DW review: 4x12 'The Stolen Earth'
This is our review of the fucking brilliant first part of the Doctor Who Season finale, so there are obviously going to be spoilers under the cut.
This episode was made of pure win. And the next review is probably going to end up fawning over this first part of the season finale. But I can’t help it. It was, in my opinion, fucking brilliant.
I don’t even know where to start my review.
I was afraid, after the episode of last week (which I thought was pretty disappointing) that there would be too much going on, at the same time. That there would be too many point of views, with the companions and all that. But this didn’t happen, they solved that problem very well by making sure all these people were communicating with each other and working toward a common goal: getting the Doctor back to earth.
Okay first things first.
Donna, she was amazing yet again. Her despair was almost tangible and the way she looked at the Doctor to find a solution, almost despairing when he didn’t. and later on the show her first reaction to Jack was fantastic
And the Doctor himself, for the first time this season we saw him utterly defeated, for a moment he didn’t know what to do. Immobile, seeing the wrong and not able to right it. Till the signal came through.
Which brings me to the next character, Harriet Jones. Not in a million years had I expected to see her again. And certainly not like this. Very smart plotline (go R.T.D).
How she introduced herself again and again was highly amusing, even the Daleks knew who she was!
Her end reminded me a bit of Jack’s first death. She stood up to the Daleks, (=to her death), knowing she did everything she could to save the earth and reach the Doctor. (What a clever plan she had). Prepared for anything and willing to die for her beliefs. She was absolutely amazing.
But poor Rose hearing everything what was said and not able to speak up and help.
In the beginning of the episode she was all warrior-like and I was afraid this was how she was going to be the entire time. Luckily she became more like the old Rose in the course of the episode. I felt sorry for her when she saw the Doctor but couldn’t speak to him. It was fun to see she was jealous of Martha. (Jack hitting on Sarah Jane was just :>) All the subway scene were so much fun, I loved seeing all the companions interacting, working together and trusting each other because of their common link with The Doctor.
I liked the way Donna reacted to Rose. She seems to see Rose as someone who makes the Doctor happy. Donna isn’t intimidated in the least by her mysterious predecessor. She just figures: Hey, if Rose is what makes the Doctor happy then lets go and get her.
When I saw Martha for the first time I had a bit of the same feeling as with Rose. She was so cool, professional and military. Where’s the girl we all know and love under that cool exterior? But during the episode when the situation with the Daleks escalates that mask cracks. And we see the real her, teleporting while knowing she might not survive and Jack screaming in her ear not to do it. It was a relieve to discover she made it home (!) safely.
I thought it was brilliant that Jack knew about the Indigo project and Martha’s like “Hey, that’s supposed the be top secret.” Ah, Martha you should know better this is Jack we’re talking about. Also the little Jack/Ianto moment:
Martha: “ you’re not supposed to know that!
Jack: I met a soldier in a bar
Ianto: (frowning) When was that?
Jack: strictly professional
Now tell me that their relationship isn’t exclusive J
I can’t say a lot about Sarah Jane cause I don’t really know her (only saw one episode with her and that’s it) but what I saw I liked. I liked it that Jack commented on her work with the Slitheen, referring to the other show eventhough I haven’t seen it.
Oooh, and what’ with the hand?
The camera focussed on it in the beginning and then, well nothing…
Could it be connected with the regeneration? Which, by the way, I hadn’t seen coming at all!
I’m not even going to guess what’s going on. Although if he really regenerates in another Doctor then it’s been a bloody well kept secret.
It was nice to see Captain Jack taking charge at the end ( just like old times really, boom town anyone?). Although I thought it heartbreaking when he left his team. Assuring them he’d be back, not knowing what they know, that the Daleks are on their way down. Jack looked so happy going to the Doctor, they let him go. That must’ve been so hard especially for Ianto.
I thought it was brilliant how, after Jack left, Gwen’s like “if we’re going to die then we’ll go down fighting, like Tosh and Owen ( yey, they get mentioned)” and Ianto’s reply “Yes, Ma’m.” Although I really don’t see how they’re going to get out of this situation but I’m sure RTD has come up with something brilliant if this episode is something to go by.
And while we’re on the subject of Jack: This is the first time he came into contact with the Daleks after his original demise at their proverbial hands. He looked absolutely terrified, just like the Doctor. He seemed to give up all hope for while ‘till Harriet Jones came along.
All these companions of the Doctor knowing they are risking everything by doing this but still giving it there best shot.
And then there was the ending with the emotional reunion of Rose and the Doctor starting of on a comic note through Donna’s comment “ Why don’t you ask her?” while looking pointedly to a spot behind his back. But it was stopped short by a nasty Dalek, Jack was just a second too late, and Rose, back to her former persona, panicked completely ‘till Jack tells her what to do.
This episode was an absolute rollercoaster. And I still have so many questions at the end.
Is the Doctor really going to regenerate?
Will Rose discover that Jack is immortal, and what will happen to her?
What about Sara Jane trapped in the middle of the road, the enemy right in front of her?
And Ianto and Gwen taking a last desperate stance against the Daleks with weapons of which Ianto knows (Canary Wharf) they don’t work.
I’m so going to watch this episode again this week and I hope next Saturday will arrive soon.
This episode was made of pure win. And the next review is probably going to end up fawning over this first part of the season finale. But I can’t help it. It was, in my opinion, fucking brilliant.
I don’t even know where to start my review.
I was afraid, after the episode of last week (which I thought was pretty disappointing) that there would be too much going on, at the same time. That there would be too many point of views, with the companions and all that. But this didn’t happen, they solved that problem very well by making sure all these people were communicating with each other and working toward a common goal: getting the Doctor back to earth.
Okay first things first.
Donna, she was amazing yet again. Her despair was almost tangible and the way she looked at the Doctor to find a solution, almost despairing when he didn’t. and later on the show her first reaction to Jack was fantastic
And the Doctor himself, for the first time this season we saw him utterly defeated, for a moment he didn’t know what to do. Immobile, seeing the wrong and not able to right it. Till the signal came through.
Which brings me to the next character, Harriet Jones. Not in a million years had I expected to see her again. And certainly not like this. Very smart plotline (go R.T.D).
How she introduced herself again and again was highly amusing, even the Daleks knew who she was!
Her end reminded me a bit of Jack’s first death. She stood up to the Daleks, (=to her death), knowing she did everything she could to save the earth and reach the Doctor. (What a clever plan she had). Prepared for anything and willing to die for her beliefs. She was absolutely amazing.
But poor Rose hearing everything what was said and not able to speak up and help.
In the beginning of the episode she was all warrior-like and I was afraid this was how she was going to be the entire time. Luckily she became more like the old Rose in the course of the episode. I felt sorry for her when she saw the Doctor but couldn’t speak to him. It was fun to see she was jealous of Martha. (Jack hitting on Sarah Jane was just :>) All the subway scene were so much fun, I loved seeing all the companions interacting, working together and trusting each other because of their common link with The Doctor.
I liked the way Donna reacted to Rose. She seems to see Rose as someone who makes the Doctor happy. Donna isn’t intimidated in the least by her mysterious predecessor. She just figures: Hey, if Rose is what makes the Doctor happy then lets go and get her.
When I saw Martha for the first time I had a bit of the same feeling as with Rose. She was so cool, professional and military. Where’s the girl we all know and love under that cool exterior? But during the episode when the situation with the Daleks escalates that mask cracks. And we see the real her, teleporting while knowing she might not survive and Jack screaming in her ear not to do it. It was a relieve to discover she made it home (!) safely.
I thought it was brilliant that Jack knew about the Indigo project and Martha’s like “Hey, that’s supposed the be top secret.” Ah, Martha you should know better this is Jack we’re talking about. Also the little Jack/Ianto moment:
Martha: “ you’re not supposed to know that!
Jack: I met a soldier in a bar
Ianto: (frowning) When was that?
Jack: strictly professional
Now tell me that their relationship isn’t exclusive J
I can’t say a lot about Sarah Jane cause I don’t really know her (only saw one episode with her and that’s it) but what I saw I liked. I liked it that Jack commented on her work with the Slitheen, referring to the other show eventhough I haven’t seen it.
Oooh, and what’ with the hand?
The camera focussed on it in the beginning and then, well nothing…
Could it be connected with the regeneration? Which, by the way, I hadn’t seen coming at all!
I’m not even going to guess what’s going on. Although if he really regenerates in another Doctor then it’s been a bloody well kept secret.
It was nice to see Captain Jack taking charge at the end ( just like old times really, boom town anyone?). Although I thought it heartbreaking when he left his team. Assuring them he’d be back, not knowing what they know, that the Daleks are on their way down. Jack looked so happy going to the Doctor, they let him go. That must’ve been so hard especially for Ianto.
I thought it was brilliant how, after Jack left, Gwen’s like “if we’re going to die then we’ll go down fighting, like Tosh and Owen ( yey, they get mentioned)” and Ianto’s reply “Yes, Ma’m.” Although I really don’t see how they’re going to get out of this situation but I’m sure RTD has come up with something brilliant if this episode is something to go by.
And while we’re on the subject of Jack: This is the first time he came into contact with the Daleks after his original demise at their proverbial hands. He looked absolutely terrified, just like the Doctor. He seemed to give up all hope for while ‘till Harriet Jones came along.
All these companions of the Doctor knowing they are risking everything by doing this but still giving it there best shot.
And then there was the ending with the emotional reunion of Rose and the Doctor starting of on a comic note through Donna’s comment “ Why don’t you ask her?” while looking pointedly to a spot behind his back. But it was stopped short by a nasty Dalek, Jack was just a second too late, and Rose, back to her former persona, panicked completely ‘till Jack tells her what to do.
This episode was an absolute rollercoaster. And I still have so many questions at the end.
Is the Doctor really going to regenerate?
Will Rose discover that Jack is immortal, and what will happen to her?
What about Sara Jane trapped in the middle of the road, the enemy right in front of her?
And Ianto and Gwen taking a last desperate stance against the Daleks with weapons of which Ianto knows (Canary Wharf) they don’t work.
I’m so going to watch this episode again this week and I hope next Saturday will arrive soon.