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professorpalmarosa · 7 years ago

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Eau de Kalos (Team Flare - Lysandre)

If sparkling white wine doesn’t come from Champagne; can you still call it champagne? If a gentleman’s perfume doesn’t come from Cologne, can you still call it cologne? If a drop dead gorgeous smell wasn’t blended by a drop dead gorgeous person, can we be so sure Lysandre even would use it?

If you’re American, you apparently can.

It’s become a colloquialism.

There’s no telling, but I made it with the Team Flare boss in mind all the same!

When designing a blend for Lysandre, I did my research and located an online approximation for the original Eau de Cologne dating back to the Renaissance era.

A long time ago, a perfumer moved to Cologne and fell in love with the town’s beautiful scenery and spirit. To show his adoration, he designed a fragrance so beautiful that it has since become the quintessential cologne—and probably even why we call a gentleman’s perfume “cologne” to this day.

What could be more apt for Team Flare, particularly Lysandre?

The blend is predominantly Petitgrain with a complex citrus medley and Neroli, but I added two additional ingredients (Peru Balsam and Amyris) to finish the blend off with a woodsy, lingering finish.

This is quite possibly my most complicated blend to date and will be a royal pain in the arse for an amateur scent-blender to attempt. But look at the pictures! Look at how gorgeous it is! It smells even better than it looks!

He had a fan, too! Gaius wanted to run into the tub with me after I drained the water.

Now it’s time to talk about the pros and cons of these oils from a safety perspective…

Aromatherapy isn’t just about pretty smells and scented bath water. Essential oils are in such a high concentration that even absorbing them through your skin can leave you with the therapeutic (and potentially toxic) benefits.

If you are allergic to a plant, you are 100% without question going to be super allergic to the essential oil.

There’s also such a thing as contraindications: where some oils may affect you in weird ways if you have a certain medical condition or take certain medications.

The information below is for your safety if you want to attempt to make this blend at home (as a bath bomb, a body spray, or even scented bath salts). And do be sure to wear gloves. Some of these oils have recommended dilution rates as small as 0.4%. You don’t want that to slide on bare skin!

Petitgrain Essential Oil (30% of Synergy)

Petitgrain Essential Oil is made from the stems and branches of the Seville Bitter Orange tree (the same tree that produces Neroli flower: my favorite Essential Oil of all time). It has a nice outdoorsy smell reminiscent of a freshly mowed lawn. Green and young oranges (which are roughly the size of peas) are mixed in there traditionally, hence the name.

Pros:

Kill Germs! Petitgrain can be used to fight off bacteria that pose a risk of sepsis in people. It inhibits bacterial growth and can be safely applied externally with a carrier oil.

Reduce Spasms! Sometimes we cough, cramp up, or twitch for no reason. Petitgrain can help with that. This oil relaxes the body and soothes those twitchy, nervous muscles.

Reduce Anxiety! Petitgrain Essential Oil can be diffused or added to the bathtub to fight depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and fear. It can also be added to an anti-insomnia blend to promote peaceful sleep.

Use it as a deodorant! Most orange-related Essential Oils can be used to deodorize a room or a person, but Petitgrain’s a powerhouse for this. It also curbs the growth of bacteria that feed off sweat and warm body parts.

Cons:

If you take any of the below medications, do not use Petitgrain Essential Oil:

Medications for Depression (MAOIs) such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.

Midazolam (Versed)

If you take any of the below medications, exercise caution with Petitgrain Essential Oil:

Caffeine (Excedrin, Anacin, Vivarin, etc.)

Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, etc.)

Felodipine (Plendil)

Indinavir (Crixivan)

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) such as Lovastatin (Mevacor), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), Itraconazole (Sporanox), Fexofenadine (Allegra), Triazolam (Halcion), etc.

Medications that can cause an irregular heartbeat (QT interval-prolonging drugs) such as Amiodarone (Cordarone), Disopyramide (Norpace), Dofetilide (Tikosyn), Ibutilide (Corvert), Procainamide (Pronestyl), Quinidine, Sotalol (Betapace), Thioridazine (Mellaril), etc.

Simulants such as Diethylpropion (Tenuate), Epinephrine, Phentermine (Ionamin), Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), etc.

Neroli Essential Oil (10% of Synergy)

Neroli is in my top three favorite Essential Oils of all time, tied with Bergamot and Rhododendron. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive essential oils you can purchase. A tiny 10 ml bottle set me back nearly $90.

However, Neroli has a slew of benefits and is certainly worth the investment.

Neroli is the flower of the Seville bitter orange tree, and has a floral, bitter smell that’s truly unforgettable.

Pros:

Boost your mood and fight depression! Neroli has a beautiful aroma and can improve a person’s mood just by smelling the oil. The scent promotes feelings of joy and fulfillment.

It’s an aphrodisiac! Neroli boosts libido and arousal, as well as helps fight off erectile dysfunctions.

Clean a small cut or wound! Neroli has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It can protect wounds from some infections and treat rashes and skin infections.

Make scars vanish! Neroli is a cicatrisant, meaning it has anti-scarring properties. It’s best for acnes scars, stretch marks, and other imperfections. I use it on old acne scars on my back from my high school years. They’re already starting to fade! Neroli’s cytophylactic properties also promote the growth of new, healthy skin cells and keep your skin looking young, elastic, and beautiful.

Relieve muscle pains and soothe twitchy muscles! Neroli is an antispasmodic, meaning it is perfect for relaxing muscles. It’s your best friend after a workout or if unpleasant cramps hit your system.

Fight insomnia and get a good night’s sleep! Neroli is actually best known for its sedative properties! Its calming and relaxing properties sedate the body and work wonders when paired with other sedative oils, such as Chamomile, Petitgrain, Lavender, or Ylang Ylang.

Cons:

Neroli is considered to be universally safe, but pregnant women (and women hoping to become pregnant) may want to ere on the side of caution.

That said, Neroli is a very powerful sedative oil. You should really only diffuse or apply this (when diluted) at the end of the day when you have no plans to drive or operate heavy machinery. The effects may become even stronger if you drink or pair this oil with other sedative oils.

Amyris Essential Oil (7.5% of Synergy)

Amyris (Amyris balsamifera)—also called West Indian/Indies Sandalwood, Candlewood, or Torchwood—comes from the West Indies (specifically Haiti). The essential oil is extracted from the bark of the fallen dried tree and has a sticky sap-like texture. It’s a favorite for many masculine fragrances, as it’s a more cost-effective alternative to Sandalwood and every bit as sexy a smell.

It’s locally used by fishermen to light torches, making it easier to fish at night.

Pros:

Feeling down in the dumps? Add some Amyris EO to a carrier and massage it into your skin. The scent can uplift your downtrodden spirit and give you some peace of mind. I like to use it when I meditate.

Valerianol (one of the chemicals inside this EO) has very calming properties, even to the point of being listed as a sedative. Amyris can be a good choice if you suffer from insomnia or anxiety. Those same properties can also help relieve stress, sexual tension, frustration, or irritability.

Amyris has decongestant properties and is asthma safe. It’s great for respiratory health.

Amyris is a favorite among creative people (writers, musicians, and so on), as it’s purported to help boost your creativity.

The most exciting thing Amyris does is regenerate your skin, helping to slow down aging. It works wonders.

Cons:

This is a highly flammable essential oil. If you are wearing this oil, you may not want to get too close to an open flame, let alone smoke.

Although Amyris EO is considered to be universally safe, non-toxic, non-sensitizing, and non-irritating; some people with sensitive skin may experience mild irritation if the oil is not properly diluted.

Amyris EO is not intended for oral ingestion. Do not take this oil internally.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a severe medical condition, consult your physician before starting a regimen with Amyris EO.

Blood Orange Essential Oil (10% of Synergy)

There’s a large and vast variety of orange essential oils out there, but most fall into two categories: those derived from the bitter orange (Neroli, Petitgrain, etc.), and those derived from the sweet orange (Sweet Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Blood Orange, etc.).

Out of the sweet orange oils I have, the Blood Orange has the strongest and juiciest scent. If you love oranges, Blood Orange is something you’ll want to get for yourself. It smells fantastic!

Pros: The peel of sweet orange varieties (which includes Blood Orange) can be used to increase your appetite, reduce phlegm in your nose and lungs, treat coughs and colds, calm down asthma, reduce intestinal gas, settle indigestion, treat kidney stones, lower cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and reduce the risk of stroke.

Some research even indicates that Blood Orange Essential Oil can help with prostate cancer and cancerous breast sores.

One other super cool thing about Blood Orange is that it’s listed as an aphrodisiac oil. Spritz yourself with a little and have yourself a grand time!

Cons:

Due to its high limonene content, Blood Orange is not safe to diffuse around a cat. Your dog should be fine, but cats lack a liver enzyme that helps them break down this chemical. It can create a toxic buildup and make them very, very sick.

Although Blood Orange is perfectly safe for adults, do not use the essential oil with babies or children under the age of 6.

If you are taking any of the below medications, do not use this essential oil:

Celiprolol (Celicard)

Ivermectin

Pravastatin (Pravachol)

If you are taking any of the below medications, exercise caution when using this essential oil:

Quinolone antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Enoxacin (Penetrex), Gatifloxacin (Tequin), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), Moxifloxacin (Avelox), Norfloxacin (Noroxin), Ofloxacin (Floxin), and Trovafloxacin (Trovan).

Fenofenadine (Allegra)

Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-Glycoprotein substrates) such as Etoposide, Paclitaxel, Vinblastine, Vincristine, Vindesine, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Amprenavir, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Saquinavir, Cimetidine, Ranitidine, Diltiazem, Verapamil, Corticosteroids, Erythromycin, Cisapride (Propulsid), Fexofenadine (Allegra), Cyclosporine, Loperamide (Imodium), Quinidine, and others.

Kumquat Essential Oil (10% of Synergy)

Kumquat (Fortunella japonica) is a small tree that produces olive-sized fruits that resemble oranges. This essential oil is created from the rind through a cold-press process, like most other citrus fruits. In some batches, its limonene concentration (this is the chemical that gives us that familiar citrus smell) can be as high as 95%.

Scent-wise, it smells like “a more orange-y orange,” or Skittles. It’s very sweet, but very tart.

Pros:

It’s a fantastic surface cleaner! Add a drop or two to a natural cleaner (like vinegar) and watch your tub sparkle!

It brightens your skin and gives it a delightful glow. Try adding a drop to your lotion or shampoo!

Like most other citrus oils, Kumquat EO is a mood booster, as well as an energizer! The smell can put you in a great state of mine and leave you feeling ready to take on a stressful day!

Cons:

Due to its high limonene content, this is not a cat-safe oil.

Although some companies (like DoTerra) suggest taking essential oils internally, you should never do this without first consulting your physician.

Mandarin Essential Oil (10% of Synergy)

Mandarin is a type of orange and is one of the most popular essential oils to use with children. You know its scent: it smells just like a ripe Mandarin orange and makes your mouth water almost immediately!

Pros:

Early research suggests that eating mandarin oranges and diffusing its oil on the regular is linked to a lower risk of a cancer called nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This type of cancer affects the nasal passageway connected to the throat.

Mandarin is an asthma-safe essential oil and is commonly used to safely deodorize and clean the air. The oil’s even generally safe for patients with lung cancer!

The smell of Mandarin causes the mouth to produce extra saliva and convinces your body that you’re hungry. It can ease indigestion and improve your appetite.

One of the other nice things about Mandarin (and its cousin oil, Tangerine) is that you can use it to calm down a child’s temper tantrums!

Cons: Like most other citrus oils, Mandarin Essential Oil increases your photosensitivity and the likelihood of developing sunburn when exposed to prolonged sunlight. Limit going outdoors or in direct sunlight if you’ve used this bath bomb over the last 12-24 hours.

Other than this, both Mandarin Essential Oil and Tangerine Essential Oil are considered safe and can even be used with small children.

Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil (5% of Synergy)

Grapefruit is one of those familiar scents and is used in many diets to boost metabolism and suppress appetite. I even ended up picking up an entire half-gallon of white grapefruit juice on my way home from work yesterday, since it’s one of my favorite flavors in the world.

I’ve also been trying to find white grapefruit in my grocery store since I graduated from college in 2011, but I can’t seem to find them anywhere. If anyone knows where I could purchase them online from a reputable source, message me. I miss them so!

Pros:

Grapefruit Essential Oil has several health benefits and can be your friend on a (safe) weight loss regimen. This oil contains a lot of the chemical d-limonene, which has clinically been shown to stabilize your metabolism, decrease your BMI, and even lower cholesterol.

Grapefruit peel (the part of the grapefruit Essential Oil comes from) also contains a lot of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals in your body and reduce your risk of cancer.

The smell of grapefruit can make a person feel happier and more alert. Some folks use it as a stimulant.

One of my friends mixes a little Grapefruit Essential Oil (due to its disinfecting nature) and vinegar into her homemade bathroom cleaner and her tub sparkles.

Cons:

Grapefruit (Pink or White) Essential Oil increases your photosensitivity, which increases your risk for sunburn. Please avoid being in the sun for too long if you’ve applied this essential oil (even diluted) to your skin in the past 12 to 36 hours.

Some liver medications may take longer for the liver to break down if Grapefruit (Pink or White) Essential Oil is being used:

Some medications that react to sunlight may increase your photosensitivity while Grapefruit (Pink or White) Essential Oil is being used. Please use sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective garments if outdoors if you’re using these medications and use Grapefruit on the regular.

If you use any of the below do not use this product:

Artemether (Artenam, Paluther)

Buspirone (BuSpar)

Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

Carvedilol (Coreg)

Cisapride (Propulsid)

Clomipramine (Anafranil)

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, and others)

Estrogen Supplements (Premarin, Climara, Vivelle)

Etoposide (VePesid)

Itraconazole (Sporanox)

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates, lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.)

Medications for high blood pressure (nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others.)

Medications used for lowering cholesterol ((Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), cerivastatin (Baycol), and others).

Methylprednisolone

Praziquantel (Biltricide)

Quinidine

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop)

Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines like clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and others).

Sildenafil (Viagra)

Terfenadine (Seldane)

If you use any of the below on the regular, exercise caution:

Caffeine

Erythromycin

Fenofexadine (Allegra)

Losartan (Cozaar)

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) such as (amitriptyline (Elavil), haloperidol (Haldol), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, others), and generics

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) substrates) such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and pantoprazole (Protonix); diazepam (Valium); carisoprodol (Soma); nelfinavir (Viracept); and generics

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), ibuprofen (Motrin), meloxicam (Mobic), and piroxicam (Feldene); celecoxib (Celebrex); amitriptyline (Elavil); warfarin (Coumadin); glipizide (Glucotrol); losartan (Cozaar); and others.

Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)

Theophylline

Warfarin (Coumadin)

The TL;DR on this list is this: ��If you are taking a medication that impacts your liver or blood, exercise caution or don’t use Grapefruit Essential Oil (White or Pink).

You’ll probably have better luck with the fragrance oil, which will have none of the benefits but won’t mess up your medication.

It’s not just pretty smells and relaxing aromatherapy, guys. Some of this stuff can mess with your meds and Grapefruit’s notorious for it.

Lemon Essential Oil (5% of Synergy)

My lemon is a 10x intensity: meaning it’s super concentrated and really, really strong. Just a few drops is enough to make the whole room smell like a lemon tree…or lemon cleaner.

Pros:

Boost your mood and put a little cheer in the air! Lemon Essential Oil is a natural antidepressant. The tart, fruity smell brings to mind a clean, uplifting atmosphere that combats any mental miasma that may be lurking around the room or office.

Fight inflammation and the signs of aging! Lemon Essential Oil contains a high antioxidant concentration, which can be used to fight age spots, wrinkles, a weak immune system, arthritis, and swelling.

It’s a powerful astringent! This essential oil speeds up the healing process for cuts, scrapes, and wounds because it kills any harmful germs that come into contact with the damaged skin. You can even add a few drops to your mouthwash to freshen up your breath. I especially love to apply this oil to my back, where I used to suffer from sebaceous cysts (not that I’ve had one since I began using essential oils). You can brighten your dull skin and keep it clean with a natural, healthy glow. - Just keep in mind that cold-pressed Lemon EO will increase your sensitivity to the sun. If you’re doing this, try to get the steam-distilled version.

Flush out toxins and water weight! Lemon Essential Oil is a diuretic, which means it increases the amount of times you have to urinate. Your body will do this to flush out toxins and bacteria, but it’s also a great way to reduce swelling on your joints, muscles, or abdomen.

Decongest your airways! Lemon Essential Oil is a known remedy for coughs, colds, and stuffy noses. Diffuse it or put a few drops of the oil in your bath water for maximum effect.

Cons:

Lemon EO is considered to be universally safe, even for children, provided it is properly diluted.

Due to its high limonene content, this is not a cat-safe oil.

Depending on how the Lemon Essential Oil was extracted, it may or may not have photosensitive properties. If your Lemon EO is steam-distilled, you’re probably fine. However, if your Lemon Essential Oil is cold-pressed, chances are it has this photosensitive property. If this is the case, try to avoid direct or prolonged exposure to sunlight for 24-48 hours.

Lime Essential Oil (5% of Synergy)

Lime is one of those quintessential citrus smells. It pairs with things that sometimes don’t pair as well with Lemon or anything in the Orange family. It’s flexible, versatile, and downright delicious to smell on its own. There’s just something about that tart, zesty smell that puts a smile on my face.

Pros: Lime can be used to help with gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea. Other people apply it neat (directly to the skin) as a stimulant or to treat nausea. The very smell of Lime can boost your appetite and promotes extra saliva in your mouth. More than this, lime can give your immune system a boost: warding off common colds and winter bugs before they even hit you!

It’s also great for keeping a youthful complexion and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and varicose veins.

Cons:

Depending on how the Lime Essential Oil was extracted, it may or may not have photosensitive properties. If your Lime Essential Oil is steam-distilled, you’re probably fine. However, if your Lime Essential Oil is cold-pressed, chances are it has this photosensitive property. If this is the case, try to avoid direct or prolonged exposure to sunlight for 24-48 hours.

Some liver medications may take longer for the liver to break down if Lime Essential Oil is being used:

Lovastatin (Mevacor)

Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

Itraconazole (Sporanox)

Fexofenadine (Allegra)

Triazolam (Halcion)

Some medications that react to sunlight may increase your photosensitivity while Lime Essential Oil is being used. Please use sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective garments if outdoors if you’re using these medications and use Lime on the regular:

Amitriptyline (Elavil)

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

Norfloxacin (Noroxin)

Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)

Ofloxacin (Floxin)

Levofloxacin (Levaquin)

Sparfloxacin (Zagam)

Gatifloxacin (Tequin)

Moxifloxacin (Avelox)

Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (Septra)

Tetracycline

Methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen, 8-MOP, Oxsoralen)

Trioxsalen (Trisoralen)

Balsam of Peru Essential Oil (2.5% of Synergy)

Balsam of Peru is a resinous substance that comes from the Myroxylon balsamum plant. It smell is reminiscent of vanilla with a touch of clove and cinnamon. As a result, it pairs beautifully with those oils–as well as orange oils!

It’s one of the most versatile oils not only with its scent, but with its therapeutic benefits…so long as it’s done in moderation.

Pros:

Balsam of Peru has been used for centuries to treat tumors, expel intestinal worms, and flush out your kidneys by overstimulating them. It’s a powerful diuretic.

Some people occasionally put Balsam of Peru directly on the skin for infected and slow-healing wounds, burns, scrapes, ulcers, rashes, and itchy areas…though I’d caution against this. Plant Therapy, the company I bought my oil from, recommends 0.4% dilution for Balsam of Peru, so definitely do NOT apply that stuff directly on your skin. Diffusing it in your tub should be OK. Just make sure the bath is full before you go in!

Some dentists use this essential oil to treat dry sockets: a painful condition that occurs when a tooth is extracted and a clot forms in the gums too soon.

It’s an immunity booster! Not only have some studies shown that Balsam of Peru can stimulate the immune system and eliminate free radicals in the body, but it’s also got strong astringent and antimicrobial properties. People can even use it to treat mites and bedbugs!

It fights your anxiety! Balsam of Peru’s calming scent contains a slew of chemicals that promote a peaceful, calm mind. It makes it easier to breathe and brings about a comforting scent.

Breathe more easily! Balsam of Peru has natural expectorant properties, making it easier for you to blow out whatever’s left of your stuffy nose or clogged-up throat. Just be sure to inhale. Don’t swallow!

Pamper your hair and scalp! Balsam of Peru can help you combat dandruff and a dry, itchy scalp.

Cons:

Despite its many benefits, Balsam of Peru is one of the most allergenic substances known to man. If you get headaches over artificial vanilla, strong perfumes, or scented things in general; chances are you’re allergic to Balsam of Peru.

Although Balsam of Peru can be used over short periods of time (never more than 1 week), people can build up a tolerance to it and suffer allergic skin reactions if the substance is abused.

If you use this essential oil, use plenty of sunblock when you go outside: especially if you have light skin. Balsam of Peru increases your sensitivity to the sun.

Do not use this essential oil if you are nursing or pregnant, as not enough is known about Balsam of Peru to say it’s safe. Ere on the side of caution.

Since Balsam of Peru is a powerful diuretic, prolonged usage of the oil may result in kidney damage (even failure). Do not use this oil if you have kidney problems. Period.

#Team Flare #Lysandre #Team Flare Bath Bomb #Pokemon Bath Bomb #my stuff #bath bomb #DIY #ProfessorPalmarosa #Professor Palmarosa #Eau de Kalos

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esonetwork · 4 years ago

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Timestamp #219: The Pandorica Opens & The Big Bang

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/timestamp-219-the-pandorica-opens-the-big-bang/

Timestamp #219: The Pandorica Opens & The Big Bang

Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens Doctor Who: The Big Bang (2 episodes, s05e12-e13, 2010)

A roller coaster ride that closes the narrative circle. Mostly.

The Pandorica Opens

France, 1890: Vincent van Gogh finishes a painting and lapses into a screaming fit. Doctor Gachet and Madame Vernet attempt to calm him, but Vernet takes a moment to criticize the painting as one of the artist’s worst.

London, 1941: In the Cabinet War Rooms, Professor Bracewell delivers a rolled up canvas to Winston Churchill. It is the painting, found behind the wall in a French attic. Bracewell tells Churchill to deliver the message.

Stormcage Containment Facility, 5145: A guard answers the phone and hands it to River Song. After speaking to Churchill, River whammies the guard with her hallucinogenic lipstick and escapes from the prison. She breaks into the Royal Collection and swipes the painting. Liz 10 catches her, but after she looks at the artwork, River is free to go.

The Maldovarium, 5145: River meets with black marketeer Dorium Maldovar and exchanges a Callisto Pulse in exchange for a vortex manipulator, fresh from the wrist of a Time Agent.

The TARDIS, in the temporal vortex: Amy looks at the wedding ring as the Doctor lands on Planet One. There they find the first words in recorded history carved into the diamond cliffs: “Hello, Sweetie.” The accompanying coordinates take them to Roman Britain in the 2nd century where they are met by a soldier whose face is smeared with lipstick. They are escorted to Cleopatra, who is really River in disguise. She presents the travelers with the painting.

It is a mixture of Starry Night and the destruction of the TARDIS. It is titled The Pandorica Opens.

River, Amy, and the Doctor discuss the painting, which the Doctor considers a fairy tale, but they all ride to Stonehenge where it is presumed to reside. Amy notes that River warned them about this on the Byzantium, but River responds that she will. That hasn’t happened for her yet. River finds evidence of energy weapons at the site. They open a tomb beneath Stonehenge, missing the active Cyberman head nearby, in search of the mightiest warrior of all time contained within the Pandorica.

Behind a giant door they find a giant box. It is the Pandorica. Amy notes that the story of the Pandorica is similar to her favorite story, that of Pandora’s Box, and the Doctor draws attention to the coincidence. As River and the Doctor examine the box, Amy keeps an eye on the crypt.

Amy wonders how Vincent could know of this and the Doctor notes that the pillars of the crypt are transmitters. They’ve been broadcasting into all of time and space, and River traces the signals to Earth’s orbit. There are at least ten thousand starships in orbit, and every one of them belongs to the Doctor’s enemies.

It’s a veritable Who’s Who of Doctor Who universe villains, including the Daleks, the Drahvins, the Cybermen, the Autons and the Nestene Consciousness, the Silurians, the Draconians, the Sontarans, the Zygons, the Terileptils, the Chelonians (an enemy from the Virgin novels), the Slitheen, the Roboforms, the Sycorax, the Hoix, the Weevils and the Blowfish (crossing over from Torchwood), the Judoon, the Uvodni, the Atraxi, and the Haemogoths (from the novel The Forgotten Army).

Everything that ever hated the Doctor is coming to Earth on this night. River begs him to run but the Doctor has other plans. He enlists the help of the Roman army with River and her futuristic technology. She is greeted by a single mysterious volunteer.

The Doctor continues his work at the Pandorica. After extending the force fields of the box to buy them thirty minutes, he and Amy discuss the engagement ring. The Doctor explains that it belongs to a friend, and hopes that the traces it left behind can spark memories within that friend. He asks if Amy is bothered that her life doesn’t make a lot of sense, but before she can respond they are interrupted by laser blasts from a dismembered Cyberman arm. They nearly escape from the arm, but it shocks the Doctor as Amy grapples with the Cyberman head. She nearly gets the upper hand but it shoots her with a dart and threatens her with assimilation. On cue, the headless body (a Cybus Industries model) marches into view, reattaches the head, and chases the drugged companion.

Amy ends up in a side chamber. The door opens as a sword impales the Cyberman. The sword belongs to none other than Rory. He’s dressed as a Roman soldier and she still doesn’t remember him. The Doctor considers the Cyberman and the Pandorica, eventually coming around to the fact that Rory is alive again and unerased from time.

Rory is fuzzy on how he got to this point, but he still cares for Amy. They’re distracted by the ships descending from orbit and the sudden awakening of the Pandorica. The site and the Roman army are surrounded. The Doctor ascends to the surface, stands on a rock, and addresses his enemies over a communicator. His enemies face him as he threatens them with his rage. He has possession of the Pandorica and it’s opening, and though they have plenty of weapons, he has nothing to lose. He reminds them of all the times he has defeated them in the past and encourages them to do the smart thing and let someone else try first.

The fleet withdraws, granting the Doctor an additional hour. Meanwhile, River tries to pilot the TARDIS to the crypt but it won’t play nice. It takes her to Earth, specifically Amy’s house, on June 26, 2010. A crack appears on the scanner as River heads outside and a voice echoes in the console room: “Silence will fall.”

Amy wakes up but still doesn’t remember Rory. The Doctor cannot explain his presence, but listens while Rory talks about his memories while the Doctor ponders the explosion of the TARDIS. He returns Rory’s ring and dismisses Rory’s return (for now, anyway) as a miracle.

Landing patterns from alien ships have scarred the yard at Amy’s house. Inside the house, River finds a book on Roman Britain and a copy of The Legend of Pandora’s Box. She also finds a picture of Rory and Amy, but Rory is dressed like a centurion in the photograph. River contacts the Doctor and tells him that the Roman army is made of duplicates. The duplicates believe that they are alive, and River says it must be a trap.

On the surface, Amy starts to remember Rory. At Amy’s house, the TARDIS begins to shake and will not respond to River’s commands. The console room echoes with the warning again: “Silence will fall.”

The Pandorica starts transmitting a signal as it cracks open. The soldiers all stop moving and converge on the crypt, their hands raised like Auton hand-blasters. Rory fights his transformation and warns Amy to run, but she remembers him. The Autons seize the Doctor and declare that the Pandorica is ready. The Doctor’s enemies materialize in the room and force the Time Lord into the box.

All of reality is threatened by the cracks in time. The enemies of the Doctor have banded together to save the universe from destruction by his hand. They used Amy’s memories to trap him.

Unable to control himself, Rory fatally shoots Amy. As she dies, he grieves as he fights for control.

River opens the doors of the TARDIS to find a stone wall. She’s trapped as the TARDIS explodes.

The universe dies as every star goes supernova at once. The Earth is left alone in a black void.

Silence falls.

The Big Bang

Leadworth, 1996: It’s the night that Amelia Pond prays to Santa Claus on Easter to fix the crack in her wall. She hears a noise, but her garden is empty. She notes the moon in the sky and later paints the sky for her psychiatrist. She remembers stars in the sky, but no one else can. In fact, the sky is empty except for the moon.

That night, Amy sees a man in a fez slip a pamphlet through the mail slot. It advertises that Pandorica exhibit at the National Museum with a note: “Come along, Pond.” She visits the museum with her aunt, passing exhibits of antique Daleks and penguins in the Arctic. A note on the Pandorica tells her to stick around, so she hides from her aunt until the museum closes. She returns to the Pandorica and it opens to reveal Amy Pond.

Things just got complicated.

Stonehenge, 102 AD: The Auton duplicate of Rory Williams cradles Amy’s corpse. He cracks a joke and wishes that she’d laugh, but his mourning is interrupted by the vortex manipulated arrival of the Doctor. He’s wearing a fez and brandishing a mop, and he leaves instructions for Rory to open the Pandorica with his sonic screwdriver. He vanishes again.

The present-version Doctor emerges from the Pandorica. Deducing that he will set up the chain of events that have led to his release, he and Rory note the stone remains of the allied aliens. They are echoes in time of entire species that have been erased from existence. The Doctor and Rory find Amy and load her into the Pandorica. A punch to the jaw tells the Doctor that Rory has moved beyond his programming, and the Time Lord leaves a telepathic message in Amy’s head. The Pandorica will restore her to life in order to keep her imprisoned.

The Doctor picks up River’s vortex manipulator and offers Rory the opportunity to travel back to the future. Instead, Rory decides to stand watch over the Pandorica for the next 2,000 years. When Amy awakens in 1996, she sees the video presentation about the Pandorica and the lone centurion who stood guard no matter where the box went. The centurion was presumed dead in 1941.

As the Doctor appears in the museum, one of the Daleks awakens and threatens the Amys. As the Doctor finds a fez and looks for a way to stop the Dalek, a security guard appears and stops the threat with an Auton cannon. That security guard is none other than Rory the Centurion.

While Amy and Rory catch up with a whole lot of smooching, the Doctor analyzes the Dalek and realizes that it came to life when the Pandorica’s light touched it. As it revives again, the Doctor ushers everyone out and starts his chain reaction of events. His bouncing around in time comes to a halt as an older version of himself appears, leaves him a message, and dies without regeneration.

The younger version of Amy also vanishes. Time is still collapsing.

As the travelers rush to the roof, the Dalek opens the Pandorica and casts its light on the statues in the museum. On the roof, our heroes note that the sun has risen. Unfortunately, the sun is really the explosion of the TARDIS. Fortunately, the signal it is generating includes River’s last words, which tells the Doctor that the TARDIS placed her in a time loop to keep her alive. The Doctor jumps to the TARDIS and pulls her to safety in 1996.

River questions the Doctor’s fashion sense. Amy pulls the fez off his head and throws it. River shoots it, blasting it into atoms. Then the Dalek arrives and drives the team back into the museum. The Doctor questions how the Dalek could exist, then develops a plan to cast the Pandorica’s light across all of time and existence by using the TARDIS explosion as an infinite power source.

His plotting is cut short as the Dalek shoots the Doctor. The Doctor falls and teleports away. In her anger, River makes the Dalek beg for mercy (three times over) before killing it in a single shot. When the team heads back to the Pandorica, the Doctor has crawled inside and wired the vortex manipulator to transport the box to the heart of the exploding TARDIS. Rory and Amy thought he was dead, but River tells them about Rule Number One: The Doctor lies.

The downside to the Doctor’s plan is that he’ll be trapped on the wrong side of Big Bang #2. While the rest of existence will be reset, he will never have existed. He asks to talk to Amy one last time before he leaves. He explains that her parents didn’t die but rather were consumed by the crack in time. It has been eating away at her life for a long time, making her the girl whose life didn’t make sense. If she can remember them when the Big Bang happens, they stand a chance of being restored.

With that, the Doctor seals the Pandorica and launches it into the heart of the TARDIS with a transmitted “Geronimo”.

As the universe heals, the Doctor wakes up on the floor of the TARDIS console room. He watches as his timestream unravels and stumbles on the fact that Amy can still hear him. He returns to the Byzantium and has that mysterious conversation with Amy that seemed out of place. He asks her to remember what he told her when she was seven.

He rewinds back to Amy’s house on the night that she waited for him as a girl. He finds her asleep in the garden and takes her up to her bed. He tells her the story of a daft old man who “borrowed” a magic box that was ancient and new and the bluest blue ever. He realizes that the crack in her wall cannot close properly until he’s on the other side. He steps through, avoiding the rest of the rewind of his lives, and the crack seals. Amelia wakes up briefly, then goes back to sleep. The stars are back in the sky.

In 2010, Amy wakes up on her wedding day. Her gaze drifts across the dolls she made of the Doctor to her wedding dress. She’s startled by her mother and breakfast, rushes downstairs to hug her father, then calls Rory to ask him if he remembers something big.

At the wedding reception, Amy spots River outside just before her father’s speech. Rory notes that Amy is crying, then hands her a gift that someone left for them. It’s River’s TARDIS journal, but it is blank. She looks around the room, spotting things that remind her of the Doctor, and has a revelation as a single tear splashes onto the journal.

She interrupts her father’s speech to tell the assembled crowd about her raggedy man imaginary friend. Her belief in him rises as the wind swirls through the ballroom and the TARDIS materializes. She vaults over the table and knocks on the door. The Doctor emerges, congratulates Mr. and Mrs. Pond, promises to leave the kissing to Rory, and moves the TARDIS off the dance floor.

After a night of dancing and celebration, the Doctor heads outside and meets River Song. He returns her journal and the vortex manipulator, then questions her identity as they muse about marriage. River vanishes into time and the Doctor enters the TARDIS. Before he can leave, Amy and Rory barge in and demand to know why he’s taking off so soon. He tells them that the mystery of the exploding TARDIS still remains before taking a phone call about an Egyptian goddess loose on the Orient Express in space.

As he signs off with the member of royalty on the line, Amy and Rory bid farewell to their wedding guests. The Doctor fires up the TARDIS and the trio vanishes into the temporal vortex.

This finale brings a whole lot of guns to the fight. From wrapping up the season-long story arc to laying the foundations for the next big adventure while handing the audience nods to the entire history of Doctor Who, including the prose side of the house. The Doctor is in fine form as he unravels this mystery with Amy as she reclaims her life. River (doing her best Han Solo and Indiana Jones) and Rory carry the action while adding heart through their relationships with our other heroes.

The climax of the story plays the typical franchise trope of a universe reset where the protagonists remember everything, but the twist here is that Amy and Rory have to work for it. What’s even more interesting is that the Doctor is ready to make the ultimate sacrifice (without the prospect of regeneration) to save the universe. It’s times like these when we see just how much of a hero the Doctor truly is.

I loved seeing the references to the enemies of the Who-niverse, but one that really stood out was the Cyberman. Given the big C on its chest, the one in this story was obviously a Cybus Industries model from Pete’s World. We last saw them in The Next Doctor, survivors of the Battle of Canary Wharf, and it can be inferred that at least one of them was transported to 102 A.D. to face the Doctor. But the Mondasian Cybermen still exist, right? We haven’t seen them since Silver Nemesis but it stands to reason that they still exist in this universe. That means that they should be the majority of the Cyberman fleet in orbit, right? Would this universe’s Cybermen accept the Pete’s World Cybermen into their ranks without issue?

I think I miss the normal universe Cybermen. Just a little.

Rating: 5/5 – “Fantastic!”

UP NEXT – Series Five Summary

The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.

#Doctor Who #Eleventh Doctor #Timestamps Project

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bertievi · 8 years ago

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Verses

Main

Post War

1945-1952 The war is over, Albert is an elder King and while there is still plenty happening within the Empire and indeed politically he is a much more carefree man, knowing he has earned the respect of his subjects. Though it is a quieter part of his life in compariosn to the war years, he is rather unwell from 1947 onwards. Interacting with him at certain points will have certain ailments hovering around in the narritive. This verse is open to all.

WWII

1939-1945

1939-1945 Albert as King is commander and chief of the British armed forces and while he and his wife visit bombsites, hospitals, training camps, air fields, naval bases and army camps, Albert is still very aware of what is happening on the continent. He is very mistrusting of people who could gain from betraying him and he is worried for his country. However it is in this time where Albert has become most dutiful, that he cares so much about the morale of his people and always aknowledges the sacrifices that they are making. He gets most upset about signing documents that he knows will be sending people to their deaths for the sake of gaining such little territory from Germany.

I am willing for Albert to discuss actual events in the war with your muse, if they are in a position for him to talk about them. If this at all makes you uncofortable actual war events are tagged as 'war2' any other thread that is based in this timed verse are tagged 'wartime'.

Ascension

The King's Speech

1934-1939 Albert deals with the death of his father, the news that his brother intends to marry Wallis and that the crown could very likely pass to him. This is a verse which I have looked over in a little too much detail and boy! Albert was difficult in this time period. Though he is dutiful and understands that the monarchy has to change to survive, he is very, very upset and even scared of becoming King because he himself does not believe he is fit for the role.

There is plenty to explore in this verse as it covers the troubles and worries over David, Albert's time with Louge and his speech therapy. There's his becoming king, the preperation for his corronation and indeed the looming war. He's much less open about his opinions and is so, so prone to huge temper tantrums.

Dukedom

Duke of York

1918-1934 After finishing his duties in the Great War, he continues to serve as a wing commander and later group captain in the RAF. Before long though Albert returns to the Palace and takes up more duties as Prince, his tradition ruled life is considerably boring to him after his naval and air force career and he is near constantly seeking excuses to leave the confines of Buckingham Palace.

Later in this verse, he meets and eventually marries Elizabeth and becomes a father. He settles down into his role and through some persuasion from his wife, he begins to seek professional help for his stammer. Very much the quieter prince, Albert gets to take something of a back step from royal life though he works hard to maintain charities, workplaces and both hosts and teaches at a boys camp that brings the classes together.

He is happiest in the middle of this verse where he has an active role without having to have the limelight, leaving that to his elder brother and father. Albert is very much the family man in this verse. By the end, his nerves begin to show around his brother's ambitions.

The Great War

WWI

1914-1918 Albert climbs the naval ranks on HMS Collingwood, seeing war in the Battle of Juttland eventually becoming Lieutenant 'Johnson' while in the Navy, Albert is a carefree, strong headed and quick thinking leader. His confidence is so evident that his stammer is barely present while aboard Collingwood and he is a little too up for mischief and games. Nearing the end of this verse, Albert falls very ill and has to be removed from the ship and later the navy altogether, which he remains very bitter about.

Determined to continue serving and fighting, Albert's naval rank is given equal position in the newly established RAF where he serves as Captain and trains new pilots with a seemingly strict hand, though in asking him of his methods and decisions, one might be surprised at his answers. Albert has a full piloting license and is fully qualified to fly a plane, though he is meant to be forbidden from flying solo, he does tend to vanish with a plane every now and again without asking.

Albert will always consider himself a naval man and is part of the foundations of the discipline expected within the RAF. Depending on where your muse interacts with him, he may be their equal or their superior depending on your own muse too.

A Prince of Wales

Childhood

1895-1914 in his youth, Albert was a considerable handful, standing up to things he did not agree with, arguing and throwing huge tantrums. His stammer was at its worse in his younger years but it didn't stop him from misbehaving. He is very likely to try and pull a prank on your muse or even get them involved in one once he trusts them enough.

It requires a great deal of patience for whomever is talking to him, Albert may not talk at all to your muse if his shyness gets the better of him. This verse covers a fair bit with regards to his upbringing and while this verse is Albert at his most free, it may also hold considerable triggers that you will be warned of if a thread draws close to them, after all, Albert didn't always stammer.

My own starters or suggestions for this verse will have come from the biographers of Bertie himself or his brother the Duke of Windsor.

SS-GB Divergent

Historical AU

SS-GB is the 'what if' Nazis had succeeded in the invasion of Britain. Albert has sent his family away and went peacefully with his arrest into the Tower of London. The longer he is there, the more bitter he becomes. Various drabble posts will show how and why but threads may be triggering. A spin off verse is Albert at his worst in SSGB2 which is open to those willing to discuss it.

Albert will never stop fighting the Nazis, those who visit him will be met with some snark or hostility and if given the chance, he is very likely to attack your muse if they get too close. He draws on his military training in this verse and while he's not a master, underestimating him may end up harming your muse- though I will warn you of course! This verse is open to all but we must plot.

But why the flippity-flop is he still alive in this verse? Click here.

TMIHC

Historical AU

Britain has fallen, occupied by perhaps their greatest enemy. With some considerable reluctance and very little choice, King George had to flee with his family. But the storm was following on behind him and he knew it, a War on the Atlantic verse is available to explore what happened in that retreat and is open to all. Arriving in the USA, Convincing Garner and then Bricker was a mammoth task and Albert was simply ill prepared. When the bomb dropped, the King looked to the resistance but when they were quashed, he seemingly vanished with them in 1947.

As the years passed King George became just ‘Arthur’ to protect himself and his family. However, his dutiful outlook never ceased, his people were still suffering, those he had sworn to protect were still in danger and by the old constitution, it was still his job to set things right again especially at the fall of his Government. ‘Arthur’ kept his eye out for any opportunity, any potential to turn the tides once more and it was not until he was an old man did the smallest of whispers come within earshot, a small trace of something new and the glimmer of hope returned did he start to take tentative action once more.

But why the flippity-flop is he still alive in this verse? Click here.

Sudden Ascension

WWI AU History

1916+ Albert having fought in Jutland is informed on their trip back to shore that his father and elder brother have both perished in an ambush on the Western Front and that now, he is King and Emperor of the British Empire in the middle of the greatest war the world had ever seen. His adjustment from soldier to King means a great deal of work but so much is open to alteration within this verse as Albert learns how to rule at barely 21. He's unmarried, head of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha family, ruler of 458million people and commander and chief of the forces of the Empire.

Wizarding AU

The Ministry is a part of Government

The Royal Family has known about the wizarding world for generations. Though they don't need to actually be consulted about most things beyond their control, anything significant including the appointment of a new Minister of Magic, someone needs to inform them. This is a selective verse given that not any witch or wizard will be allowed to pop into the palace when they want. I'd like to think that there are charms in place to protect against apparitions and the floo network is not connected to any of the Windsor homes. This verse can fall in any part of the timeline.

Timetravel

Torchwood included

Sci-fi is fine with me, so long as there is some respect for the nature of the royal family, aka, no, they are not aliens etc. After the events of Tooth and Claw with the establishment of Torchwood during Queen Victoria's reign, the information of the department and subsequent findings or events is reported in 'the red box'. The family is aware of the Doctor and the nature of the relationship of the Time Lord and Earth but unless otherwise discussed Albert/King George VI won't know the Doctor's face(s). Prince Albert can't offer much more than his father would allow, but as King George, so long as there is no reason for him to feel threatened (especially after the War), he would be most welcoming to the Time Lord and his companions. Any stage of his life is available in this verse. Though I will maintain some level of selectivity on plot suggestions..

#verses #aus

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esonetwork · 5 years ago

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Timestamp #203: Turn Left

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/timestamp-203-turn-left/

Timestamp #203: Turn Left

Doctor Who: Turn Left (1 episode, s04e11, 2008)

What could have been if not for a Noble companion?

The Doctor and Donna have stopped in a bustling marketplace on an alien world. While mixing it up with the locals, Donna wanders away to explore and finds herself in the company of a local fortuneteller. Offered a free reading since she’s a redhead, Donna takes a seat. The fortuneteller talks to her about the Doctor and Donna recounts her first meeting with the Time Lord.

While a mysterious scurrying occurs behind her, she flashes back to her time as a temp with H.C. Clements and the offer she turned down businessman Jival Chowdry. The moment of decision for her entire future was sitting at an intersection with her mother. She turned left…

…but what if she had turned right?

A large insect latches on to her back and the fortuneteller convinces her to turn right. She does.

The next time we see Donna Noble, she’s at a Christmas party celebrating her recent promotion with a round of drinks for her friends. One of her friends, Alice, almost sees the creature on her back, but they’re interrupted by the arrival of the Racnoss Webstar. The invading spacecraft is destroyed by UNIT and the Racnoss queen was killed, but the Doctor drowned in the assault. He was unable to regenerate.

Donna walks away by is soon met by none other than Rose Tyler. She came so far but was too late to meet with the Doctor, but she spots the insect on Donna’s back before vanishing into thin air.

Due to the closure of the Thames, Chowdry’s company has been losing money and Donna has been fired. Simultaneously, the Royal Hope Hospital has vanished into the sky. When it returns, there is only one survivor: Medical student Oliver Morgenstern. He was saved by Martha Jones, but she died as a result. Sarah Jane Smith and the Bannerman Road Gang were there as well, but they died while trying to stop the incursion. Wilfred is convinced that aliens are to blame, but Donna wants to hear none of it.

Donna takes a walk and finds Rose again as she emerges from loud flashes of light. The insect comes up again before Rose asks her about Christmas plans. She suggests that Donna and her family take a holiday, using the winnings from a future raffle ticket to afford it. Donna warns her to stay away and Rose vanishes again.

Sure enough, next Christmas, Donna’s family travel to the countryside. On Christmas Day, they watch as the Titanic smashes into Buckingham Palace. As a mushroom cloud rises over London – and Donna nearly spots the insect in a mirror – the terror and shock set in as they realize that everyone they know is dead.

Now refugees, her family is forced to relocate to Leeds to escape the radiation. Meanwhile, France has closed its borders to refugees, but the Nobles are allocated a house with two other families. The United States offers monetary assistance, but they are forced to withdraw their support when sixty million Americans are killed and converted to Adipose. Every major world city is affected as well.

The Nobles bond with their housemates, but they’re interrupted by soldiers firing at cars. The Sontarans have activated the ATMOS system and covered the planet in a poisonous fog. One of the soldiers spots the insect and takes aim at Donna, but he can’t find it later. Donna follows the flashing lights to find Rose in a nearby alley.

The two companions sit on a bench and talk about the crisis. The sky lights up as the gas burns away, courtesy of Torchwood Three. Gwen and Ianto died in the attempt, and Jack was taken to the Sontaran homeworld. Rose talks about the Doctor, how he saved the world from all of these events, and how Donna traveled with him in another reality. Had she been there to save him from himself under the Thames, the world would be in a better place. Rose has come to warn the Doctor of a darkness that threatens both of their universes, calling Donna the most important woman in the whole of creation.

Rose asks her to come along, finally settling on a time three weeks from now. She vanishes with an ominous prophecy: Donna Noble will die.

The Nobles bid farewell to their Italian housemates, courtesy of a new law that evicts all immigrants from England. They’re going to labor camps, which Wilf recognizes as the first step to fascism that he fought against before. Later that night, Wilf and Donna relax by the fire as he looks through his telescope. While trying to find Orion, the stars vanish from the night sky. Donna finds Rose and tells her that she is ready.

They hitch a ride with UNIT to a warehouse filled with computers, mirrors, and the TARDIS. The police box was salvaged from the Thames wreckage, and when Donna goes in, she finds it cold and dark even though she’s amazed. The ship is dying but still trying to muster the energy to help.

Using that energy, Rose is able to show Donna the insect with a circle of mirrors. The beetle feeds off time, specifically from decisions not made. By turning right instead of left, Donna has given the beetle a temporal smorgasbord. Rose recognizes that both the Doctor and Donna are necessary to stop the stars from going out. Scared out her mind, Donna asks what she can do to help.

Rose tells her that Donna needs to travel through time.

After a quick briefing, Donna steps back into the mirror circle – which is actually a homemade time machine – with the intent of changing her car’s direction. The machine is activated, but Donna has the revelation that she still has to die to save the world.

She materializes on a sidewalk in Sutton Court, half a mile and three minutes from her destiny. She starts running but soon realizes that she won’t make it in time. With the revelation echoing in her mind, she understands what she has to do.

She steps out in front of a truck, sacrificing her life to cause a traffic jam. As Donna dies, Rose whispers two words in her ear as a message for the Doctor, and Donna Noble turns left.

The insect falls off as the reset button is pushed. The Doctor comes in as the fortuneteller runs off, and Donna wraps him in a hug. They examine the insect as they talk about Donna’s adventure and her knack for finding parallel worlds. The Doctor wonders about the coincidences in their travels together, and when he calls her brilliant, Donna remembers Rose.

Except she never knew Rose’s name.

But she does know two words: Bad Wolf.

The Doctor rushes back to the TARDIS, seeing “Bad Wolf” everywhere. Inside, the console room is bathed in red light and the Cloister Bell is ringing.

The end of the universe is coming.

This “what if” story is a great dark tale that is really just a setup for the season finale. We get the greatest hits of the Tenth Doctor’s saves of Earth without seeing much of David Tennant at all. He was filming Midnight while Catherine Tate was engaged on this “Doctor-lite” adventure, one in a similar vein to Love & Monsters and Blink, but with a much darker direction.

It’s also a tease for the all-star cavalcade to come with nice touches for each mention: Martha’s theme and a pop of the Torchwood theme accompany their non-appearances, and the news report surrounding Sarah Jane’s heroic death mentions her employment with the Metropolitan, which is where she mentioned working to the Third Doctor in Planet of the Spiders. Rose obviously gets her theme throughout.

Catherine Tate sells this story, from Donna’s depression as the planet falls apart around her to her abject terror when she finally sees the time beetle on her back, which finally pays off the prophecy from The Fires of Pompeii. Her acting skill is just amazing and is showcased by not being overshadowed by or in competition with Tennant’s energy.

Rating: 4/5 – “Would you care for a jelly baby?”

UP NEXT – Doctor Who: The Stolen Earth and Doctor Who: Journey’s End

#Doctor Who #Tenth Doctor #Timestamps Project

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