For the last thirteen weeks or so IВ’ve been saying nothing could compare to saying goodbye to Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor. Indeed the emotion of the last episode of Season One was unsurpassable in my eyes, we were saying goodbye to the best Doctor IВ’ve ever had. Well today, we said goodbye to the best companion I have ever had.

Rose Tyler, gone forever?

That was unbearable. I cried so hard I had to run upstairs to stop spraying everyone in snot and tears, it was heartbreaking. How anyone can dare to slate RTDВ’s writing or Billie Pipers acting is beyond me, because that was without doubt the best telly weВ’ll see this year. What a corker of an episode! The millions of imprisoned Daleks shooting out of the genesis ark into the surrounding sky, and the sheer volume of the battle was breathtaking! The Cybes walking through estates while people watch in terror, the Daleks flying through the skies and their one-liners were superb this time, they even added some comedy to it. Nick Briggs as the voice of both The Daleks and The Cybermen was wonderful, and Graham Harpers direction was top notch. IВ’m so glad The Daleks beat the Cybes and proved once and for all what people have been debating for decades. The Daleks DO kick Cyberman arse. I don't think RTD could have done it any other way tho, to be fair The Daleks managed to wipe out the Time Lords, as well as themselves, so if The Cybermen had beaten The Daleks, that would have weakened the power of The Timelords. I reckon anyways.

The whole story gripped from the opening line to the closing credits. All through this season IВ’ve thought Rose has been a bit cocky, slightly annoying sometimes too, but for the last 15 minutes I realised just how fantastic sheВ’s been and I really didnВ’t want her to go. Not yet, not for another season at least. I donВ’t want to never see Jackie, Mickey or the wonderful Pete again. Earth stories just wonВ’t be the same now, how can they be?

How can we warm to anyone else as much as we did them? Surely now the stories will have to be mainly set away from earth, on other planets and other galaxies rather than try and copy the Tylers? Who knows?

What I do know is whatever happens, RTD will surpass himself yet again. Of that I have no doubt.

After last year's finale which I felt suffered from "deus ex machina syndrome" and left me feeling disappointed, I was somewhat concerned that RTD might do the same again. But there was also a voice in my head which said, "no, RTD seems to have listened to the criticisms".

What we had was certainly an entirely satisfying end to the series, and an emotional farewell to a well liked companion.

I'm sure others will dissect the plot, so I'll say that I was genuinely impressed with the origin of the Genesis Ark, I hadn't seen that twist coming! The final solution was good, and played out well with both the Doctor and Rose working together to rid the world of the Daleks and Cybermen.

If I have a criticism it is that the sentimental ending was a couple of minutes too long. Don't get me wrong, I am a sentimental guy and I am very sad to see Rose leaving. She has proved to be one of the best companions ever. But I'm not sure we needed five minutes of mush.

My wife thought the "testosterone battle" between the Dalek and Cyberman upon first meeting each other was overdone. Otherwise it was a very strong episode. A shame perhaps that we couldn't see more of the Daleks and Cybermen fighting in London but I imagine that was expensive!

Visually much of this episode, like the last, was stunning. Graeme Harper also paced things beautifully. Though I do recall looking at my watch and wondering "how will they solve this in the time remaining?" I never felt the resolution was rushed, unlike some stories this year.

A thrilling conclusion to what has been (Love & Monsters excepted) a very strong season. In a year when a fine story such as "School Reunion" was a comparative disappointment, we were treated to a final two-part adventure that could go down as a great. Only time will tell! Thank you Russell. Thank you Billie Piper.

9/10

As a child I watched Doctor Who with my dad. I did watch from behind the sofa (really) and I quite enjoyed it from what I can remember. John Pertwee was my first and I have memories of Tom Baker but the others sort of passed me by. Well I was a growing girl and Robin Hood was much better looking!! Shallow I know but nothing's really changed I am sorry to add! So when the ninth Doctor showed up I was keen to enjoy this with my own young family as I had with my parents so long ago. And enjoy it we did, I have breed two serious Doctor Who fans and if that's my legacy then so be it, but I digress!

So we have reached the last episode of the tenth Doctor and I must admit this last week has gone so slowly, we waited with such anticipation and we weren't disappointed. All that we were promised and more. Daleks and cybermen galore all the action a young family requires. I could talk endlessly about plot building and anticipation and all the things serious fans and eloquent reviewers need to tell you but this episode was so much more to me. I am sure you have guessed where I am going by now. I'm a women after all and technical is way over my head (stop nodding boys, I've probably read more science fiction than you've had hot dinners) and I know my sonic screwdrivers from my flux capassitors and I know a dilithium crystal when I see one!!

For me this was pure emotion, forget techno speak and void stuff. I sobbed my heart out for the last 15 minutes and I'm not to shy to say it. Not much makes me cry, 'Titanic' couldn't you see that coming, 'Ghost' get a grip, but this, I so wanted him to save they day and for the Doctor and Rose to live happily ever after. We all know that was never going to happen but for something to make me care that much has got to be good.

I realise you are probably all saying, what does she know she's only watching because she fancies David Tennant, true, I do think he's quite tasty but I also know a good story when I see one, with decent actors who know there job. The sets and scenes were as detailed and well put together as always, the story flowed naturally and we will ignore the various plot gaffs (including that no one thought to chain down the TARDIS, void stuff and all that). Oh and what's wrong with a pretty boy just to keep the girls happy, you've had years of pretty girls!

This second series has had its critics, but for television to be able to provide so much for so many, then they must be getting something right. A mighty end to a mighty series and I just can't wait for the next.

Okay, how many of you softies got moist-eyed or shed a tear? Bah. I'm hard and cynical, me, and such mushy stuff has absolutely no place in...

Oh, who am I kidding. I found 'Father's Day' emotional enough, so I didn't have a chance here. I was doing alright until a devastated and inconsolable Rose managed to get out the words "I love you" and the Doctor (who's inability to use the 'L' word is sad, yet understandable given his situation; he couldn't say it in 'School Reunion' either) fades away. Whoah. And I didn't feel manipulated; these characters had *earned* this moment.

I think this episode will be remembered as 'the one where Rose leaves' rather than 'the one with the Daleks versus the Cybermen' and personally I think that's quite a compliment to Billie and, indeed, David, Christopher and the writers. I'm not a fan who has ever particularly wished for a meeting between the 'big two' monsters. I know the monsters are a large part of 'Who', but of course it is much more than that. Strong characterisation, quirkiness, humour, imagination, warmth...humanity. All present and correct here, where there was much to enjoy. Including;

Seeing Mickey portrayed as confident and heroic, with a sly sense of humour. 'Rose' seems like a looong time ago; Jackie and 'alternative' Pete getting together. (I loved the Doctor and Mickey's underreaction to Jackie's "There's been no-one else") ; the breathtaking moment where it seems Rose might actually be a goner and Tennant *screams* her name; A 'cyberfied' Yvonne shedding an oily tear; the four Daleks blase about millions of Cybermen, but twitching at the mention of the Doctor....

Maybe the script can be ripped apart...maybe I will myself in the future but, here and now, whilst I wouldn't say this was an instant classic, I did think it was an involving and entertaining conclusion to a season that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I'll give it a 9.5/10 today. It's an episode I experienced rather than examined, hence the brevity, but I look forward to the more detailed reactions on these fine pages!

Self-indulgent mode; some personal awards (fanfare) ;

The David Tennant Award for best performance by a David Tennant: well, I rewatched 'School Reunion' prior to 'Doomsday' (it seemed apt as the episode was mainly about what it's like to be a companian of the Doctor) and Tennant is *superb* throughout so today this episode's performance gets the nod.

The Billie Piper Award for best performance by an ex-popstar who turned out to be a wonderful actress: For dramatic impact, it would have to be 'Doomsday'; for sheer fun and charm; 'The Idiot's Lantern'.

The Kinda award for episode most likely to be a bit of a cult in the future: 'Love and Monsters' or 'TGINF', but I guess it'd have to be the former, as it was just so divisive.

The IMHO award for most underrated episode: 'The Idiot's Lantern'...just because I really liked it!

Best Character Development By a Few Streets: Mickey Smith. Well played, Noel, and you left your very best 'til last, too....

After last week's classy finish, we were left gasping for more...

Maybe it is just me but the computer graphics and all those Daleks and cybermen do look very, well, computer generated. No surprises there obviously but what Doctor Who has done best so far has been the one to one relationships, particularly the "Dalek" episode from the first series.

It was all still very visually impressive though, and don't get me wrong, this is the stuff we always wanted to see from reading all those Dalek comics and annuals from the 60s and 70s.

There was some great exchanges between Rose and the daleks, as well as the Doctor who seemed to be very sure of himself. You got the feeling though that to a certain extent there was re-treading of old ground when the Doctor deliberately pushed Rose into the other dimension ... and of course, she came back again.

For me the highlights of this episode did not really involve the Doctor's two historic enemies but it was the coming together of Rose's Mum and Dad, and then of course, the grande finale when Rose disappeared into another parallel universe. It was great that Rose did not die. I think that would have been too upsetting and it does leave it open should she ever return. But I would have thought it would be more for a Sarah Jane Smith style School Reunion than a fully blown return.

Billie Piper gave a real tearjerking performance. She certainly wasn't the only one bubbling away.

Even some of the Dalek's lines were pretty funny during the story but the funniest was Jackie's reaction to meeting Pete Tyler again ... brilliant stuff.

In a sense, Rose got what she had always wanted as well going back to Father's Day as she wanted to see her father and be re-united with her parents again when Pete Tyler was alive. In the end she got her dream but at a cost in that she lost the man she loves in the shape of the Doctor.

There was plenty of intrigue about the episodes with the sphere hiding a dark secret then the Genesis Arc. I am sure a few of us who had been reading message boards in recent weeks fully believed that Davros was making his return but it was not to be... perhaps that might be another adventure.

The final parting scenes which were supposedly in Norway but my money was that it was a cold spring's day in Wales (!), were beautiful and eloquent. I thought the musical score really was first class throughout this two parter which really hit the heights.

While there have been some new monsters, I think the old monsters like Daleks, Cybermen, and even the good guys Sarah Jane and K-9 have been among the strong episodes, I would hope that more old baddies could come back as has been suggested. Ice Warriors and Yeti please in series three, NOT the sontarans or Sil! Let's go back to the hammer horror period of 60s Who!

The finale was quite brilliant with the Tardis spinning next to the heart of the universe as the Doctor actually managed to have some parting words with Rose in a beautiful exchange. Has a parting of the ways ever been as touching as this (Christopher Eccleston's leaving is on a par). I liked the fact that her mother burst forward to hug her at the end as the Dr vanished or de-materialised into another universe.

A neat little surprise cliffhanger for the Christmas special too. Should thurst the Doctor into a surprising new situation he has not been involved in before! All in all, an absolute epic of an episode. I still can't believe they crammed so much into 45 minutes as you were left gasping at the end of it. Altogether, it was a beautiful end to a beautiful story of the Doctor and Rose. Billie Piper has played an incredibly huge impact and leaves a void almost as big as the gulf between the Doctor and Rose in different parallel universes on an emotional level. Like David Tennant had to do when Christopher Eccleston left last season, Freema Agyeman has to step up to the challenge and showcase her acting talent as the two original lead actors from the new series leave along with the Rose's family who have all been terrific. There was a fresh and real vibrance about Doctor Who because of Rose and Rose's Mum played by Camille Coduri and of course, Mickey, played by Noel Clarke. The series has lost some very strong actors and actresses. I hope the show can continue and flourish and in the hands of Russell T Davies, who has shown himself to be a true admirer of Who old and new, the show is in very safe hands.

Doomsday. A fitting name. For it was for Rose and the DoctorВ…

But wow. You know. Wow. At first I thought Daleks and Cybermen would be too much to handle. Too big. But RTD pulled it off! Everyone was supporting the Daleks of course- they had some great lines, e.g В“This is not war. This is pest control.В” The Daleks are just brilliant!

So Rose didnВ’t die. I thought she wouldnВ’t; there were too many hints implying that she would and of course nothing obvious ever happens in Doctor Who.

I had a theory that she may get stuck on a parallel world and the beach scene came very closeВ…Especially when Rose mentioned a baby. But because thereВ’s never been any evidence of a Doctor/Rose drunken pash then it wouldnВ’t have worked. Instead I was yelling В“Not MickeyВ’s! Please not Mickey!В” but it was a red herring. Thank god.

Bringing me onto MickeyВ…why does everyone like him? HeВ’s turned from an idiotic coward to an arrogant idiotic poser. His pathetic attempts to flirt with Rose made me cringe. As if IВ’m not upset enough about Rose being trapped in another universe! But Mickey being thereВ…

IВ’m loving Pete though. I think it was great that he, Jackie and Rose are together. Ignore Mickey. I liked him so much in fatherВ’s day I knew heВ’d have to come back. Like I know Rose will have to come back too. Preferably with Captain Jack. I loved the threesome! HavenВ’t seem them together with the tenth doctor yet. I can hopeВ…

Yvonne. She was a bitch. I liked her. And TracyВ’s very good at playing bitchy people. I wish she could be the new companion. What a combination that would be! I didnВ’t think much of Freema as Adeola. No. Not at all.

I thought the scene where Rose lets go of the lever was heart wrenching, especially the distraught expression on the DoctorВ’s face. The music teamed with Rose and the Doctor both leaning on the wall was heartbreaking but very effective. The beach scene was even sadder. Perhaps saying goodbye is harder than one actually dying? They know theyВ’re both alive but they canВ’t be with each other. Terribly sad.

IВ’m trying to decide which is better. Parting of the ways or Doomsday? Loved the bad wolf reference in Doomsday, as if Rose had put that there because she knew what was going to happen, and made it be the last place to say goodbye. Rose told the Doctor she loved him (finally) but he was cut off just before he could! Very Satan Pit. Oh, she knows. He just canВ’t admit his feelings, can he? There was no kiss in Doomsday which annoyed me no end. Rose hasnВ’t had a chance to get her hands on the tenth yet (New Earth doesnВ’t count). ThatВ’s probably why IВ’m leaning more towards Parting of the Ways. A kiss, self sacrifice- and of course all the bad wolf stuff going on. Great idea. It makes Rose special and makes you think Is she, in effect, a Timelady now? Will she live on, for as long as the Doctor? IВ’ll be waiting for her to come back. It wonВ’t be the same now sheВ’s gone. But IВ’ll be watching, like the rest of you. Hoping for Rose and my 2nd favourite, Captain Jack, to return!

To conclude, Doctor Who is just excellent. The 2 series are the best television IВ’ve ever seen. Sure thereВ’s been some slip ups like the Long game and Girl in the fireplace (Steven Moffat IВ’m disappointed in you) but all in all, in the words of the 9th doctor, В“Fantastic.В”