I think what gets problematic in topics like these is that it shows up on who_daily, and in this case, under the provacative title you provided. So not only do people approach this topic in your journal as one would an open discussion, but also in a common fashion many try to say their point. I don't think any hostility was intended and parrotfish did provide an existing viewpoint many fans, especially classic fans, do hold of the series.
Both of you represent opposite spectrums of WHO viewers, and I think its important to the question you pose that both your arguments get introduced. I can agree that Rose is being made by the writers to be regarded as different and special, but its not that Martha only existed for that type of suffrage as a character.
Martha and her family did not get the intense focus that Rose had, yes, but in season 3 the paradigm switched to being more the Doctor's story than the companion. And that was an existing complaint some had with the show as it progressed into season 2. Rose Tyler as a character, benefitted as being the jumpstart companion to NuWho, because it was necessary to re-introduce the Doctor through her eyes and see the pros and cons of travelling with him as it impacted her and her family... but then you get a sense of the same with Martha and her family as they represented [as stated by Russel] a much darker and negative repercussion of being acquainted with the Doctor. So maybe Rose and Martha had the same substitive intention by the writers, just Martha's was less overtly detailed.
As for Martha alone, she did get a bit horse-kicked in the gut over being made to feel a substitute to Rose as represented in S-Code and Gridlock, and that did shake her sense of competancy throughout the season. However, she had many significant moments outside that poorly-concieved sub-plot that helped give her an identity, as well as being a clear deviance from the choices that Rose made. Martha, at the very least, ended the season with many obvious developments that showed how different and separate her storyline was to her predecessor.
Ultimately though, as much as it can't be argued that Rose holds a significant place with the Doctor, it equally can't be denied that Martha has her own place in the canon of the show, or else RTD would not have furthered her character in the franchise by putting her in Torchwood, as well as bringing her back as the Doctor's companion in season 4.
And that's another note of the susbtitiveness of Martha's design, because within one season, she has the plausible premise and development to be able to have her own adventures without the Doctor in another show. Russel can be accused of not delving deep enough into her character, I agree. At certain times, you only saw glimpses of her motivation. But he also didn't strip-mine her either, which leaves her as having untapped material to be delved out in other areas too. JMO~
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Both of you represent opposite spectrums of WHO viewers, and I think its important to the question you pose that both your arguments get introduced. I can agree that Rose is being made by the writers to be regarded as different and special, but its not that Martha only existed for that type of suffrage as a character.
Martha and her family did not get the intense focus that Rose had, yes, but in season 3 the paradigm switched to being more the Doctor's story than the companion. And that was an existing complaint some had with the show as it progressed into season 2. Rose Tyler as a character, benefitted as being the jumpstart companion to NuWho, because it was necessary to re-introduce the Doctor through her eyes and see the pros and cons of travelling with him as it impacted her and her family... but then you get a sense of the same with Martha and her family as they represented [as stated by Russel] a much darker and negative repercussion of being acquainted with the Doctor. So maybe Rose and Martha had the same substitive intention by the writers, just Martha's was less overtly detailed.
As for Martha alone, she did get a bit horse-kicked in the gut over being made to feel a substitute to Rose as represented in S-Code and Gridlock, and that did shake her sense of competancy throughout the season. However, she had many significant moments outside that poorly-concieved sub-plot that helped give her an identity, as well as being a clear deviance from the choices that Rose made. Martha, at the very least, ended the season with many obvious developments that showed how different and separate her storyline was to her predecessor.
Ultimately though, as much as it can't be argued that Rose holds a significant place with the Doctor, it equally can't be denied that Martha has her own place in the canon of the show, or else RTD would not have furthered her character in the franchise by putting her in Torchwood, as well as bringing her back as the Doctor's companion in season 4.
And that's another note of the susbtitiveness of Martha's design, because within one season, she has the plausible premise and development to be able to have her own adventures without the Doctor in another show. Russel can be accused of not delving deep enough into her character, I agree. At certain times, you only saw glimpses of her motivation. But he also didn't strip-mine her either, which leaves her as having untapped material to be delved out in other areas too. JMO~