Donna: "I saw the Doctor" Dr. Moon: "Yes Donna, and then you forgot" -The Forest of the Dead

And now you know why River looked at Donna like she did

F*cking Wilfred and him being the greatest human to ever exist and making me cry so much

"I saw the truth of us, creator! And I decreed, 'No More'!!" Even back then...

"Why do you watch us watch this?" Because I get to see both sides of myself. The side who has seen and the side who saw it for the first time.

Heartbreaking at the halfway point in this video. Paula smiling with joy at the antics of The Doctor-Donna, and Katrina holding back the tears because she knows what it means.

She would never remember, the choice was for her to die or lose the memories. Either way, she doesn't get to remember. This way she has the chance to find happiness again, and she's already shown she is capable of that development.

Davros: "The reality bomb." Paula: "The what-what??"

Sadness generates rain. That's just science.

The best part of this for me was the contrast of reactions when Donna gets up and starts spouting all the techno babble at 7:12. Paula looks confused, into relieved, then into impressed, whereas the moment Donna starts talking, Katrina's face just filled with sorrow over the knowledge of what this meant. Great reaction. Also, at some point around when you watch the 50th anniversary special, if you have space in the schedule, you and your dad should watch "An Adventure in Space and Time." It was created for the 50th, and is universally praised, often called the best thing to come out of the anniversary. I think it's something that you'd both really love it

The best companion ever has her mind wiped breaking my heart and then along comes Wilf to smash it to pieces. Gotta love this show. Loving the tears gals.

"I saw the truth of us creator, and I decreed: No More!" No More. Wonder where in the time stream he picked that up...

Osterhagen = Earth’s gone

8:56, No More? Where did he pick that line? Of a Graffiti?

I liked watching Katrina during this, you can see on her face she knows what's coming and it hurts even from the future

If Paula ever watches classic Who it's a must that she sees Genesis of the Daleks,from Davros first appearance to the development of the Daleks as a genuine threat to the Time Lords. Not to mention Elisabeth Sladens performance as Sarah Jane.

Donna's story breaks my heart. Every time. I think it broke something inside the Doctor as well. Because he goes to a pretty dark place from here.

Goddamn still brings tears to my eyes when he makes Donna forget, I've seen it a billion times and it still gets me more than any other (modern) companion's departure

That last shot kills me. After a whole episode of Jim and his 'family', the biggest family on earth according to Sarah-Jane, and the last shit us him in the tardis all by himself

“This is my final victory Doctor. I have shown you...yourself.” I really don’t think this scene gets the respect it deserves, especially in relation to 10’s development and the you-know-what in Special 3 generally takes the cake for this but Davros’ speech here also has a part to play. The Doctor goes through the universe as the Last of the Time Lords, a being that some might call a god for so great is his power, yet he spends his time with creatures with the lifespans of ants in comparison - humans. They are his anchor, they ground him and keep him honest as Donna so beautifully shows through this series. But like Martha said in The Sontaran Stratagem, the Doctor is like fire; stand too close and people get burnt. And what do we see happen? People change with the Doctor. Rose was willing to sacrifice her family because she was addicted to him and Donna was robbed of who she was because she was too close to him. Only Martha who left on her own terms was relatively unscathed. So the obvious choice is to simple travel alone, right? Never take anyone on and never bring anyone into danger again? Well, as the previously shown Fires of Pompeii showed, and the upcoming Waters of Mars will show, this isn’t a solution either. When the Doctor is alone, he becomes a god and forgets that he needs to be grounded. He becomes aloof and uncaring for mortals when he interferes. Is the solution then to not interfere? No, because then how much chaos might Davros and his ilk wreak if they were left unchecked? The Doctor needs his companions as a campfire needs to burn in order to keep people safe from predators. But the closer you get to the fire, the more danger you’re in than if you leave the camp. It’s a vicious, dark cycle of the Time Lord’s life and yet a constant nevertheless.

That ending. 😢 Probably the hardest-to-watch companion departure to date-- Classic Who included. But the tragedy is so beautifully done, we have no choice but to watch.

The actor that played Wilford was in the 1966 2nd Doctor Who Movie ...Dalek Invasion Earth ..2150 AD...played the main policeman helping the doctor.

16:05 "hopefully with less tears" Me: *knows whats coming up* Me: err nope

Love my Gallifrey Girls! Keep up the good work, ladies!

I always get teary eyed whenever Davros recognizes Sarah Jane from waaaaay back in 'Genesis of the Daleks' when she was Tom Baker's companion. Davros: "Impossible. That face, after all these years." Sarah Jane: "Davros. It's been quite a while..."

Farewell Donna, the best companion!! 😭😭😭

Donna is my favorite companion, her ending always gets me. A companion who was just the Doctor's friend... never been a big fan of the love stories, given how much of playboy Tennet's Doctor is. Donna was his chance for a real companion, an equal who he could travel the stars with and be happy, never alone again. So cruel.

Geez, all these tears at this episode. Excited to see the reaction to "I don't want to go"

"Why do you watch us watch this?" There's catharsis in watching people react to moments and shows that moved us. A vicarious thrill of reliving that delight/sorrow/shock. A sadistic "haha they cried as much as I did" or anticipatory glee in watching others in the moments before they are *wrecked* by great story telling. Just as Reactors form emotional connection to a show, us watchers form impressions of what sort of people the reactors are-- so just as a reactor might speculate on what's coming for The Doctor (Or Picard or whomever) we get to theorycraft a little as to how you'll react to the twists and turns of a show, then see if our payoff was right. Haha you both cried a lot, you big softies. I did too, and still did a little watching this time too. I'm one of the odd ones out that is not usually big on this Doctor or the RTD years broadly (though I think the backhalf of this season has an incredible run), but Donna was always always queen of my heart. Happy that you're back in the swing of things and I cannot WAIT for season 5.

Why we watch you watch the show is a good question. You'd both make fantastic companions. :) The simple answer is that it's the closest thing to experiencing it for the first time all over again (with the added meta of also watching someone who's experiencing it with someone experiencing it for the first time). I think it goes deeper than that too - there's a sense of common connection in seeing how we can each be emotionally touched in the same ways by the same things. Maybe there's also a tiny bit of validation in seeing that other people get so moved by a silly campy TV show as well. :) You both deserve special thanks after this episode especially. Kat for visibly working so hard to put on a brave face before the end for Paula, and Paula for exposing her emotional reactions in her always-genuine way.

In 1965 and '66 there were two Doctor Who movies which were versions of the first two Dalek stories on TV. They had a 'human' Doctor with a home-made Tardis travelling with his two granddaughters Susan and Barbara. Fan theory is that this was the metacrisis Doctor late in life!

"Who would invent something like that? Well, someone named Osterhagen I suppose." Why do we watch? Because: One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel. 💚👍👍

As sad as this episode is can we just take a moment to appreciate the Bada** that is Mickey Smith.

Totally crying with you guys. This episode gets me every time. Donna was my favorite companion, what a heartbreaking exit.

When Donna first came around, I wasn’t too fond of her. By the time we reached this point of the show, it broke my heart to see what had to happen , love this show and sometimes hate parts of it

This episode always makes me cry.

Just a wee FYI: there’s a cut scene on the beach, but it’s canon: the doctor gave human doctor a chunk of TARDIS to grow his own, so rose and the human doctor could go on traveling :)

The Doctor Donna was a great season arc.

When we first lost Rose I didn't think we were ever going to get a companion that I cared about as much as her. Then Donna came along and I instantly liked her cause of how well she and the Doctor played off each other. She loved him, it becomes so clear that she does, because he is her best friend. She challenges him, she doesn't just take what he says at face value and let's it go. Just like she said, sometimes he needs someone to stop him and that's what she did for him. She's loud and confrontational and unapologetically so, and she's soft and caring and you can see how big her heart is and I find that, while I've enjoyed almost every companion (with the exception of one of the next ones, but that's a discussion for later) Donna speaks to me in a way the others didn't. I cried when we lost Rose. I bawled like a baby when we lost Donna, and I think that that this is solidly one of the very few episodes of a show that will always make me cry no matter what. Man...I'm both excited for, and dreading, these next episodes

15:13 We watch you because, just like Davros shows the Doctor who he is, you two show US who WE are.

there is a great fan written thing out there where on Donna's deathbed, the Doctor visits her and restores all of her memories, you two would love it

Katrina's poker face during this episode was non-existant 😭 I hope you guys hugged it out of this video ❤️ and we watch your reactions because you basically show how we all feel glad to have my gallifrey baes back 😍

Another excellent reaction to an amazing finale. You girls always brighten up my week! I remember when this aired. I was 8, my sister was 5. For the whole week between the previous episode and this, all everyone in school had been talking about was what would happen next episode. It was incredible and mind blowing. As someone whose dad had always take favour Davros from the Classic show, there was no better way for this series to end for me. I love this episode and your reactions to it! "The show runners don't wanna let the Doctor be happy"- That's British TV for you. No one can be happy or fun, we are perpetually pessimistic, we require bad things to happen.

I did not expect to cry over this episode ONCE AGAIN today.

OHHHHH, I've been anticipating and dreading this part. *tears* I hate what happened to Donna so much. Her ending is the saddest of all companions.

Donnas Grandad Bernard Cribbins died last week. He was great in Doctor Who, among many other things.

The ending of this episode is probably the most heartbreaking for me in the entire New Who run. Kills me every time.

Oy, this season!! Just watching you watch, I balled my eyes out yet again. So sad, but it’s such good storytelling.

I am sobbing with you. I love to see such genuine reactions. I also love Donbas story.

Everything ends, and that's always sad. But remember that everything begins again too, and that's always happy. So be happy.

RIP Doctor Donna's character development. And, yes, Wilf is great. :)

We watch you watching 'Who' because you two are awesome! One small fact. Did anyone notice the small silver badge on Wilf's hat? That's the badge of the Parachute Regiment of the British Army and you're only entitled to wear it if you're qualified as an Army Paratrooper. Which Bernard Cribbens is; in 1947 when he was 19 years old he was conscripted into the Army, completed the parachute course and served for 18 months.

Seeing this episode again made me shed a single tear 😢

You made it, you made me cry over the dead of Doctor-Donna again 😭😭😭

Why do we watch you watch this? Because of reactions like this one. The depth of the emotion you display is beautiful in its way. Proof that compassion and empathy still exist in the world. And, though it has a tragic ending, what a character arc for Donna! When she debuted she was a very loud, self centered character. We've seen her plead for the people of Pompeii to be saved, be outraged by the abuses suffered by the Ood, seen a vision of the family she desires most in the Library, sacrifice herself to save our timeline in Turn Left and realize her own self worth here. She went from the slightly annoying Runaway Bride to the woman we all mourn here. And we'll see the impact of her loss on the Doctor for the next few episodes. Great stuff!

There is a cut scene where the doctor gives a piece of Tardis Coral to rose and the meta crisis doctor so they could grow their own Tardis

I don't know if you're aware but, as you said the ending made a change from the usual cliff-hanger "What?!" endings, there IS an actual alternate ending out there where exactly this happens. I won't spoil the next episode for you but the main baddies in that episode appeared in the TARDIS behind the Doctor right at the end. That ending was filmed and is on the Season 4 DVD/Blu-Ray boxset.

Aww, look at those poor faces.... Plenty more teary eyes to come ay Katrina, plenty more.

One of my top 3 saddest D.W. moments. And the saddest companion departure for sure.

How dare you make me wait the entire Christmas break for a Journey's End reaction. >:(

ah the feely feels of this episode, it still goes down i think as the best ever episode of Doctor who

This ending makes me think of the title of a song by Gilbert O’Sullivan. Not the song itself. It’s called Alone Again Naturally. Gilbert says that there are more hearts that need to be mended. He also thinks about plummeting from a high tower.

So close to the end. And also the beginning. Wonderful as always.

Donna is by far and away my favourite companion from the new series, and her ending is truly tragic. I was distraught when this first aired. Great reaction :)

Each series should have at least one appearance of of Wilfred Tell all your troubles to Wilfred

There are always going to be tears, eventually. Dr. Who does that to us.

Regeneration, forced separation, family trauma, memory loss, first 4 seasons have cheerful finales don't they

Donna was the best of all the companions. No romance, not idolizing. She challenged him and grew to be a better person. She was amazing.... and now SHE'S COMING BACK! Donna returns in 2023. You can't keep a good comp down.

So wonderful to see a newbie reaction and a rewatch reaction at the same time :-) Can't wait for your next reaction!

Why do I watch you two? To see your tears when this show breaks your hearts! And also for the shocked looks when something surprising happens. BTW, you aren't the only ones tearing up during this episode. :(.... Katrina, if you remember my theory on how these shows were planned out, go ahead and tell Paula about. And the theory still holds for Tennant's last episode, if you understand it correctly. Like I mentioned, I figured it out by the end of the second season.

Missed you guys! I hope you had a great holiday and have a very Happy New year.

I love this story. One of my favourite stories of all time

And people say, "why do you watch Doctor Who? It's just a kids' sci-fi show". I don't think I've ever cried so much over any other TV show or film. I've seen this ep at least a dozen times and I still have to pause the vid to wipe the smears off my specs. I empathise with Donna much more than I do with Rose or Martha - the Doctor-Donna is my favourite combination since Sarah Jane and the Doctor, back in Classic Who.

I know Catherine Tate is mostly renown as a comedic actress (& comedian?) in England (& Europe?), but she totally NAILS those dramatic scenes! Examples; That scene in Forest of the Dead (where her 'children' disappear) & now THIS episode where the Doctor 2 rips away her protective shell & exposes her rampant insecurity & deep rooted inferiority complex. Both scenes were TOTALLY heart rending. (In NO small part due to C.T.)

Cried like a baby. Same as every. Other. Time. I love watching this with you two.

I cant speak for every one but i watch the reactions (not only yours) because i own all of the new series and have watched it over and over (old man here) and it still brings a tear to my eye. Its like watching it with someone in the room with me. ..... and dont forget .. he will knock four times.

I'm sick and watching this has made me sob, which is good because I need to get all this ick out of me but UGH it's so sad.

Travelling the stars to see cataclysmic events on an unimaginable scale with my own eyes, witnessing the primordial creation of worlds and the cruel continuous distancing of space and matter and the start of new life in the most impossible of places is but a minuscule part of what travelling in time really means to me. What is Time? Time is amazing in all it's grandeur. Time is magnificent and splendid, surprising and unpredictable, ruthless, merciless and back in time is where I'd rather be when I wish I wasn't here. I see Time for what it really is. For what it means to me. Serendipity and chaos coalescing in unison, thus melding altogether in absolute and unabridged peerless pandemonium!

welcome back wonderful ladies. we are ready for some great reactions for the specials :D

Fun fact Ianto Jones is the voice actor of Solas from Dragon Age.

I'm finally all caught up! I'm gonna miss binge watching these haha. Cried so much during this one aaaaaah

If you love Wilfred (Bernard Cribbins) - and if you ever have the chance, check out British TV panel music quiz show - Never mind the buzzcocks (Doctor Who Edition). Bernard Cribbins is hilarious in that episode.

I hated that rose and 10.5 end! Arghh! Donna stuff broke my heart. I like to imagine the doctor showing up just before she is to naturally die, giving her all her memories back

Remember how we said this was the Endgame of 2008? Yeah, we meant in every way. A tough victory earned only with the sacrifice of our most beloved character. Everyone coming together to defeat a great evil, on what should be a gloriously triumphant note, instead ends on the most painful, bittersweet conclusion possible. Seriously, if the day ever comes when I can watch this episode without tearing up, someone shoot me because it’s clear I’m already dead inside. What REALLY gets me is the fact that Donna was smiling as she was rambling away and the Doctor was stone faced. Her human optimism that has helped her save the universe let her believe that she could weather this storm and survive but the Doctor knew it could never be. Those simple four words “Because there can’t be” break my heart more than even her sobbing and begging because she understands that she will have to die because of how unstable she is. And she would still prefer that than to forget everything she’s seen and done. Fuck me this will NEVER get easier. 😭 Donna was my absolute favourite character of this era and this TARDIS duo remains unmatched for me. I hate it every time it has to end but it couldn’t have ended on a more tragically beautiful, poetic note. Donna made the Doctor remember why he needed someone. ...It was only fitting they should end with her forgetting why she needed him.

Great stuff ladies. This episode ending is a kick in the... well, you know. Sad. I look forward to more of your reviews.

Hey, I just wanted to make sure you guys knew to watch the specials BEFORE season 5 🙂. They have to be watched in this order: The Next Doctor The Planet of The Dead The Waters of Mars The End of Time The End of Time Part 2 Anyways loving your content! Looking forward to more ❤️

I watch reaction vids because I'm the only Fandom-Fan in my family/peer group. There's nobody to talk to about all my favorite shows.

This episode really felt like the end of an era, It was as if the previous four series had been leading up to the moment of all the "children of time" standing around the Tardis console. It felt epic and triumphant and no other episode has made me feel this way aside from the 50th anniversary special. The way RTD was able to bring together all the companions and finish off all their stories is brilliant. I also loved Davros' return and using Dalek Caan as the reason to bring all the Daleks back, but also being responsible for their destruction is quite clever. I love how there is a consistent arc that you can follow with the Daleks since Doomsday. It all ties in together and there are so many pay offs here at the end in this episode. Some people feel the resolution is a bit of a cop out, but it works because it's the culmination of Donna's character arc. Donna's entire arc was centred on her low self esteem and her thinking she's "just a temp". When we first met Donna she seemed very shallow and materialistic. Throughout her time travelling with the Doctor, we saw her grow as a person and become better. Her moment in this episode was her finally realising her self worth and believing in herself. However, travelling with the Doctor has consequences, so she had to pay the price for becoming the most important woman in all of creation. It's like Martha once said, "he's wonderful, he's brilliant, but he's like fire. Stand too close and people get burnt." The Doctor's speech of there being "worlds out there, safe in the sky because of her." "They will never forget her, while she can never remember" is absolutely beautiful and poetic. Donna was always brilliant and special, it just took the Doctor to show her that. As for the Doctor, well all of this only emphasises how the Doctor always, no matter what, he always ends up alone. I love Donna's ending. I believe sometimes a sad ending is more fitting.

Welcome back Gallifrey Gals! I missed you

I feel you, Donna is my favourite companion after Rose and everytime i watch people react to this ending the tears come up. The showrunners back then were evil (but also very good)

Watching this episode is not only painful because of the whole Donna thing but also because of that German. I was laughing half of the time because of that. And that got all of my feelings confused...

So many tears.

Donna breaks my heart every time

I watch mainly cause I love watching people cry to it 😜

I've known this has been up for a week now but I've had to wait to watch this because I knew it was going to be emotionally devastating, and I was right. The end of the episode with Donna kills me every time. First time you think he's sad over losing Rose twice but the second time you realize he never takes his eyes off of Donna and it's not sadness but dread. He knows what's about to happen it's just a matter of when. He could tell her what's going to happen but doesn't because he wants to watch her in all her glory for as long as he can and let her live in the moment as The Doctor Donna.

I believe they did it this way so that at some point in the future the Doctor could find a way and restore Donna's memories. They could bring back Catherine Tate and just say the Doctor made a mistake but thank god he didn't just let her die.

FUN FACT: There is a deleted scene that shows the doctor giving a piece of the TARDIS to the Metacrisis Doctor so he can grow and have a TARDIS of his own people thought this would turn into a spin-off of some kind. it never materialized

You guys' reactions are beautiful to watch.

We are all emotional suckers when we see someone self sacrifice. greater good or not

Death probably would've been more merciful than forcing her back into the life she was so desperate to escape. I'm glad she's alive, but I'm sad for her at the same time. Thanks, Donna, we will never forget you