Didn't take much really, just no more than two to three minutes was all it took Russell T. Davies, whom I had just completely forgiven for all the horrible stories he has written over the past four years after three consecutive good episodes, completely takes away all the tension that had built up in "The Stolen Earth" and begins "Journey's End"- THE most contrived, hackneyed, sappy, ludicrous, and downright annoying Doctor Who episode of all time. "Twin Dilemma" and "Timeflight" step aside, "Journey's End" is the all time worst episode of Doctor Who, and if not for the brilliant opening half it would be the all-time worst Doctor Who story.
Quite simply I cannot think of one single thing I thought was good about "Journey's End". OK, Davros is still well-realized and there's some decent tension in the first... Oh, who am I kidding. No, Davros was the only positive in this episode. Davies' handling of everything else was downright horrendous, from character to plot to the overblown romance plot and what is surely the biggest mistake Doctor Who has EVER made- Doctor Donna. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
Murray Gold, as per usual, is absolutely and utterly horrendous with his handling of the music. Overblown, ridiculous, overbearing, hideous attempts at being 'majestic' and every cliché in music composition pops up in this episode. Truly, truly terrible.
Featuring in this magnificent offering of Doctor Who are the following:
- spinning Daleks. - Doctor Donna. - half-human Doctor who kisses Rose in the series' worst ever scene outside the telemovie. - TARDIS dragging Earth. - Doctor Donna. - Doctor Donna.
Did I mention Doctor Donna yet? Practically everything past the half hour mark here is utterly unbearable, either completely overblown, nonsensical, and cowardly plot-wise, or hopelessly sappy, sentimental GARBAGE aimed at the lowest common denominator. Doctor Who has never talked down to children, why on Earth start now?!
All the performances are phoned-in and horrendous outside Tennant and Sladen. Agyeman is particularly awful, with every moment she tried to emote being absolutely, miserably terrible.
What a way for Russell to go out. Really. Such a champ for bringing back the show, and he offered some fine stories while in charge. Those fine stories appear to be mere tiny outbursts of skill and drive, as "Journey's End" tops even "Last of the Time Lords" for sheer ridiculousness, sappiness, and general awfulness.
Let's hope the specials are good, because although I'm not a fan of Russell the writer he doesn't deserve to end his reign on THIS note. What a colossal, colossal misfire this is. Don't care what Moffat says about what he thinks of Russell's era of Who, nothing he's written, not even "Chalk", has matched the complete absence of quality in this utterly insulting garbage.
1/10
Wish I could give it less.
