On Doctor Who: “The End of the World”
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
The question at the heart of “The End of the World” is “What happens next?” This not only permeates the episode and colors the actions of its characters, but also inevitably rests in the mind of the viewer who, having been reasonably pleased with “Rose,” now wants to know whether this series will continue to captivate. To answer that question, writer Russell T. Davies weaves a tale that emphasizes death, loss, and the challenges of moving on, all centered around the planned demolition of planet Earth five billion years from now. Many seeds are planted in this episode, including the first mention of the “Bad Wolf” and the first appearance of the Face of Boe, but at its core, this is a story of three very different people and how they deal with endings.
