"Midnight" was a very creepy episode. Partially because I think it was creepier not knowing what the 'monster' was than when the Doctor knows exactly what it is and how to deal with it. Partially because it took over the Doctor and he couldn't do anything about it and if the stewardess hadn't done the right thing, he'd have been a goner. Mostly, though, it was creepy because I think that is how people would react in that sort of situation, and it was terrible and I would have understood completely if it had made the Doctor lose faith in humans. It's also interesting to note that 'possession' seems to be the one thing that the Doctor can't find some way of stopping: in first "The Satan Pit," then "42," and now "Midnight," the only solution has been to kill the possessed person (who was already a victim).
"Turn Left" was a very interesting concept. I found it frustrating to watch because it was 'old Donna' who I am much less fond of than 'new Donna.' That said, I thought it was really well done, and of course Rose was in it so that was a bonus. And Donna at the end, realizing what she had to do... it was so sad and so brave and so wonderful. All of which are words I tend to associate with Donna. This episode is easy to nitpick about - in that, if Donna hadn't met the Doctor, actually none of that would have happened because the Pryoviles would have succeeded way back in the days of Pompeii... but obviously they couldn't show that.
"The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End" - GAHHHH. Agh. Rawr. Gahh. You'd think having seen these episodes before and knowing what was coming would make it easier, but no, it really didn't. Mostly it made me cry all the more because I kept thinking about the ending before it actually happened. Ugh. Okay, so Rose's ending is ridiculously sad even though I know it's supposed to be happy. But I think that Doctor 2.0 will always be a bit of a consolation prize, because she's always going to know that her doctor is out there somewhere in another universe with new companions and new adventures and she'll never quite be able to accept that because we all saw how jealous she got over Martha on the Sub Wave Network. Furthermore, I think that even with Doctor 2.0 she'll still not be happy (and neither will he!) without a TARDIS to travel in and adventures to be had and worlds to save. Really though I think the saddest part of the Bad Wolf Bay scene is seeing the Doctor watch Rose with Doctor 2.0 and knowing they'll live happily ever after and that he'll never get that...
Anyway. Rose at least gets to work for Torchwood and have something better than she did before, and she will always have all her memories and her consolation prize doctor. The same way Sarah Jane and Martha and Jack and Mickey (maybe even Mickey most of all) and everyone else became a better person and did something great with their life after they left the Doctor. Donna, on the other hand, will go back to being a temp, and she'll never know that she's brilliant and the whole universe only exists because she saved. This is really all the worse after Doctor 2.0's revelation about how insecure and insignificant Donna feels. I really hope her mother takes the Doctor's advice and tells her how great she is. I hope Donna listens, and I hope she gets to be something better... and again, I hope Dr. Moon's "and then you remembered" turns out to be foreshadowing.
As with season three, I am impressed with how well different aspects of this finale were seeded throughout the season. Yes, there were the references to the Medusa Cascade and missing planets and the bees disappearing all throughout the season à la Bad Wolf and Torchwood. And of course there were the Rose appearances. But we also saw themes of memory ("Silence in the Library"/"The Forest of the Dead") and clones ("The Sontaran Stratagem"/"The Poison Sky" and "The Doctor's Daughter") and probably other things that I didn't even pick up on.
Final notes: The reference to Mr. Copper made me grin - there's a character I wish would get brought back for another appearance. Wilf's little speech to the Doctor at the end was absolutely heartbreaking. Guh. Also, how is Donna time over already? I feel like she just started. Boo. I like Donna. Even worse, though, how is David Tennant time nearly over already? I can't believe I've only got the specials left. Ugh. Everyone says "oh you'll fall in love with Matt Smith's Doctor" but right now I just can't even imagine that.
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