Do you think that it would have been more soap opera-y to end with just them standing at the wall? I've heard some people say that would be less sappy, but I don't really see how.
To me, no, it wouldn't have been sappier. I've seen a lot of companion departures, and many of them were a bit dramatic, but not quite to the level of the wall bit or the appearance on the beach.
Then, I had to take into account the reason WHY he went to the trouble to burn up a sun, to do what he never did or had a chance to do with so many of them before - say a proper "good-bye". Well, say a proper "good-bye" and have the companion REMEMBER it, at any rate. Sarah Jane thought he was dead because he didn't even take a moment to come back (which confused me, since she should've sorted out he was alive since he left her K-9). Rose never really said she knew he was alive after that. Sure the rift closed, but was it at the cost of his own life?
*also, I don't think the randomness took away from the drama of them moment, either. So it doesn't bother me--it's not like he's going to stop being sad about Rose just cause someone popped into existence on his ship. He'll still be sad, he'll just be somewhat justifiably distracted until he figures out what's going on.
It's a way to keep the story going, honestly. Maybe the Doctor will work through some of his loss issues with whatever the plot of the Christmas Special is. I've also read that the new companion isn't due to show up until Episode 3. To me, it suggests he doesn't want to take on a new person. Which isn't out of character at all.
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To me, no, it wouldn't have been sappier. I've seen a lot of companion departures, and many of them were a bit dramatic, but not quite to the level of the wall bit or the appearance on the beach.
Then, I had to take into account the reason WHY he went to the trouble to burn up a sun, to do what he never did or had a chance to do with so many of them before - say a proper "good-bye". Well, say a proper "good-bye" and have the companion REMEMBER it, at any rate. Sarah Jane thought he was dead because he didn't even take a moment to come back (which confused me, since she should've sorted out he was alive since he left her K-9). Rose never really said she knew he was alive after that. Sure the rift closed, but was it at the cost of his own life?
*also, I don't think the randomness took away from the drama of them moment, either. So it doesn't bother me--it's not like he's going to stop being sad about Rose just cause someone popped into existence on his ship. He'll still be sad, he'll just be somewhat justifiably distracted until he figures out what's going on.
It's a way to keep the story going, honestly. Maybe the Doctor will work through some of his loss issues with whatever the plot of the Christmas Special is. I've also read that the new companion isn't due to show up until Episode 3. To me, it suggests he doesn't want to take on a new person. Which isn't out of character at all.