I can't even see where you see it. I see dissonance and inconsistency and something that attempts to detract from what the rest of the season is about. I see shoddy workmanship and a silly resolution. I see missing scenes that I would have enjoyed and scenes present that I found annoying and frustrating. Magic and illusion and nothing of substance.

I think it has everything it needs. Mickey is indeed a problem, but then it couldn't really stand having to deal with that as well so we assume that Rose got over her moment of angst and tried to make the best of it. We have the Doctor acting so like himself that it hurts (and hurts other people within the story), we have the compression of time to reinforce School Reunion, and a horse. Thematically, it's like the whole season in one episode.

I... don't see how you don't see it.


The Doctor loved her. Jack loved her. Adam thought she was cute. Most people they encounter don't find her irritating (Queen Victoria being an exception), but I don't see where we're meant to think that the universe is in love with her, or even a substantial portion of it.

Like you just said, the Doctor's in love with her, Jack's in love with her, no one ever calls her on anything other than Mickey. The emphasis on all the love does make it strange that she above all other people, no matter how interesting or brave or intelligent or whatever, is pretty noticable. We even have Sarah saying "you're clever" when nothing she's seen would vastly suggest that. Which is a symptom the tell-don't-show the series sometimes falls into with everyone, but as the PoV character it's just more noticable on Rose.