It would appear that the Daleks' threat is insurmountable. Both the Doctor and Jack seem to think so anyway, and glumly set about the macho business of dying in vain: Jack recruits some TV producers into an anti-Dalek army, and the Doctor packs Rose off back home so he can try and build a weapon that he won't ever use.
Why is it that he doesn't activate the delta wave? I know he regrets the loss of Gallifrey, but surely it was the right thing to do at the time? What stops the delta wave being the right answer this time? There are other factors to consider: for example, the people of Earth are innocent victims, whilst the Time Lords (according to The End of Time) were a very unsavoury lot, and probably as bad as the Daleks. But there's certainly no other solution available aboard Satellite 5, and not firing it means the Daleks will conquer countless worlds, starting with Earth. Would this Doctor, a "coward, every time" have allowed the Daleks to win the Time War? Has he given up now?
It doesn't satisfy. It doesn't ring true, because I want the Doctor to rise up above the impossible situation, to do something brilliantly clever and save the day. And he can't do that. He is incapable. Not because of survivor's guilt, or psychological trauma or principled pacifism. He can't do it because Rose is coming to do it for him.
Yes, plucky old Rose has smashed her way into the TARDIS' mystic glove box and turned herself into a supreme Time being, arriving just in time to wipe the whole Dalek fleet from existence with a wave of her glowy hand. I understand that the point is to show how marvellous Rose is; how the simple shopgirl has been transformed by her travels; how her bravery, passion, obstinacy have all been revealed so that now she can save the Earth. I just don't like it.
Of course, this is all reflection. This is thinking about it, having it washing coldly around in my head for years and years. When I watched it, even just now when I watched it again, none of these things crossed my mind. I was wrapped up in the power and drama of it, the swell of the music, the swirling lights. It doesn't matter that the Bad Wolf thing makes no sense whatsoever, or that it should be the Doctor that gets to be the hero; the emotional story of these two characters and how they've affected each other is just fantastic.
The regeneration helps. It makes it grander, somehow providing more leeway for the Rose/Bad Wolf silliness. And the death of the Doctor is a massive strength. What other show, revived or not, could lose its lead actor at the end of the first season and not be seen as weak or troubled? Here the very act of change offers continuity. The regeneration means that the show is alive and well, powering forwards; that Tennant completely nails those first few seconds of the Tenth Doctor is just a bonus.
William could only manage a 9 for this, apparently annoyed that Captain Jack had been left behind. I think he just thinks it's rude of the Doctor not to wait for him. Chris had no qualms: "Epic. Not funny, but scary, sad and emotional. 10."
And what do they think of the Ninth Doctor? "He was great, funny," said Chris. "A really good actor too." "It was interesting how we was recovering from the Time War," said William. "It was a slow process, and he wasn't even fully recovered by the end. But he was a really good Doctor."
I think so too. Watching the series again, I've realised what a brave performance it is from Eccleston. So much of his Doctor's character is an act for the benefit of those around him, and he only slowly and reluctantly opens up to Rose (and us) over the thirteen episodes, and never fully. Rightly, the central mystery of this series has been the Doctor himself.
NEXT TIME...
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