Doctor Who "Turn Left" (2008)

Well it had to happen. I was loving every episode since "The Unicorn and the Wasp" and thought the momentum has been building and building to ever increasing heights. While I may not have personally liked this episode, the return of Rose, the spotlight on Donna and the exciting cliffhanger into the final two episodes still make for an exciting episode. We've seen Rose peppered throughout the season. The first in "Partners in Crime" was a jaw-dropping, sit up in your chair moment while the second two were blink or you'll miss it cameos silently calling for the Doctor. Here she gets to step into a major role and actually only spends time with Donna and not share any screen time with the Doctor. I think this works to anticipate the reunion that is coming in the next episode and of course it won't be the rosy (no pun intended) reunion you would expect as apparently the cloister bell in the TARDIS is telling us it's the end of the universe. I guess Rose and the Doctor couldn't just meet up for some more more chips like they did on their first date. Only a universal calamity could bring the two of them together and nothing spells death and destruction like the return of the Daleks.

It's an interesting angle to re-explore Earth's recent history without the presence of the Doctor. This episode served as It's a Wonderful Life alternate universe where the Doctor died facing off against the Racnoss in "The Runaway Bride". Minor issue: I haven't watched much of the original series, but I think I have seen enough and read enough that I can't believe the Doctor could not have regenerated. From my understanding it's an automatic biological function and the Doctor has had many different deaths over the course of the series, so how could it have happened too fast for him? Moving on, we see every major alien incursion that has occurred season three forwards without the Doctor to stop them. Martha and Sarah Jane both are killed filling in for the Doctor and the world increasingly falls into a deeper and deeper hell. Quick tidbit: If the Doctor died before the events of "Utopia" then the Master is still alive and well and human in the alternate universe. Possible concept for a return? While a Doctor-less world in an interesting concept the episode is really just an excuse to show how much the world really needs the Doctor.

Rose's return is a little glossed over. It's never really explained how she is able to cross the barrier between universes since the Doctor closed them in "Doomsday". Apparently some force has allowed her to do this because they are all in danger and in need of the Doctor. I was glad to see that there was a Doctor-lite episode in this season and even though I may not have liked it as much as "Blink", it does give Catherine Tate another chance to do something other than comedy. A recurring theme in the new series going all the way back to "Rose" is that traveling with the Doctor offers limitless possibilities and opens up the universe to people otherwise stuck in their dreary lives. Travels with the Doctor can change your entire life for the better and provide this spiritual awakening not possible anywhere else. It's a far cry from when in the original series they were just ordinary people who traveled with the Doctor and when the time came to leave, they did so. Not to harp on Davies in every post, but he has a tendency to build up everyone around the Doctor. They can all change the world and the universe revolves around them and it's just seems really blown out of proportion. I love the characters. I really do but I don't think they need to be revered as Gods. It takes away from the relatability in that you can imagine yourself with the Doctor.

With all that being said, it is great to see Rose again. Her and Donna teaming up provides a nice re-introduction for her into the series and her scenes with Tate are some of the best character moments we have seen all season. We've moved away from loud, boisterous Donna and this reboot of her history allows us to revisit that side of her character. She is trying to reconcile that a simple choice she made has practically led to the end of the world and is taking on faith a stranger's word that only she can fix time. In the end she chooses to sacrifice her life so that the world will have a second chance and it reinforces the courage and determination she has consistently portrayed all season. She proves she is equally capable of acting alone as well as with the Doctor and in the end this episode was really about her and how a normal person confronted with a harsh reality will step up and do what's necessary when asked. I'm very happy that Donna Noble has joined that pantheon of the Doctor's companions and hope that Rose's prediction of her fate does not come to pass.

Favorite moment: After being on the fence for most of the episode I absolutely loved that cliffhanger. I was trying to figure out what those two words would be that would signify Rose's return. "Rose Tyler" would have been the obvious choice, but I thought it was a little too obvious. Of course, it's "Bad Wolf" and as the score swells the Doctor notices that it's written everywhere, even on the TARDIS and comes to the conclusion, with the cloister bell and the red lighted interior, that it's the end of the universe. I cannot wait for the finale and with season five put on hiatus for Tenant to play Hamlet on the London stage, it's sure to be a huge ordeal.