Doomsday

I have never written a review before, and only do so now because I feel that many of the excellent reviews already written on В‘DoomsdayВ’ have failed to fully explore the last few minutes of the episode. I also read that some contributors have now seen this episode many times. I have only seen it once but it is a piece of television drama that will remain clearly in my mind for a very long time indeed.

We all knew, following BillieВ’s decision not to continue in the series, that the Doctor and Rose would have to be pulled apart violently and finally, with RoseВ’s death an ominous possibility. That inevitable separation happened as Rose was caught by her father moments before being sucked into the void and carried by him to the other dimension. The drama was as intense as it could get, In the moments that followed, the tears were flowing, both on screen and on sofas throughout the land.

So why the scenes on the beach? Were they just to provide closure on the characters, or do they give us something more? RTD has sometimes been criticised on these pages for his poor science, but never for his characterisations and human drama. Under his guidance, BillieВ’s portrayal of Rose is so detailed that we can make some predictions about RoseВ’s future in that other world with confidence.

Lets look at what we know from the last few minutes of the episode: there is at least a three month gap В– realistically more like six - between the В‘wailing wallВ’ scenes and the В‘I Had a dreamВ’ sequence. During this time, Rose did not know if the love of her life was alive or dead. Suddenly she gets the confirmation she so desperately seeks В– he is alive, and is prepared to burn up a star just to see her; she knows he loves her, and also has the chance to confirm her feelings towards him (like he didnВ’t know...)

So where could this lead? Would Rose accept that she could not see the Doctor again, or would she carry on the search? We all know the answer to that: Rose would tear the universe down to get back to her man. With her new В‘family connectionsВ’, her vast experiences of things alien and her knowledge of life beyond earth, she would rapidly become an important part of the other Torchwood. This would give her the resources to carry on her quest. Would anyone in her family be able to stop her? No. They never have before, and, anyway, what father could ever refuse his daughter at such times and in such circumstances?

After the beach parting, I think Rose would wear her Tardis key on a chain around her neck. This would not only be a symbol of her love (and I donВ’t think any man would be able to dislodge it, most certainly not the hapless Mickey, with all the comparisons and memories that would bring) but this key would be the thing most likely to react to any sign of the Tardis. It would become RoseВ’s most treasured possession and an important talisman in the time to come.

This surely leaves the way open for В‘hints of RoseВ’ in virtually any future episode of the series as she, from her universe, tries methods of contact from her dimension that fail - but maybe not totally. That such hints exist could be useful in establishing the relationship between the Doctor and his new companion. Personally I do not look forward to the idea of a Rose 2, and think that such a character would lessen the series. I hope to see a different relationship between the Doctor and Martha.

It also leaves the way clear for Rose to rejoin the Doctor at some time in the future. Consider how the other Torchwood would react when faced with a danger they could not overcome and which threatens their very existence. The quest to reach the Doctor would become infinitely more urgent, even desperate. Who says they would not succeed?

So, back to the final five minutes of Doomsday. RTD may have closed the door on the Tylers, but he has definitely opened a small window. A window that allows writers of forthcoming episodes to involve Rose in a variety of ways should they so wish (without, necessarily, Billie until such time as she wants to). IВ’ll close with two thoughts: first, God help any other woman in the Tardis when Rose gets back to her Doctor and, second, what would RoseВ’s first words be to the Doctor on being reunited, especially should the scenario envisaged in the paragraph above occur? I think we all know this one too - В‘Where the hell have you been?В’