Shir, the long goodbye montage was definitely what Rusty wanted rather than what the story demanded, Ten saying he didn't want to go - that felt like it was supposed to be a message from Tennant to the fans instead of the Doctor's voice. Except, who knows for sure what Tennant really feels, I just imagine him feeling that way.

EoT2: Now that I have a few minutes, I have to say that LotR was the first thing that popped into my head about when we saw Jack (and then Donna. And then Rose). I liked seeing everyone but I felt like it detracted - significantly - from the storytelling. The one thing I did like about that long ending was knowing that apparently the Doctor forgave/understood Jack in some way for CoE.

I have always liked the Master so his decision to work on the Doctor's side at the very end made me happy. Having said that, I'm not sure who either of the two mysterious women were (were they just one?) and it seems like cheating a bit to introduce some random woman at the end and have it be *her* face that made the Doctor's decision.

I have decided that the Time Lords must have been working from the past, which wasn't at all clear, and not simply chilling in their time locked bubble. But, that part of the plot was lame, I thought. I have read fic that did a much more coherent job of bringing back the time lords.

Not a hug fan of Eleven off the bat, but I bet that's afairly normal reaction. I liked Nine but hated Rose and didn't really like Ten or even enjoy the show until she was gone. I loved Wilf and I like seeing the Doctor interact with someone who wasn't attracted to him. I thought Donna was wasted and was hoping there was more to her involvement.

Finally, despite my criticisms, I mostly liked it. The Cacti were great, I liked all Wilf's interactions with Ten, I loved the Master stuff, and even Ten's tantrum while Wilt was in the box added to the story/character. I saw DT say somewhere that with a character like the Doctor, you can only tell this sort of story at the end because he can't really change until he does. So I liked seeing the Doctor struggle with his own end, even though he's not really ending.

Stephanie, I believe that the Time Lords were, indeed, acting from the past, from inside the time bubble, and I believe it was simply during the last few moments while the Doctor was outside it, doing what needed to be done to end the Time Wars. There was mention of needing the signal to travel through Time as well as space.

I see, WindSparrow, and I agree.

Stephanie, as for the two mysterious women, I thought they were the ones who opposed James Bond's offer for the Timelords to rise, and that was their punishment.

Normally, I'm pretty down with the timey-wimey aspects of the show, but I thought the voiceover in the beginning of EoT1 made it seem like the President Time Lord was watching Earth on Christmas Day. I can see how he could have been doing it from the past, but it just felt present day to me, which confused me. Which is my way of saying that I agree with you but it confused me. Does this mean that the Doctor ended his race twice? Although I guess it was the Master this time .

I totally agree with Andi's thoughts about whom the ending(s) served.

Which kind of peeved me when it came to the plaintive "I don't want to go." I actually said to the screen, "Really? You've been torturing us with this for a year and NOW you need to manipulate us like this? Gack.

Oddly, the montage of ROTK proportions was my favorite part of the episode .

I also agree that it would have been better if 11 showed a more distinct personality. But I suspect there will eventually be more specific differences. The whole set up seemed to be geared for a 'soft landing' for the traumatized fans.

But I suspect there will eventually be more specific differences.

The season trailer I saw was so much more promising and exciting than the tidbit we got within the show. It is definitely a palate cleanser.

The whole set up seemed to be geared for a 'soft landing' for the traumatized fans

Which is such a mixed message following the self-serving goodbye. Rip the f-ing bandage off, I say. It really does hurt less.

I'm not worried about 11's personality. Moffat will be in charge of him, and I trust the man to do his job well staring at Rusty. No, really.

And yes, I would not have been traumatized unless someone thought it is a good idea to try and get the inner maternal instinct in me out. I didn't feel so sorry for Ten in the end. Poor thing, doesn't want to go. Bo-ho. I did feel sorry for the lousy, unjust ending that character got. Someone murdered Ten in front of my eyes from the very beginning of the episode, so I just couldn't bring myself to identify with the alien he was at the end of it.

Rusty, you're ON THE LIST. At least until I'll remember the good work you did.

Rip the f-ing bandage off, I say. It really does hurt less.

Amen, sister. Also? more fun. Metaphorically speaking.

Frankly, I thought the bulk of this was just poor storytelling. I have no patience for creators who put their personal emotional desires over the needs of the story, and fully 30% of this two-parter was Rusty indulging himself. We didn't need to see all the Companions again (and since when does Jack need help pulling someone?), the story got positively repetitive in spots (how many times did Ten switch the gun around? Six? Eight?), and it did ferocious damage to the characters. Martha marrying Mickey is a straight-out retcon as far as I'm concerned (I liked Tom!).

I was tired of the "oh noes I'm going to die!" bullshit in the first ten minutes of Part 1, and I lost all sympathy for the Doctor when he started ranting at poor Wilf for having done the right thing and getting stuck in the box.

The Doctor Does Not Whinge. That's why he's the Doctor, damnit.

So, yeah. Bring on Moffatt, I say. Maybe we'll see Sally Sparrow again.