The End of the World is a great episode of Doctor Who. I've liked it since the first time I saw it, and I am pretty surprised by how well this episode holds up after so much time. It's funny, dramatic, and action packed. Cassandra is a fun villain, and Eccleston is very good (again) as the 9th Doctor. It might be a bit alien-heavy and off putting to some viewers, but the mystery makes up for that, and Rose (as a human herself) offers a perspective on time travel that feels really human. I particularly liked the ending of this episode. Once everything had finished unfolding, the Doctor and Rose took a few moments to really take it all in. The music, directing, and acting all made the ending of the episode great. The chips scene at the end of the episode is memorable as well. I also liked the new insight into the Doctor, and the questions as to who he is and where he comes from just keep coming and would reel any new fan in quickly.
40 Reviews
Voyeurs & Vanity...
Xstal22 November 2021
An eclectic mix of extra-terrestrials and a weblike woman presenting as the last human from the planet below, gather to witness the sun destroy the Earth 5 billion years in the future. Proceedings however go awry, with shenanigans dialling the temperature very high, and only the Doctor and his sonic in a position to stop the fry, or not depending on your composition, wood being a far from ideal proposition, although leather turns out to be quite a poor choice too.
A zany bright coloured whodunit in Space
Sleepin_Dragon11 August 2015
In the past I suppose i've been fairly critical of The end of the World, and not paid it much attention over the years, and yet on today's watch, i found myself really enjoying it. I really liked Rose's reaction to seeing a myriad of Aliens, she struggles with what she's seeing and walks away confused, it's a great scene. Some of the creations are wonderful, The Moxx of Balhoon, The Lady Cassandra and my favourite creation 'Jabe,' the stunning Yasmin Bannerman was fantastic playing the Tree character, what a pity she only appeared in the one episode. Fortunately it's not too long before we get to see The Lady Cassandra again, the creation itself was great, but the vocals of the wonderful Zoe Wannamaker are of course what makes her. Billie Piper's Rose continues to grow and impress, her scene with Raffalo shows her sudden realisation of where she is and what she's done. I really like the computer voice, Sara Stewart has such a beautiful voice, what a shame we don't get to see her, she's a stunner. A few downsides, it could possibly have done with a bit longer then the 45 minutes as there are one or two bits that feel a bit rushed, the little blue children are a bit annoying. It is pretty obvious who the bad guy is. I quite liked the adherents of the repeated meme, they reminded me a little of characters from one of John Pertwee's stories ' There are far more positives, the sets are great, the effects are good, I love the spiders, and Christopher shows a mysterious, almost mournful side, it is superbly done, he really was 'fantastic.' The mix of Aliens used is excellent. We get the companion in real danger and the Doctor as hero, so all the main elements are there. One notable return to Russell's past, the Doctor says don't go anywhere, to which Rose replies 'Where am I going to go, Ipswich' a line used in Davies's earlier drama Dark Season. All in all this is a very good episode, one which will I think be well remembered, I'll repeat though a huge shame we didn't see any more of Jabe.
Fantastic!
MaxBorg8923 October 2008
After a quite solid start, the new Doctor Who series hits the jackpot already in its second episode. Much of its appeal is on show in the teaser, where the Doctor asks Rose if she would like to go forwards or backwards in time (space travel is not contemplated as of yet). She enthusiastically goes for "forwards" and in order to impress her big time the Doctor makes the TARDIS go further than ever before. As they arrive, they find themselves on a spaceship from which Planet Earth is perfectly visible. What's so special about it? Well, the time is five billion years from Rose's time, and more precisely it's the day the sun expands and ultimately destroys the Earth. As the Doctor coolly quips: "Welcome to the end of the world.".
The spaceship, it turns out, is a gathering place for all those who wish to look at Earth when it gets scorched. Guest of honor is the last "human", Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker from My Family), actually little more than a skin trampoline after hundreds of surgical operations. As the end approaches, though, everyone quickly realizes something is wrong: someone is plotting to make sure no one leaves the ship alive. And once again, the Doctor is the only one who can save the day.
The major improvement on the previous episode is the mastering of the visual effects: all the aliens and the images of a doomed Earth look absolutely amazing. Then there's Wanamaker's fun vocal cameo, the first of many quality guest appearances in the series. And then there's the exceptional pairing of Piper and Eccleston, with the latter getting more to do than last time and the first vital piece of information regarding his character's back-story revealed (the word "Time Lord" is used for the first time since 1996). It might be the end of the world, but it's also the proper beginning of the Doctor's full-time return to television.
The spaceship, it turns out, is a gathering place for all those who wish to look at Earth when it gets scorched. Guest of honor is the last "human", Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker from My Family), actually little more than a skin trampoline after hundreds of surgical operations. As the end approaches, though, everyone quickly realizes something is wrong: someone is plotting to make sure no one leaves the ship alive. And once again, the Doctor is the only one who can save the day.
The major improvement on the previous episode is the mastering of the visual effects: all the aliens and the images of a doomed Earth look absolutely amazing. Then there's Wanamaker's fun vocal cameo, the first of many quality guest appearances in the series. And then there's the exceptional pairing of Piper and Eccleston, with the latter getting more to do than last time and the first vital piece of information regarding his character's back-story revealed (the word "Time Lord" is used for the first time since 1996). It might be the end of the world, but it's also the proper beginning of the Doctor's full-time return to television.
A Fantastic Performance
Theo Robertson18 April 2007
It's at this point you realise you're watching something entirely different from the show envisaged by Sydney Newman in the early 1960s that ran up to 1989 . For instance there's Hollywood standard special effects and a pumping soundtrack featuring Tainted Love by Soft Cell and Toxic by Britney Spears and other references to popular culture . Plus there's a scene where Jade a tree woman asks The Doctor if Rose is his prostitute ? Cue lots of middle aged men falling off their chairs then phoning everyone they know self righteously proclaiming that this proves DOCTOR WHO is not a children's programme
This is by no means a flawless episode because due to the format it only lasts 45 minutes and watching it on its initial broadcast I found myself missing the old format of four or six 25 minute episodes because this would lead to more scope for stories and The End Of The World suffers from a fairly threadbare plot , basically a whodunnit where it's fairly obvious who done it
But
What makes this story so enjoyable watching it in April 2007 is for mainly one reason - Christopher Eccleston's performance . A lot of fans criticised his performance at the time for " Being about as alien as a junkie from Manchester " and it's true that Eccleston plays the title character in the way he's best known for , namely a brooding , introspective , angry man and if you've notliked any of his previous roles you won't like Eccleston as The Doctor but I would say it's definitely as good as any performance by any actor as The Doctor . There's two scenes that really stick out . One where Jade realises he's a Time Lord and a tear runs down his cheek and the chips segment at the end . To quote the man himself " Fantastic "
This is by no means a flawless episode because due to the format it only lasts 45 minutes and watching it on its initial broadcast I found myself missing the old format of four or six 25 minute episodes because this would lead to more scope for stories and The End Of The World suffers from a fairly threadbare plot , basically a whodunnit where it's fairly obvious who done it
But
What makes this story so enjoyable watching it in April 2007 is for mainly one reason - Christopher Eccleston's performance . A lot of fans criticised his performance at the time for " Being about as alien as a junkie from Manchester " and it's true that Eccleston plays the title character in the way he's best known for , namely a brooding , introspective , angry man and if you've notliked any of his previous roles you won't like Eccleston as The Doctor but I would say it's definitely as good as any performance by any actor as The Doctor . There's two scenes that really stick out . One where Jade realises he's a Time Lord and a tear runs down his cheek and the chips segment at the end . To quote the man himself " Fantastic "
Started off promising
warlordartos5 April 2020
The start of this episode was exceptional, easily a 8.5-9, but then it got a bit basic. I'm not sure what it was but this episode just didn't grip me the way I remember doctor who did back in the day.
Still a good all round episode, and one that needs to be seen in order for future episodes to make more sense.
Still a good all round episode, and one that needs to be seen in order for future episodes to make more sense.
My Kind of Dr. Who Episode
KatherinePetersdorf18 January 2014
This was very much so my type of Dr. Who episode. I am a fan of Dr. Who episode that take place in the distant future or on other planets. Classic Sci-Fi with aliens that are new and unique, fun plot twists, and futuristic worlds are my favorite type of Sci-Fi experiences. Dr. Who deliver that in full with a plot twist you will never see coming, amazing aliens (done like Star Wars Original, they are not all CGI and that makes them top line and interesting), and the connections made emotionally push me further into the story. I can't help but feel like I have become addicted.
If you love Sci-Fi, from aliens to alternate worlds you'll love Dr. Who. To be frank this series is not just Sci-Fi, but also Historical, Mystery, Thriller and Adventure, and even Paranormal at times. It encompasses everything you love about watching and reading.
If you love Sci-Fi, from aliens to alternate worlds you'll love Dr. Who. To be frank this series is not just Sci-Fi, but also Historical, Mystery, Thriller and Adventure, and even Paranormal at times. It encompasses everything you love about watching and reading.
Where next?
studioAT24 April 2020
An episode that builds on the great opener, allowing us and Rose to see how the Dr Who modern series would deal with showing alien worlds.
The answer is through good storytelling and high production values, with the monster costumes/CGI not taking away from the performances given.
Rose's questioning of who the Doctor is allows Christopher Eccleston the opportunity to convey greater depth to the character, and for the show to make it clear what elements of mythology from the original series it wanted to take forward.
Another good episode.
The answer is through good storytelling and high production values, with the monster costumes/CGI not taking away from the performances given.
Rose's questioning of who the Doctor is allows Christopher Eccleston the opportunity to convey greater depth to the character, and for the show to make it clear what elements of mythology from the original series it wanted to take forward.
Another good episode.
The Beginning of the Journey
A_Kind_Of_CineMagic4 December 2018
This second episode of the newly resurrected series sees the 9th Doctor and new companion Rose travel 5 billion years into the future. They arrive aboard a space station observing the last half an hour of the Earth being destroyed by the Sun (after it has been prevented from destruction for as long as conservationists could afford).
Various wealthy aliens are joining Lady Cassandra, who calls herself the last human, to bear witness to the spectacle. Lady Cassandra is revealed to be the last being left who was actually born on Earth rather than the last of the human race but she considers this to make her the last 'pure' human. She has had over 700 extensive 'cosmetic' operations which have left her as just a large, flat, stretched piece of skin with eyes and a mouth and a brain in a jar.
In some ways the episode is rather cheesy at times in its presentation but has some good material within it. Visually the interior of the space station is not terribly impressive but mostly the effects are pretty decent considering the limitations. There are an array of aliens and they are mostly pretty well done particularly the tree people and the Face of Boe (who was to be a recurring character).
The best elements are the darker parts. Christopher Eccleston revealed years later that he never felt comfortable portraying the light hearted, comedic elements of the role and only felt right when playing darker elements of the character. I always felt that was obvious. I never felt Eccleston fully convinced when The Doctor was happy and joking but came into his own when showing more edge. The lighter parts are what feel a bit cheesy but there are scenes where The Doctor is angry, sad or showing gritty determination and those parts are really interesting and good with Eccleston playing those scenes to perfection.
Overall this has good elements and less impressive elements but is a good, solid adventure.
My rating: 7.5/10.
Various wealthy aliens are joining Lady Cassandra, who calls herself the last human, to bear witness to the spectacle. Lady Cassandra is revealed to be the last being left who was actually born on Earth rather than the last of the human race but she considers this to make her the last 'pure' human. She has had over 700 extensive 'cosmetic' operations which have left her as just a large, flat, stretched piece of skin with eyes and a mouth and a brain in a jar.
In some ways the episode is rather cheesy at times in its presentation but has some good material within it. Visually the interior of the space station is not terribly impressive but mostly the effects are pretty decent considering the limitations. There are an array of aliens and they are mostly pretty well done particularly the tree people and the Face of Boe (who was to be a recurring character).
The best elements are the darker parts. Christopher Eccleston revealed years later that he never felt comfortable portraying the light hearted, comedic elements of the role and only felt right when playing darker elements of the character. I always felt that was obvious. I never felt Eccleston fully convinced when The Doctor was happy and joking but came into his own when showing more edge. The lighter parts are what feel a bit cheesy but there are scenes where The Doctor is angry, sad or showing gritty determination and those parts are really interesting and good with Eccleston playing those scenes to perfection.
Overall this has good elements and less impressive elements but is a good, solid adventure.
My rating: 7.5/10.
S1, E2 - The End of the World: 'Everything Has It's Time, And Everything Dies'
liamdonovan20101 October 2011
After a brilliant introduction to the Doctor and Rose in the opening episode we get the first real adventure into space and time. This really was an ambitious affair as The Doctor proves his credentials by taking Rose five billion years into the future to see the end of the Earth. They arrive at Platform One and meet a host of aliens, creatures and the last human, Lady Cassandra. However, there is a sinister plot threatening everyone on board, so that they die with the Earth.
Doctor Who is first and foremost entertainment. This was entertaining. Although it didn't take a genius to work out the rather simple who- dun-nit, it was interesting and there were some great moments throughout the episode. Jabe was a really interesting character to me. Although she only featured for an episode her chemistry with the Doctor had potential and she would have made a great companion. The Moxx was also a fun character as was the Steward who was perfect in his role.
This was good. It wasn't a fantastic episode but it was a very fun episode and got the point across about how far the Doctor can go, how far he can take Rose. The scene back on Earth was a good contrast. I really liked the suspenseful climax of getting through the fan. I love that score and it was jut a great scene. The resolution wasn't brilliant and Cassandra has never been the most petrifying enemy. Wannamaker is great in the role but the character itself just isn't intimidating enough. Neither are the spider machines. However, on the whole, it was a great example of an entertainment episode and that was the purpose, to draw in a new audience.
OVERALL - 7.0: A fun, exciting episode but nothing too great. Cassandra isn't a formidable enemy and there isn't enough suspense or spectacular moments for it to be anything more than good.
Doctor Who is first and foremost entertainment. This was entertaining. Although it didn't take a genius to work out the rather simple who- dun-nit, it was interesting and there were some great moments throughout the episode. Jabe was a really interesting character to me. Although she only featured for an episode her chemistry with the Doctor had potential and she would have made a great companion. The Moxx was also a fun character as was the Steward who was perfect in his role.
This was good. It wasn't a fantastic episode but it was a very fun episode and got the point across about how far the Doctor can go, how far he can take Rose. The scene back on Earth was a good contrast. I really liked the suspenseful climax of getting through the fan. I love that score and it was jut a great scene. The resolution wasn't brilliant and Cassandra has never been the most petrifying enemy. Wannamaker is great in the role but the character itself just isn't intimidating enough. Neither are the spider machines. However, on the whole, it was a great example of an entertainment episode and that was the purpose, to draw in a new audience.
OVERALL - 7.0: A fun, exciting episode but nothing too great. Cassandra isn't a formidable enemy and there isn't enough suspense or spectacular moments for it to be anything more than good.
"Burn, baby, burn!"
ShadeGrenade31 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
If any programme looked certain to fail it had to be the return of 'Dr.Who' in 2005. Over the years, its very name had become a standing joke in comedians' acts i.e. "what's the show where the sets move more than the actors? Dr.Who!". Focus groups said the new show would flop. Even Russell T.Davies, its head writer and executive producer, appeared to have misgivings when interviewed by B.B.C. Wales just before the transmission of 'Rose'. It had another problem too - family entertainment was perceived to be a lost art form. With children playing computer games in their rooms, who would want to watch the Doctor's new adventures? As a letter writer to Teletext observed: "Kids aren't likely to be impressed by a disappearing police box when they can take photos with their mobile phones!".
With so much against it, the reaction to 'Rose' when finally transmitted was - despite its much-publicised leaking to the internet - nothing short of miraculous. Ten million people tuned in, reviews ( particularly Mark Lawson of 'The Guardian' ) were ecstatic, and a second season quickly commissioned. Happy days were indeed here again. Then a bombshell was dropped. Five days later, the press reported that Christopher Eccleston had quit the role of 'The Doctor'. Some papers treated the news like a major catastrophe. His reasons have never really become clear, although it seems most likely the actor was keen to avoid becoming typecast, particularly in a kids' sci-fi show. Whatever was behind his departure it threw a damper over fans' celebrations.
The second episode - The End Of The World' - is a quite different kettle of fish to its predecessor. The Doctor takes Rose into the far future, to a space station to witness the destruction of the Earth, the human race having long ago moved on. Also aboard are various exotic aliens such as Jabe ( Yasmin Bannerman ) who comes from a planet where the people are made of wood ( now we know where the cast of 'Neighbours' came from ), the Face of Boe ( a giant head in a jar ), the Moxx of Balhoun ( a Mekon-like creature with blue skin ), and, most bizarre of all, Cassandra ( voiced by Zoe Wanamaker ), the last human being, who has had so many face-lifts she now consists of a sheet of skin stretched across a vertical frame ( anticipating the possible derisive reaction of some viewers, Davies has the Doctor laughing his head off as one by one the creatures are introduced, while Rose stands rooted to the spot, looking shocked ).
Mechanical spiders are found scuttling about in the ventilation duct, deaths mount up, and the temperature aboard Platform 1 rises. The Doctor has to find a solution in the nick of time...
Like I said, a different type of story to 'Rose'. Less sprawling, more claustrophobic, reminiscent of old-style stories such as 'The Robots Of Death'. Wanamaker does a terrific job of voicing the evil 'Cassandra', while Piper's 'Rose' is mesmerising. But the acting honours go to Eccleston. Not wishing to denigrate David Tennant, but I do wish his predecessor had signed on for another run. His 'soccer hooligan' Doctor might not have appealed to fans of earlier, more dignified incarnations, but proved to be the shot in the arm the show badly needed. Nice use of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' and Britney Spears' 'Toxic' too!
The final scene, set back on Earth, in which the Doctor tells Rose he is the last of his kind, the Time Lords, is incredibly moving and sets the seal on a thoroughly entertaining adventure.
With so much against it, the reaction to 'Rose' when finally transmitted was - despite its much-publicised leaking to the internet - nothing short of miraculous. Ten million people tuned in, reviews ( particularly Mark Lawson of 'The Guardian' ) were ecstatic, and a second season quickly commissioned. Happy days were indeed here again. Then a bombshell was dropped. Five days later, the press reported that Christopher Eccleston had quit the role of 'The Doctor'. Some papers treated the news like a major catastrophe. His reasons have never really become clear, although it seems most likely the actor was keen to avoid becoming typecast, particularly in a kids' sci-fi show. Whatever was behind his departure it threw a damper over fans' celebrations.
The second episode - The End Of The World' - is a quite different kettle of fish to its predecessor. The Doctor takes Rose into the far future, to a space station to witness the destruction of the Earth, the human race having long ago moved on. Also aboard are various exotic aliens such as Jabe ( Yasmin Bannerman ) who comes from a planet where the people are made of wood ( now we know where the cast of 'Neighbours' came from ), the Face of Boe ( a giant head in a jar ), the Moxx of Balhoun ( a Mekon-like creature with blue skin ), and, most bizarre of all, Cassandra ( voiced by Zoe Wanamaker ), the last human being, who has had so many face-lifts she now consists of a sheet of skin stretched across a vertical frame ( anticipating the possible derisive reaction of some viewers, Davies has the Doctor laughing his head off as one by one the creatures are introduced, while Rose stands rooted to the spot, looking shocked ).
Mechanical spiders are found scuttling about in the ventilation duct, deaths mount up, and the temperature aboard Platform 1 rises. The Doctor has to find a solution in the nick of time...
Like I said, a different type of story to 'Rose'. Less sprawling, more claustrophobic, reminiscent of old-style stories such as 'The Robots Of Death'. Wanamaker does a terrific job of voicing the evil 'Cassandra', while Piper's 'Rose' is mesmerising. But the acting honours go to Eccleston. Not wishing to denigrate David Tennant, but I do wish his predecessor had signed on for another run. His 'soccer hooligan' Doctor might not have appealed to fans of earlier, more dignified incarnations, but proved to be the shot in the arm the show badly needed. Nice use of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' and Britney Spears' 'Toxic' too!
The final scene, set back on Earth, in which the Doctor tells Rose he is the last of his kind, the Time Lords, is incredibly moving and sets the seal on a thoroughly entertaining adventure.
Skipping to the end
ossie856 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The End of the World takes you on a journey to the end of time. In what is one of the more unuque episodes of the rebooted series, the TARDIS takes the Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose (Billie Piper) to a space station in the far future where they witness the destruction of Earth.
From the moment they arrive, the episode is visually interesting, and fans are transported to a future world of unimaginable wonders and destruction. Jabe (Yasmin Bannerman) and her tree people are particularly impressive, and her exchange with the Doctor about her ability to communicate with the trees will make you feel for her people's fate.
As always, Eccleston's Doctor is a delight to watch as he navigates the mysteries of the space station and carries on with his usual mix of lighthearted humor and sharp wit. Piper's Rose also shines as she gets an opportunity to showcase her intelligence and problem-solving skills.
The destruction of Earth is a sobering moment and will leave any viewer awestruck by the episode's end. But as dark as it is, The End of the World manages to be exciting, funny, and thought-provoking all at once.
For a second episode of a series, The End of the World does an excellent job of showcasing what Doctor Who is capable of delivering - an engaging science-fiction story filled with humor, dazzling visuals, and emotional moments. Overall, this is an unforgettable episode that will leave you eager for more.
From the moment they arrive, the episode is visually interesting, and fans are transported to a future world of unimaginable wonders and destruction. Jabe (Yasmin Bannerman) and her tree people are particularly impressive, and her exchange with the Doctor about her ability to communicate with the trees will make you feel for her people's fate.
As always, Eccleston's Doctor is a delight to watch as he navigates the mysteries of the space station and carries on with his usual mix of lighthearted humor and sharp wit. Piper's Rose also shines as she gets an opportunity to showcase her intelligence and problem-solving skills.
The destruction of Earth is a sobering moment and will leave any viewer awestruck by the episode's end. But as dark as it is, The End of the World manages to be exciting, funny, and thought-provoking all at once.
For a second episode of a series, The End of the World does an excellent job of showcasing what Doctor Who is capable of delivering - an engaging science-fiction story filled with humor, dazzling visuals, and emotional moments. Overall, this is an unforgettable episode that will leave you eager for more.
Some good scenes, but I just falls short
ianweech18 January 2021
Solid sci fi fun tinged with tragedy...
stevenjlowe8217 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This was another solid outing for the new era of Doctor Who and it was brimming with undercurrents of loss and some social commentary.
The main thing I loved about this episode was the space setting in the future with a host of colourful alien characters. I thought the practical effects makeup and costumes were top notch. They didn't look cheap or cheesy back then and definitely not now either. Although it was about the destruction of the earth and had some serious undertones the episode still had a sense of fun and adventure about it and I like that balance.
I liked the subtle commentary on plastic surgery and that vapid aspiration a lot of folks buy into particularly in todays filler obsessed culture. Plus the fact the villains main motivation boiled down to money also made me laugh because I absolutely believe that decades from now should this planet survive that long, people will still be motivated by money, power and impossible beauty standards.
I like the ever evolving relationship between the Doctor and Rose it's tinged with a curiosity of each other as Rose is clearly fascinated by the Doctor but also unsure of who or what he exactly is. I like this was addressed and Rose wasn't just swept up in adventure of it all although she really does seem to enjoy that aspect also. The Doctor to me is equally fascinated by Rose and her personality and outlook on life and the world. She has an inquisitive nature which also appeals to him. I'm not sure of how long after the McGann film this was supposed to be but I'm assuming the Doctor hasn't had a companion in some time and whether he clearly enjoys having Rose around. Eccleston excels again in balancing a light hearted tone with a darker heavier undertone in his portrayal of this tortured individual and obviously we learn more of that at the end of the episode. I really enjoyed that tender moment after his reveal about going for chips it was proper sweet.
Overall a fun sci fi adventure with haunting undertones.
The main thing I loved about this episode was the space setting in the future with a host of colourful alien characters. I thought the practical effects makeup and costumes were top notch. They didn't look cheap or cheesy back then and definitely not now either. Although it was about the destruction of the earth and had some serious undertones the episode still had a sense of fun and adventure about it and I like that balance.
I liked the subtle commentary on plastic surgery and that vapid aspiration a lot of folks buy into particularly in todays filler obsessed culture. Plus the fact the villains main motivation boiled down to money also made me laugh because I absolutely believe that decades from now should this planet survive that long, people will still be motivated by money, power and impossible beauty standards.
I like the ever evolving relationship between the Doctor and Rose it's tinged with a curiosity of each other as Rose is clearly fascinated by the Doctor but also unsure of who or what he exactly is. I like this was addressed and Rose wasn't just swept up in adventure of it all although she really does seem to enjoy that aspect also. The Doctor to me is equally fascinated by Rose and her personality and outlook on life and the world. She has an inquisitive nature which also appeals to him. I'm not sure of how long after the McGann film this was supposed to be but I'm assuming the Doctor hasn't had a companion in some time and whether he clearly enjoys having Rose around. Eccleston excels again in balancing a light hearted tone with a darker heavier undertone in his portrayal of this tortured individual and obviously we learn more of that at the end of the episode. I really enjoyed that tender moment after his reveal about going for chips it was proper sweet.
Overall a fun sci fi adventure with haunting undertones.
The Doctor takes Rose to the End of the World
Tweekums15 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
After the events of the previous episode The Doctor has invited Rose to join him in the Tardis and offered to show her the future. In this case the distant future. He takes her to a space station orbiting the Earth billions of years in the future; approximately half an hour before the Earth is to be destroyed by an expanding sun. They aren't the only ones their; various very wealthy individuals are present to see the even. This includes Cassandra, the 'last human'... who thanks to extensive plastic surgery is now just a sheet of skin with a face! There are also tree people and various other aliens. One of these gives the others a 'gift' that turns out to contain robotic spiders that set about sabotaging the station. Everybody will soon be in grave danger and it will be up to The Doctor to save them.
After the introductory episode no time is wasting in giving us an adventure featuring a variety of aliens as well as travel to a distant future. The story provides plenty of exciting moments that are scary enough without being too frightening for younger viewers. The effects were impressive; these aliens clearly weren't all people in rubber suits tile in the old days. Even those like Jabe the Tree-woman that are a person in costume look great thanks to brilliant makeup. While the story had a clear anti-racist undertone it never felt like the audience was being lectured to. Billie Piper continues to impress as Rose; nicely capturing her reaction to seeing aliens, her fear when it looks as though she is about to die and her sadness at seeing the world's end even if The Doctor can take her back. Christopher Eccleston is solid as The Doctor. Of the guest stars the most notable are Yasmin Bannerman, who did a fine job as Jabe and Zoë Wanamaker who provided the voice of Cassandra. Overall an exciting episode with just the right mix of danger and humour.
After the introductory episode no time is wasting in giving us an adventure featuring a variety of aliens as well as travel to a distant future. The story provides plenty of exciting moments that are scary enough without being too frightening for younger viewers. The effects were impressive; these aliens clearly weren't all people in rubber suits tile in the old days. Even those like Jabe the Tree-woman that are a person in costume look great thanks to brilliant makeup. While the story had a clear anti-racist undertone it never felt like the audience was being lectured to. Billie Piper continues to impress as Rose; nicely capturing her reaction to seeing aliens, her fear when it looks as though she is about to die and her sadness at seeing the world's end even if The Doctor can take her back. Christopher Eccleston is solid as The Doctor. Of the guest stars the most notable are Yasmin Bannerman, who did a fine job as Jabe and Zoë Wanamaker who provided the voice of Cassandra. Overall an exciting episode with just the right mix of danger and humour.
Series 1 Episode 2
kevinwilliam-0804424 June 2021
Underrated 2nd Episode
sixshooter50021 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is an episode that seems to get some negative attention from some fans, and I honestly can't see why. This episode accomplishes one of the most important elements of a show of this type. Just because the Doctor says he can travel in space and time, doesn't mean that the audience would believe him.
So in short, in a hurry we need to see an example of both. So, 5 billion years in the future on a space station. That's the way to do it.
The monsters and make up are fantastic, the world feels alive and lived in. The characters are fun, and the Doctor interacts with each in a fantastic way. Truths about the Doctor are revealed, and the show does a fantastic job of slowly reeling us in... The whole series does a good job of bringing the nature of the Doctor to a new generation.
Weaknesses, I found a few bits of dialog irritating, but just a few lines, nothing more.
I'd give it a higher score, but other monster of the week episodes set the bar much higher.
So in short, in a hurry we need to see an example of both. So, 5 billion years in the future on a space station. That's the way to do it.
The monsters and make up are fantastic, the world feels alive and lived in. The characters are fun, and the Doctor interacts with each in a fantastic way. Truths about the Doctor are revealed, and the show does a fantastic job of slowly reeling us in... The whole series does a good job of bringing the nature of the Doctor to a new generation.
Weaknesses, I found a few bits of dialog irritating, but just a few lines, nothing more.
I'd give it a higher score, but other monster of the week episodes set the bar much higher.
Better than the last episode.
Otter_13 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Though I've rated this the same as the last episode, I do think it was better. My only reason for rating the previous the same is because it was the first episode of the reboot, and I think that deserves a point alone.
I loved the characters, species, and plot. Loved Cassandra as a metaphor for racism. There were a couple times I thought time was maybe being wasted (The Forest of Cheem lady died unnecessarily in my opinion), and another where I thought "Rose would be dead by now"... but all in all - good! Funny! Nostalgic and lovely to rewatch.
I loved the characters, species, and plot. Loved Cassandra as a metaphor for racism. There were a couple times I thought time was maybe being wasted (The Forest of Cheem lady died unnecessarily in my opinion), and another where I thought "Rose would be dead by now"... but all in all - good! Funny! Nostalgic and lovely to rewatch.
7.8/10
rohanumpleby17 April 2020
A really lovely calming Doctor Who. Great music. It was a well presented story I thought it was good. And it was a great story that will entertain kids and the whole family for centuries to come. Although it is one you either hate or love. I love it because it is a good welcoming story and siries 1 is a very good siries one of the best I have to say. My dad and me loved the Doctor who stories completely, now it is just a train wreck for the family and not enough Nostalgia anymore. But nevertheless watch it and you just might you might enjoy it. And it is predictable at times but it still is fun to watch and has a lot of excitement and enough entertainment to knock yourself out. Well written as well. Pure entertainment at one of it's best. What is not to like about this episode
Plenty fun future outing for Rose and the Doctor
maxglen13 November 2019
I don't love this story but I must admit I go back to it every now and then just because it has a certain level of heart and charm to it that not many other stories do. It's funny, it's sad, it's Who. It also introduces us to the Face of Boe who would of course become quite a prominent figure in the Whoniverse. I'm going to give "The End of the World" a 7.3 to a 7.5, not essential viewing but definitely recommended if you have the time
S1 EP2: The End of the World (Director: Euros Lyn)
lhardman-279318 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The End of the World is a great follow-up to the already great Rose. I love the fact that the writers decided to go for the destruction of Earth as a plot-point in only the second episode shows a level of gumption I just have to admire. We get to see more character growth between Rose and the Doctor. I love that moment at the end where we see the duo go and get chips. For a literal space alien, it's such a humanising moment. This is the episode where we get the reveal that he's the last of the Time Lords, which ends up being extremely important as it goes on. It's also the first time we see the psychic paper, and you'll certainly be seeing that again.
This is the first real adventure for the Doctor and Rose, given that the first episode was purely on Earth, and it's a great note to start things off on. We get more instances of Eccleston's wit as well as a good bit of serious talk. As I stated before, I love how big the stakes are for what is the second episode. Talk about starting as you mean to go on.
The villain for the episode is one of my absolute favourite original creations for NuWho. Cassandra absolutely steals every scene she's in and her design is instantly recognisable and striking. Plus, she poses a pretty interesting question as to what makes a human a human and whether a character like Cassandra would qualify as human anymore. It shows how people tend to obsess over their look so much that they begin to lose touch with themselves. Cassandra is essentially that idea taken to its logical extreme. The Adherence of the Repeated Meme and the robotic spiders are pretty cool side-villains too, if a little understated.
The alien designs are pretty strong overall in this episode, as is the set design for Platform One. The special effects admittedly aren't great but that's somewhat typical for NuWho, especially from this early into the show so I won't dock too many points for that reason. You could call it gimmicky, but I do like the way the show uses pop music in this episode. The jukebox seems like a completely believable thing for Cassandra to bring, and it does make certain scenes more fun with them.
The End of the World is another fantastic episode and similar to Rose, it sets up a lot more to come. It's a tightly crafted, fast paced piece of science fiction, and thoroughly engaging throughout. One of the quintessential episodes of Eccleston's run and a classic in its own right.
My Rating: 9/10 (Essential Watch)
This is the first real adventure for the Doctor and Rose, given that the first episode was purely on Earth, and it's a great note to start things off on. We get more instances of Eccleston's wit as well as a good bit of serious talk. As I stated before, I love how big the stakes are for what is the second episode. Talk about starting as you mean to go on.
The villain for the episode is one of my absolute favourite original creations for NuWho. Cassandra absolutely steals every scene she's in and her design is instantly recognisable and striking. Plus, she poses a pretty interesting question as to what makes a human a human and whether a character like Cassandra would qualify as human anymore. It shows how people tend to obsess over their look so much that they begin to lose touch with themselves. Cassandra is essentially that idea taken to its logical extreme. The Adherence of the Repeated Meme and the robotic spiders are pretty cool side-villains too, if a little understated.
The alien designs are pretty strong overall in this episode, as is the set design for Platform One. The special effects admittedly aren't great but that's somewhat typical for NuWho, especially from this early into the show so I won't dock too many points for that reason. You could call it gimmicky, but I do like the way the show uses pop music in this episode. The jukebox seems like a completely believable thing for Cassandra to bring, and it does make certain scenes more fun with them.
The End of the World is another fantastic episode and similar to Rose, it sets up a lot more to come. It's a tightly crafted, fast paced piece of science fiction, and thoroughly engaging throughout. One of the quintessential episodes of Eccleston's run and a classic in its own right.
My Rating: 9/10 (Essential Watch)
and I feel fine.
southdavid6 February 2020
If the first episode of the returning "Doctor Who" was an introduction to characters. This second one is an introduction to what the show can be. A true science fiction action adventure.
Eager to show off for his new companion, The Doctor (Christopher Ecclestone) takes Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) 5 Billion years into the future, to witness the sun going Supernova and the destruction of the Earth. A collection of the richest aliens have arrived to see it including Cassandra (voiced by Zoe Wannamaker) who is the last "pure" human left. The revelry doesn't last long though, as the viewing platform has been infiltrated by spiderlike drones, capable of lowering the shields at a moment's notice.
With the first episode remaining Earthbound, episode two leaps us into space. Though Earth is still in the background, the aliens and spaceships make this feel very different tonally to the last one. No Mickey and only one scene with Jackie this week. The effects are a mixed bunch. Despite the extensive budget, for the time, the CGI doesn't hold up particularly well. There's no weight either to the face of Cassandra, or the Spiderlike robots, that would convince you that they are real. The practical effects, and the make-up ones are much better though. Yasmin Bannerman made up as the evolutionary leap from trees still looks good.
Story wise, it's OK. It becomes a fairly simple dr-whodunit towards the end and there are some elements, like the scenes revolving around shields lowering that work pretty well. Less successful is the scene involving crossing the corridor with two large spinning fans, it felt to me like false jeopardy as I couldn't get over that nobody would build a room with a corridor that did this, and then place the "reboot computer" button at the opposite end of it. It's just wildly impractical. I'm not sure how I feel about The Doctor bringing Cassandra back and letting her die. It feels oddly out of place with something subsequent Doctors would do - although oddly, if you consider that he's supposed to have regenerated after the War Doctor, perhaps it makes sense the that violence comes so easily to him. (At least the living plastic last week got a warning).
Another thing that struck me is that none of the subsequent writers for the show ever used contemporary popular culture as much as Russell T Davies did, with "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell and "Toxic" by Britney Spears featuring heavily.
A solid second outing for the show but I know there's better (and worse) to come. Also Rose has a Nokia 3310. Retro.
Eager to show off for his new companion, The Doctor (Christopher Ecclestone) takes Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) 5 Billion years into the future, to witness the sun going Supernova and the destruction of the Earth. A collection of the richest aliens have arrived to see it including Cassandra (voiced by Zoe Wannamaker) who is the last "pure" human left. The revelry doesn't last long though, as the viewing platform has been infiltrated by spiderlike drones, capable of lowering the shields at a moment's notice.
With the first episode remaining Earthbound, episode two leaps us into space. Though Earth is still in the background, the aliens and spaceships make this feel very different tonally to the last one. No Mickey and only one scene with Jackie this week. The effects are a mixed bunch. Despite the extensive budget, for the time, the CGI doesn't hold up particularly well. There's no weight either to the face of Cassandra, or the Spiderlike robots, that would convince you that they are real. The practical effects, and the make-up ones are much better though. Yasmin Bannerman made up as the evolutionary leap from trees still looks good.
Story wise, it's OK. It becomes a fairly simple dr-whodunit towards the end and there are some elements, like the scenes revolving around shields lowering that work pretty well. Less successful is the scene involving crossing the corridor with two large spinning fans, it felt to me like false jeopardy as I couldn't get over that nobody would build a room with a corridor that did this, and then place the "reboot computer" button at the opposite end of it. It's just wildly impractical. I'm not sure how I feel about The Doctor bringing Cassandra back and letting her die. It feels oddly out of place with something subsequent Doctors would do - although oddly, if you consider that he's supposed to have regenerated after the War Doctor, perhaps it makes sense the that violence comes so easily to him. (At least the living plastic last week got a warning).
Another thing that struck me is that none of the subsequent writers for the show ever used contemporary popular culture as much as Russell T Davies did, with "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell and "Toxic" by Britney Spears featuring heavily.
A solid second outing for the show but I know there's better (and worse) to come. Also Rose has a Nokia 3310. Retro.
Forgettable SciFi fun.
bendtnerfc4 December 2021
Very un-original SciFi with very un-original aliens buried within a very un-original plot. Carried by further effective character development, the establishment of some highly interesting concepts (which will be properly explored in later episodes) - such as what it means to be truly human - and the general fun nature of the episode.
Was it good?, Or Bland
rohanumpleby-3405710 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Very well-written story, the music was brilliant. An amazing who-Dunnit episode with a loud of brilliant moments. The Monsters had great designs and had depth and development which was nice to see. The visual effects still to this day look amazing. The main cast were brilliant in this, and one of Christopher Eccleston's best performances to date in my opinion in his standalone season. The Doctor and Rose bond between each other really well and it's good to see. The story is paced really well it's not too fast but then it's not to slow either, which makes the episode really easy to follow. The episode does lead to some very intense scenes like the monsters burning as the sun gets closer, without Food and Drink with the captain dead after the spider's killed him. It builds the suspense especially when there's a human on board that could lead to even more danger. The only negatives is how can the Pilot control where the sun goes that still doesn't make much sense, and how can people not spot them or hear them when they are so loud. The Doctor closes his eyes and Wakes back up again and finally presses the button, that was a bit pointless but y'k we move. A solid episode that was entertaining and engaging for a solid 45 Minutes straight.
So was it good?, Or Bland
Nope it was Fantastic
Overall: 8.4/10.
So was it good?, Or Bland
Nope it was Fantastic
Overall: 8.4/10.
A little too Star Trek, but still Who
dkiliane8 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The first time I watched this episode back in 2010 (I know it premiered in 2005 but I didn't get around to watching it until 5 years later) I was not very impressed. But upon watching it again in 2019 I took away much more positives. Perhaps I grew as a person sometime in the last decade or maybe it just was in need of a second viewing.
This episode shines in its characterization (something Russel T Davies excelled at) and the developing relationship (not sure if you can quite call it friendship at this point and definitely is NOT romance...yet) between Rose and the Doctor is poignant and honest, and beautifully acted, allowing the audience to peer deeper into these characters, and really is what drives the episode. Even some of the smaller characters, like the host and the tree woman were done quite well. The special effects were actually quite decent considering and the threat was quite real. The characters were believably in danger and we cared about their survival (well, at least with Rose).
The who-dunit aspect, while something I usually enjoy, was actually the weakest part of the episode and even the twist was fairly obvious (even on the first watch-through). The gathering of all the aliens into the room was a bit too reminiscent of a bad Star Trek episode (yes, those exist). But, overall, a rather interesting dissection of what makes humanity through the villainess' counterpoint to Rose. Some of the details of the death sequence was a little unnecessary but also showcased the Doctor's potential ruthlessness. A strong but not amazing episode. 8/10
This episode shines in its characterization (something Russel T Davies excelled at) and the developing relationship (not sure if you can quite call it friendship at this point and definitely is NOT romance...yet) between Rose and the Doctor is poignant and honest, and beautifully acted, allowing the audience to peer deeper into these characters, and really is what drives the episode. Even some of the smaller characters, like the host and the tree woman were done quite well. The special effects were actually quite decent considering and the threat was quite real. The characters were believably in danger and we cared about their survival (well, at least with Rose).
The who-dunit aspect, while something I usually enjoy, was actually the weakest part of the episode and even the twist was fairly obvious (even on the first watch-through). The gathering of all the aliens into the room was a bit too reminiscent of a bad Star Trek episode (yes, those exist). But, overall, a rather interesting dissection of what makes humanity through the villainess' counterpoint to Rose. Some of the details of the death sequence was a little unnecessary but also showcased the Doctor's potential ruthlessness. A strong but not amazing episode. 8/10
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