Be warned: Spoilers Abound

Russell Davies, why must you make me cry on my birthday?

The first part of the last episodes showing David Tennant as the infamous Time Lord was almost a complete travesty. The only truly memorable scenes, besides John Simm’s The Master’s inexplicable new mutant powers (he did kinda look like a Misfit, right?), were the scenes comprised solely of Tennant and Bernard Cribbons, Donna’s enthusiastic grandfather Wilfred Mott. From the silver cloak to the scene where he tearfully urges The Doctor to take his antiquated pistol. At the end of the first part, I was dreading what the second part would bring and I knew I wouldn’t be able to bear it if Tennant wasn’t given a grand and proper send off.

Davies redeemed himself with the second part. Not necessarily by the resolution of the story featuring The Master playing the part of the whole world or the Time Lords jumping time to take over the Earth’s place in space, though it was satisfactory, but by the goodbyes The Doctor was allowed to have that caused those of us watching to spend the last 20 minutes (plus 5 after the introduction of Matt Smith) in tears.

Like every companion throughout the 46 years that the show has run, I’ve grown to love each portrayal of the Doctor. Christopher Eccleston was a stone cold fox, so I cried at his regeneration because I wouldn’t be seeing his face every week. David Tennant started out as the stranger with The Doctor’s knowledge but, like Rose, I grew to love him in the role as well. That the loss of a television character could cause actual mourning is ridiculous, but I have never claimed not to be ridiculous. Matt Smith’s start is very promising. His Doctor had me laughing at the apex of tears. We will miss The Doctor. David Tennant’s Doctor will never be forgotten.

Now, we look forward to Matt Smith, the new Doctor Who logo, the new T.A.R.D.I.S. interior, the new companion and the new executive producer who has written some of the best episodes of Doctor Who I’ve been fortunate enough to watch. Steven Moffat taking over the reins is an exciting proposition to me. I know he won’t be writing them all, but I feel as if he’s had an idea of a direction and I’m encouraged that he wrote the Professor River Song episodes (because I want to see THAT story!) and I’m excited because I’ve seen previews for the next season and I’m very excited. And the end is most definitely the beginning.