The 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who is getting closer and closer, as is the return and long-awaited reunion of the Doctor and Donna. I thought it would be fitting to revisit the story that tragically tore the two apart in the first place, at the very end of Series 4. It’s a story that was very ahead of its time in a lot of ways in the culmination of the world-building that Russell T Davies had constructed, and I want to have a look at the benefits of that shown through the Series 4 finale.
The Stolen Earth/Journey's End follows on directly from the events of Turn Left which I reviewed earlier this year, when it has become apparent that the walls of the universe are breaking down and the whole of reality is in danger. The earth has been stolen along with 26 other planets in a grand scheme by Davros and the Daleks. They plot on using the planets as a form of power source for their reality bomb to destroy the whole of reality, where they will become the only lifeforms in existence. The situation is hopeless as the Doctor and Donna, along with the Children of Time including Martha, Captain Jack, Sarah Jane, Rose, Mickey, and Jackie, must all come together to put a stop to the Daleks.
There is something really special and comforting about the Stolen Earth/Journey's End as a story. There are certainly more solidly constructed stories of the era overall, but it feels like one of the most satisfying because it draws all the elements of the era together in a way that feels like a proper celebration. It feels like a joyous and wonderful victory lap of everything that the era has been about as it brings all the different characters from various aspects of the universe into one place. You’ve grown to love these characters through spending time with them across different series, and therefore it’s meaningful to see them come together. It’s the idea of the team combination and the familiarity and connection you have with the characters that makes the story what it is and creates the needed emotional catharsis that the story is going for. There are more of these characters in other stories, spinoffs, and other areas of the era and this finale rewards viewers for their commitment to the show through this entertaining crossover.
It's ahead of its time in the fact that it does the team combination and universe-building climax that films like Avengers Infinity War and Endgame did, but back in 2008 way before the Cinematic Universe was a thing. The Stolen Earth/Journey's End is even more rewarding once you have watched the spinoffs. When you have seen Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures then it becomes even more meaningful to see them become part of something larger and converge into the parent show with Doctor Who. It’s simply great fun to see all the best characters from the era working together against the Daleks. Yet it does something solid in selling the large-scale and broad nature of the Doctor Who universe. All these characters have had their own adventures, stories and arcs, and by channelling them all into a single story it wonderfully celebrates the success of the era and universe which Russell T Davies has built. It gives Doctor Who a great scale through the sheer number of characters that are wrapped into events, and yet you have a consistent story which is admirable. The nature of UNIT, Torchwood, and the Shadow Proclamation all having a presence in the story makes it feel greatly important, and it gives the universe itself an integral scope.
What I like though is how the events of Series 4 are all drawn together. Russell T Davies was clever in the way he handled story arcs. I like the hints and Easter Eggs that are laid in Series 4 on the missing planets and therefore it feels satisfying to have that mean something and become the centrepiece of the finale with the Daleks having stolen 27 planets to use for their deadly means. Furthermore, the story of the bees disappearing and even the timelines converging on the Doctor and Donna is drawn together to mean something in a rewarding way. All the ingredients feel ready and prepared to be whipped up into a worthy meal. It means you get a good and dramatic catharsis of a conclusion, with all the storylines and emotional character arcs coming together in a very precise way that feels organic. Even when the logic does not entirely work, I feel the dramatic and emotional presentation really does.
The Daleks are the central villains of the story who had been a large part of the era up to this point. I enjoy the fear surrounded by the Daleks. There is a sense of dread about their evil, especially from the reactions of Jack and Sarah Jane when finding out about their presence. The Daleks have a strong, ruthless lack of mercy in their mentality and a dangerous force of nature which makes them worthy to be feared. Their attack on UNIT, the killing of Harriet Jones, and the way they imprison innocent families and exterminate those who disobey them makes them a force to be reckoned with.
The presence of the Dalek Supreme does create a central authority for the Daleks which works well, but Dalek Caan is by far the most interesting out of everything tackled with the Daleks in this story. I do like how the David Tennant era carries through the storyline of the Cult of Skaro through several stories to conclude here, at its most interesting point. I like the idea of an insane Dalek that has seen the future manipulating the timelines; it feels like a refreshing and different idea for the Daleks. The idea of Dalek Caan having seen the truth of the Dalek's evil and wanting to abolish them is also a fascinating concept that’s handled very carefully. I felt Dalek Sec’s view of the Daleks was incredibly poorly justified in Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks. However, this is handled much better; it feels more believable given what Dalek Caan has gone through and the experience that has scarred and changed them that they would come out of that with a different view of the Daleks and a broader perspective. It makes sense for them and is firmly justified.
You also have the return of Davros this time, played by Julian Bleach. Davros after Genesis of the Daleks is often rather a mixed bag, but I think this story is one that manages to merge Davros and the Daleks well together, so they don’t undermine one another. Julian Bleach plays Davros well as a nice merge between the manipulation and the cunning devious personality of Michael Wisher and the unhinged nature of Terry Molloy’s performance. It gives someone for the Doctor to converse with and I like the way Davros subtly toys with the Doctor's anger and darker side to try to bring him down to his level. Davros, I think, is very central to the key themes of what the story is about and the point it is trying to make, and the twisted nature of Davros is well personified for that in mirroring the Doctor. There is an unhinged and unpredictable danger to Davros that is detestable, and it plays into the guilt of the Doctor and the history between the characters in the best of ways.
You have David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor who is certainly always a joy in the role. In this story there is an important, dramatic weight to the Tenth Doctor that I enjoy. David Tennant’s performance has a great vulnerability and sense of fear, I especially like his shock at first seeing Davros. The scenes with Davros are very well played and performed by David Tennant; there is a degree of darkness, age, regret, and weight of responsibility that David Tennant puts across very well. You get a depth of history from the Doctor through the regret that Davros brings out of him. I like the theme of the Doctor dealing with the impact he has on people and questioning whether the influence and mark he leaves is truly good. This is sold effectively by showing the trail of death he leaves and the way he has turned his companions, who were once ordinary people, into weapons; people willing to commit genocide and cause great atrocity and evil. You deal effectively with the nature of the soul of the Doctor and the darkness that lies beneath the surface, and I like tackling those aspects of the character. The truth of the Doctor’s mark is wisely left up to interpretation on whether he improves the lives of those he touches or not. It’s an interesting question and idea to explore and creates a rewarding centre for the story to revolve around. There is an effective shame and loneliness to the Tenth Doctor that is especially felt at the end through the guilt and emotional agony of the loss of Donna, which is very well handled.
A big part of the Stolen Earth/Journey's End is the regeneration scene, which is a truly shocking moment and a fantastic cliff-hanger. It has an excellent set of building blocks, building to the reunion of the Doctor and Rose. It's crushing to see them get torn apart by a Dalek and you are desperate to see what happens next upon the cliff-hanger. The solution is on the surface a bit of a copout, only I think they found a way to justify it. The Meta Crisis is born out of this, leading to both the half-human Doctor and Donna’s fate. It’s a seed the story uses to explore other interesting ideas, with Donna, this leads to a very emotionally interesting story.
I think the half-human Doctor does have mixed results though. It’s an interesting idea and at least gives someone for Donna to talk with, but I feel this Doctor should have died heroically destroying the Dalek fleet. The way the story tries to engineer a way to give Rose a happy ending is, quite frankly, forced, unbelievable, and unsatisfying. No matter what reason is given, I simply can’t see this Doctor as the same one Rose had all those past adventures with. The idea of this Doctor being born out of anger and revenge and Rose making him better is nice in concept but fails in execution. I think the half-human Doctor was 100% justified in destroying the Daleks, given that if he hadn’t they would have caused countless deaths across the universe, and I think he was morally justified in that decision. I think the central Doctor is way too harsh on him regarding this and this plot point has never worked for me and feels naïve.
Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate, is the main companion and a key aspect of the story. She has always been one of my favourite companions, mainly due to the fact she feels like the most realistic. Her reactions to the situations she lands herself in feels the most truthfully real of any companion. This is shown right away when she finds herself in the turmoil of the earth having been stolen. There is a fitting personal shock knowing her home and everyone she knows has been lost. I also like the way she asserts herself to the Shadow Proclamation. The way she demands respect and to be taken seriously is very admirable and she makes valid contributions in spotting the link between the missing planets and their past adventures.
The storyline also converges on Donna as she is the one who eventually saves the day along with the Doctor's brain inside hers. The idea of a destiny is something I largely dislike, but it feels fairly justified here due to the message of Donna’s self-worth. Donna is such a relatable character, as she does not see her value which you can relate to. Donna saves the day in Journey's End through not just the Doctor’s brain, but her own instincts as well. Her own value proves to be worthwhile which shows her how special she is, and I like that as it creates a very positive message. Her end fate is, for me, the most tragic fate of any companion. It's emotionally crushing and heart-wrenching seeing her memory purged and stripped of all the experiences and memories that have shaped her, and turned her into a better person. Her experiences on the Tardis have changed her and elevated her self-esteem, and it’s devastating to see her revert to the way she was when the Doctor met her.
Rose, played by Billie Piper, has probably the most satisfying role out of the Children of Time following on from the events of Turn Left. I enjoy seeing her armed in an assertive and authoritative role of intelligence, which Billie Piper pulls off, especially with her interactions with Wilf. She has a role of maturity where she reflects the Doctor, which shows the impact the Doctor has had on her well. The moment of their reunion as they run towards one another is certainly a romantic and meaningful one. However, I really dislike the ending with the half-human Doctor. Given the tragic ending of Army of Ghosts/Doomsday, this feels like it massively undercuts the drama of it. It feels cheap and like a lazy copout. I just don’t believe, whatever the story does to try and convince me, that Rose would be happy with this Doctor. Whatever memories they retain, they don’t have the same shared experiences Rose has had with her Doctor. It feels like Rose has settled for a second-rate Doctor.
The Children of Time have a large role in the story as this ensemble group, and it’s very fun to see such a big group of characters come together. The reaction of Sarah Jane and Jack to the reveal of the Daleks is a simply terrifying and emotional one. I think the best way the Children of Time are used though, is through Harriet Jones and the Subwave Network. It’s fitting for a story thread from the Christmas Invasion to get paid off, and I like seeing the Doctor's past companions all come together to summon him. I will critique the use of Luke and the Torchwood team though, who it feels are left behind and get little to do in the story. The Children of Time are used to push a thematic idea that works brilliantly. Through Martha's actions with the Osterhagen Key, and Sarah Jane and Jack’s willingness to use the Warp Star, the story questions the impact the Doctor has had on his companions incredibly well. The interaction between Sarah Jane and Davros and that confrontation is a nostalgic one with real meaning, and one of the best moments of the story. The moment of them all helping to fly the Tardis and pilot the earth back home though, is a truly joyous moment of emotional delight.
The story is directed by Graeme Harper, who is easily one of the very best Doctor Who directors. I love the way the earth being transported is handled with the character reactions from Captain Jack, Sarah Jane and Martha. It pushes the severity of the situation and adds intrigue before panning up and seeing the planets in the sky. I like the way Davros is led up to through the shots of his hand, his silhouette, and his voice. There is a fitting build-up to his revelation that feels exciting. It means when you finally see him, it does feel rewarding. The moment where the Doctor and Rose reunite with one another is also very well constructed and shot, it really captures the feelings of the characters and creates a solid emotional moment. Graeme Harper presents a very dramatic story, but the scene of the Doctor and Davros separated by flames is a truly iconic moment, with a memorable look and dramatic feel to it that stands out.
So overall, how do I feel about the Stolen Earth/Journey's End? Well, I think it’s a terrific story and a proper emotional catharsis of a finale. It uses all the components from across the era, bringing Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures all into the show to create a celebration of everything that has been built. It’s so fun to see so many of your favourite characters joined together in a team-up. It does have its problems. The use of the half-human Doctor I think, is handled very badly with a poor exit for Rose, which undermines her original ending. That being said, the use of the Children of Time works well in exploring the soul of the Doctor and dealing with the impact he has had on his companions, and it contains a very emotional goodbye for Donna.
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