Just so people are clear the above spoiler spoils the END OF THIS SEASON.
In response to it: there is
spoiler an in story reason, and in fact a pretty darn final one. Companions often come and go.
Wikipedia explains the actresses reasons as best as anyone knows: just search for Billie Piper.
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The Stephen Moffat episode is 2.04 ‘The Girl in the Fireplace’. It was my favourite episode of Season 2.
I"m sorry – I observed it without looking for it, and thought it was pretty ubiquitous (translate that as general knowledge that was already quite out of the bag) – didn’t mean to openly post spoiler info.
This one was all right. Some of it seemed kind of off to me, but on the other hand it was closer to what I would consider the “classic” series to be like. Rose annoyed the snot out of me with her attempts of “not amused” with the Queen. I really liked their portrayal of the werewolf, I thought it looked better than the one they had on Buffy or even in Harry Potter…
But next is Sarah Jane!
I just saw this ep, and I have to say, I might be in the minority here, but I loved it!
I was a bit skeptical watching the preview–I don’t usually care for horror-fantasy intruding on science fiction. But this was so well done: consitently creepy and tense, great special effects, lots of insights into the new Doctor, goofy humor that almost never detracted from the scares, and David Tennant with a Scottish accent. (I assume that was his natural accent, yes?)
The new Doc’s a bit dodgy, IMO. He really is rude, which I don’t mind, but a bit juvenile, too. He and Rose kept giggling like school kids! That said, I may not like the new persona the way I liked number Nine, but I enjoy watching him. After the Harriet Jones thing, it seems to be a deliberate choice to make the Ten a bit unlikable, and I’m interested in where they’ll take the character. I hope he has a nice story arc like Nine did (but much longer.)
Anyway, I’m not easliy creeped by TV shows or movies, but this kept me rivetted. I should have cottoned to the ending much sooner than I did (like, right away), but I was so entranced, I didn’t. Bodes very well for the rest of the season, I think!