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Episode Recap: "The Last of the Time Lords"
“Martha Jones, you saved the world.”
— The Doctor
Right then! Here we are at the end of the third season of the new Doctor Who series and what a ride it has been to get here. First the Dalek raged war upon the human race, followed by the Cybermen (and Dalek) also raging war upon the human race. Who else could possibly top that duo of evil and wage war upon the human race again? The Master, that’s who! And who exactly is needed to help put an end to the Master’s reign of terror? A potential doctor: one Martha Jones.
One year has passed since the events in the previous episode. The Doctor, Martha’s family and Captain Jack are all still prisoners of the Master on the flying aircraft carrier Valiant. During this time, the Master with the help of his "children," the Toclafane, have conquered and enslaved the Earth. Labor camps have been set up with the purpose of building a fleet of ships and devices capable of decimating the universe in the process of setting up a new Time Lord empire.
Martha, who escaped from the Master’s clutches by using Jack’s Vortex Manipulator, has spent all her time searching for a way to stop the Master. She has become an almost mythical figure during her travels. Upon returning to England in order to put the final parts of her ultimate plan into motion, she meets up with Thomas Milligan, a member of the resistance. Milligan takes Martha to Professor Docherty for some secret purpose.
Meanwhile, on the Valiant, the Doctor and Co. hatch their own plan to take down the Master. The plan fails when the Doctor ends up unable to use the Master’s own laser screwdriver on him. The Master then sends out a broadcast of the Doctor being aged by 900 years, his regeneration suspended. This turns the Doctor into an odd, tiny creature, which the Master keeps in a birdcage.
Martha meets up with Professor Docherty (and while there catches the broadcast of The Master’s) who is able to help Martha disable a Toclafane. They are able to open the metal casing to discover the truth of what the Toclafane are: they are what became of the humans from the episode, “Utopia;” the very same humans that The Doctor, Martha and Captain Jack helped “save.” For these creatures to exist in this time period and for them to kill and enslave their own ancestors is a paradox, one that can only exist because of the now modified TARDIS. Martha shares with Milligan and Docherty her plan to kill The Master via a special gun made up of components previously hidden around the globe; hence why Martha has been traveling. Martha states that she has returned to find the last component then kill The Master. Martha and Milligan leave professor and head to safe house of sorts to await the time when they can travel with ease. After they leave, Docherty rats them out to The Master in order to find out information about her missing son.
In hiding later that night, Martha shares her tales with the people crammed into the house. She shares with them a story about a protector that has looked over them, even when they didn’t know it was happening. She tells them that his name is The Doctor and that she loves him. As if on schedule, The Master appears with his goons, kills Milligan, captures Martha and destroys her weapon.
Back on the Valiant, The Master prepares to kill Martha in front of her family, The Doctor and Jack. He wants her death to consider with the time of the launch of his space fleet. Martha starts laughing at The Master and reveals her real plan, which was not to build a gun or to kill The Master, but rather to share a tale of the Doctor with the rest of the world. At one specific time, the scheduled launch time of the fleet, the entire world would think The Doctor’s name. Because the entire world is linked into The Master’s Archangel Network of satellites, the psychic energy derived from them concentrating on The Doctor causes him to regenerate to his old 10th Doctor self, except that he is full of glow, floaty energy. He is able to stop The Master from launching the space fleet but as The Master attempts to escape using the vortex manipulator, The Doctor hitches a ride dropping them near a cliff on Earth. The Master claims that he will destroy the fleet via a triggering device, which in turn would destroy the planet. The Doctor knows this is a bluff and is able to stop The Master a second time and they both teleport back to the Valiant… just in time for Jack to destroy the paradox machine. Time reverses itself sending them all back exactly one year to time before the Toclafane appear.
The Doctor decides that the only thing he can do is to keep The Master imprisoned in the TARDIS, but his plans are ruined when Lucy Saxon, shoots The Master. The Doctor begs him not to die, to regenerate, but as a last act of defiance, The Master refuses and dies. afterwards, The Doctor cremates The Master’s body and returns to Cardiff with Martha and Jack. Jack decides to stay behind so that he can continue with work with Torchwood. Martha finally decides to leave the Doctor and stays behind (beforehand, checking to see if Doctor Milligan is around) to continue her education and care for her family. The Doctor leaves only to have the HMS Titanic smash through the TARDIS walls.
Points, observations and commentary:
First things first: I was disappointed by this episode. The season long build-up leading to last week’s “The Sound of Drums” episode seemed to be more fulfilling than the resolution presented here. Sure, I did enjoy the episode, but methinks that this episode suffers from what I like to call "The Best of Both Worlds” syndrome (Star Trek: The Next Generation season three finale and season four premiere). I can remember how blown away I felt from that finale only to be disappointed by second part at the start of the next season (this happened again and again on this series from this point on). If memory serves, I do believe reading and interview where the producers stated that they had no idea how to resolve part one, so it literally opened with a dud (energy weapon). Now I am not saying that Russell T Davies didn’t know how he would end The Master’s storyline; rather, it seemed kind of forced in places, and the quality was no where near what was presented in the last episode. It’s almost as if they were some burnout or maybe it was rushed. Whatever the case may be, it did not “wow” me like the previous episode.
Did anyone think of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy television series when the first shot of the computerized warning to stay away from Earth was flashed on the screen? The guitar folk-like music played soon after that helped re-enforce that feeling.
Speaking of music, what the heck happened to it in this episode? Did the composer phone it in from home… in his sleep… while on drugs? After last week’s beautiful score, I expected nothing but the same excellence here (it’s a two-parter after all, technically three-parter) and what do I get but a twangy, Martha Jones theme and an unremarkable orchestrated score (see my comments about the episode feeling like it was ‘rushed’ above). Yeah, I understand that Martha is supposed to be a legendary figure now; but folky twangs? Sigh.
At first, I wasn’t too impressed by John Simm’s portrayal of The Master in this episode as well, but then again, how could he top that performance? What I found more devilishly humorous was what he was accredited of doing during the past year (and no, I do not mean the enslavement of the planet): building statues of himself everywhere, including craving his face into Mount Rushmore. Where he did shine were when he captured Martha and in his final moments with The Doctor, which made up for all the standard, evil villain of the week that we presented with in this episode.
David Tennet’s final scene with The Master was touching. The Doctor was finally alone and that was most terrifying to him, especially after he discovered that he was not alone in the first place (maybe this also helps to explain why The Doctor always needs a companion). Then again, The Master has a way of coming back to life, so who knows? But if he was revived (there was that hand that took his ring), wouldn’t the Face of Boe be aware of it and therefore, would his “you are not alone” warning apply to this time or the next or the next, etc. Ow, my brain hurts now… moving on…
Miss Martha Jones: I did enjoy Freema Agyeman’s final performance in this episode. I really did find her believable in the role of a now legendary freedom fighter. Of note, the blank stare she gives The Master after he kills Milligan. She really came into her own this episode and I am happy for the character’s growth. Sadly, this growth also means that she would have to come to her senses (finally) and realize that her love for The Doctor would be unrequited and as a result, she must leave him. How amusing was it when she left the TARDIS the first time only to return to fully explain herself and her feelings to The Doctor (again, indirectly), who finally did seem to get it (maybe) in the end. I’m still upset with her for not coming out and just telling him. She was able to tell the people she was hiding out with that she “loves him” (my jaw dropped at that one) but when it comes time at the end, she still doesn’t speak directly, rather we get the story of her “getting out.”
While I do understand that this is considered a children’s show in the UK (one that adults love as well), I was semi-shocked at the killing of the Toclafane via gun pointed into the camera at point blank range by Milligan. That seemed more appropriate for Torchwood than Doctor Who. Yes, I understand the world (at that time frame) is extremely different but I wonder if a different camera shot could had been used to convey the same information. OK, jumping down from the soapbox…
Besides all the references to the original and revival Doctor Who series this episode, did anyone catch yet another Rose reference, in front of Martha no less?
The Master: “Days of old, Doctor, you had companions who could absorb the time vortex. This one is useless.”
What The Master didn’t know here was that Martha was going to be the instrument of his come-uppings and he would quickly learn that he shouldn’t had underestimated Martha. Now that Martha is gone, one would hope that they limit references to Rose next season. Don’t get me wrong, I love the character of Rose, but there is no need to constantly remind the audience of her, especially now that her competitor (in spirit) is gone. Now that I reflect upon it, The Master’s final words are more truer than I realized:
The Master: “Always the women.”
Explain to me why the Valiant’s guards help Jack towards the end when they are attempting to rush the TARDIS, but none decide to turn and kill The Master? Either way, the Toclafane would still had been a threat, so that cannot be the reason.
Last week, the young Master reminded me of Damien from The Omen films. A reader commented that he was reminded of a young Anakin Skywalker. Well, with this episode, the circle is now complete! What genre fan would not think of Return of the Jedi when The Master’s fineral pyre appeared on screen? I fully expected a squadron of X-Wings and fireworks overhead during it. I kid, I kid.
(I apologize in advance for bringing religion into this discussion, but since they wanted to bash me over the head with symbolism, I feel it’s my place to point it out.). What the heck is the deal with all the Christ symbolism in this episode? I’m not saying it cannot or should not be done, but come on! It's so obvious that it loses all credibility with me. Examples: The Archangel Network of satellites; The Doctor being regenerated (ressurected) via basically prayer through the Archangel Network and becoming all glowy and floating, arms outstretched; the words that The Master is afraid of hearing from The Doctor are “I forgive you;” The Master constantly calling the Toclafane, “his children;” The Master even comes right out and mentions it in reference to how Martha is going to stop him, “Faith and hope, is that all?” and a few line later, “Is that your weapon, prayer?”
I think this would had been more effective if this was used more subtley rather than the in-your-face method, ala the movie, Superman Returns. Subtle makes all the difference.
Did that scene where The Master and The Doctor teleport off the Valiant seem pointless as they same scene could had been done on the ship itself?
Wow! Looking back, it seems that I hated this episode, when that is far from the case. Disappointed, yes; hated, no. My next point may not help my cause…
I’m sorry, but those “team of mine” lines of Jack’s when he is justifying why he is leaving The Doctor to return to Torchwood just made me cringe.
On the otherhand, I did enjoy the final revelation that Jack (more than likely) is the Face of Boe. I especially was fond of The Doctor’s shocked reaction. It’s great that things like that can still surprise him. I also like that the producers can now justify John Barrowman’s real life aging on Torchwood (as opposed to Star Trek: The Next Genration’s Commander Data).
The Doctor’s hand is still there, Gandalf and the Titanic! Ha!
Finally, I’ll close this by quoting one of the final exchanges between The Doctor and Martha (partially quoted at the top of this blog entry).
The Doctor: “Martha Jones, you saved the world.”
Martha: “Yes, I did! I spent a lot of time with you thinking I was second best, but you know what? I am good!”
Yes, you are Martha, yes, you are.
I really hope my contributions were informative (or at least made sense). Thanks for reading and for all the comments! Until next season, take care!
Expelliarmus!
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Oct 6, 2007 2:52 AM
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Wow, that was a long review! Did you review it from the British version because I don't remember seeing Martha check for Dr. Milligan at the end? I thought the episode dragged for most of the first half but I loved the second half. When the Doctor was resurrected, I got goosebumps and I was laughing and amazed at the reveal of the Face of Boe. That was great! I love this Doctor and I hope David Tennant stays with the role for a while.
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Oct 6, 2007 9:41 AM
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Wow, what an amazing summary!
I was disappointed that SciFi cut a few scenes out that were originally in the BBC broadcast. I was able to see it online and it was much better.
I am going to miss Martha. I really liked her. She was tough and strong (and absolutely beautiful). Her parting with The Doctor made me teary. I hope they bring her back.
Anyway, really liked the entire series. I wasn't a total convert to Doctor Who until recently when I caught up with all the episodes online. Now I can't wait for Series 4.
Robert, I hope you continue doing the episode recaps - they are excellent. 
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Oct 6, 2007 9:42 AM
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Robert, you are a brilliant recapper. Thank you for all of the detail you put into your recaps.
I, too, was disappointed in this episode. It's like the writers put all of their efforts into the first two parts and then were too exhausted to finish. There were moments that I loved, but all in all, it was not up to par.
I had seen this episode online a few months ago. It was sad that in this broadcast the editors left out the short scene of Martha trying to find Dr. Milligan. I remember reading how happy Martha fans were after seeing that in the original version. They wanted a happy ending for Martha, and now, perhaps she might get from him what she wouldn't from the Doctor.
I'm thinking that the hand that picked up the ring might be Lucy's. Her shooting of the Master might have been part of the plan all along. I hope that we'll see what comes of this in the next seasion, or series as the Brits say.
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Oct 6, 2007 11:52 AM
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Possible Spoiler
I thought everyone knew that Martha returns to the Doctor during the next series. He has another companion for awhile and then Martha joins them both. At least that is what I read on the Dr Who site
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Oct 6, 2007 1:46 PM
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Things we learned in this episode:
- when time starts to reverse, you should get down on the floor
- you can disable a Paradox Machine with an MP-5
-psychic satellite networks can be overwhelmed if everyone thinks the same thought at once
- the skies in Utopia are not made of diamonds
- regeneration is optional
- Captain Jack might be the Face of Boh
- when the Doctor gets very, very old he looks like Dobby from Harry Potter
So while The Doctor takes a break we get to see the gone-too-soon series Odyssey 5, An enjoyable series with many familiar faces - its just a shame that it's not replacing Frack Gordon.
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Oct 6, 2007 4:33 PM
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I really enjoyed season 3--warts and all. The last half of last night's episode was the best!! I've noticed in at least two of the previous postings that some of you saw some episodes on line--where? I've been to BBCAmerica.com, but no luck--anybody?
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Oct 6, 2007 5:28 PM
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Two words: SPELL CHECK. Misspellings and improper usage are a pet peeve of mine, but even spell checkers won't catch the inconsistencies where the word used is wrong but spelled correctly. But I can't fault this recapper alone. I've seen it in many TVGuide bloggers. So please, review before you post.
Anyway, I also noted several people here and on the Torchwood blog recount viewing the episodes as originally broadcast in the UK and haven't been very successful in locating them online. I'll probably get the DVDs anyway, but it would be nice to see them without SciFi's hatchet jobs. Why don't they just cut to commercial in the middle of a word, for crying out loud? They're obviously not trying to locate a natural break in the story or dialogue.
I did want to say I'm surprised you're still wondering if the Doctor is actually aware of how Martha feels about him. It was pretty definitely established at the end of "The Family of Blood" that the Doctor remembered everything Martha said (including loving him to bits). Plus, his looking down in guilt when Martha talked about her "friend" loving the object of her affection who barely even noticed her was telling as well.
As for ripping a series for the shortcomings of a single installment, that's just not fair. I don't think the show has to continually prove itself with every episode. I'm enjoying it immensely and since it's still going on for the foreseeable future, I'm willing to cut it some slack.
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Oct 6, 2007 6:19 PM
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Mmm. All the talk of christian symbolism I must say I didn't get when I watched this episode. For me it tied in to the power of words and language from the Shakespear Code episode, i.e. the right words and thoughts can make things happen, in this case the 'regeneration' of the Doctor and the defeating of evil (the Master).
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Oct 6, 2007 6:46 PM
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For me, this episode was "Doctor Huh?" How did everyone thinking the same thought fix everything? Why did 900-year-old Tennant look like the love child of Voldemort and Dobby? Since when is the doctor Jesus? And why didn't the doctor and the master just make out already and get it over with?
The master was just so creepy I could barely stand to watch. How conveeeenient that they could turn time back so his evil had no lasting impact. I don't care if the doctor doesn't want to be alone, I couldn't get into his grief over someone so evil. I guess I'm judgmental and not-so-Christlike that way.
I do agree that it was probably Lucy who took the ring at the end. My preciousss!
That will probably be important later.
I'm glad there will be another season, and that Martha isn't gone forever. Despite the parts I just don't get, I love me some Doctor Who.
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Oct 6, 2007 9:25 PM
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I love me some Doctor, and this ep was good but a little more contrived than usual. Just a little, "if we all clap our hands, then Tinkerbell will live!" And while David Tennant was born to play this role, during his emotional goodbye with the Master I found myself distracted thinking, 'could his face contort in any more directions?' That being said, can't wait for series 4.
thanks for the great recaps. yes, it is "come-uppance" not "come uppings" but these recaps get posted so well and so fast, lets cut him some slack. LOL.
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Oct 6, 2007 9:32 PM
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DOBBY!! That is EXACTLY who the doctor looked like!!
I hate to see females pine for men. Urgh!!
I agree with Ravina the ending was too contrived, but I knew that they would have to find a way to reset time.
Didn't quit understand how the Utopia crew de-evolved like that. "We made ourselves pretty" ?? What does that mean? I will just assume that they saw nothingness & went mad like the Master & then the Master used their craziness to mush them up into little heads in balls...
Jack as the Face of Boe. Nice. Wasn't expecting that! However, if I knew I could never die, but I was still getting older...I'd be a lot more worried about it then he seemed to be. How he evolved into a giant face is beyond me. What's with the Dr. Who producers and making humans evolve into faces with no bodies? And in a former episode, The Long Game, The Face of Boe had a baby...HOW?
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Oct 6, 2007 10:58 PM
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Robert - another excellent write-up even though your spellchecker took over your review and did it's own thing. It happens to the best of us. Just remember to proofread again after spellchecking or watch spellchecking in progress.
This episode was truly a let down after the previous one. In fact the previous episode could have been the season ender, and this episode the first one of the next season. It would have been accepted by the audience a lot better.
And did anyone else think if everyone could think DOCTOR at the same time, that they could also think DIE MASTER too?
And reversing time. Did anyone else think any minute now Christopher Reeves as Superman will fly around the earth and reverse time? I think Farscape did this a lot better in the episode The Locket.
As a character, Martha was great in the first episode and in the season ender. Too bad they gave her little to do in between. Maybe that is why she did not exactly grow on me this season.
The Doctor was great in the scene where the egotistical Master chooses to die rather than be stuck in the TARDIS for all eternity with the last of his kind.
And the whole episode was worth it just to find out that Captain Jack is the Face. That was definitely worth it.
Robert -
I hope to see you recapping other shows. You do a great job. Just mind that spellchecker!
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Oct 6, 2007 11:04 PM
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Darn, Ravinia stole my thunder. My first thought with the 'everybody think about the doctor' went right to Peter Pan, not the bible (clap if you beleive in doctors..uhh fairies).
It was an OK episode, but not real consistant with how he treated the family not too many episodes back. Back then he wasn't the forgiving sort.
This is the second time that Martha was tasked with doing something without the Doctors direct control. They did a good job setting up her personality to make that seem possible. Not sure if Rose could have pulled it off.
Hmm, Captain Jack as the face of Boe? Not sure about that. On one hand it would explain how FOB knew that the Doctor was not alone, but on the other hand FOB died, and from what has been said, Jack should never die.
The 2 best parts of the episode was tying up what happened to the people heading off to Utopia (pretty much what you would expect at the end of all time, nowhere really to go), and Martha's reveal of 'the master plan'(pun intended) during the countdown.
And finally, the Doctor at 900 years old also reminded me of Dobbie(sp?) from Harry Potter. I'm planning on picking up the DVD's next month so I can see the snipped parts, and the christmas episode since I missed it during the broadcast.
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Oct 6, 2007 11:26 PM
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Actually, I didn't realize it was the job of these blogs to recap the episode. I've seen the episode, thanks. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. So why are we wasting time summarizing the whole thing?
Also, I felt this 'review' was probably a bit more snarky than was necessary. Most of these things are just nitpicks. There's a huge amount of suspension of disbelief with this show, and it relies on McGuffins more than any show out there right now. We all know the Doctor will triumph. But we watch it because we love the characters and it's just plain fun. And yeah, the religious imagery is there if you look for it, but I was more thinking about the power of cultural consciousness - (the folk legend, the dream of revolution - which I guess some of the original Christ stories were like that), the class/race issues (a guy called the Master having black servants serving tea in maid's uniforms?). There's a lot there if you look for it.
Also, I love the Doctor's feelings towards the Master, as if he's a brother or even a lover, that sense that the Master represents the only true hope for the Doctor that he won't be alone and that someone will truly understand him, no matter how horrible his deeds might have been. If you didn't get that, you haven't really been paying attention.
And I can't imagine why the Torchwood references would make anyone cringe. I'm glad they found ways to reference the other show - it's always good to know that the writers acknowledge the broader Whoverse and that these things all fit together.
Finally, yes, the best part was the Face of Boe thing. That really threw me and was one of those truly great reveals that shows like this can have. As the last Doctor would say, 'Fantastic!' Now bring on Kylie!
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Oct 7, 2007 12:23 AM
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