"Doctor Who" Finale Part 2: “The Stolen Earth”

Okay total Whoverse fanboy overload.. You know the best thing, often when a show thats a spin off crossovers they will mess up with the continuity of the spinoff shows.. They will ignore the characters in the background etc..  But here they were smart enough to include all those background elements and not have them be incredibly awkward..

I guess I am a true Whoverse geek as even though its aimed at a younger audience I adore Sarah Jane Adventures as much as I like Doctor Who, and Torchwood. So I am glad to see that show was well represented in this crossover. (Also if you need an eye candy reason for watching Sarah Jane.    Joseph Millson, who plays Alan Jackson, the Father of the female teenie bopper who gets all in Sarah Janes adventures, is quite the looker.)
 
I can't even begin to go crazy about the fanboy love of this whole thing. I mean, Harriet Jones, Daleks, Davros, even the oblique reference to the Daleks trying to steal the Earth before...

And all the times I got all choked up just wow, I especially was moved at the moment when everybody thought they were completely doomed when they realized it was the Daleks.

I also loved there was no loss in translation about the characters, no strange, out of character crossover moments.

And finally I hope I wasn't the only one to notice how friggin hot Ianto looked in that vest ready to fight with the Daleks...

What about Jack and Rose? As far as pairing goes, I favor Jack/Ianto and Doctor/Rose, but I also like Jack/Doctor and Jack/Rose. Rose was Jack's first romantic interest on the series, yeah it started as a con, but still. He loved Rose (and the Doctor), enough to die for her(and the Doctor). Anyway, in Utopia the minute Jack hears that Rose is alive he's so happy that he stops being pissed at the Doctor and glomps him, it honestly looked like Jack was about to kiss the Doctor he was so glad Rose was ok. But Rose was lost forever in a parraleel universe. So shouldn't Jack be a little surprised/excited to see Rose. Yeah, I know, the Doctor's dying, it kind of ruins the possibility of a happy reunion. But at least a little bit of surprise. I want some sort of reaction here.

And Rose, again understandable, she's concerned with the Doctor. However, the last time she saw Jack it was back at the Game Station. She should also be a bit surprised. I want some reaction!

Other thing, Jack and Sarah Jane, completely not holding it together. Ok, Jack, you're the boss, heh, yeah despairing and sulking in the corner isn't exactly great leadership. You have to be strong thing for the team. Same goes for Sarah, she's the mom, and mommy can't cry, despair, be afraid because she has to be strong for her kid, and tell him its going to be alright even when it isn't.

Then again, they're human. I would have expected Jack to be a bit stronger, but hey Daleks are scary, I get it, scary.

Over all. I loved this episode so much, its so good, seeing everyone and everything just come together.

"Then Paul O’Grady, a talkshow/comedian makes a crack about what he must have drank the night before. I gather he’s well known in the UK, but I can’t tell if he’s a Jon Stewart or a Jay Leno or a Maury Povich."

More like Vicki Lawrence.

Loved this episode so so much. Everyone's terror at the daleks gave me the chills without even knowing who they were (I have since been schooled.) Yes, throat-lumps abound.

The part “like Owen, like Tosh.” was when I totally lost it.The Doctor & Rose part didn`t really do much for me cause Rose is probably my least favourite companion of the whole new series.

I`ve already watched the season finale,which totally blew me away.I`ve read some possible spoilers quite a while back,yet the major twist is still sooo amazing,knocked my socks off.And Catherine Tate outdone herself one more time.Her peformance in the later part of episode is beyond brilliant.OK I`ll just stop here,not to give anything away for everybody`s viewing pleasure. Everyone out there please remember to check it out when finale is on.I PROMISE you will be satisfied.

I watched this a few weeks ago when it first came out and I loved this episode. Unfortunately for me the last episode was a very very big let-down. Something Russel T Davies *also* knows how to do (remember last year's Gollum!Doctor... ugh) A thought on Jack though. Off he goes with the only gun working against daleks, leaving Ianto and Gwen on their own, without protection. "I'll come back". Oh that's a relief. For what though? To pick up the bodies and give them a funeral? Bad writing or just selfish Jack?

I also watch this episode several weeks ago so I might not remember it correctly,however I do believe Jack didn`t know by then that Daleks had already found out where Torchwood basement is.There is NO WAY he would leave Ianto(and Gwen)to die.

Great recap, as always, Steven - and I for one wouldn't complain if at some point you decide to recap the final five episodes of season one and the final three of season three so that you've covered all of Captain Jack's appearences. I've seen the finale and you can put me in the column of those who loved it. Yes, it's got one or two of RTD's more irritating tics when it comes to big scale denouments, but he mostly pulls it off. And there's one late scene in the TARDIS that's total fanboy squee. Agree with you about Julian Bleach. His Davros is almost as good as the original by Michael Wisher in 'Genesis of the Daleks' from - gasp! - 33 years ago in which the Doctor and Sarah-Jane go back in time to try and stop the creation of the Daleks. I bought the DVD of this story a few weeks ago and even with the lower budgets back then it holds up really well. I can see why it's regarded as a classic.

...and had to download next week's finale so I could see what happened (and if any copyright lawyers for the BBC are reading this, I deny everything in that last sentence).

Steven, if you think you had lumps in your throat over this episode, just wait until next week. Get that box of tissues ready.

You do such a great mix of sardonic with genuine sentimental fanboy, I love it.

I also watched these episodes a couple weeks ago, relyin' on the kindness of strangers -- I mean, YouTube. Next week's episode is probably the best-written finale/culmination I've seen on the show, and aspects of it I haven't stopped thinking about. I can't wait to read your recap.

 

 

 

The blog loves you. In its own sentimental and sardonic bloggy way.

Instead Jack says, “There’s nothing to be done. We’re dead.” He’s apparently so upset he’s completely forgotten he can’t die.

Well, we don't know if he can come back from being completely dusted, and it was Daleks that got him into this whole Highlander mess in the first place, so I can't really blame him for freaking. Mostly, though, it was worth it for the adorable grab-and-kiss with Ianto (and Gwen, I guess). Aww. And ha! for everyone being warned off flirting with him. Poor Jack, no one trusts his self-control. Heh.

And I agree with everyone feeling cheated out of a Jack/Rose reunion. I don't ask much, really. A minute for "Rose! You're no longer in a parallel universe!" "Jack! You're no longer dead and/or lost!" will do it. Stupid plot, getting in the way.

Now, if we could just point the Daleks at Orson Scott Card!

One thing I have to say is that they've done well for the Daleks in this modern age of CGI.  A large part of why they were so cheesy in the old series was the running joke about how they could be prevented from conquering the universe by encountering a flight of stairs.  Granted, they were rather scarier in black & white than when they transitioned to color.

But in the new series they come across as neat little battle tanks that can fly.  They're scary because they can, and will, exterminate you!

Jack freaking out was understandable.  He knows that this is big bad.  Way bigger than Godzilla-sized demons worshipped by weirdos that wear ascots.  CGI Daleks don't just toddle around London looking like mobile mailboxes.  They blow stuff up without any restraint or hesitation.

Jack kissing Ianto's head was cute.  Jack kissing Gwen looked like an afterthought (probably wishful thinking on my part).  In fairness Doctor Who is barycenter around which The Sarah Jane Adventures (the real kiddie show) and Torchwood (the grownups show) orbit.  Consequently, we were never likely to see hot Jack-on-Ianto action here.

Although Steven, I rather did like your comment about naked Pterodactyl hunting.  Almost instantly an image of butt-naked Jack and Ianto covered with decorative body-paint came to mind.  Of course, were this to actually happen I doubt either of them would stay focused on the Pterodactyl for very long.

Gwen was roughly as useless as usual.  Not much call for her police "skills" or empathy during a Dalek invasion.  She's wasting her time with the gun though.  A more effective tactic would to try an lecture the Daleks.  The annoyance would probably make them pop like gremlins in a microwave (which is how my head feels when she goes off on one of her tangents).  In fact, maybe she should have broadcast one of her preachy speeches, or even better conferenced in her phone call with Rhys, when the Dalek fleet was on approach.  That would have scared them off for sure.

I suppose it would be too much to ask for Gwen to be exterminated and Ianto to escape in the confusion.  So I have to hope they both survive so we can have more Torchwood.

Now, can I just say that I though Rose was hysterical in front of that screen?  The whole scene recalled the face off she had with Sarah Jane in School Reunion overwho's been more of a "companion" to the Doctor.  "Oi, I was here first!".  Um, no Rose, actually you were like 50th.  You're man's been around the universe a lot of times before he met you. One of his ex's even wore a Pocahontas outfit.  You might want to breakout those skills you learned over at on Diary of a Call Girl if you really want to hang onto your man.

Jack is leaning gay these days so he's doubtless more eager to see if the Doctor regenerates into Cheyenne Jackson before spending any time getting emotional with Rose.  Why Ianto let's him go off on his own I'll never know.

Great recap of a great episode dude!

I was hoping for a wet-gropey goodbye kiss as well, maybe that's how S3 of Torchwood will start... Ianto was brilliant in this episode and yes, I have missed Gareth and his absolutely perfect (he doesn't even have any bloopers) acting and comedic timing. Always had a theory about bees...

I want to be a hero like Captain Jack Harkness, kicking butt and snogging anything with a pulse! Besides, then I get a sexy receptionist of my very own. And no one would mess with me because I can kill them creatively.

*** This is NOT a spoiler for the final episode ***

RE: I’m very afraid of who they might cast as the next Doctor.

Several different UK sources have published the rumor that Robert Carlyle is next in line to play the Doctor after David Ten-Inch Tennant leaves the show in 2010. The most recent article I've seen regarding this is the July 1st issue of The Telegraph.

Personally, I find Robert Carlyle to be really hot in that 'everyman', working-class kind of way. Had a crush on him in 'Priest', but totally fell head-over-heels for him in 'The Full Monty'. I'm crossing fngers, toes and every appendage I can think of that this turns out to be true...

 

-Sibelius

"It's curtains for you, Dr. Horrible. Lacy, wafting curtains..."

Steven!!! Another FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC recap! I'm hoping someday you'll publish all your TORCHWOOD/WHO recaps in book form. NOBODY does it better! (bowing repeatedly in humble gratitude . . .)

I bet Jack only kissed Gwen coz he felt he had to...

Awesome recap for an awesome ep.