Doctor Who - The Revival: 2009 Specials Recap

So they made this decision either before, during, or after Series 4 was either written, produced, or released that for 2009 there would be no complete series of Doctor Who, and in its place we would get 4 specials, 5 if you include the 2008 Christmas Special, which I guess I do, as it serves about the same bit of plot as "Planet of the Dead" did.

After it was announced, Russell T. Davies announced that when the specials would be complete, so would he, as he was going to step down as Head Writer, Executive Producer, and Showrunner. Then just a bit later it was announced that Steven Moffat would take over the roles from Davies. This pleased just about everybody, because he is as big a fan as Davies was, and has more than once shown himself to be one of the strongest writers with the show.

So for a while I thought that would be it, we would have the specials, then probably just one last full series with David Tennant as the Doctor. Then he dropped his science on us. He was leaving with Davies. So we get these last few hours of the Tenth Doctor. And how were they?

"The Next Doctor" was decent until the final act, which was silly. "Planet of the Dead" was sub par at best. "The Water of Mars" was excellent, with "The End of Time" starting off a little rough, but totally knocking it out of the park in the end.

I would say that if they are going to do gap years like this again, which I'm cool with by the way (I'd rather that then we get something like the 80s all over again) then I suggest maybe getting some stronger stuff. When you tell your fans they are only getting a portion of what they normally would get, you better make each portion fantastic, and they didn't do that. "Planet of the Dead" kicked it off and it felt too run of the mill, it wasn't "special" in the slightest.

Upon re-watch, I must admit that "End of Time, Part 1" is better, with Part 2 still being one of the strongest episodes I've ever seen. "The Waters of Mars" is still stellar. So I'd say that Davies closed up his Era pretty well, it felt like all good things must come to an end.

But as Ood Sigma stated near the end, "this song is ending, but the story never ends." Very true. Having started watching the show while Tennant was already in the TARDIS, this is the first time in watching the series in which I have no idea where we are heading.

Come on Spring!

NEXT TIME: The 00s Recap