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An intriguing episode that explores what life on Earth would be like without the Doctor. As a result the Doctor appears only briefly at the start and end of the episode. The focus is on Donna and how a single decision changed her life and history to an extraordinary extent.

The episode begins with a fortune teller who somehow knows who Donna is and forces her to change the one decision that lead to her meeting the Doctor. Under the power of something on her back, which isn't seen to the end, but is clearly reminiscent of the spiders from Metebelis 3, we see how an alternate history unfolds. And it is depressing.

The Doctor does not survive the events of The Runaway Bride as Donna is not there to stop him. Martha Jones does not survive her hospital being transported to the moon. Sarah Jane Smith dies investigating. The Torchwood team dies saving the world from the Sontarans. The Titanic crashes into Buckingham Palace destroying London. The Adipose devastate the USA, preventing them helping out Britain. Britain appears to adopt Nazi-like tactics of labour camps. And finally the stars start disappearing.

After at least three tiny appearances this season, Rose plays a major role, although she will tell no-one her name - how Doctor-like. She makes several appearances cajoling and instructing Donna, until she is ready to help and undo her undone decision. The only way she can do this is by dying. The alternate history is undone. The beetle on her back dies. And the fortune teller is terrified of her - she is so strong. What will she become?

The Doctor appears and finds Donna. She relates the story. And then she passes on Rose's message. The Doctor realises who helped Donna. He rushes outside to find Bad Wolf written everywhere. The TARDIS' cloister bell is ringing. The Doctor announces it is the end of the universe. A gripping finale.

So many interesting things in this episode:

• The huge number of cross references to people and events from other episodes. Very un-usual.
• How is Rose able to switch Universes?
• Another reference to the bees disappearing - what's that all about
• It is never resolved how the fortune teller knew who Donna was. And why it was so important she not meet the Doctor. Was this someone's plan or just prescience.
• Donna had something on her back - as predicted in in The Fires of Pompeii.
• Another virtual world was created around Donna. Is she more than an ordinary companion?