Context
The End of Time Part One aired in December 2009 as the first part of a two episode Christmas and New Year special. It was created to say goodbye to David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and also to close the Russell T Davies era of Doctor Who. Behind the scenes, this was a very big turning point. Tennant, Davies, and producer Julie Gardner were all leaving the show. Matt Smith and Steven Moffat were already confirmed as the new lead actor and the new showrunner. Because of that, the episode already felt emotional before it even started.
The team wanted to make something epic, touching, and also fun in the spirit of a Christmas special. They mixed the usual festive style with a stronger feeling of sadness, because everyone knew this was Tennant's last full story.
Timothy Dalton was cast as the Narrator, which was a brilliant idea. His voice gives the episode a powerful and dramatic tone that makes the whole thing feel very important. Murray Gold also came back with a beautiful and emotional soundtrack. Many fans still consider the music in these specials to be some of his best work.
Overall, Part One was designed to be more than a normal episode. It was a celebration of Tennant's time on the show, a goodbye to the Davies era, and a big moment in the history of Doctor Who.
2. Synopsis
The Doctor returns to Earth after hearing a warning from the Ood about a terrible danger coming. At the same time, Wilfred Mott starts having strange visions and feels that he is meant to help the Doctor in an important way. The Master is brought back to life, but the resurrection goes wrong and his mind becomes even more unstable. His new powers and his sickness make him more dangerous than ever. Everything leads to a shocking cliffhanger that reveals a threat far greater than anyone expected.
3. Review
As the first half of David Tennant's final story, The End of Time Part One succeeds very well at being a slow but powerful build up to the Doctor's regeneration. From the beginning you can feel the tension growing. We know Tennant is leaving soon, and every scene seems to remind us that time is running out for this Doctor.
One of the most enjoyable things in the episode is the atmosphere. Murray Gold's music is so emotional and fits every moment perfectly. It adds a lot of weight to the story. Timothy Dalton's narration also helps a lot. His voice gives the episode a huge Christmas feeling mixed with something grand and serious. The combination of the music, the narration, and the holiday style makes this special feel very unique. Honestly, if I had more time, I would definitely rewatch this episode and the second part every Christmas.
The real heart of the episode is the characters. Bernard Cribbins and David Tennant are amazing together. Their scenes have humor, sadness, and warmth all at once. Cribbins brings so much emotion to Wilf, and Tennant shows a softer and more vulnerable side of the Doctor when he is with him. Watching them together makes you wish they had acted side by side more often.
John Simm is also fantastic as the Master. Here he is more powerful than before but also much sicker in his mind and body. His performance mixes tragedy, fear, and madness in a very striking way. His twitching energy, his hunger, and his unstable behavior make him one of the most memorable villains in Tennant's run.
Even though not much action happens in this first part, it does not really matter. The strength of the episode is in the character moments and the emotional build up. The quiet café scene between the Doctor and Wilf is one of the best moments in the whole modern series. If every episode of Doctor Who had character moments this strong, the show would be almost unbeatable in terms of quality. It is already one of the greatest shows ever, but because it is sixty years old, it is understandable that the quality is sometimes inconsistent when compared to newer shows like Stranger Things.
Finally, the cliffhanger is completely wild and leaves you desperate to know what happens next. It is bold, surprising, and perfectly sets up the final episode of Tennant's era.
In the end, The End of Time Part One is a beautiful and emotional beginning to Tennant's farewell. It mixes Christmas style with drama, character depth, and big science fiction ideas. It is a wonderful episode that I would gladly watch again every holiday season.