Cool review, but the reset button thing happens every year, whether it’s Rose-God, Inter-Dimensional Vacuum Cleaner or Jack, um, shooting at the TARDIS. (?!) In fact, the whole Finale Formula happens every year. There’s always an army, a war, part-human monsters, bittersweet Doctor/companion parting of some sort, and a great big reset button. Honestly, you’d think they’d have some kind of script editor to wave a red flag when this sort of repetition creeps in, but no. Yikes, does this show need some fresh ideas…
Tom 20 August 2007, 05:04 AM
2
There is a pattern developing for the season finales, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that the last two included reset buttons. Aside from Jack’s death, nothing’s previously gotten rolled back to this extent.
But yes, if they don’t mix things around a bit more come next year’s finale, I’ll be very grumpy.
Gareth 20 August 2007, 11:20 AM
3
I dunno about fair - I mean, the baddies were magically whisked away in an instant every time. Although not quite the same as a reset button, because people’s memories weren’t erased or anything, it’s still a bit of a creaky old cheat.
Bit sad that, for my money, they still haven’t touched Parting of the Ways in terms of quality. I still love that episode. Maybe it’s the regeneration finale.
andy 23 August 2007, 02:27 AM
4
The first two were reset-ish, although the second at least had a change on present day Earth and affected Torchwood.
Perhaps the fourth season finale will reset back to before Catherine Tate becomes a companion.
The use of the Rogue Traders song wasn’t as half as good as the Britney Spears in season 1. I’d have prefered the sound of drums being tied into the theme music more.
Tom 23 August 2007, 02:46 PM
5
I think “reset button” has a pretty clear implication which is pretty different to the somewhat out-of-nowhere instant solutions which turned up in the previous finales. Hasn’t everyone been pretty happy to call those deus ex machina? Both previous finales have clear consequences that hang around for multiple seasons of multiple TV shows. Instantly destroying baddies shouldn’t necessarily be a cheat, if there’s a good way to do it.
In my opinion, The Parting of the Ways almost completely gets away with it, and Doomsday teeters on the brink, but is supported by almost everything else in the episode being great fun. Last of the Time Lords lacks the fun, lacks the awesomeness, adds unwanted cheese, and actually has the nerve to rewind time and reset back to near the end of the previous episode. Gah! I agree about the song, too, Andy.
At least, after reading the comments about Donna mentioned in the DWM preview, I’m ever so slightly less upset about Catherine Tate’s return.
Poor old Catherine Tate - linched long before she got anywhere near the telly. Give her a chance. God knows there are enough people still unfairly picking on the brilliant Martha for, presumably, not being Rose.
Tom 26 August 2007, 04:32 AM
8
If Catherine Tate wanted my sympathy, she shouldn’t have made The Catherine Tate Show. I wasn’t super keen on her on her in ‘The Runaway Bride’, but if she’s good in series four, I’m not going to ignore it. I certainly hope she is; I’d just rather more time with Martha than Donna.
andy 27 August 2007, 04:45 AM
9
I’m going to spend all next season complaining about how Donna is not as good as Martha, and then if Martha comes back, I’ll whinge that she’s no Rose. And then if Rose comes back, I’ll bad mouth Mickey.
Any speculation on the villan for this season? Who’s the most famous after the Daleks, Cybermen, and the Master? Or will we get them al at the same time?
Tom 27 August 2007, 05:22 AM
10
It has been suggested that the creator of the Daleks, Davros, might be the next most famous stooge. And they are releasing a classic series Davros box set soon.
But I don’t know why they’d have made Mr Human Dalek this year if they were planning Davros for the next one.
Sontarans seem unlikely due to their similarity in looks to the Judoon. There were shape changers called Rutans, but we’ve had shape changers a lot. Draconians? Ice Warriors?
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Gareth
19 August 2007, 08:06 PM
Cool review, but the reset button thing happens every year, whether it’s Rose-God, Inter-Dimensional Vacuum Cleaner or Jack, um, shooting at the TARDIS. (?!) In fact, the whole Finale Formula happens every year. There’s always an army, a war, part-human monsters, bittersweet Doctor/companion parting of some sort, and a great big reset button. Honestly, you’d think they’d have some kind of script editor to wave a red flag when this sort of repetition creeps in, but no. Yikes, does this show need some fresh ideas…
Tom
20 August 2007, 05:04 AM
There is a pattern developing for the season finales, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that the last two included reset buttons. Aside from Jack’s death, nothing’s previously gotten rolled back to this extent.
But yes, if they don’t mix things around a bit more come next year’s finale, I’ll be very grumpy.
Gareth
20 August 2007, 11:20 AM
I dunno about fair - I mean, the baddies were magically whisked away in an instant every time. Although not quite the same as a reset button, because people’s memories weren’t erased or anything, it’s still a bit of a creaky old cheat.
Bit sad that, for my money, they still haven’t touched Parting of the Ways in terms of quality. I still love that episode. Maybe it’s the regeneration finale.
andy
23 August 2007, 02:27 AM
The first two were reset-ish, although the second at least had a change on present day Earth and affected Torchwood.
Perhaps the fourth season finale will reset back to before Catherine Tate becomes a companion.
The use of the Rogue Traders song wasn’t as half as good as the Britney Spears in season 1. I’d have prefered the sound of drums being tied into the theme music more.
Tom
23 August 2007, 02:46 PM
I think “reset button” has a pretty clear implication which is pretty different to the somewhat out-of-nowhere instant solutions which turned up in the previous finales. Hasn’t everyone been pretty happy to call those deus ex machina? Both previous finales have clear consequences that hang around for multiple seasons of multiple TV shows. Instantly destroying baddies shouldn’t necessarily be a cheat, if there’s a good way to do it.
In my opinion, The Parting of the Ways almost completely gets away with it, and Doomsday teeters on the brink, but is supported by almost everything else in the episode being great fun. Last of the Time Lords lacks the fun, lacks the awesomeness, adds unwanted cheese, and actually has the nerve to rewind time and reset back to near the end of the previous episode. Gah! I agree about the song, too, Andy.
At least, after reading the comments about Donna mentioned in the DWM preview, I’m ever so slightly less upset about Catherine Tate’s return.
Tom
23 August 2007, 02:48 PM
Oooops. I meant this article.
Gareth
25 August 2007, 11:50 AM
Poor old Catherine Tate - linched long before she got anywhere near the telly. Give her a chance. God knows there are enough people still unfairly picking on the brilliant Martha for, presumably, not being Rose.
Tom
26 August 2007, 04:32 AM
If Catherine Tate wanted my sympathy, she shouldn’t have made The Catherine Tate Show. I wasn’t super keen on her on her in ‘The Runaway Bride’, but if she’s good in series four, I’m not going to ignore it. I certainly hope she is; I’d just rather more time with Martha than Donna.
andy
27 August 2007, 04:45 AM
I’m going to spend all next season complaining about how Donna is not as good as Martha, and then if Martha comes back, I’ll whinge that she’s no Rose. And then if Rose comes back, I’ll bad mouth Mickey.
Any speculation on the villan for this season? Who’s the most famous after the Daleks, Cybermen, and the Master? Or will we get them al at the same time?
Tom
27 August 2007, 05:22 AM
It has been suggested that the creator of the Daleks, Davros, might be the next most famous stooge. And they are releasing a classic series Davros box set soon.
But I don’t know why they’d have made Mr Human Dalek this year if they were planning Davros for the next one.
Sontarans seem unlikely due to their similarity in looks to the Judoon. There were shape changers called Rutans, but we’ve had shape changers a lot. Draconians? Ice Warriors?
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