total television audience. The episode was the most-viewed programme of the week; "Journey's End" is the first ''Doctor Who'' episode to receive this rank. It also received an ] score of 91, equalling the record for the programme set by its predecessor "The Stolen Earth".<ref>{{cite news |title=Doctor Who finale watched by 9.4m |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7491981.stm |work=] |date=6 July 2008 |access-date=7 July 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Digital Spy">{{cite web |title='Doctor Who' finale pulls in 9.4 million |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a108225/doctor-who-finale-pulls-in-94-million.html |last=West |first=Dave |website=] |date=6 July 2008 |access-date=7 July 2008 }}</ref> "Journey's End" was the first science fiction–based series to achieve a No. 1 placing in the UK television ratings in 32 years after a July 1976 broadcast of '']''.<ref>''Television's Greatest Hits'', Network Books, ] and ], 1993. {{ISBN|0 563 36247 2}}</ref>
"Journey's End" became the first science fiction–based series to achieve a No. 1 placing in the UK television ratings for 32 years (the last time being for the US series '']'' in July 1976).<ref>''Television's Greatest Hits'', Network Books, ] and ], 1993. {{ISBN|0 563 36247 2}}</ref>


The episode premiered in Canada on 12 December 2008. Although the ] (CBC) is credited as a co-producer, the CBC used a version used for international distribution that cut 21 minutes from the episode to fit it in a 60-minute timeslot with advertising. This edit removed numerous subplots as well as the final farewells by the various companions, as well as the final scene of the Doctor alone in his TARDIS. The CBC subsequently streamed the unedited version of the episode on its website.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726005738/http://dwin.org/article.php?sid=262 |date=26 July 2011 }}, 13 December 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2009.</ref>
===Canadian broadcast===
The episode premiered in Canada on 12 December 2008. Although the ] is credited as a co-producer, the CBC used a version used for international distribution that cut 21 minutes from the episode to fit it in a 60-minute timeslot with advertising. This edit removed numerous subplots as well as the final farewells by the various companions, as well as the final scene of the Doctor alone in his TARDIS. The CBC subsequently streamed the unedited version of the episode on its website.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726005738/http://dwin.org/article.php?sid=262 |date=26 July 2011 }}, 13 December 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2009.</ref>


===Critical reception=== ===Critical reception===
'']'' John Preston states that this episode of ''Doctor Who'' "s usual...served up a lot more than mere excitement." He credits ''Doctor Who'''s success partly to its "richly defined characters behaving in readily identifiable ways."<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news '']'' John Preston states that this episode of ''Doctor Who'' "s usual...served up a lot more than mere excitement." He credits ''Doctor Who'''s success partly to its "richly defined characters behaving in readily identifiable ways."<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2255181/Dr-Who-Review-of-the-finale-of-Journeys-End.html | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2255181/Dr-Who-Review-of-the-finale-of-Journeys-End.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080706102912/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2255181/Dr-Who-Review-of-the-finale-of-Journey%27s-End.html#continue | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080706102912/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2255181/Dr-Who-Review-of-the-finale-of-Journey%27s-End.html#continue
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| last = Preston | last = Preston
| first = John | first = John
| newspaper = ]}}</ref> Also of ''The Telegraph'', Sarah Crompton wrote that the episode was "exciting, incomprehensible, satisfying and slightly irritating all at the same time". Although Crompton said, "It was inevitable that the start would be an anti-climax", she praised the special effects and also noted that she would miss "the warmth and humour" that Tate brought to the series.<ref name="Telegraph2">{{cite news | newspaper = ]}}</ref> Also of ''The Daily Telegraph'', Sarah Crompton wrote that the episode was "exciting, incomprehensible, satisfying and slightly irritating all at the same time". Although Crompton said, "It was inevitable that the start would be an anti-climax", she praised the special effects and also noted that she would miss "the warmth and humour" that Tate brought to the series.<ref name="Telegraph2">{{cite news
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/07/07/nosplit/bvtv07-doctor-who-final-episode-review.xml | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/07/07/nosplit/bvtv07-doctor-who-final-episode-review.xml
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080712090643/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/07/07/nosplit/bvtv07-doctor-who-final-episode-review.xml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080712090643/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/07/07/nosplit/bvtv07-doctor-who-final-episode-review.xml
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}}</ref> }}</ref>


Dave Golder of '']'' says "If, while your brain is telling you, 'This is crap!' your heart is still doing backflips then it's your kind of episode." He praises the action sequences and the portrayal of Davros, Donna, Rose and the Doctor, but remarks that the overcrowding of minor characters made parts of the script seem "underdeveloped" and describes the Daleks as mostly "annon fodder". " plot does hang together, but only just". Overall, he describes the episode as "exceptional" but "not perfect".<ref name="SFX" />
Writing for '']'', ] is highly critical of this episode in his review, describing it as "emented rather than dazzling". He was confused by the two Doctors played by David Tennant, saw little development in Donna across the series and was puzzled by the Doctor's attempt to save his arch-enemy, Davros. He claims that "amidst all the shrieking, shouting, and mock ]tic bluster, sure saw a ] thrown in for good measure. Riddled with scientific mumbo-jumbo, it was too chaotic and long-winded to be the classic farewell Russell T Davies promised." He argues that the plot "went haywire" and that "Rose and the two Tennants acted out a sort of twisted ]." In conclusion he states, "Tennant's cheeky chappie mannerisms made the show into an extraterrestrial '']''."<ref name="The Mirror">{{cite news
| url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/jim-shelleys-thoughts-on-the-doctor-who-317178
| title = Jim Shelley's thoughts on the Doctor Who finale
| date = 8 July 2008
| access-date = 12 December 2022
| last = Shelley
| first = Jim
| newspaper = ]}}</ref>

In Scotland's '']'', Paul English called the episode "yet another fizzing ''Doctor Who'' adventure" and said that "Writer and producer Russell T Davies makes TV with the epic feel of the movies. He gets more tension, humour and emotion into an hour of telly than many films manage in twice the time with double the budget." He lamented that "Journey's End" "lacked the goofiness" of the series' 2005 return, but concluded that the finale was "TV gold".<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=English |title= A toast to you know Who |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/comment/columnists/showbiz-tv-columnists/paul-english/2008/07/10/a-toast-to-you-know-who-86908-20637872/ |work=] |date=10 July 2008 |access-date=10 July 2008 }}</ref>

Dave Golder of '']'' says "If, while your brain is telling you, 'This is crap!' your heart is still doing backflips then it's your kind of episode. 'Journey's End' is almost a two fingers up at ]; there's certainly tons of it in the episode, but it's largely irrelevant." He praises the action sequences and the portrayal of Davros, Donna, Rose and the Doctor, but remarks that the overcrowding of minor characters made parts of the script seem "underdeveloped" and describes the Daleks as mostly "annon fodder". " plot does hang together, but only just". Overall, he describes the episode as "exceptional" but "not perfect".<ref name="SFX" />


Ben Rawson-Jones of ] describes the episode as "a satisfying and epic crowdpleasing conclusion" to the series and particularly praises Tate and Donna's exit. He states the episode mixes poignant and haunting scenes with "'punch the air' moments and fan-pleasing twists." Noting the episode is "not entirely flawless", he is critical of the Daleks' seemingly "too convenient" demise, arguing that it undermines their menace.<ref name="Digital SpyReview">{{cite web Ben Rawson-Jones of ] describes the episode as "a satisfying and epic crowdpleasing conclusion" to the series and particularly praises Tate and Donna's exit. He states the episode mixes poignant and haunting scenes with "'punch the air' moments and fan-pleasing twists." Noting the episode is "not entirely flawless", he is critical of the Daleks' seemingly "too convenient" demise, arguing that it undermines their menace.<ref name="Digital SpyReview">{{cite web
Line 209: Line 155:
| last = Rawson-Jones | last = Rawson-Jones
| first = Ben | first = Ben
| website = ]}}</ref> Writing for the ''Doctor Who'' blog on the '']'' website, William Gallagher called "Journey's End" "event drama" and "party television". He stated that the resolution to the regeneration cliff-hanger left him feeling "a bit cheated", but praised the episode's characterisation, concluding that David Tennant "has been the best Doctor of them all" and that "''Doctor Who'' is the best drama on TV: it's the one with most verve and spark and exuberant excitement."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/blogs/354-doctor-who-journeys-end/ |title=Doctor Who: Journey's End |access-date=7 July 2008 |last=Gallagher |first=William |date=5 July 2008 |work=] website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524004548/http://www.radiotimes.com/blogs/354-doctor-who-journeys-end/ |archive-date=24 May 2011}}</ref> John Beresford of ''TV Scoop'' called the finale "just about the most exciting Doctor Who episode ever remember", and "a fantastically imaginative, exciting and action-packed finale to the fourth series."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvscoop.tv/2008/07/tv_review_docto_23.html |title=TV Review: Doctor Who: Journey's End |access-date=7 July 2008 |last=Beresford |first=John |date=6 July 2008 |work=TV Scoop}}</ref> In 2009, SFX rated the Earth being towed as among the 25 Silliest Moments in Doctor Who, writing 'Judging from the shakes that ensue, it's likely that millions more died from being bonked on the head by falling household objects than as a result of the Dalek invasion in the previous episode.'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/doctor-whos-25-silliest-moments/|title=Doctor Who's 25 Silliest Moments|website=GamesRadar|access-date=12 December 2022|date=29 August 2012}}</ref> | website = ]}}</ref> Writing for the ''Doctor Who'' blog on the '']'' website, William Gallagher called "Journey's End" "event drama" and "party television". He stated that the resolution to the regeneration cliff-hanger left him feeling "a bit cheated", but praised the episode's characterisation, concluding that David Tennant "has been the best Doctor of them all" and that "''Doctor Who'' is the best drama on TV: it's the one with most verve and spark and exuberant excitement."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/blogs/354-doctor-who-journeys-end/ |title=Doctor Who: Journey's End |access-date=7 July 2008 |last=Gallagher |first=William |date=5 July 2008 |work=] website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524004548/http://www.radiotimes.com/blogs/354-doctor-who-journeys-end/ |archive-date=24 May 2011}}</ref>


Travis Fickett on ] gave a negative review of this episode, claiming 'it misses the mark in almost every way' and 'plays like the most outrageous of fan fictions.' He claimed the 2nd Doctor and Doctor-Donna 'stretch credulity so far that it becomes translucent', and that 'it's sort of silly to even bring Rose back when you've got the episode stuffed with almost every other character from the series'. '']''<nowiki/>'s Travis Fickett gave a negative review of this episode, claiming 'it misses the mark in almost every way' and 'plays like the most outrageous of ].' He claimed the Meta-Crisis Doctor and Doctor-Donna 'stretch credulity so far that it becomes translucent', and that 'it's sort of silly to even bring Rose back when you've got the episode stuffed with almost every other character from the series'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fickett |first=Travis |date=2008-08-04 |title=Doctor Who: "Journey's End" Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/04/doctor-who-journeys-end-review |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

A poll conducted by '']'' in 2015 found that readers voted the series four finale as the greatest finale of the show.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-07-11/the-definitive-ranking-of-modern-doctor-who-finales---as-voted-for-by-you-3|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713172121/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-07-11/the-definitive-ranking-of-modern-doctor-who-finales---as-voted-for-by-you-3|title=The Definitive Ranking of Modern Doctor Who Finales--As Voted For By You|archivedate=13 July 2015|website=Radio Times}}</ref> A poll conducted by '']'' in 2015 found that readers voted the series four finale as the greatest ] of ''Doctor Who''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-07-11/the-definitive-ranking-of-modern-doctor-who-finales---as-voted-for-by-you-3|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713172121/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-07-11/the-definitive-ranking-of-modern-doctor-who-finales---as-voted-for-by-you-3|title=The Definitive Ranking of Modern Doctor Who Finales--As Voted For By You|archivedate=13 July 2015|website=Radio Times}}</ref>

Billie Piper publicly stated that she was disappointed with the conclusion of Rose's character arc. Writing for ] Brian Power agreed with Piper and felt that the ending was out of character for Rose.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Brian |date=2023-01-05 |title=Doctor Who: Billie Piper Is Right - Journey's End Doesn't Fit Rose Tyler's Journey |url=https://www.cbr.com/doctor-who-billie-piper-rose-tyler-journey/#:~:text=Piper%20is%20right%20to%20be,unlikely%20that%20it%20will%20change. |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>


== Notes == == Notes ==
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==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite magazine |title=Series Four Companion |magazine=] |last=Pixley |first=Andrew |date=19 November 2008 |issue=20 – Special Edition}}
{{Refend}}



==External links== ==External links==

Latest revision as of 04:44, 26 November 2024

2008 Doctor Who episode
198b – "Journey's End"
Doctor Who episode
The Tenth Doctor and his clone re-enact the famous beach scene in "Doomsday", completing the on-and-off relationship of the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler.
Cast
Doctor
Companions
Others
Production
Directed byGraeme Harper
Written byRussell T Davies
Script editorLindsey Alford
Produced byPhil Collinson
Executive producer(s)Russell T Davies
Julie Gardner
Music byMurray Gold
Production code4.13
SeriesSeries 4
Running time2nd of 2-part story, 63 minutes, 30 seconds.
First broadcast5 July 2008 (2008-07-05)
Chronology
← Preceded by
"The Stolen Earth"
Followed by →
"Music of the Spheres" (mini-episode)
"The Next Doctor" (special)
List of episodes (2005–present)

"Journey's End" is the thirteenth and final episode of the fourth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on BBC One on 5 July 2008. It is the second episode of a two-part crossover story featuring the characters of spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, preceded by "The Stolen Earth", which aired on 28 June.

It was longer than the standard episode length for Doctor Who. It marked the final regular appearances of every companion introduced in the Russell T Davies era, including Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. In the episode, the former companions of the Tenth Doctor, prepare to stop the Daleks' universe-destroying Reality Bomb.

"Journey's End" received mostly positive reviews, largely for the emotional core of the episode and its effect on characters. Some reviews were more mixed than the previous episode, finding the plot to be under-developed and silly. The episode was the most-viewed programme of the week, the first Doctor Who episode to receive this rank.

Plot

Inside the TARDIS, the Tenth Doctor is regenerating. He halts the transformation by transferring the remaining energy into his severed hand. The regeneration has progressed enough to enable the Doctor's body to heal, but not change his physical appearance. Gwen and Ianto find safety in an impenetrable time lock and Sarah Jane is saved from Daleks by Rose's ex-boyfriend Mickey and her mother Jackie.

The TARDIS is captured by the Daleks and transported to their flagship the Crucible. Sarah Jane, Mickey, and Jackie surrender themselves to get aboard. The Supreme Dalek orders the TARDIS to be destroyed, with Donna Noble locked inside; in the process, Donna touches the severed hand, enveloping her in regeneration energy and causes the creation of a new Doctor (the Meta-Crisis Doctor), who saves the TARDIS from destruction.

Davros, creator of the Daleks, explains that the stolen planets form a "Reality Bomb" which would destroy all matter in every universe. To stop the bomb, Martha threatens to detonate nukes and destroy Earth. Davros mocks the Doctor for acting the champion of peace while turning those around him into weapons. The Supreme Dalek transports both groups in front of Davros. The Meta-Crisis Doctor and Donna also arrive and try to use a device to refocus the bomb onto the Daleks. Davros blasts them both with electricity. Donna becomes imbued with Time Lord knowledge that she gained during the Meta-Crisis Doctor's creation and disables the bomb and the Daleks. The two Doctors and Donna relocate the missing planets, but the control panel is destroyed before Earth can be relocated. Motivated by Dalek Caan's prophecy of the Daleks' extinction, the new Doctor destroys the Daleks and the Crucible. The Doctor offers to save Davros, who refuses. The companions flee into the TARDIS. They return the Earth back into its original orbit and then return home.

The Doctor returns Rose and Jackie to the parallel universe in which they were previously trapped. He also sends the Meta-Crisis Doctor into the parallel universe to accompany Rose. After departing, Donna's human mind becomes overwhelmed by the Time Lord knowledge and starts to deteriorate. Against her wishes, the Doctor wipes her mind and brings her to Wilfred and Sylvia. The Doctor tells them that although Donna's life has been saved, she can never know the details of her time with him, or she will die. He then departs from the Noble household, alone.

Production

Writing

The episode is the culmination of all four series of Doctor Who produced by Russell T Davies; dialogue in the episode refers to the events of "The Christmas Invasion", in which the Doctor had his hand amputated and regrown while fighting against the Sycorax. Russell T Davies started writing "Journey's End" in January 2008. At 65 minutes in length, it was approximately 20 minutes longer than a standard fourth-series episode.

The music during the travel back to Earth's original place is the "Song of Freedom" heard at the end of "Planet of the Ood" and appearing on the series' soundtrack.

This episode's original ending involved the Doctor, following the final scene where he is alone in the TARDIS, being alerted to something on the monitor and as he checks two Cybermen rise up behind him. This was supposed to lead directly into the 2008 Christmas special "The Next Doctor", but Davies was convinced by Benjamin Cook (who was corresponding with Davies for the book Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale) to drop the scene, as he felt that a cliffhanger was not appropriate after such a sad ending.

Casting

Noel Clarke and Camille Coduri make their first appearances in Doctor Who since "Doomsday". K9 (voiced by John Leeson) makes his first appearance since The Sarah Jane Adventures story The Lost Boy, and his first in Doctor Who since "School Reunion". Several former companions return for the episode including John Barrowman, Billie Piper, and Elisabeth Sladen.

Filming

Castell Coch, situated close to Doctor Who's Upper Boat Studios, is used as the German castle. The beach at Southerndown, a few miles west of Cardiff, is used once more as Norway's fictional Dårlig Ulv Stranden (Bad Wolf Bay). Some exterior scenes, including various companions interacting with Daleks, were shot at Arcot Street, Penarth.

One significant feature of this episode is the creation of another Doctor. Unlike the multiple Doctors of stories such as The Three Doctors, "The Five Doctors" and The Two Doctors, where his previous incarnations were played by actors or depicted in old footage, this Doctor is identical in appearance to the Tenth Doctor. In the accompanying Doctor Who Confidential for this episode, Davies explains "This is so busy and so mental and so epic and universal in scale that of course you need two Doctors to solve it."

Phil Collinson, Graeme Harper, and David Tennant discuss the use of the double, a musician named Colum Regan who is a very good physical match for Tennant. Collinson explains that while with an unlimited budget they would use Tennant in every shot, "we only have a certain number of effects shots where you can see the two Doctors together, so we have to pick those carefully." Harper explained that in "two or three wide shots" they were able to use Regan and Tennant together; for the most part the double is used for scenes where one or the other Doctor is only seen from behind, or only an arm or back of the head is seen in a shot. The double has appeared in other episodes throughout the series. Tennant described the procedure for making an effects shot involving Tennant as both Doctors. The camera is locked in place while Tennant goes off and changes clothing, with Regan holding his place.

A scene filmed showed the Doctor giving Rose's Doctor a small piece of "coral" from the TARDIS so that he could grow his own TARDIS. This was removed in the last edit of the episode, but was ultimately cut because the production team felt it made the Bad Wolf Bay scene "too long and complicated" and that producing another TARDIS should not be seen to be so easy. The clip was included on the Series 4 DVD boxset. The Doctor's reply to Rose's statement of love is specified to Rose but left unheard to the audience; Davies deliberately left the reply ambiguous when he wrote "Doomsday". Executive producer Julie Gardner stated on the "Doomsday" commentary and the Doctor Who Confidential special for "Journey's End" that the Doctor requited her love.

Another additional scene with Donna was cut from the final episode: "There was an additional Donna bit after this goodbye from the Doctor, which is when he goes outside into the TARDIS, we cut back into the kitchen, and there's a moment where Donna hears the TARDIS... there's a moment of realisation, and then she turns back round and carries on talking into the phone." Gardner considered this scene untruthful and too confusing, since Donna remembering would lead to her death, and since she didn't recognise the Doctor it wouldn't make sense to assume she would recognise the noise of the TARDIS.

Release

Broadcast

The episode was screened free in Trafalgar Square in London as part of Pride London 2008. The series three finale was previously planned to be shown during the 2007 event, but was cancelled as a security measure. A teaser trailer was appended to promote the 2008 Christmas Special, "The Next Doctor.

"Journey's End" was watched by 10.57 million viewers when broadcast on BBC One, giving it a 45.9% share of the total television audience. The episode was the most-viewed programme of the week; "Journey's End" is the first Doctor Who episode to receive this rank. It also received an Appreciation Index score of 91, equalling the record for the programme set by its predecessor "The Stolen Earth". "Journey's End" was the first science fiction–based series to achieve a No. 1 placing in the UK television ratings in 32 years after a July 1976 broadcast of The Bionic Woman.

The episode premiered in Canada on 12 December 2008. Although the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is credited as a co-producer, the CBC used a version used for international distribution that cut 21 minutes from the episode to fit it in a 60-minute timeslot with advertising. This edit removed numerous subplots as well as the final farewells by the various companions, as well as the final scene of the Doctor alone in his TARDIS. The CBC subsequently streamed the unedited version of the episode on its website.

Critical reception

The Daily Telegraph's John Preston states that this episode of Doctor Who "s usual...served up a lot more than mere excitement." He credits Doctor Who's success partly to its "richly defined characters behaving in readily identifiable ways." Also of The Daily Telegraph, Sarah Crompton wrote that the episode was "exciting, incomprehensible, satisfying and slightly irritating all at the same time". Although Crompton said, "It was inevitable that the start would be an anti-climax", she praised the special effects and also noted that she would miss "the warmth and humour" that Tate brought to the series. Lucy Mangan in a humorous review for The Guardian that rewrites the dialogue between Tennant's and Cribbins' characters at the end as a discussion of the plot, described it as providing "something for everyone". In The Times, Andrew Billen called "Journey's End" "a spectacular finale that... gave the lie to the truism that more always, dramatically speaking, adds up to less."

Mark Wright of The Stage likens "Journey's End" to "one big house of cards... will come crashing down" if thought about too much. However, he had no problem with the resolution of "The Stolen Earth"'s cliffhanger and is critical of those who complain about feeling cheated by the lack of a regeneration. Though he expresses that he saw little need for Mickey and Jackie in this episode, he asserts that Donna had "the saddest end for a companion ever" and praises Davies for just managing to keep the plot together. He argues that as Davies "writes the emotions and big themes so well...blow logic and rational plot moments if they get in the way!" He compares Davies's writing style to "PT Barnum showmanship" and praises both the dark and light elements of the episode. He concludes that, if not overthought, the episode remains "an audacious, big, silly, often poignant season finale".

Dave Golder of SFX says "If, while your brain is telling you, 'This is crap!' your heart is still doing backflips then it's your kind of episode." He praises the action sequences and the portrayal of Davros, Donna, Rose and the Doctor, but remarks that the overcrowding of minor characters made parts of the script seem "underdeveloped" and describes the Daleks as mostly "annon fodder". " plot does hang together, but only just". Overall, he describes the episode as "exceptional" but "not perfect".

Ben Rawson-Jones of Digital Spy describes the episode as "a satisfying and epic crowdpleasing conclusion" to the series and particularly praises Tate and Donna's exit. He states the episode mixes poignant and haunting scenes with "'punch the air' moments and fan-pleasing twists." Noting the episode is "not entirely flawless", he is critical of the Daleks' seemingly "too convenient" demise, arguing that it undermines their menace. Writing for the Doctor Who blog on the Radio Times website, William Gallagher called "Journey's End" "event drama" and "party television". He stated that the resolution to the regeneration cliff-hanger left him feeling "a bit cheated", but praised the episode's characterisation, concluding that David Tennant "has been the best Doctor of them all" and that "Doctor Who is the best drama on TV: it's the one with most verve and spark and exuberant excitement."

IGN's Travis Fickett gave a negative review of this episode, claiming 'it misses the mark in almost every way' and 'plays like the most outrageous of fan fiction.' He claimed the Meta-Crisis Doctor and Doctor-Donna 'stretch credulity so far that it becomes translucent', and that 'it's sort of silly to even bring Rose back when you've got the episode stuffed with almost every other character from the series'.

A poll conducted by Radio Times in 2015 found that readers voted the series four finale as the greatest series finale of Doctor Who.

Billie Piper publicly stated that she was disappointed with the conclusion of Rose's character arc. Writing for Comic Book Resources Brian Power agreed with Piper and felt that the ending was out of character for Rose.

Notes

  1. Miscredited as "Barney Edwards".
  2. The Doctor's hand was originally severed from his wrist in the 2005 episode "The Christmas Invasion".
  3. As depicted in the 2006 episode "Doomsday".

References

  1. "Credits". BBC. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  2. Spilsbury, Tom (April 2008). "The Gallifrey Guardian: Series Four Episode 1: Partners in Crime: Back in Business!". Doctor Who Magazine (394). Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Panini Publishing Ltd: 6–7.
  3. Lewis, Courtland; Smithka, Paula (2010). "What's Continuity without Persistence?". Doctor Who and Philosophy: Bigger on the Inside. Open Court. pp. 32–33. ISBN 9780812697254. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  4. Davies, Russell T; Cook, Benjamin (25 September 2008). "Day Old Blues". The Writer's Tale (1st ed.). BBC Books. ISBN 978-1-84607-571-1.
  5. Carter, Lewis (29 June 2008). "Doctor Who finale to be watched by 10 million". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  6. "The Proms are Almost Here!". BBC Doctor Who website. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Journey's End - Original Ending | Doctor Who Series 4". 22 May 2019 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Russell T Davies (writer), Graeme Harper (director), Phil Collinson (producer) (8 July 2006). "Doomsday". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One.
  9. Phil Ford (writer), Charles Martin (director), Matthew Bouch (producer) (19 November 2007). "Part Two". The Lost Boy. The Sarah Jane Adventures. BBC. CBBC.
  10. Toby Whithouse (writer), James Hawes (director), Phil Collinson (producer) (29 April 2006). "School Reunion". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One.
  11. "Doctor Who companions in order: From Susan Foreman to Belinda Chandra". Radio Times. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  12. ^ Golder, Dave (5 July 2008). "TV REVIEW Doctor Who 4.13 "Journey's End"". SFX. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  13. Pixley 2008, p. 127.
  14. "Walesarts, Southerndown beach, Vale of Glamorgan". BBC. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  15. "Walesarts, Harbour View Road and Arcot Street, Penarth". BBC. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  16. ^ Gillane Seaborne (producer) (5 July 2008). "End of an Era". Doctor Who Confidential. BBC. BBC Three.
  17. Colum Regan is credited as body double to David Tennant, Voyage of the Damnedsource
  18. Pixley 2008, p. 140.
  19. ^ "Grow your own TARDIS". Doctor Who Magazine (398). Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Panini Comics: 18. 24 July 2008.
  20. Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Phil Collinson. Commentary for "Doomsday". BBC. Archived from the original (mp3) on 20 January 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  21. Doctor Who "Journey's End" commentary with Phil Collinson and Julie Gardner. BBC Online. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016.
  22. "Doctor Who dropped at London Pride 2007". Outpost Gallifrey. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  23. "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Barb Audiences. Retrieved 25 October 2024. (No permanent link available. Search for relevant dates.)
  24. "Doctor Who finale watched by 9.4m". BBC News. 6 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  25. West, Dave (6 July 2008). "'Doctor Who' finale pulls in 9.4 million". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  26. Television's Greatest Hits, Network Books, Paul Gambaccini and Rod Taylor, 1993. ISBN 0 563 36247 2
  27. Doctor Who Information Network: What Got Cut from Journey's End Archived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 13 December 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  28. Preston, John (6 July 2008). "Dr Who: Review of the finale of Journey's End". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  29. Crompton, Sarah (7 July 2008). "Last night on television: Doctor Who (BBC1)". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  30. Mangan, Lucy (6 July 2008). "The Weekend's TV: Daleks, Davros and two David Tennants – the finale of Doctor Who had something for everyone". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  31. Billen, Andrew (7 July 2008). "Doctor Who; Criminal Justice". The Times. London. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  32. Wright, Mark (8 July 2008). "Doctor Who 4.13: Journey's End". The Stage Blogs: TV Today. Archived from the original on 12 July 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  33. Rawson-Jones, Ben (10 July 2008). "S04E13: 'Journey's End'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  34. Gallagher, William (5 July 2008). "Doctor Who: Journey's End". Radio Times website. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  35. Fickett, Travis (4 August 2008). "Doctor Who: "Journey's End" Review". IGN. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  36. "The Definitive Ranking of Modern Doctor Who Finales--As Voted For By You". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015.
  37. Power, Brian (5 January 2023). "Doctor Who: Billie Piper Is Right - Journey's End Doesn't Fit Rose Tyler's Journey". CBR. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

Bibliography

  • Pixley, Andrew (19 November 2008). "Series Four Companion". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 20 – Special Edition.


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