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The climax of Season IV is bigger and bolder than ever before. In the end Davros and the daleks are defeated of course. But the manner of the defeat is extraordinary. But behind all this is a second story and it's not one of victory. You have to watch the episode to get a feel for it: it's space opera to be sure. Overall, quite a strong episode, if a little erratic with all the action and companions.

The Doctor does not re-generate (as predicted) instead using the energy to heal and diverting the rest into his spare hand. But this has enormous consequences. When Donna touches the hand, we get a two-way meta-crisis. A second 10^th Doctor is created - who is half-human - and Donna takes on Time Lord knowledge. This is the key to victory but also to the saddest ending for any companion - Donna must lose all recollection of her time with the Doctor in order to save her mind.

A key theme of this season has been what is so special about Donna. It all comes to fruition here as it turns out she's the most important woman in the universe - the one who saves the universe from destruction.

The return of Davros was brilliant. His portrayal was superb acting, but his actions were equally powerful. Davros forces the Doctor to look at who he is - the man who is always running and never looking back for fear of shame. He never carries a gun but his companions are weapons. And many have died in his name. And the climax where Davros names the Doctor forever as "The Destroyer of Worlds" is simply chilling.

It seems this is truly the end of the daleks (although can you ever be sure). Dalek Caan, saw the whole of time, the whole of dalek history and the suffering they caused and decided "no more". He betrayed his race and brought all the timelines together to ensure the daleks' destruction.

The final scenes are poignant. The minor companions go their separate ways. But Rose and Donna are more special than that. Rose must be returned to own world. The Doctor forces his clone to stay there too as punishment for his genocide of the daleks. He asks Rose to help him in the way she helped himself. Rose demands to know the Doctor's answer to her statement of love for him at the end of Season II. The Doctor gives a not-an-answer: "does it really need to be said". The Doctor's clone whispers in her ear - we can only assume her love is requited. Donna's departure as outlined above is simply sad (even cruel).

The undercurrent of pathos and sadness is quite strong and once again at the end the Doctor is alone once more. It seems for all his knowledge and power, happiness eludes him.