Doctor Who (2005): Doomsday (2)

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Location: London, Torchwood Tower
Date: 2007
Enemies: Cybermen, Daleks
The Cybermen have taken over the world, but four Daleks that hid themselves in the void want to awaken something they brought in a capsule called the Genesis Ark. Can the Doctor stop the Cybermen and Daleks from turning this world into hell? Read full recap »

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Writers:: Russell T. Davies

Director:: Graeme Harper

Stars:: David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor); Billie Piper (Rose Tyler)

Recurring Role:: Paul Kasey (Cyber Leader); Barnaby Edwards (Dalek Operators); Noel Clarke (Mickey); Nicholas Briggs (Voice of the Cybermen); Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler)

Guest Star:: Andrew Hayden Smith (Jake Simmonds); Raji James (Doctor Singh); Tracy-Ann Oberman (Yvonne Hartman); Shaun Dingwall (Pete Tyler)

When the Daleks are powering up the Genesis Ark, a pulsing tone can be heard in the background. This is identical to the pulsing tone that was always heard in Dalek facilities in the original series. edit »
This is the first time that The Doctor shows this much emotion when he says goodbye to a companion. edit »
This episode is the first appearence of Donna Noble from the 2006 Christmas Special. edit »
When the Doctor hands Rose a magna-clamp Rose holds it with the bottom of it held to her chest and the handles held by both of her hands. The camera angle changes and suddenly Rose is holding the clamp sideways with her right hand on the bottom of the magna-clamp. edit »
When the Doctor speaks to Rose on the beach in Norway it is windy. While Rose's hair is being blown around the Doctor's hair should be still as he isn't really there. His appearance is a projection originating in the Tardis, so the wind shouldn't be blowing his hair. edit »

This episode, and its first part Army of Ghosts, were nominated for a 2007 Hugo Award in the "Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form" Category, but lost out to another Doctor Who episode: The Girl in the Fireplace. edit »
Peter Hawkins, one of the original Dalek and Cyberman voice actors, died on the same day that this episode was first broadcast. edit »
The final scene, where the Doctor discovers the Bride in the TARDIS, was filmed separately after the rest of the season wrapped (in fact, the rest of the cast was at the wrap party at the time). This was done to keep Catherine Tate's involvement in The Runaway Bride a secret until this episode actually aired. edit »
While filming the last scene, four windsurfers interrupted the shot--they were asked to leave. edit »
The final viewing figure for the BBC One airing of this episode was 8.22 million. edit »

Dalek Thay: (after Dispaching two Cybermen effortlessly) Cyber-threat irrelevant, focus on the Genesis Arc. edit »
Doctor: How are you?
Rose: Oh, same old, you know.
Doctor: And Mickedy-mick-Mickey! Nice to see ya.
Mickey: And you, boss.
Dalek Jast: Social interaction will cease! edit »
Dalek Sec: Dalek Thay, investigate outside.
Dalek Thay: I obey. edit »
Dalek Sek: Identify him!
Rose: All right. If you really want to know. That's the Doctor. (Daleks startle) Five million Cybermen. Easy. One Doctor? Now you're scared. edit »
Cyberleader 1: (looking out over a war-torn London) I ordered surrender...
The Doctor: They're not taking instructions! Don't you understand? You're in every street, you're in their homes, you've got their children - of course they're gonna fight! edit »

There are a number of similarities between this plot and the plot of Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. These include an alternative universe where airships are commonplace, the existence of rips between the universes having a negative effect and having to be closed, and the climate on Earth being affected by the rips between the universes. edit »
The Doctor: Jacqueline Andrea Suzette Tyler!
Alternate Pete Tyler: She's not my wife...
The Doctor: I was at the wedding. You got her name wrong.

This is a reference to the 2005 episode, Father's Day, in which The Doctor and Rose travel back in time to watch the wedding of Jackie and the now-dead Pete Tyler. When taking the vows, Pete gets Jackie's name wrong and Jackie simply replies with "it's good enough for Lady Di". edit »
Dalek Sek: We would destroy the Cybermen with one Dalek.

It has been said that this line was also an allusion to the Daleks Masterplan episode when, after The Doctor demands that only one Dalek is there at his turning over of the time destructor core, the Dalek assailant Mavic Chen enquires why they agreed so readily to his conditions when in reply the lead Dalek confidently says, "One Dalek...is capable of exterminating all!" edit »
Cyber-Leader: We have five million Cybermen, how many are you?
Dalek Sek: Four.
Cyber-Leader: You would destroy the Cybermen with four Daleks?
Dalek Sek: We would destroy the Cybermen with one Dalek.

As well as being an obvious reference to the number of Daleks in the episode at this point, is a nice allusion from the writer to a long standing production technique.

Traditionally you rarely (if ever) see more than four full size Dalek props on screen at any one time in an episode. This is to keep down costs and ease logistics, as Dalek props are expensive to build and transport as well as being time consuming on set. Yet despite the low numbers Daleks always manage to conquer and destroy.

Dalek numbers are usually swelled by clever (or sometimes not) filming. The most notorious instance of this being in Power of the Daleks episode 5 (available on Lost In Time DVD) where 4 full size Daleks enter a room with 10 cardboard ones that can clearly be seen swaying in the wake of the real ones. Then to a chorus of "Daleks conquer and Destroy" a continuous stream of Daleks leaves the control room, but after every fourth Dalek there is clearly a gap while the 4 Daleks spin round the set to come out again.

Conversely, for Cybermen episodes, there are usually many more physical cybermen on set. edit »

9.5
10
ben-the-hen
member since: Aug 11, 2008
Doomsday (2)
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
Thank goodness this episode was made. ...Continue »
If this episode was any worse than it was, it would have made the series the worst ever. The previous three episodes were abysmal, Doomsday saved the season and made people laugh, cry and hold their breath at the same time.

We say goodbye to Rose as she 'dies' and is put into a parallel world with Jackie, Mickey and Pete. The Daleks and Cybermen return and start a war with the human race in the middle of it. Tracey-Ann Oberman makes a special perfomence as Yvonne Hartman who eventually gets killed.

All in all a great episode and with Catherine Tate at the end it made us dying to see the Christmas episode.
08/12/08 07:54am | report abuse
9.7
10
racxiu
member since: Apr 4, 2007
Doomsday (2)
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
A great return to form after the previous two eps.

An emotional rollercoaster. *spoilers* ...Continue »
oh..my god.I did not see that coming.Honestly, I thought this episode would end with Rose and the Doctor saving the day, and moving on to more adventures together. Obviously I was mistaken (and stubborn too lol.Rose alr said she was going to tell the story of how she died but I didn't believe her due to past experiences with this show)

So many touching moments...
The Doctor yelling "NOOOOOOOO" as Rose was sucked into the void The two of them separated That scene at the beach. The doctor's image appearing and telling Rose the gap was going to close. "I'm burning up a sun just to say goodbye" The Doctor crying. All alone again.(I don't usually cry over tv shows but this was an exception.i couldn't control myself anymore.I cried with him)

A very moving episode. You really get to see how much The two mean to each other.

This episode is a worthy opponent to "The parting of ways"(which I considered, before this, my favourite episode i still miss nine..sigh) However, I was a little upset about how Pete suddenly appeared to grab Rose.why wasn't he sucked in also?how did he know when to pop up and save her? I kinda forgave the writers for this after the final scene though.

Man..its not going to be the same without Rose anymore.
07/13/08 07:42am | report abuse
10
40
gallifrey733
member since: Apr 26, 2008
Doomsday (2)
The Bottom Line: "Series classic"
What an episode was this. I can't even begin to explain how brilliant it is. Doomsday is the reason I am a fan, and nothing since has come even close. ...Continue »
Russell T Davies. He does like to mess with your mind, doesn't he? And until the very last moment on that beach, he keeps you guessing as to what is meant by Rose's ominous prologue to this jaw-droppingly brilliant two-parter; "this is the story of how I died." Many fans would have thought that the climactic battle between the Daleks and the Cybermen was to be the heart of the story, and maybe Rose would be killed by a passing pepperpot in a poignant but simple moment, yet this was not to be. Thankfully. The Cybermen v Daleks battle sometimes seem like padding, and isn't the thing this story is always going to be remembered for. For the last fifteen minutes or so, we are treated to the most emotional, heart-felt and pretty damn brilliant sequence in the whole history of the show since it began, way back in 1963. You've got to hand it to David Tennant and Billie Piper - it's no surprise the beach scene was voted TV Moment of the Year by the Radio Times. My only criticism would be that, though beautifully heartbreaking, the ending is too bleak. Rose is reunited with her family, but can never again have the one thing she truly desires - life with the Doctor.

Did I say never? Never say never ever. *winks*
04/26/08 03:54am | report abuse
10
10
gallifrey733
member since: Apr 26, 2008
Doomsday (2)
The Bottom Line: "Series classic"
What an episode was this. I can't even begin to explain how brilliant it is. Doomsday is the reason I am a fan, and nothing since has come even close. ...Continue »
Russell T Davies. He does like to mess with your mind, doesn't he? And until the very last moment on that beach, he keeps you guessing as to what is meant by Rose's ominous prologue to this jaw-droppingly brilliant two-parter; "this is the story of how I died." Many fans would have thought that the climactic battle between the Daleks and the Cybermen was to be the heart of the story, and maybe Rose would be killed by a passing pepperpot in a poignant but simple moment, yet this was not to be. Thankfully. The Cybermen v Daleks battle sometimes seem like padding, and isn't the thing this story is always going to be remembered for. For the last fifteen minutes or so, we are treated to the most emotional, heart-felt and pretty damn brilliant sequence in the whole history of the show since it began, way back in 1963. You've got to hand it to David Tennant and Billie Piper - it's no surprise the beach scene was voted TV Moment of the Year by the Radio Times. My only criticism would be that, though beautifully heartbreaking, the ending is too bleak. Rose is reunited with her family, but can never again have the one thing she truly desires - life with the Doctor.

Did I say never? Never say never ever. *winks*
04/26/08 03:54am | report abuse
10
10
BadWolf_35
member since: Apr 12, 2008
Doomsday (2)
The Bottom Line: "Series finale"
The Daleks and The Cybermen have just revealed themselves and now its an alien battle on earth. The Cybermen set on claiming this world, and The Daleks set on opening the Genesis Ark. The Doctor manages to send them all back into the void but at a price. ...Continue »
Such an emotional episode and a sad goodbye to Rose. This episode was extremely well done, it was perfect. The actors captured the emotion of their characters perfectly to create such emotional scenes, such as the "wall scene" and the "beach scene". This episode was a great season finale, it kept the viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
The last scene at the beach was very emotional and the actors did a brilliant job. It was so sad how The Doctor fades away just before he could say those three words that mean so much. You have to feel sorry for Rose as she is left standing on the beach with an unfinished sentence.
04/14/08 05:12am | report abuse