Journey's End

The Doctor cheats death, he and his immediate companions are rounded up and transported to the Dalek Crucible. Sarah Jane, Jackie and Mickey are transported as prisoners, while Martha is off to Germany to set up the Osterhagen key. The Doctor, Rose and Jack leave the TARDIS to confront their Dalek captors, whilst Donna is locked inside, with something strange happening to her. The TARDIS is sent to be destroyed, Donna inside..... The companions stage a fightback, Martha with the key, Sarah Jane with a warp star, but are all transported to the Crucible. Davros has a secret weapon which cause mass destruction.

So many stories and plots are tied up in this episode, The Doctor Donna, the hand etc. The question Rose was trying to ask at the end of Doomsday.

How random was it hearing German Daleks, though about time i guess, Exterminieren though a Dr Who phrase Germans would have been unfamiliar with, as the word used on the dubbings was vernichten.

The reality bomb is a great concept, the fact that the planets were taken to form an engine to power it, so cleverly put together, the idea is a scary one, everything becoming dust.

A nice flip back to Genesis when Davros recognises Sarah Jane.

Nice touch of humour brought by Jackie, reminding us just how good a character she was.

This episode is highly emotionally charged, Rose finally gets to see her Doctor, Tennant puts in a truly superb performance. I keep harping on about Catherine Tate I know, but she truly is fabulous, great that she gets to play a huge part in this finale. It is a case of pure joy to total desolation. The ending is totally and utterly heartbreaking, never has Doctor Who ever been so moving, still can't watch it without a tear, she's been astounding throughout this incredible Series 4. Love it!! 10/10

Enough to tear a TARDIS apart, Z-Neutrinos at the Crucible's heart, so many will die, Davros riding high, a psychopath driving a cart.

They've gathered to save us again, Rose and Micky, Captain Jack, Sarah Jane, Doctor Donna's there too, so expect a small coup, consequences are hard to restrain.

A great season finale and one of the best episodes of all time.

Well, as the other commenters have made clear, this is an episode you either love or hate! For myself, I quite enjoyed it - yes there are plot holes (when aren't there?), but it was a very satisfactory wrap up to a strong season, tying in plot elements found in stories over the last 4 seasons. Looking at some of the fan forums, it's plain that many people are unhappy with the treatment of Donna, but it was always known that Catherine Tate was only available for one season, so the only question was how she would be written out; many of the detractors seem to view the episode more kindly after another viewing. There was a strong feeling throughout the episode that Russell Davies was tying up all the loose plot lines of his era, and clearing the decks for Steven Moffat's takeover in season 5. I felt some of the multitude of companions in this and the last episode were rather underused - the Torchwood mob were rather useless (what's new? :) ).

Didn't take much really, just no more than two to three minutes was all it took Russell T. Davies, whom I had just completely forgiven for all the horrible stories he has written over the past four years after three consecutive good episodes, completely takes away all the tension that had built up in "The Stolen Earth" and begins "Journey's End"- THE most contrived, hackneyed, sappy, ludicrous, and downright annoying Doctor Who episode of all time. "Twin Dilemma" and "Timeflight" step aside, "Journey's End" is the all time worst episode of Doctor Who, and if not for the brilliant opening half it would be the all-time worst Doctor Who story.

Quite simply I cannot think of one single thing I thought was good about "Journey's End". OK, Davros is still well-realized and there's some decent tension in the first... Oh, who am I kidding. No, Davros was the only positive in this episode. Davies' handling of everything else was downright horrendous, from character to plot to the overblown romance plot and what is surely the biggest mistake Doctor Who has EVER made- Doctor Donna. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Murray Gold, as per usual, is absolutely and utterly horrendous with his handling of the music. Overblown, ridiculous, overbearing, hideous attempts at being 'majestic' and every cliché in music composition pops up in this episode. Truly, truly terrible.

Featuring in this magnificent offering of Doctor Who are the following:

• spinning Daleks. - Doctor Donna. - half-human Doctor who kisses Rose in the series' worst ever scene outside the telemovie. - TARDIS dragging Earth. - Doctor Donna. - Doctor Donna.

Did I mention Doctor Donna yet? Practically everything past the half hour mark here is utterly unbearable, either completely overblown, nonsensical, and cowardly plot-wise, or hopelessly sappy, sentimental GARBAGE aimed at the lowest common denominator. Doctor Who has never talked down to children, why on Earth start now?!

All the performances are phoned-in and horrendous outside Tennant and Sladen. Agyeman is particularly awful, with every moment she tried to emote being absolutely, miserably terrible.

What a way for Russell to go out. Really. Such a champ for bringing back the show, and he offered some fine stories while in charge. Those fine stories appear to be mere tiny outbursts of skill and drive, as "Journey's End" tops even "Last of the Time Lords" for sheer ridiculousness, sappiness, and general awfulness.

Let's hope the specials are good, because although I'm not a fan of Russell the writer he doesn't deserve to end his reign on THIS note. What a colossal, colossal misfire this is. Don't care what Moffat says about what he thinks of Russell's era of Who, nothing he's written, not even "Chalk", has matched the complete absence of quality in this utterly insulting garbage.

1/10

Wish I could give it less.

This finale took my breath away on every level, the writing, the story and the music was epic. Everyone played a part that was key and the Daleks reached a new level in evilness. This episode had everything highs lows unexpected twists and was so well constructed that the story dragged you kicking and screaming to every level finally ending and allowing you to get your breath back. This was difficult to write without spoilers but I am jealous of everyone who sees this for the first time. In my humble opinion this is quite simply the best doctor Who ever. And I want to add this actually bought a tear to my eye. Brilliant writing Russel T Davies take a bow. Murray Gold you also surpassed yourself. Sir.