StefanClaypool.com

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.

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Doctor Who holds the distinction of being one of the most enduring science fiction programs on either side of the Atlantic. Debuting in November 1963 on BBC One, the series was originally intended as a history lesson, but quickly blossomed into a nationwide television phenomenon, featuring a time-traveling hero and his companions righting wrongs and confronting moral and ethical dilemmas and universe-threatening catastrophes. With a rotating cast and a stable of talented writers making up for a notable lack of budget, the program underwent several reinventions; in its original run, it saw seven actors assume the iconic role of the the mysterious “Doctor,” whose origins and even name remain to this day shrouded in mystery. The first of these actors was William Hartnell, who was followed in the role by Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy. The program ran for twenty-six series in Britain before being cancelled during McCoy’s run in 1989. An unsuccessful television movie aired in 1996 introduced a new Doctor in the form of Paul McGann, whose singular appearance was the last many thought they would ever see of their beloved hero.

But in 2005, a new Doctor Who began airing on BBC One. Masterminded by writer-producer Russell T. Davies, the new program is a direct continuation of all that had come before, but was designed to be younger, fresher, and edgier – in short, Doctor Who for the 21^st Century, at least in the eyes of studio executives. The details of the production, and of the whole program’s complex history, are widely available elsewhere on the Internet, but given the context, it is easy to see why the premiere episode of the new series, entitled “Rose,” was so hotly anticipated before its release. In a new recurring feature here at StefanClaypool.com, I am going to be viewing and analyzing each episode of the revived series, exploring what works and what doesn’t, and attempting to draw some conclusions about why the Doctor’s story seems destined to go on forever. Rather than present an exhaustive scene-by-scene recap of the episode, I’ll be discussing the importance of key themes and events to the overarching story, while at the same time analyzing the development of characters, ideas, and the production as a whole.

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