Journey's End (TV story)

"People and Planets and Stars will become dust, the dust will become atoms. And the atoms will become...nothing. For this is my ultimate victory! The destruction of reality itself!"

- Davros

This is the 13th and final episode of Series 4 and will feature 6 companions of the Doctor. It is a continued on a cliffhanger from Episode 12.

Synopsis
The entire universe is in danger as the Daleks activate their masterplan, and enslave 21st century Earth. The Doctor is helpless, and even the TARDIS faces destruction. The only hope lies with the Doctor's secret army of companions– but as they join forces to battle Davros himself, the prophecy declares that one of them will die. Who is Davros actually working for?

Cast

 * The Doctor - David Tennant
 * Donna Noble - Catherine Tate
 * Rose Tyler - Billie Piper
 * Martha Jones - Freema Agyeman
 * Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
 * Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen
 * Mickey Smith - Noel Clarke
 * Jackie Tyler - Camille Coduri
 * Luke Smith - Thomas Knight
 * Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
 * Ianto Jones - Gareth David-Lloyd
 * Wilfred Mott - Bernard Cribbins
 * Sylvia Noble - Jacqueline King
 * Francine Jones - Adjoa Andoh
 * Davros - Julian Bleach
 * Dalek Voice - Nicholas Briggs
 * Dalek Operators - Barney Edwards, Nick Pegg, David Hankinson, Anthony Spargo, Gethin Jones
 * Mr. Smith - Alexander Armstrong

Production crew
to be added

Story notes

 * According to DWM this is the biggest finale of Doctor Who ever.
 * Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones operates a Dalek in this episode, returning to Doctor Who since his brief appearance as a Cyberman in The Age of Steel.
 * In the last episode the doctor said a long time ago a race tried to move the Earth as well. This could be a reference to The Dalek Invasion Earth or the Time Lord High Council moving Earth in Colin Baker's last episode as the Doctor, The Ultimate Foe.

Ratings
to be added

Rumors

 * The Doctor's perceived regeneration is actually a disguised Dalek transmat, which forms part of a plot by Davros to bring the Doctor to the Crucible as part of his wider plans, whilst leaving a genetically-engineered impostor aboard the TARDIS.
 * The Crucible is the space station in the centre of the 27 planets, the planets generating power for it. The Master "was there when the Daleks took the Crucible" during the Time War, hinting that it is Time Lord technology (all-too-similar to the Genesis Ark from Doomsday). The Doctor is transported there, as well as Sarah-Jane (and other Children of Time) as they are "one step closer to the Doctor". Speculation for the purpose of the Crucible is Davros' base of operations.The Master said he was there when the Daleks took the Cruciform, not Crucible.
 * There are rumors that Harriet Jones is imprisoned,instead of exterminated as it appeared. However, this is unlikely. Actually this is possible, as we know Sarah Jane will survive, why not Harriet Jones, perhaps the Harriet Jones to Dalek rumour is still true, however she doesn't do it willingly. RTD said that a female we all know very well will die. This is likely to have been Harriet Jones, as everytime she introduces herself, the response is "Yes, we know who you are" including the Daleks. Harriet Jones is not a 'faithful companion' as the prophecy predicted, however.
 * Gallifrey is restored. Highly unlikely. Every reference to the loss of Gallifrey is that it was destroyed (or "burned"), not missing as the other planets are. In addition, all 27 missing planets were identified at the Shadow Proclamation.
 * Rose dies. Unlikely, as her farewell to the Doctor and Donna has been filmed showing them at Bad Wolf Bay.
 * Donna dies. This had been foreshadowed in Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, although Donna did already "die" in Turn Left. But then there was the "Sorry for your loss" line in The Stolen Earth, this could be Donna's memory loss.
 * Martha dies. Possible as the weapon she has (The Ostenhagen key) is rumoured to be a suicide weapon.
 * The TARDIS is destroyed or sacrifices itself. Dalek Caan's insane rantings of "prophecy" states that the Doctor's "most faithful companion" would die. This would seem to be the TARDIS, as the TARDIS is indeed a living organism. Possibly supported by video of the TARDIS in flames flying into an "exhaust port" on a fortified moon with only Donna aboard in the Official BBC Trailer for Journey's EndUnlikly as pictures on the internet indicate that the TARDIS is in the Christmas special, as well as the Proms special. And if the TARDIS is gone then it's the end of Doctor Who itself.
 * The Osterhagen key is either a reset button or a suicide weapon.
 * Assuming the ambiguous theories of a 'botched regeneration' are plausible, we could be seeing an early version of the Valeyard. In The Trial Of A Time Lord, the Valeyard is seen as an incarnation of the potentially evil side of the Doctor between the twelfth and thirteenth regenerations. Though a couple of regenerations early, the "Osterhagen key" roughly translates as 'graveyard' or 'boneyard' (insults that the Fourth Doctor used against the Valeyard in 'The Trial of a Time Lord').
 * K-9 makes an appearance. Likely as we know Sarah Jane Smith survives, and K-9 could save her.
 * The doctor's hand is still in the jar, and is still bubbling, as we were pointedly reminded in a shot near the start of the previous episode. This could prevent him changing form, or affect the regeneration in some fashion.
 * Sylvester McCoy to make a surprise reappearance... He was interviewed as part of Doctor Who Confidential for "The Stolen Earth" in his seventh Doctor costume, whereas Peter Davison was interviewed in "Civilian" clothing, rather than his cricket gear of the fifth Doctor. - perhaps an unsubtle hint relating to a botched/inverted regeneration. We've never seen the Doctor executed by a Dalek before (or have we?), perhaps he could go back a few incarnations?
 * Dalek Caan in the previous episode talks of the coming Doctor as the "threefold man". This could give us a clue. We may well have three doctors in this episode. Perhaps this could include the Doctor's Daughter; Jenny, as she is in effect a clone of the Doctor, and therefore a part of The Doctor himself.
 * Dalek Caan's insane rantings of "prophecy" states that the Doctor's "most faithful companion" would die. This would seem to be Capt. Jack Harkness as he has been there for 3 out of 4 final stories, but can also die as offen as RTD requires.
 * Again we're told in the previous episode that there's something on Donna's back - after the events of Turn Left (and also long before, in Planet of the Ood). This gives a means to do a "reset" as the entire season could itself be an aberrant timeline being ridden by another time beetle. - Though hopefully not, as that's almost as bad a writing as "You mean it was all a dream?" Agreed, it would suck; but what else is the purpose of the continuing presence of something on her back?

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added

Continuity
To be added

DVD and Other releases

 * This is due to be released in the Series 4 boxset in November 2008 along with the rest of the Series.
 * It will be released as part of Series 4 Volume 4 alongside Turn Left and The Stolen Earth on 1st September 2008.