Doctor Who, the Best of Series Four (at least according to Maria and Sherry!)
As part of my Doctor Who Week extravaganza, I invited my friend Sherry to chat with me about our favorite episodes from each year since Doctor Who restarted in 2005. My thoughts will be in regular text and Sherry’s in italics. Enjoy!
Series One post, where we discuss our favorite Eccleston episodes.
Series Two post, where we fangirl about Tennant.
Series Three post, where we mourn Rose and chat a bit about Martha
I adore the relationship between Ten and Donna, but I didn’t have as many favorite episodes from this season. Well… maybe I did, now that I start actually writing about them. (aside… you know you’re a Tennant fan when you hear “well” all drawn out and in his voice)
I think that Donna is a fabulous companion for Ten because of their platonic chemistry. Donna never fails to have hilarious one-liners and her facial expressions are the best.
Partners in Crime
Another fabulously funny outing – the perfect way to reunite the Doctor and Donna.
The Unicorn and the Wasp
Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors, and I loved this trip through time to meet her.
Sherry – YES! I LOVED this one! Agatha Christie and Donna’s reaction in the garden to meeting her. Also, the “classic mystery” feeling to this episode was a nice change from the creepiness of Season 3.
Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead
There is just something about the creepy, spooky, bone-chilling episodes that draws me in. Not only does this plot have one of the freakiest creatures (which is really scarier, the Vashta Nerada or the Weeping Angels?), but we meet River Song. The first time through her story doesn’t seem so sad…. but coming back to it after seeing her with Eleven you get punched in the gut. Through it all, though, she’s a spitfire. Gotta love her.
As a librarian, of course I loved these episodes. A library that encompasses an entire planet? Genius! The Vashta Nerada are definitely the stuff of nightmares. We refer to them often when our shadows can be seen outside . I loved meeting River Song and her “cooler” sonic screwdriver. In the second part, Forest of the Dead, it was difficult to watch Donna discover and once again lose at love.
Journey’s End –
I read that someone (a classic Whovian fan) considered this a crappy episode – “practically fan fiction” and “completely unbelievable plot points” – but I loved seeing everyone again. Screw the official reviews. Having everyone circled around the TARDIS controls made me happy inside. Having Donna be so incredibly important to the universe made me happy inside. The way it all ended broke my heart, of course, but clearly I AM the kind of fan who likes such things.
I thought I was losing my beloved Doctor a few episodes early with the rengeneration scare! I’m a bit of a sap, so I loved this episode with the appearance of so many characters from past episodes. Yes, the ending was indeed quite sad, but no spoilers from me. 🙂
The Waters of Mars
Brilliant!! This one is up there with Blink for me. Why does the Doctor need companions? How does he act when left on his own? This. THIS is why he needs someone to balance him and help him find his way.
It seems like this season is filled with episodes that have sad endings. This one is no exception. Seeing the Doctor question the decisions he had made for good and wonder if he’d gone too far and needed to die was gut wrenching for me because I knew the end was indeed drawing nigh.
The End of Time
This one also nearly killed me – all the time that Ten spent visiting those he loved to get his own closure… and the way he doesn’t want to leave it all behind? Heart breaking! Tennant went out with a bang and a box of tissues.
I’ll never forget my 12 year old daughter coming into the kitchen with her eyes swollen and red after watching this episode on her own. She could hardly talk about it. I felt the same way when I watched it and cried a river as 10 made his many important stops to say his own goodbyes. Sniffle.
This post is part of TWO marvelous blogging events!
Sci-Fi Month is brought to you by Rinn Reads. Check out the full schedule of Sci-Fi Month posts! There are reviews, discussions, giveaways, and more!
Doctor Who Week is a joint venture between my blog Maria’s Melange and Teen Librarian Toolbox. We have a full week of fun posts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.
Filed under: Doctor Who
About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
100 Scope Notes
One Star Review, Guess Who? (#184)
A Fuse #8 Production
Review of the Day – Trees: Haiku from Roots to Leaves by Sally M. Walker, ill. Angela McKay
Good Comics for Kids
Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap
Teen Librarian Toolbox
Here Be Monsters: On Horror, Catharsis, and Uneasy Truces with Yourself, a guest post by author Rebecca Mahoney
The Classroom Bookshelf
The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving
ADVERTISEMENT
So much good stuff. 🙂 I love Donna, and I love Ten (he will always be my fave).