Doctor Who 4x02 The Fires of Pompeii Reaction | First Time Watching 

Unfortunately, there are a lot of spoilers in the comments of this episode. I've mostly been staying away from reading the comments for this episode, which saddens me as I do love to read and reply when I can. When commenting, please can I ask that you don't mention ANYTHING past that particular episode you're commenting on. This includes future companions, doctors, if we will see X again... everything! Spoilers make the experience worse for not only me, but for you too. And I miss out with interacting with the comments to keep myself safe which results in a better viewing experience for you all 😊 My lovely moderators have had to delete a LOT of comments for this episode and it really shouldn't have to be this way. Thank you for your understanding 💜

“Pompeii’s nice if you want to make a vacation of it, but you’ve gotta set your alarm for *volcano day.”* - Captain Jack, The Doctor Dances.

The Doctor tells Donna he had been to Rome once before, and that he "had nothing to do with that fire." The First Doctor, William Hartnell, visited Rome in The Slave Traders/All Roads Lead to Rome/Conspiracy/Inferno. Episodes originally broadcast in 1965. Although The Doctor did not directly start the fire, he did hold a map a bit too close to an open flame, giving Nero an idea.

I love Donna so much this episode. Her insistence that the Doctor save SOMEONE, that the fixed point doesn't mean EVERYONE has to die, and she's right. It's beautiful, and it's something both she and the Doctor needed that day. But even more, I love her willingness beforehand to set the volcano off WITH the Doctor so he doesn't bear that burden alone. It's a monumental crime for the sake of the greater good that she commits with him for the sake of friendship, so it's easier for the Doctor. And she doesn't hesitate, and she does it out of compassion. Donna earns my respect forever for that.

Ten definitely needed Donna in his life. They have the best friendship. And Donna is just so good at making the Doctor realize things he wouldn't see otherwise.

This episode perfectly capitalises why the 10/Donna dynamic is my favourite out of any TARDIS pairing, because Donna challenges the Doctor instinctually. While all companions do challenge the Doctor, keep him grounded and remind him why he travels the way it does, I don’t think anyone does it as well or as naturally as Donna. To her, saving people isn’t an option or a choice or something you can leave to his spaceman code, it’s what you do because you have the ability and knowledge of how to do it. Her constant berating the Doctor about this point is incessant and no matter how he tries to get her to see the Time Lord view of the universe, she’s not budging. The clash between his big picture view of history and her very personal, on the ground view of the situation is characterised so well and you understand both perspectives perfectly so when the flip happens and it’s the Doctor unwilling to personally cause the deaths of all 20,000 people, it’s Donna who helps him enforce it because the rest of the world is at stake. It’s a tragic, heartbreaking choice but you understand why she accepts it needs to happen, much as both of them are distraught at the consequences of it. And right at the end, as the Time Lord returns to his detached, emotionless view of history, Donna still doesn’t let up and reminds him of why he travels the way he does - to save someone. In a series of consistent bangers like S4, FOP stands out early on as one of the most gripping, powerful and emotional stories of the era.

I love Donna so much. Every Doctor has a defining companion and I know some would choose Rose for the Tenth Doctor but, for me, it'll always be Donna.

This is a perfect example of why Donna is the best of all the new companions. She reminds him that he changes things in his travels all the time. And to stop pontificating about the rules he always breaks and just make a choice to do the right thing because he can. God I love Donna Noble.

The trope that the Tardis always seems to coincidentally end up at a time of trouble goes all the way back to the beginning, and generally creates the feeling the Tardis really goes where the Doctor needs to be rather than where he wants to be!

Calling the Tardis modern art is a reference to a classic storyline featuring Tom Baker as the 4th Doctor where it materialised in an art museum and critics started discussing it's merits as a work of modern art.

17:51 "Why am I crying so much when watching Dr Who?" C'mon Jules - you're not a newbie anymore - you've known since "Dalek"/"Father's Day" in season 1 that DW delivers at least a couple heart-punches a season... If Donna winds up your favorite companion you'll have a lot of company (myself included.)

Donna Noble = Woman Noble (Noble Woman), and her name is truly reflective of who she is. She's my favourite companion because as well as being utterly hilarious she has a strong moral compass that is presented in an authentic way. She has a lot to teach The Doctor, and vice versa; they're such an excellent pair. Doctor Who really gave Catherine Tate the opportunity to show her range and talent to a wider audience; she was primarily known as a comedian with her own very popular sketch show before Who. My god, though, her ability to portray serious, emotional content is superb! I'm not surprised you're crying! 💛

"I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate." 😂 I adore Donna. Also, one of my favorite lines from Ten: "I love not knowing. Keeps me on my toes."

This is one of my favourite episodes of the whole show! It's epic, tragic, but not without hope, as while The Doctor cannot prevent the thousands of deaths of those in Pompeii, he can at least save a few people, and that still matters. It's also where it really hit me for the first time just how *good* of an actress Catherine Tate is. She puts on an acting masterclass as Donna in this show, and in this episode especially! The scene where she convinces The Doctor to go back is brilliant! I *LOVE* that we have a companion who is completely unafraid to challenge The Doctor, but I love even more that she's willing to shoulder the burden of destroying Pompeii to save the world with him. I've been to Pompeii, as well as visiting Herculaneum (another town destroyed by the eruption) and the summit of Vesuvius, and it's quite a trip - couldn't recommend it enough! I definitely thought of this story at least once while I was there. One more fun fact: The family in this one - Caecillius, his wife Metella, and their children Quintus and Evelina are all characters from the Cambridge Latin Course textbooks! I used to attend Latin lessons after school for fun when I was in Middle School, so I was amused when I realised they'd reused the names in this episode! Peter Capaldi who plays Caecillius is also great! A very memorable actor!

I love Donna. I ADORE Donna. She is the absolute best, and my favourite ever companion.

Donna is one of my favorite companions. She's incredibly brave (for example, being laid out on an altar for sacrifice and quipping back with the Doctor) and aggressively compassionate. No powers, no extraordinary skills, but fastest temp in Chiswick. One of the themes I love in Doctor Who is the ordinary folks that join him on his adventures learn just how powerful they really are.

The chemistry between the Doctor and Donna is amazing. True friends, with a lot of bickering but a true connection - you're gonna love it. Brilliant episode this, with more insight into what the Doctor can and can't do, and a lot going on under the surface. Doctor Who has always played with your emotions, even at the risk of portraying him in a bad light at times, but always, ironically, human. He is not a perfect hero, and that is part of the strength of the show. Keep 'em coming Jules.

You're going to need those tissues a LOT this season! It is a masterpiece.

Donna Noble is a legend of a companion. Once they firmly established that there wasn't going to be some kind of romantic element to their relationship it really set the tone and allowed for something great.

This episode was a gateway to get my mom watching Doctor Who. Caecilius and his family were characters in the Cambridge Latin textbooks she used in school (though they made a few changes for this episode).

It's not a spoiler, but the seer with the red hair that was following the Doctor and Donna actually ends up being a Marvel character in the in Guardians of the Galaxy. Her name is Karen Gillian, and she plays Nebula.

I just adore this episode Jules. So much humour and emotion. Catherine Tate is fantastic, and the moment she places her hands on the plunger to share The Doctor's burden, is the moment she became my favourite companion. Every companion has an episode where they prove their worth, and this is Donna's. Loved your reaction Jules, as always.

This one was actually the very first episode I saw, and it’d be a really great one for anyone to start with. It’s got the Doctor explaining things about traveling in the TARDIS like the Translation thing and, of course, the rules of time travel; it’s got aliens mixed with history; it’s got Donna Noble being Donna Noble; and it’s got the Doctor being quintessentially the Doctor. Love it.

I'm afraid almostevery episode I'd expect to cry, very few non emotional episodes this season. Happy, sad, maddening, some of the darkest and most powerful I think!! Can't wait to watch em with you ❤

Donna is definitely one of my top 2 companions. I didn't even like Catherine Tate when she was cast. She had a comedy show here in the UK, which did nothing for me at all when it was first broadcast. But she was so good as Donna Noble that she grew on me to the point where I even started enjoying her show. If you haven't already seen/heard of it, look for clips on RU-vid. She has so much range!

The Verity podcast (a great Doctor Who podcast) often describe Russell T Davies scripts as "ripping out your heart and setting fire to it..." RTD is very good at putting us through the emotional ringer... Glad you are enjoying the journey.

perhaps the first historical episode that's not about fantasy adventure or a kind of meeting your idol thingy (like with Madame De Pompadour, Queen Victoria and Shakespeare) and it doesn't just capture the weight of the actual tragedy, but makes the doctor feel that weight as well, without jokes or attempting to lighten it or make it less serious. It's heartbreaking but I also kinda found it epic

That scene with Donna and The Doctor in the Tardis was brilliant. Tates acting was amazing there. This episode prove you cannot save every one but you can just save a family even in a fix point in time. Remember this episode because it becomes important later in the show.

Some day we’re gonna tell you to come back and re-watch this episode.

I was in Pompeii two weeks ago, and kept thinking, 'It's only two weeks until Jules meets Volcano Day'!

I think the people of Pompeii could've done with some REALLY sturdy umbrellas! I'm glad that Donna is growing on you and you're starting to like her already. She's my favourite companion of NuWho. And I agree, it's refreshing to see no romantic attatchment or subplot, just friends on an andventure together.

This show will make you laugh, make you cry, make you scream, make you hide behind the sofa and make you dance around the room. That's why we love it and we love that you're loving it too, Great episode, great reaction, Jules.

I think its quite unnerving that some bodies in Pompeii have been found completely covered in the remnants of the Volcano eruption fully in tact full of thick ash. Eventually the bodies would decay away but the shapes were kept of the people in their final moments. Mt Vesuvius has erupted many more times since with the last one being a mini one in 1944 and scientists think its overdue for another one. This episode has some good performances and this episode was recorded at Cinecittà Studios in Rome and even reused some of the sets from the TV series Rome which is cool if you have seen it. Some other scenes were also filmed in Wales and Malta which are very different locations lol. It was also the first episode filmed abroad since the 1996 movie

In classic who the Doctor actually indirectly gave Nero Ceaser the idea to burn Rome to the ground so he could rebuild it as he wanted lmao

Shoutout to amazing (and unfortunately necessary) moderators - Buffy and Dr Who both seem to have a bunch of extreme fanatics who struggle to let people enjoy the journey themselves. I totally get it, but I'd hate to prevent someone the joy of discovering a twist or plot throwback for the first time. I think classic Who references are acceptable though imho - 60-year-old spoilers aren't really spoilers and quite often fill in the blanks for younger/non-UK viewers who may not get some references. Thanks for the reactions, Jules, excited for more as always and fingers crossed the new format helps with the copyright police!

I love this show because this one episode in early S4 ties into a separate episode in S9 in such a perfect way.

This is such an incredible episode and one of my favourites of Season Four, which is saying a lot. When it first aired I was actually studying Pompeii and Herculaneum (another city destroyed by Vesuvius) for Ancient History in high school, so I was extra excited by this episode. I even tried to convince my teacher to let us watch it in class. 😆 Right off the bat you can see how Donna's relationship with the Doctor is different to the previous New Who companions, and both Tennant and Tate give phenomenal performances in the final act. Fun fact: The Doctor's joke about not starting the Fire of Rome, is a reference to the First Doctor story, 'The Romans'. There, the Doctor accidentally gave Nero the idea to burn Rome to the ground. Whoops!

Hi Jules, one of the things I loved about Dr. Who back in the very beginning (Classic Who), was the fact that historical events would be interwoven in some stories. If or when you react to Classic Who, you will come across several such historical occurrences. They potentially give alternate explanations for those events which are a fun thought. :)

If you ever watch Classic Who , you'll find that The Doctor has played a major role in humanity's history many times over.

In keeping with the Doctor being involved in historical events, there was a casually uttered line about the Ninth Doctor clinging to an iceberg after the Titanic mishap, which is now canon as having been caused by hia future self. Wibbly wobbly timey wimey goodness.

My necessities when watching Dr who, drinks, snacks, box of tissues.... I've watched this episode so many times, tears every time at the end....

Perhaps The Doctor was remembering what Mr Copper said in Voyage of the Damned, "But if you could choose, Doctor, if you could decide who lives and who dies... that would make you a monster."

this impeccable episode! it perfectly introduces shows off the dynamic with 10/Donna and her difference as a companion to challenge him at every turn and win ugh sooo good! YES DONNA BEING A FAV

Tears are perfectly natural with many episodes of Dr Who. I had some when I watched this episode too.

Dona is such a great companion. I'm glad you're having a good time with this show

I love the way the Romans are portrayed. It can seem at times they have imposed some modern things onto the Romans, such as the father not wanting his daughter to go out wearing the latest fashion, but there are some wonderful surviving documents, well tablets, that go all the way back to ancient Babylon, in which a father for example complains he pays a fortune for his sons' education, and all his son seems to do is sneak out school to hang out with his mates in the marketplace. The ancient Babylonian equivalent of hanging out at the Mall. Technology changes, society changes, people it seems, don't. And this episode rather nicely encapsulates that relatable human quality to the Romans.

I can't really blame Cycelious for buying the wooden box. If you could buy the Tardis and store it in your home, wouldn't you do the same?

So many people seemed to dislike Donna in The Runaway Bride, finding her too abrasive and shouty, and were dubious about her returning as the companion. But I feel this episode in particular put all those doubts and concerns to rest. Yes, she’s prepared to challenge and argue with the Doctor, which I find really refreshing by the way, but she also demonstrates exceptional compassion and relatability. Catherine Tate’s performance here is outstanding, and shows just what a talented and wide-ranging actor she is. You’re not alone in thinking she could be your favorite companion, and I can only say your appreciation of her is likely to only increase as the series progresses. Believe me, expect much laughter, but also the potential for flooding tears. Keep those tissues handy!

As I said before Donna is exactly what he needs, she knows when to push him and when to reign him in. The problem the doctor has is he knows the consequences of changing history, he probably knew the family wouldn't have an impact on future events so he took a chance and saved them.

18:07 Yeah. Like I said to you back in Season 2... Tennant's run is really hard as it goes on. A lot of fans were not happy when he left, of course, but... I think, when that time does come, it was the right time. Chris had the angst of the time war, but Tennant really carried it, and suffered with reflections of it, whether its in the Series 3 two parter, or The Master, or killing off the Ragnoss, or here... He keeps getting smacked in the face with the trauma of making that hideous choice. and his catchphrase very rapidly has become "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." How many times has he said that so far? It's beautiful tragedy, and any time I see a first timer watching those early episodes in season 2 and they fall so in love with Tennant, I actually get a little wet in the eyes. That romantic period is so fleeting... But that's quite like love in real life isn't it?

And here we see Donna's acting chops and character growth!

Its pretty hard to get me to like episodes about Rome in anything but Doctor Who does it. Also wow. The sparkles and watermarks. Looks very nice. I hope it works. I want you to take a moment and think about The Doctor's senses. The man can can feel the rotation and orbit of the earth. Not only that but he can sense fixed and fluctuating points in time. Also what's really amazing is this is an episode about foresight and the amount of planned and unplanned foreshadowing is off the charts. Can't wait to see more reactions. Especially for a particular favorite.

Being serious here, Pompeii is a pretty cool place to visit. One of the houses still has some intact pictures on the walls. Then you look closer to what is depicted, and you realize that you are in the town brothel, with the pictures showing the specialty of the room.

One of my favourite travelling to the past episodes 👌

Absolutely my favorite season and this is one of my favorite episodes.

You're catching me up on my re-watch. I watched this recently thinking it was a fairly middle episode but the power and angst in the ending with Donna screaming to save the family brought me to floods of tears. Genius writing and performance.

“I want a mate” “you want to mate!”

Yay! Welcome to Team Donna! And don't worry, there are some big laughs coming to balance the big tears

I didn't particularly like the idea of Donna as a companion when the Doctor invited her in The Runaway Bride. But the two remain my favorite pairing. What a great follow up to the start of the series.

This is a seriously undervalued episode. That scene with Lucius Dextrus and Evelina trying to out-soothsay one another is fantastic. I love how much you've become invested in this show! 😊

As I already posted under the last video: The Doctor + Donna = Perfection.

One of my series 4 faves this one. They'd already been subtly shifting Donna from her (IMO) slightly annoying start in "The Runaway Bride" but here, when she puts her hand on 10's to press the button together, with that one act she pretty much cemented her place as one of my favourite companions. (as she says, she's not a kid so though the _scale_ is vastly different, just like the Doctor she's lived a life, had her knocks and disappointments and so understands _some_ of how 10 feels. With previous companions there's been a sort of paternal, hero worship aspect to the dynamic but these two are more like squabbling siblings and i'm totally here for it :)

This is the episode that completely sold me on Donna, I liked her before in the Christmas special, but I knew this character was something special after this. Catherine Tate is such a great actress, not just comedy but her dramatic acting.

I love this episode but goodness me, one plot point really sits wrong with me. "The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano." The Romans knew what volcanoes were before Pompei. They knew Vesuvius was a volcano. They knew about volcanoes, and they had many words for them. Humans have known what volcanoes do for as long as humans have been living in the vicinity of volcanos. It's just a really wierd line, like it's making out Romans to be ignorant for the sake of explaining why they won't move away when you can just go to the actual reasons people didn't and sometimes still don't move away from volcanoes -- it's just not feasible pick up your life and move somewhere else, and you're not going to believe when someone says they're from the future and an eruption is going to happen soon. Especially if you believe that appeasing your god Vulcan can keep you safe.

Love your reaction to this. You have a bit more insight than you may realise. Lots of clues for the future in this episode

There is something so special about The Doctor and Donna !

Early in most of RTD's seasons tended to be fluffy. And made it look like S4 would have been as well. And I don't think that's a bad thing. But then Fires of Pompeii happened and... Showed we were getting something else this season. My only thoughts about the episode I can't go into until later in your journey. Remind me later if no one beats me too them.

Ah, we finally have gotten to Volcano Day. Sweet.

"Water can boil!" I wish I can scream to people like that, just with the exact quote. XD Also, the line ""It's not fair" by Donna, I have use that line countless of time everytime I see a tragic that happened when I was other TV Shows... the sad tone of "it's not fair..." makes me realise how great Catherine Tate is~

I agree about the sexualisation of the Doctor, it was never like that in the original era you will be glad to know, and while I loved Rose, it works best with companions as platonic, the Doctor is a god-like alien after all. As I said before he sees his favourite humans in the way we see cats, and that must be good. It still gets better.

Your reactions bring me so much joy!! I’m so glad you’re watching and enjoying this series. Been watching your reactions since ‘Rose’ & will support you all the way 😊

"I'm the Doctor and I save people."

And with that scene as well, it just make you wonder how long can Donna last with The Doctor. She now know that this life with The Doctor is not all fun and game.

I love how you laugh at these stories.

Ok, I've thought about it, and I've officially adopted you as my Doctor Who companion, and I won't take "No" for an answer !!! You are just an awesome, enjoyable reactor to watch, in general, but on this particular series ... the best !!! Now that we've gotten that out of the way, this was a great episode, showing all sorts of different things going on, and you were so funny, yet affected. I think the pair are a great couple together (well, not "TOGETHER"), and Donna is a blast !!! I've been busy doing other things and I'm trying to get caught up now, but things do pile up. I really like Donna, and it was great to see her take her character out for a stretch and show off her bossy and caring sides. She's makes for a great character and she is a great actress. Can't wait for you to see what's next 🤗🤗💕💕👍👍.

The acknowledgement that he needs someone is so important. He is living with trauma.

Ah, I love this episode. One moment, it's hilarious. The next moment, it's ripping your heart out and stomping on it.

This is a really interesting episode with how it explores the laws of time that the Doctor is bound by and how much it limits what he can do to save people sometimes, as well as Donna being very effective as a companion in challenging him and trying to be his moral compass, demonstrating why the Doctor needs someone. It was fun to have a little nod to a First Doctor story where he did play a role in accidentally giving the emperor Nero the idea to burn down Rome, with the TARDIS being treated as art being a call-back to a brief scene in a Fourth Doctor story. I guess by this point they felt able to start throwing in a few nods to old stories like that. I'm glad you like Donna so much. She might be my favourite companion from the revival, and as you pointed out it's nice that there isn't a romantic element this time. Even to this day she still stands out among female companions for not having anything of that nature with the doctor instead being friends who bicker good-naturedly and challenge each other. She has quite a story arc as well but obviously I'll have to let you discover for yourself what that means.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets a bit teary in Dr. Who! ❤

Fantastic it's more Doctor Who and he's in ancient Pompeii when the volcano is about to erupt, this is going to be a very good episode thanks my friend Juliette.🇦🇺🙀🙀🇦🇺

Hello Mrs Jules! Hope you had an awesome day today! Love your work on this second channel. God bless

Hi Jules! Always a pleasure!👏👏

Tears and joy will become a permanent feature in doctor who. Have tissues on standby from now on. The best tv around. Enjoy. X

Your reactions make me just so happy. I love watching you getting the joy that I did when watching through this show the first time. Never change girly

Hello, Jules.💜 A very late entry from me, once again. I continue to find it amusing that so many disliked Donna, in Runaway Bride, because she was abrasive. But they love her companion return - where I think it may be argued... she can be just as abrasive. I have liked her a along. Rose was so often very pouty/possessive, Martha was mopey and feeling sorry for herself. Donna makes sure the Doctor knows when she is bothered - and she is quite often bothered, mainly, as she is here, with the way the Doctor works, the things he accepts things as given.😅 She challenges the Doctor, often, keeping him on his toes, and, being a comedy natural, she is often quite funny.🤣 People will suggest you pay attention to the clues... but, when viewing for a first time, you cannot know what's a clue, and what isn't. They forget that one can only recognize its cluehood after seeing the referenced thing itself. They are so very happy to hop in and giggle behind their hand at clever little words, phrases, and quotes, or, in the worst case, actual answers, often way in advance, so the cleverness of the ruination can be savored by them for a longer time period. And really all this poking and prodding, and revealing gives you absolutely no credit for actually being able to pay attention to the episodes, and recall past events, whilst put together possibilities for yourself. Watching you enjoy an episode, and updating us with your "first-time" emotions, thoughts, predictions, and possibilities, are the best part of reaction videos - as it should be. One cannot truly recapture the first time feeling watching a reactor who has all pertinent facets of the series spoiled (some again, and again with glee, giggles, and oh look at me, I'm just really Enthusiastic)🙄 I wish you less spoilers, as this series continues, so you can return to the comment section without fear of having the next, 3rd from the last, all of series 5, or whatever down the road, episodes ruined, by "ethusiasticity" 🤔 Okay, I just hadn't stood on my milk crate for a while... I'm putting it away now.🤭 Great episode, lots of good moments and you Laughed! So how could that not be fun and very enjoyable. 🥰 Have a great Thursday evening, Jules,💜🤗💜 and I very much look forward to your next. Give a pat and a treat to all your crew - enjoy! Oh, I almost forgot. I honestly said to myself (aloud) - "I don't remember all the sparkles in this episode before. how could I have missed t... oh, I see..."🤣 A great effort at taking it to the BBC! Well done You!🙌🥰

Finally, the best Donna in the world is with us 😍😍😍 We have such a wonderful period ahead 🤩

This Season really slaps.

Fun fact: Caecilius and his family are partially based on real people who lived in Pompeii (though a few years before the volcano), but a lot of their characterisation is taken from the Cambridge Latin Course, a series of Latin textbooks for kids.

This season with Donna is the only one I rewatch via reactions now. It's the best.

The first doctor episode “The Romans” is a fun watch (even with its old time TV pacing). He had nothing to do with the great fire of Rome. Well, a little bit. :D. This was a good episode. And yes… doctor who has you laughing one minute and crying the next.

Another episode that always makes me cry... I love it.. and another wonderful reaction

Sometimes the doctor needs someone to tell him to stop, but sometimes he needs someone to tell him to go. Donna is, in my opinion, the best companion of all at both.

Awesome video as always!

Donna is my favourite companion and many other people's for good reason. The characters counterbalance each other and Donna's humanity helps bring out his better side. I like that shedoesn't automatically defer to him or worship him like so many companions. She's also very funny. When Catherine Tate was first cast, people mostly saw her comedic potential. However this episode shows what an excellent dramatic actress she is; the scene where she pleads with him to save someone brings me to tears everytime. The chemistry between David Tennant and Catherine Tate is wonderful; they are the best doctor/companion pairing IMHO.

OOO sparkles! this is a great episode! love the household gods! 21:30 thats why you cry. 👍600!

One of my favourite episodes, this one.

Donna is my favorite companion and her story arc is one of the best as well. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Donna makes me cry!

Ooh sparkles… hope they work Jules.

Of all the things he could have said about Martha, to say, "She fancied me." :(