Journey's End (TV story)

"The ending approches...People and Planets and Stars will become dust, and the dust will become atoms and the atoms will become... Dalek. 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 after regenerating, 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.

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
 * Voice of Mr Smith - Alexander Armstrong
 * German Woman - Valda Aviks
 * Scared Woman - Shobu Kapoor
 * Chinese Woman - Elizabeth Tan
 * Liberian Man - Michael Price
 * Dalek Operators - Barnaby Edwards, Nicholas Pegg,David Hankinson, Anthony Spargo, Gethin Jones

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.
 * This will be the longest series finale at 65 minutes long, longer than most of the Christmas specials, apart from Voyage of the Damned which was 71 minutes.

Myths and Rumours

 * The Doctor will have to make an inevitable decision between two companions, deciding which companion will live and which will die.


 * Mickey Smith or someone from Pete's World's Torchwood will save Sarah Jane, Ianto and Gwen from the Daleks. This is likely as only one of the 'most faithful' companions would die - and no one else.


 * The Doctor's regeneration is misleading: remember what happened with Jenny? She was shot but didn´t regenerate. Instead she recovered (see The Doctor's Daughter). But that was likely due to being within the first fifteen hours of that incarnation-Time Lords, after regenerating (or being created, in Jenny's case) Also keep in mind that The Doctor wasn't completely hit by the Dalek's beam. It only skimmed his arm, so his regeneration may still yet be misleading. On another note, why would Jack, who can't die, leave Ianto and Gwen alone to face the daleks and take the only weapon that could destroy a dalek's robotic casing? I must guess after the doctor's regeneration Jack teleports back and saves them.''


 * By rescuing Davros, Dalek Caan broke the lock on the time war. This may give the doctor an opportunity to save the Time Lords.


 * The 27 planets are part of a machine that affects time and space. Davros is planning to use that machine to destroy reality. Very plausible as the Doctor himself stated the combination of planets was a "powerhouse", supporting the idea the planets are part of a grand scheme.


 * Since The Doctor didn´t obey the demands of the Shadow Proclamation, it's possible that they could show up in order to arrest him. Unlikely, as the Medusa Cascade is 1 second out of phase with the rest of the Universe, and the TARDIS barely made it, so how could the Shadow Proclamation?


 * 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. (Another clue that the Doctor may not regenerate yet is the fact that River Song recognises the 10th Doctor, indicating that he meets her before he regenerates. Yet another, more conclusive clue, is that David Tennant is appearing in all four specials in 2009.


 * There are rumors that Harriet Jones is imprisoned,instead of exterminated as it appeared. However, this is unlikely.


 * Gallifrey is restored. 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 (presumably - three of them were speculations of the Doctor's behalf). However, it could be restored like Davros.


 * Rose dies. ''This is unlikely - it is rumored that she will star in the Christmas special.
 * 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. As well, Donna expressed interest in staying with the Doctor forever. It is unlikely she would merely choose to return to her home.


 * Martha dies. Possible as the weapon she has (The Osterhagen key) is rumoured to be a suicide weapon. Martha could be the most faithful companion as that has had one of the most difficult journeys with the Doctor. She had to work as a house servant, journey across the world as a fugative for a year, become estranged from her family and the doctor had spurned her romantic advances.


 * The TARDIS is destroyed or sacrifices itself. Dalek Caan's insane rantings of "prophecy" states that the "most faithful companion" would die, and most assume this means one of the Doctor's companions.  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 End Unlikely as pictures on the internet indicate that the TARDIS is in the Christmas special, as well as the Proms special.


 * 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 Sixth Doctor used against the Valeyard in 'The Trial of a Time Lord').


 * K-9 makes an appearance. Unlikely as the rights to K-9 have been sold, meaning the BBC cannot use him.


 * 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. Since it contains his biological code and is part of his tenth incarnation, it may prevent him from changing form. It was also bubbling in the background as his regeneration started. Another thought; the episode synopsis states that the Doctor is "helpless" in this episode. If he does not change form when regenerating, that could count as a botched regeneration. He had a bad enough time in The Christmas Invasion, so this might be even more traumatic.


 * 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. This includes Jenny, as she is in effect a clone of the Doctor, and therefore a part of The Doctor himself. Jenny is not a clone of the Doctor but his daughter born through asexual reproduction. She is still part of him, being his daughter, but she is not a clone of him.


 * Dalek Caan's insane rantings of "prophecy" states "Death is coming. Oh, I can see it.  Everlasting death for the most faithful companion".  Most people have assumed this means the Doctor's companion.  This may refer to Caan himself, as companion to Davros


 * 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 time line being ridden by another time beetle. The Shadow Proclamation said there WAS something on her back. The Time Beetle is dead and everything that's happened is happening in the true reality.


 * In The Stolen Earth when Donna is sitting on the stairs of the Shadow Proclamation she is seen wearing a large black ring, very possibly the same ring that was the Master's. Although it is unlikely he will appear, it may have something to do with the fact that it will be Donna's last episode. ''The Master's ring was VERY different to the one Donna was wearing. The Master's was green, whereas Donna's was black.


 * When the Sub Wave network starts, there is a tone similar to that used by the Master's Archangel Network in the Series 3 finale, all possible hints at Donna having some level of involvement with The Master. The drumming sound when Donna is on the stairs is a heartbeat, possible a slight echoed beat of two hearts, but it's not the same as the Master's beat. Futhermore it is possible that the Arch Angel Network is still in use.


 * As Sarah Jane is about to be exterminated Mickey suddenly teleports and saves her while Jackie does the same with Torchwood. Possibly, although Jackie will probably have more help than being on her own to stop a Dalek invasion of Torchwood.


 * The events/characters of the "Trial of a Time Lord" may factor in--maybe the Valeyard. The Doctor mentioned in "The Stolen Earth" that the earth had been moved once before, and the only time we've seen that happen was in "Trial of a Time Lord."  Actually, the Doctor states that someone attempted to move the Earth before, but states that it couldn't have been them.  He is, of course, referring to the events of Dalek Invasion of the Earth in which the Daleks attempt to convert the Earth into an interstellar war machine.


 * Ostenhagen key could quite possibly be a self-destruct function for the earth. Highly unlikely, as when Martha was given the key, her general suggested that it was for the good of the human race rather than its destruction.


 * Harriet Jones is infact in conniving with the Daleks against the Doctor. She used the subwave network on Davros' orders to bring the Doctor to earth. The warning not to use the key was given on Davros' request as it would destroy Daleks. Unlikely, as Penelope Wilton is not credited to appear in this episode. Furthermore Martha was unwilling the use the key when it was given to her. Also, Harriet Jones KNOWS they can beat the Daleks, so why destroy the earth? She knows what the key does.


 * The TARDIS sacrafices itself, and in some way, Donna saves it by fusing herself with the heart, becoming the new TARDIS heart. Support for this theory being that she's mentioned many times that she " wants to travel with the Doctor forever." What better way? Also, in the BBC trailer for Journey's End, she's seen alone in the TARDIS, it being on fire and in danger. The fortune teller in Turn Left, in fear, asked her, "What will you become?" In The Stolen Earth, the lady at the Shadow Proclamation building said, " I'm sorry for your loss," a possible loss of humanity or freedom. This would justify the phrase "'everlasting' death for the companion" by Dalek Caan. As well, it is similar to the pre-release speculations surrounding Astrid, suggesting that her character was, in fact, the heart of the TARDIS.  River Song also said "Oh, YOU'RE Donna." indicating some significance - possibly related to seeing Donna before fusing with the TARDIS.


 * There may be something related to Rose's looking in the heart of the TARDIS back with the ninth doctor. I say this because when she destroyed the Daleks she said,"You are tiny. I can see the whole of time and space, every single atom of your existence, and I divide them. Everything must come to dust. All things, everything dies." This seems similar to the Davros quote above so it may tie in.


 * Donna unwittingly activates the Ostenhagen Key, which defeats Davros and destroys all the Daleks. The Doctor is forced to remove her memories of this event as she is overcome with remorse for destroying an entire race. Unlikely as Martha is in possession of the key, and due to the danger of using, she is unlikely to put it in a place where Donna could activate it.


 * There is some speculation about whether Donna's Ring is the Master's. It would seem that most people were saying "Why Would Donna even be there". Is it possible a Time Beetle was used on Donna to make her find it? The Doctor mentioned in Turn Left that usually "The Universe makes up for the little changes" (or something similar) . So i'm not suggesting that this is another parallel world. All the evidence points towards Donna not being fully "human". And the women from the Shadow Proclamation on The Stolen Earth could have been talking about a different beetle to that in Turn Left, as in the "original world" it would seem the beetle was on her back for only a few seconds. It's also just likely Donna is the next advancement of humans, since supposedly Jack Harkness is also subtly different than conventional humans; even taking his immortality into consideration, since he claimed to have once been pregnant (Torchwood Everything Changes), which would be impossible for a normal human male of the 21st Century. Donna's ring and The Master's right look completely different.


 * The word 'osterhagen' is an anagram spelling 'earths gone' this could be a experimental teleportation devices but on a larger scale, like “Project Indigo”. This could be why Harriet Jones did not want to use it.


 * The Osterhagen Key is a hard drive with the Skasas Paradigm saved onto it, and is thus a reset button. Harriet Jones and Martha didn't want to use it because there would be no real way for a human to control how the universe would be reshaped by its use.


 * A double heart beat is briefly heard when Donna is fonding her ring, as mentioned above. In Italian, "Donna" means "woman", her much mentioned career of "temp" is a prefix in English and Latin meaning "time", and "Noble" can encompass "Lady" or "Lord". Put these points together, and you get the possibility of a Chameleon Arc ring hiding Donna's true persona as a "Woman Time Lord". Also one of the Shadow Architects told her she was something new, most likely meaning human but not human.  Also in Turn Left the psychic asks "What will you become?" furter leading people to believe that Donna isn't human.


 * In "Turn Left" Donna says to Rose that now she won't die. But Rose says nothing after that. Also Rose says that Donna is the most important human being on the planet so Donna might die. The Doctor and Rose also call Donna 'brilliant' when she is really not any smarter then rose was when she traveled with the Doctor.


 * Donna Noble takes the TARDIS on a suicide mission, resulting in Donna's death and the TARDIS' destruction. This is a back door-plot for the Doctor taking the growing TARDIS on Jack Harkness' desk at the Hub and making it into a new and full grown one for use in Series 5. (Using, of course, the fully functioning Chameleon Circuit to retain the iconic police box exterior due to nostalgia on the Doctor's part).


 * Various rumors also state Mickey Smith and Martha Jones join Jack Harkness at Torchwood to replace Owen Harper and Toshiko Sato after their deaths.

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.