"Doctor Who" Journey's End (2008)

Director:

Graeme Harper

Writers:

Russell T. Davies (written by)
Terry Nation (characters: Daleks)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (2005)

Original Air Date:

5 July 2008 (Season 4, Episode 13)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the wake of Davros' threat to destroy the existence of the Universe itself, the Doctor's companions unite to stop the Dalek empire. Which one will die by the prophecies and what will the fate be for the Doctor? |

Plot Keywords:

Prophecy | Dalek | Crossover | Replicant | Dying Repeatedly

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Catherine Tate	...	Donna Noble
Billie Piper	...	Rose Tyler
Freema Agyeman	...	Martha Jones
John Barrowman	...	Captain Jack Harkness
Elisabeth Sladen	...	Sarah Jane Smith
Noel Clarke	...	Mickey Smith
Camille Coduri	...	Jackie Tyler
Gareth David-Lloyd	...	Ianto Jones
Eve Myles	...	Gwen Cooper
Tommy Knight	...	Luke Smith (as Thomas Knight)
Bernard Cribbins	...	Wilfred Mott
Jacqueline King	...	Sylvia Noble
Adjoa Andoh	...	Francine Jones
Julian Bleach	...	Davros

Runtime:

63 min

Language:

English | German

Company:

BBC Wales

Trivia:

The original ending featured the Doctor in the TARDIS, when a scanner begins receiving a strange signal, prompting the Doctor to launch into his traditional "What? What? What?" response, after which two Cybus Cybermen suddenly rise up behind him - a cliffhanger. Russell T. Davies explained that the cliffhanger ending was dropped in response to comments by a writer with Doctor Who Magazine who stated a cliffhanger was inappropriate after such a sad series of scenes. Had the Cybermen scene been kept, this would have marked the first time since "Doctor Who: Doomsday (#2.13)" (2006) that both Daleks and Cybermen had appeared in the same episode, and the first time Cybermen would have appeared in the same episode with Davros.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jack finds Mickey, Jackie and Sarah he does the studs up on the cover to his time-shift device. When he hugs Mickey however, three out of four of the studs have come undone.

Quotes:

Captain Jack Harkness: [crawling out of a shaft in the wall] Great! I crawl through two miles of ventilation shafts, following life signs on this thing
[pointing to the device on his wrist]
Captain Jack Harkness: , and who do I find? Mickey Mouse.
Mickey Smith: That's rich, coming from Captain cheescake!
Captain Jack Harkness: Ha ha!
[they hug]
Captain Jack Harkness: and that's Beefcake!
Mickey Smith: And that's enough hugging!

Movie Connections:

References "The Sarah Jane Adventures" (2007)

A thoroughly satisfying conclusion to this season

"Journey's End" is a marvellously satisfying finale to this latest season. Russell T. Davies pulls out all the stops to tie up the loose ends and unfinished business from previous seasons in a manner that should please the majority of fans. Dramatic, moving and humorous, this story contains all that is special about the "new" series.

While Davros is somewhat underused in this tale, it remains a terrifically faithful return of this old nemesis and we see his most ambitious plans to-date unfold.

This longer-than-usual installment is a joy from beginning to end. A taste of the Christmas special will keep viewers counting the days 'til the 25th December when we will be reacquainted with another old enemy.

10 out of 10. Splendid.