DebetEsse -- re: your last paragraph. I will not be surprised if we see the Doctor's daughter next week.

Jon, after Davros said something to the Doctor about not having any family left, I thought "wanna make a bet?" I won't be surprised either, but I'm sure gonna hoot and holler when she shows up, anyway!

Who 4x12:

I would not put it past RTD to have Donna to be the owner of a special watch, one her "grandfather" holds for her.

Maybe Donna is Susan, the doctor's granddaughter. Marooned on Earth during the time war and hiding regenerated and "humanized" as Donna. It would be sad to find out Grampa Noble is not her real grampa, tho.

Cripes, Daniel. I just watched the first 5 episodes of classic Who yesterday. I would have never thought of that! But I haven't seen enough of the older episodes to have any clue what might have happened to Susan. I mean, when I saw her, it was all a "but Buffy doesn't have a sister!" moment.

It would definitely explain the second heartbeat effect they've been playing with for Donna.

DW 412:

I've heard the fobwatched Donna spec in blogshere! Interesting notion, especially with those prominent heartbeats. Also fits with the sly comments throughout the season about the Doctor not being alone -- I thought that was in reference to Jenny, but if there is yet another Time-Lord hiding in Donna, that'd also fit. I don't know that much of Old School Who, but people also mentioned Romana, who IIRC was a Time-Lady back in the days of Fourth Doctor.

DW 4.12: I don't know how I feel about Magical Time Lord Donna. I mean, part of the reason Donna is awesome is because she's HUMAN. That's been hammered home time and again this season.

DW 412:

Yeah, P-C, I agree. While the idea is interesting (and I rather like the notion of The Doctor having a companion who's his equal in everything), I think it'd do Donna's character a disservice. Not to mention the problem of Donna's family!

Some more thoughts on DW 4.12: I was with Juliebird on Prof. River; she definitely knew THIS Doctor (she talked about his face being so young, and I definitely read it as being THAT face. I don't see how she would have recognised him so quickly had he been another incarnation).

But wasn't it interesting that the servant in the Shadow Proclamation told Donna, "there's something on your back"...? What if this whole universe is another created one? It would fit in with Rose coming back too .

I think it's been pushed a bit too much that Donna is going to die, so they probably won't do that. (Though it would be interesting to know whether or not Catherine Tate is staying; I haven't heard anything about her). I more expect it to be one of the others (Martha or Rose, 'cos Sarah Jane and Jack have their own shows). Or it's Donna's Grandad, who has secretly been working for the Doctor for years and years.

Anyway, I have some more information, but I think I'd better post it in Spoilers.

Also: next week's episode will be 65 minutes long.

Is 4.12 the season finale?

No, there's one more ep in the UK next week.