The End of the World (TV story)

"The End of the World" was the second episode of Season 27. It marked the first appearance of Lady Cassandra O'Brien and of the Doctor's psychic paper. Not counting short hops across London in the previous story, it also marked Rose's first real trip in the TARDIS.

Summary
The Doctor decides to show Rose the future of the Earth and takes her all of the way forward to the year 5,000,000,000 to the day on which the Earth is destroyed.

They arrive on Platform One, a space station near the planet which is heavily shielded to allow some of the richest and most powerful people in the galaxy to watch the Earth be consumed by its own star. When the race responsible for the adminstration of the platform begin dying and the station shows signs of being sabotaged the Doctor with the help of a tree called Jabe races to save the station and the alien delegates before they are all destroyed.

Individuals

 * Face of Boe

Geographic Locations

 * Arctic Desert
 * Los Angeles Crevasse

Organizations

 * National Trust

Races and Species

 * human
 * ostrich
 * tree

Technology

 * acid
 * IPod
 * mobile
 * psychic paper

Astronomical Objects

 * Sun

Cast & Characters
The Doctor - Christopher Eccleston

Rose Tyler - Billie Piper

Steward - Simon Day

Jabe - Yasmin Bannerman

Moxx of Balhoon - Jimmy Vee

Voice of Cassandra O'Brien - Zoe Wanamaker

Jackie Tyler - Camile Coduri

Raffalo - Beccy Armory

Computer Voice - Sara Stewart

Alien Voices - Silas Carson

Uncredited

Coffa the Forest of Cheem Tree - Paul Kasey

Lute the Forest of Cheem Tree - Alan Ruscoe

Crew
Russell T. Davies (Executive Producer), Julie Gardner (Executive Producer), Mal Young (Executive Producer), Phil Collinson (Producer), Helen Vallis (Associate Producer), Elwen Rowlands (Script Editor), Andy Pryor CDG (Casting Director), Tracie Simpson (Production Manager), Endaf Emyr Williams (Production Accountant), Ian Richardson (Sound Recordist), Lucinda Wright (Costume Designer), Davy Jones (Make-Up Designer), Murray Gold (Music), The Mill (Visual Effects), Will Cohen (Visual FX Producer), Dave Houghton (Visual FX Supervisor), Any Effects (Special Effects), Millennium Effects (Prosthetics), Edward Thomas (Production Designer), John Richards (Editor), Ernie Vincze BSC (Director of Photography), Ron Grainer (Original Theme Music), Lloyd Elis (First Assistant Director), Steffan Morris (Second Assistant Director), Dan Mumford (Third Assistant Director), Clive Evans (Location Manager), Emma Reid (Unit Manager), Pamela Joyce (Production Co-ordinator), Debi Griffiths (A/Production Accountant), Kath Blackman (A/Production Accountant), Non Eleri Hughes (Continuity), Mike Costelloe (Camera Operator), Martin Stephens (Camera Operator), Steve Lawes (Focus Puller), Mark Isaac (Focus Puller), Anna James (Camera Assistant), David Jones (Camera Assistant), John Robinson (Grip), Damian Richardson (Boom Operator), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer), Peter Chester (Best Boy), Lee Sheward (Stunt Co-ordinator), Jamie Edgell (Stunt Performer), Sarah Franzl (Stunt Performer), Ailsa Altena-Berk (Choreographer), Gwenllian Llwyd (Art Department Co-ordinator), Bryan Hitch (Concept Artist), Catherine Samuel (Production Buyer), Peter Walpole (Set Decorator), Stephen Nicholas (Supervising Art Director), Arwel Wyn Jones (Standby Art Director), Patrick Begley (Property Master), Andrew Smith (Construction Manager), Phill Shellard (Standby Props), Adrian Anscombe (Standby Props), Jenny Bowers (Graphic Artist), Yolanda Pearl-Smith (Wardrobe Supervisor), Linda Davie (Make-Up Supervisor), Sarah Wilson (Make-Up Artist), Kirsty Robertson (Casting Associate), Ceres Doyle (Assistant Editor), Marie Brown (Post Production Supervisor), Matthew Clarke (On Line Editor), Kai van Beers (Colourist), Sara Bennett (2D VFX Artist), Michael Harrison (2D VFX Artist), Astrid Busser-Casas (2D VFX Artist), Alberto Montanes (2D VFX Artist), Simon C. Holden (2D VFX Artist), Bronwyn Edwards (2D VFX Artist), Nick Webber (3D VFX Artist), Matt McKinney (3D VFX Artist), Paul Perrott (3D VFX Artist), Joel Meire (3D VFX Artist), Paul Burton (3D VFX Artist), Chris Petts (3D VFX Artist), Andy Howell (3D VFX Artist), Alex Fort (Digital Matte Painter), Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer), Paul McFadden (Dialogue Editor), Paul Jefferies (Sound FX Editor), Richard Pugsley (Business Manager)

Story Notes

 * The story begins with a brief re-cap of last weeks episode, however unlike most American shows there is no voice over announcing "previously on Doctor Who". The footage from Rose simply begins the episode.


 * A BBC logo is placed on the bottom of the screen when the recap finishes and this episode begins


 * Unlike the previous episode the credit sequence follows the American model of program, title sequence, program as opposed to the previously used format of title sequence, program


 * This is the first appearance of the Doctor's psychic paper.


 * Russell T. Davies, who created Cassandra, has said on multiple occasions that he was inspired to create Cassandra upon viewing skinny Hollywood actresses at the Academy Awards. On 2 April 2006, the Sunday Mirror quoted Davies: "It was horrific seeing those beautiful women reduced to sticks. Nicole Kidman struck me in particular. Nicole is one of the most beautiful women in the world. But she looks horrifying because she's so thin. It's like we're killing these women in public. We watch while you die."

Duration
End of the World - 44'33"

Ratings
End of the World - 7.27 (36.05%)

Continuity

 * The Doctor carries around a piece of paper which is slightly psychic and shows the reader whatever they want to see. The paper is used once again in "The Empty Child," and Jack Harkness has his own psychic paper.


 * Rose is the only companion apart from Sarah Jane who has asked on screen why all of the aliens seem to speak English. (The Masque of Mandragora) Given his reaction she is also the first to question why he didn't ask permission first.


 * The Doctor adapts Rose's mobile phone so she can stay in touch with her Mother in the past, which leads to the question of why he hasn't done this for any past companions. Adam's misuse of the mobile contributes to his ouster from the TARDIS in "The Long Game."


 * The Doctor uncharacteristically seems to have feelings of a romantic nature towards Jabe.


 * The Doctor shows a new ability to either slow down time or to phase out of reality and walk through solid matter. (This may or may not be related to the ability to enter areas in which the flow of time has been slowed down or reversed, as demonstrated in "The Time Monster" and "Invasion of the Dinosaurs.") It is not quite clear what he does but it is likely that this new found ability will be developed later in the series.


 * Although it has been commented upon that the Doctor is showing a new darker side by leaving Cassandra to die, the scene was very reminiscent of the scene with Davros in Remembrance of the Daleks even down to the phrase "Have pity" which would seem to be too much of a co-incidence not to have been intentional


 * The Doctor tells Rose that his planet was destroyed before it's time, as the result of a war which they lost. It is later revealed that this destruction was as a result of a war with the Daleks and the war is raised again in later stories. See Time War Arc

Cultural References

 * The first thing Rose sees upon leaving the TARDIS for the first time is a ventilation duct. Presumably a reference to the fact that the show has a reputation for relying heavily on ventilation ducts as a plot device.


 * Rose - "Wait hold on. They did this once on Newsround Extra" - Newsround is a news program on BBC 1 and the CBBC Channel aimed at providing news for children. Newsround Extra is an extended version of this concept which concentrates on a single issue or subject. A newsround reporter was on set watching as this scene was filmed. You can read his report here on the newsround website


 * Doctor - "I'm the Doctor and this is Rose Tyler she's my plus one" - This may or may not be a reference to a Sex and the City episode entitled Plus One.


 * The Doctor's psychic paper seems to be inspired by Harry Potter concepts such as the Marauders Map which shows anyone who doesnt know the correct incantation somthing rude and offensive about themselves.


 * Rose - "Quick word with Michael Jackson" A reference to the fact that Cassandra has had a lot of cosmetic surgery as has Michael Jackson.


 * The room with all of the moving blades seems to be inspired by Star Wars, which is famous for its long bridges over really huge chasms and no hand rails or anything to stop people falling to their death.


 * When the Doctor returns Rose to Earth in the 21st Century there is a man selling the Big Issue. This is a magazine sold on the streets in the UK to provide money for homeless people.

Music

 * Tainted Love - Plays after all of the delegates have assembled


 * Toxic by Britney Spears - Plays while the delegates await the destruction of the Earth and the Doctor realises the danger they are all in

Quotes
Doctor - Ten Thousand Years in the future, step outside it's the year 12,005 the New Roman Empire. Rose - You think you're so impressive. Doctor - I am so impressive. Rose - You wish.

Rose - Wait hold on. They did this once on Newsround Extra...the sun expanding. That takes hundreds of years. Doctor - Millions. But the planet's now the property of the National Trust. They've been keeping it preserved. See down there (Doctor points at the Earth through the window of the platform)...gravity satellites, holding back the sun. Rose - The planet looks the same as ever, I thought the continents shifted. Doctor - They did and the trust shifted them back. That's a classic Earth...but now the money's run out nature takes over.

Rose - How long's it got? Doctor - (looks at watch) About half an hour and then the planet gets roasted. Rose - Is that why we're here? I mean is that what you do, jump in at the last minute and save the Earth? Doctor - I'm not saving it. Time's up.

(Jabe gives the Doctor a cutting of her Grandfather as a gift of peace) Doctor - I give you in return, air from my lungs. (The Doctor leans forward and breathes in Jabe's face) Jabe - How...intimate. Doctor - There is more where that came from. Jabe - I bet there is...

Raffalo - Where are you from miss...if you dont mind me asking? Rose - No, not at all...erm I dont know...a long way away. i just sort of hitched a lift with this man...I didnt even think about it...dont even know who he is...(realization dawns on Rose's face)... he's a complete stranger.

Rose - They all speak English. Doctor - No, you just hear English, it's a gift of the TARDIS, telepathic field gets inside your brain, translates. Rose - It's inside my brain? Doctor - Well in a good way. Rose - Your machine gets inside my head. It gets inside and it changes my mind and you didn't even ask? Doctor - I didn't think about it like that. Rose - No. You were too busy thinking up cheap shots about the deep south.

Jabe - I could show you and your wife. Doctor - She's not my wife. Jabe - Partner? Doctor - No Jabe - Concubine? Doctor - Nope Jabe - Prostitute?

Doctor - Fantastic! Jabe - I don't understand. In what way is that Fantastic?

Rose (talking to Cassandra about cosmetic surgery) - I mean it, I would rather die than live like you, a bitchy trampoline!

Doctor - Anyone in there? Rose - Let me out! Doctor - Oh well it would be you.

Doctor - Stay there, don't move. Rose - Where am I going to go? Ipswich?

Cassandra (To the Doctor) - I bet you were the school swot and never got kissed. At arms. (The attendants aim their sprays at the Doctor) Doctor - What are you going to do? Moisturise me? Cassandra - With Acid!

Rose (As Cassandra is dying)- Help her. Doctor - Everything has it's time and everything dies.

Story Arcs

 * The Time War

Similar Stories

 * "The Curse of Peladon"
 * "The Robots of Death"
 * "Nightmare of Eden"
 * "Terror of the Vervoids"

Discontinuity

 * The sun filter descends much slower when Rose is trapped in the office than it did when the Steward was trapped.


 * Some confusion existed as to the exact dating for this story as to whether the story is set in the year 5000000000 or 5000002005, this now appears to have been resolved in New Earth which establishes that these events occurred in the year 5000000000. Then there is the meaning of "billion," which in old UK usage meant "a million million," what in North America is known as a trillion. Today the term usually means the same as it does in North America, what used to be called "a thousand million" in the UK. So, is Rose 5 billion years in her future, according the newer usage, or is she 5 trillion years in her future, according to the old usage?

More Info

 * Story Synopsis


 * Story Transcript


 * Story Novelization


 * DVD Release