The Doctor is dead, Long Live the Doctor
By: Ardeliah Longbottom

It is sooooo sad. The Doctor as played by David Tennant has left us and now we Dr Who fans are left with a new Doctor as played by Matt Smith. Tennant fan girls around the world are in mourning as we speak, missing those adorable grins of his. You know who you are. And if you are a Ravenclaw you know some of them personally. I'd advise staying on Alexia's good side for a while.

Now for those of you who do not know who Dr Who is (you should be ashamed of yourselves!) let me explain. The Doctor as he is called, is a 900+ year old Time Lord. He travels around the galaxy in his T.A.R.D.I.S (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) which is much bigger on the inside than the outside. If you ever see someone squealing over a blue police box on the side of the road then you have had contact with a fan girl. He travels around usually with a companion, usually a girl, and they put things right. Saving everyone, most of the time. Though he has lost a bunch of people too.

Now the Doctor has one great advantage over us measly humans, he never dies. When his life is in danger and he is about to die, he simply regenerates his form into a new being. And that is how we have wound up with Matt Smith.

Now for some inexplicable reason, David Tennant has moved on to browner pastures. I can't say greener because I don't think they are. I was perfectly happy with him where he was. Though a wardrobe change to something more revealing like a speed o wouldn't have bothered me one bit. (No I am not trying to channel Donna).

For those of you who have seen the most recent episodes, the two part End of Time. Feel free to read on. If you haven't and you don't want spoilers, I'd stop now and go read a different article.

Even though we hearty fans knew in advance that these episodes centered around the Doctor leaving us, we couldn't wait to watch them. I know I squee'd with delight in watching the Ood show up. They are my favorite of the aliens on that show. You can tell peoples favorite characters when you are on irc because we tend to nick to our favorites. It is rare to see Professor Ulol Kimil nick as anything but DalekSec. Just remember if he is in a bad mood he WILL exterminate you.

The show has a long history of bad guys but it was not hard to choose which villain would be the Doctors undoing. The Master has been paired against the doctor forever. In EOT he was deliciously evil and insane. Even if he was sporting a rubbish beard. He looked as fantastic as ever. Even when turning the populace to scorched bones and take over the world. I wonder if he talks to Pinky at all?

Two of the unexpected characters were the lovely Cacti. (Yes I know they aren't cactus and that it is a derogatory remark according to them, sorry I know you are Vin Votchi) But the resemblance to a cactus was there. What else would we call green people with spikes all over them?

Wilfred Mott however, stole the show. That wonderful old man is the best character ever. Yes better than Donna. Even though Donna makes an appearance on the show, she was way overshadowed by her grandfather. Even the Doctor and the Masters banter was outclassed by Wilf. The only time that I even got teary eyed were scenes with Wilf. It would be wonderful if he could be on the show again. His witty remarks and comments had me giggling the whole show. I think my favorite was "You're not leaving me with her!" and "I thought it would be cleaner." That man is made of awesome socks! Even my fellow HOLers whom I chatted with about the end of the second episode on irc as I watched it agreed that Wilf was the best.

(From nearby chanters)

Student OddOod: "Wilf!"
Alexia Riaper: "Wilf! I love him!"
Professor Ulol Kimil: "Wilf was amaaaazing."

Now, one thing I noticed a lot when watching were several scenes that reminded me of other shows and movies. The laser battle with the missiles just screamed Star Wars at me. I could see in my minds eye, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker firing at the enemy from similar pods. I almost expected the President of the Time Lords to announce that he was the Doctors father after Wilf mentioned earlier in the episode how he would have been proud to be the Doctors father, but that didn't happen. However when the Doctor was doing his round of goodbyes and went to find Captain Jack Harkness (another major squee moment, even if he wasn't nekkid), and Jack was sitting in a bar. I couldn't help but picture the Mos Eisley cantina. I could picture Han and Chewbacca relaxing in a place like that. And I wasn't the only one to notice that similarity. Cosmo Brown was expecting Wilf to cry out like a jubilant Skywalker "I got one!"

Even one of my favorite tv shows, Stargate got in on the action when the Time Lords arrived through a 'gate' (stargate) and announced they were going to ascend and exist as beings of energy. Geez, that was already done by the ancients. The almighty ascended beings. Of course for the Time Lords it would be more like they were the Ori. The evil counterparts for the good guys.

Basically I loved the episode. Even if the best Doctor ever had to die/regenerate. I'll give the new guy a chance. Not much of one mind you, he has big shoes to fill. But I will try.

A few memorable moments from HOL and the fan of this show followed as thus: Professor Ulol Kimil is taking all of the new pretty well. He can be found telling Alexia Riaper and Miette Bynny to "be quiet, and get over it." We do believe Alexia Riaper is still wearing black and mourning her loss.

Until next time.