Doctor Who: Rose Tyler is My Hero (especially in S2)

[butterfly]

One of the reasons that I adore Rose Tyler so much is because she takes all the traditional stories and shakes them up.

She grabs the "hero's tale" and refuses to be a victim, a lady-in-waiting, or a femme fatale -- she refuses to simply be rescued and rescues right back with as much (or more) frequency. She makes the choice of danger over safety and chooses the adventure of the open road over the known security of hearth and home.

She takes over the fairy tale and uses it. She becomes power and time incarnate and it does not corrupt her (something that our resident Time Lord admits would happen to him if he dared wield that power). She's the Bad Wolf -- she eats little red-riding hood, the girl that she used to be, and creates herself into a woman, someone with both the power and the inclination to protect those she holds dear.

She laughs at danger while never failing to notice and care about the people who are put into danger. She inspires others into action and refuses to let herself or anyone she cares for be less than the best of what they are capable of.

She takes risks -- including one of the biggest risks of all: love. She can stand up against the most powerful creatures and the most intelligent and potentially dangerous people who have ever lived and make them back down. She never lets her lack of schooling, other people's opinions of her potential, or her hair color hold her back from taking the universe on by her terms.

She grows up, right before our eyes. Her relationship with Mickey starts out so young and filled with pettiness and childish insecurities and it grows as the two of them grow, becoming a friendship that is much healthier and stronger than their relationship had been. She challenges the Doctor from the moment that they meet, punctures his ego, and makes him work to impress someone else.

She's a light in the darkness. Not just for the Doctor but for any girl or woman who has ever been told that she's not good enough because she's working class or blonde or unschooled. Rose is a light for any girl who has been taught that she should bow under the will of her family regardless of her own wishes and dreams. She is an inspiration for any woman who has been told or shown that men are the only ones allowed to be the heroes of the story.

Rose Tyler is a Big Damn Hero and a truly epic character. She is my favorite fictional character in existence.

(this post has been brought to you by the 'Rose Tyler is too awesome for an lj-cut' meme)

Comments

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

She's the Bad Wolf -- she eats little red-riding hood, the girl that she used to be, and creates herself into a woman, someone with both the power and the inclination to protect those she holds dear.
YES YES YES. I love that RTD twisted a fairy tale for her, and made her the Bad Wolf.

She takes risks -- including one of the biggest risks of all: love.
Yes. I am always blown away by how strong she is in that area. It's the place where it's hardest to be strong.

She grows up, right before our eyes. Her relationship with Mickey starts out so young and filled with pettiness and childish insecurities and it grows as the two of them grow, becoming a friendship that is much healthier and stronger than their relationship had been.
Yes. I love that their relationship was also about not growing apart. But just growing up, even though they had to be away from each other to become so amazing. It's a nice change to see that.

I FORGOT. or her hair color hold her back from taking the universe on by her terms. I snorted right there. ♥

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

YES YES YES. I love that RTD twisted a fairy tale for her, and made her the Bad Wolf.

That moment when she starts to figure things out, I got chills. "I create myself," remains one of the most stunningly beautiful sentences of empowerment that I have ever heard.

Yes. I am always blown away by how strong she is in that area. It's the place where it's hardest to be strong.

She's so brave -- not just for doing things like going back in PotW, but for asking the Doctor what she means to him in SR.

Yes. I love that their relationship was also about not growing apart. But just growing up, even though they had to be away from each other to become so amazing. It's a nice change to see that.

Mickey's hero arc is a pretty fun one, too. And I love how powerful their friendship ends up being.

I FORGOT. or her hair color hold her back from taking the universe on by her terms. I snorted right there. ♥

Well... of all the stupid things to slag someone off for, hair color is particularly stupid. Yet, sadly, far too common (as the show itself points out with the AnneDroid in BW).

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

She's so brave -- not just for doing things like going back in PotW, but for asking the Doctor what she means to him in SR.
Yes. And it's things the Doctor also needs to confront.

Well... of all the stupid things to slag someone off for, hair color is particularly stupid. Yet, sadly, far too common (as the show itself points out with the AnneDroid in BW).
I just. It's a hair color.

[amalthia]

well said. :)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I could quote this all, but this...

She can stand up against the most powerful creatures and the most intelligent and potentially dangerous people who have ever lived and make them back down.

Yup. Even the Doctor himself!

[unfolded73.livejournal.com]

*cheers*

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Well stated, fellow Rose-fan, well stated.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's it. She's not "chosen" or given superpowers - but she makes brave choices and she stands up for what's right.

She's a light in the darkness. Not just for the Doctor but for any girl or woman who has ever been told that she's not good enough because she's working class or blonde or unschooled.

YES. :D

[thegrungediva.livejournal.com]

You know, I hadn't thought about this. She's better than Buffy or River, because she kicks ass all by herself. No spider-sense, no invisible plane, hell, she doesn't even have a second heart like the doctor! Her own big heart is all she needs.

Wow.

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

And great timing with this, too. I was just reading a novel in which Rose isn't all Rose should be, and getting darn pissy with it. She's not wildly off, just not performing quite up to snuff. It's a Nine novel, so it's early in Rose's growth, but still. (Winner Takes All if you're wondering, and it's not as good as The Stone Rose by the same author. And in addition to Rose being off, it also has issues with heavy-handed foreshadowing.)

Anyway, thank you for posting this. I always enjoy a good Rose is Awesome rant!

[coneyislandbaby]

I love the different perspectives fandom has. That's my second favourite Rose novel characterisation (and the first is Only Human because it has Jack and Jack makes everything better) of the ones I've read. The Stone Rose comes in third.

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

Well, I probably should have finished the novel before complaining about it. She's finally gotten a chance to be clever now. And I loved Only Human! It might be my favorite, too, and not just for the regular characters. I adored the OC in that.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

*cheers*

Great post. Rose isn't my favorite character ever, but I like her a lot, and I can't believe the ridiculous ways in which supposed DW fans twist canon in order to come up with reasons to hate her.

[adelate]

♥

[nic]

The blonde thing. That's one of my FAVOURITE Rose features, because like her, I am an unnatural blonde and I love it.

[china-white.livejournal.com]

Lovely analysis of Rose. I agree, she's brilliant.

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

She's a light in the darkness. Not just for the Doctor but for any girl or woman who has ever been told that she's not good enough because she's working class or blonde or unschooled.

Exactly - and how many working class, unschooled girls do you see hating on her? Not many, because they're more likely to be out folding jumpers in shops than sitting in front of computers at college stirring fanwank.

So it's important to remember - as Tennant himself said in a recent interview the aren't just making the show for the few thousand vocal fans, they are making it for the public. And the public love Rose.

This is a really beautiful meta. I don't think the swelling wave of Donna love should put Rose fans on the defensive, any more than respecting Mickey suggests that Rose will dump the Doctor for him. In some ways Donna is the Mickey of Ten's life - starts small but grows enormously and is utterly loyal to the Doctor and his values, even when they cost her dearly. And I like to think that in some ways Donna is also a bit like Rose would be after 20 years or so with the Doctor, wise, compassionate and confident enough to be his equal and his conscience. She was well on the way to that when they were parted and if she returns the potential will be fantastic.

[danamaree.livejournal.com]

Not many, because they're more likely to be out folding jumpers in shops than sitting in front of computers at college stirring fanwank.

I'm not sure if that assumption is totally correct. I left home when I was 17, I didn't go to university, I spent most of my childhood in a trailer park, had to work as soon as I left home to support myself, I had three jobs at the beginning, I cleaned toilets, worked shift work at a toy factory and a the check out girl in the supermarket. And yet, here I am, on the computer, being all fannish, and sometimes I can be wanky too ;)

And, since I came from that background, I find that I can be even more elitist then the best educated upper middle class, because I know what white trash girls are like, ignorant, cruel and likely to be knocked up by the time they are 17, aka more then half my cousins.

Therefore, I find it extremely hard to identify with the so called 'working class' girls in television. Because I worked so damn hard to get away from that culture. And since most of the people in that culture have severe cases of tall poppy syndrome, complete and utter distrust of anyone who tries to get out 'Oooh, you think you're so much better then us'. Elitism does go both ways.

Fortunately Rose isn't anything like the working class girls I grew up with. She's an ideal of what working class girls are supposed to be. All air brushed up without the ugliness of low class, ignorance and distrust of anyone who doesn't fit into their little world*.

But isn't everyone in television land just like that? *shrug*

(*says the uppity little working class girl who tries to prove to everyone she's more then that, Mum always says if you fake it long enough you'll become it, I'm starting to wonder if that's true)

[onlyonechoice.livejournal.com]

As I'm now just starting to watch Season 2, I share this sentiment wholeheartedly :)

Well-spoken! I'd have more to say but I'm just waking up.

commenting again after a few hours sleep

[shaela]

And still, all I can think to say is “screw you, she’s awesome.” ;)

One of the reasons that I adore Rose Tyler so much is because she takes all the traditional stories and shakes them up.

Amen. And I love that it’s as much her story as it is his—and that if anyone’s story is about “growing up” or “going home,” it’s his, not hers. (She comes through the doors of the Tardis and wipes out a Dalek fleet. He comes through the door of her mum’s flat and sits down to Christmas dinner. And they’re both acts of courage.)

Rose Tyler is a Big Damn Hero and a truly epic character. She is my favorite fictional character in existence.

Mine, too.

[voldything.livejournal.com]

\o/

[katesutton.livejournal.com]

INDEED. I love that Rose is defiantly the hero of her own story. She doesn't defer to the Doctor because he's so much smarter. She refuses to be just an assistant. She won't ever let anyone else decide what she should do with her life; she just gets out there and lives the life she wants. Yeah, she IS a big damn hero, thanks.

[spookysen.livejournal.com]

I always like your thoughtful Doctor Who posts. Ty for sharing. :)

[threerings.livejournal.com]

*sniffles* That was beautiful.

[sundaydriver.livejournal.com]

She's the Bad Wolf -- she eats little red-riding hood, the girl that she used to be, and creates herself into a woman, someone with both the power and the inclination to protect those she holds dear.

I get chills sometimes when I think about what Rose did and the fact that the writers/producers went in that direction for her character. It's just so damn amazing. :)

She laughs at danger while never failing to notice and care about the people who are put into danger. She inspires others into action and refuses to let herself or anyone she cares for be less than the best of what they are capable of.

I love this aspect of Rose so very much. The fact that she focuses on the individual side of the universe, with so much care and respect, really does endear her character to me.

Basically, I loved your post and I definitely agree that Rose is utterly fantastic. :)

[coneyislandbaby]

Thank you for this. Just thank you *hugs*

[skybound2]

Wonderful post. I think this part summarizes her perfectly, though:

She takes risks -- including one of the biggest risks of all: love. She can stand up against the most powerful creatures and the most intelligent and potentially dangerous people who have ever lived and make them back down. She never lets her lack of schooling, other people's opinions of her potential, or her hair color hold her back from taking the universe on by her terms.

Excellently worded.

[amaya7.livejournal.com]

Thank you so,so much for this post! I love everything thing you said about Rose and it is all true. She is truly one of the best heroine's to come out of tv in a long time.

[tijsmans.livejournal.com]

I love this post! It's brilliant! And very true, all of it! Just so you know: I'm adding it to my memories.

[okelay.livejournal.com]

she is so awesome
one of my favourite phrases is
"The Doctor showed me a better way of living your life. You don't just give up.You take a stand. You say no. You have the guts to do what's right when everyone else just runs away"

who needs lj-cuts, Bad Wolf destroys them!

really,how amazing is the Bad Wolf thing? and who know how far it goes?

[jic]

She's awesome.

You're awesome. And eloquent.

[millylicious.livejournal.com]

I love this post so much I want to marry it.

[nostariel]

She takes over the fairy tale and uses it. She becomes power and time incarnate and it does not corrupt her (something that our resident Time Lord admits would happen to him if he dared wield that power). She's the Bad Wolf -- she eats little red-riding hood, the girl that she used to be, and creates herself into a woman, someone with both the power and the inclination to protect those she holds dear.

Holy crap. I've never looked at it that way before.

My mind, she has been blown. (O.O)

In a good way. :)

[fey-spirit.livejournal.com]

=) Now do Donna ;)