Doctor Who: 'The Runaway Bride' and 'Smith and Jones'

[butterfly]

Original reactions to The Runaway Bride and Smith and Jones.

Below the cut, I'm responding to those episodes, but with spoilers for the rest of the third season and casting for S4.

The Runaway Bride

I liked Donna even better this time around. I love the backwards way everything gets explained to her (is she the first person to see the inside of the TARDIS before she sees the outside?). I love that she calls him a 'Martian' and that he's kinda at a loss with dealing with her, but in a completely different way than he was with Rose. I love, in fact, how intensely different from Rose that Donna is. But Donna, under her oblivious exterior, has real and true moments of insight. She sees more clearly in this episode than Martha does for most of S3 (and whether that's Martha's fault or the Doctor's is irrelevant, though I feel it's a bit of both -- he didn't want to tell her and she didn't want to know).

And she goes through so much growth in this episode -- my big hope, for Donna, is that they don't take any of that growth away from her. I have some faith that they won't, though, because they're doing well with that sort of thing.

I loved hearing him say 'Gallifrey'. I mean, they're setting up bringing the Master back, so it makes sense to make all these references and bring up the planet-death angst, but it was done so well. The Doctor's character arcs have all been done so well, all thoroughout the New Who. Dealing with the immediate agony of his planet coupled with falling in love, dealing with the darkness and inherent power of his position while fearing the loss of love, and now... after having lost the love he so recently found, he has no harbor to shield his hearts from the pain of losing his people.

So, while I'm on the subject of his grief for his planet, baffling thing -- I've heard it said (by non-shippers) that Doctor/Rose shippers should or could be mad at all the emotion and longing expressed in the relationship between the Doctor and the Master. This confused me for two reasons -- a) I haven't seen a single shipper express jealousy over the Doctor's relationship with the Master and b) I can't see why we would. The Doctor has this deep, twisted relationship with someone who is the only other member of his race. It has absolutely nothing to do with his relationship with Rose (I mean, not everything is about Rose). And Rose would have been just as compassionate as her fangirls about it, I think -- she would have been there, at the end of The Last of the Time Lords, to hold his hand while the Master's body burned. Seriously, though, I've seen that sentiment in a couple of places, and it's just baffling to me. It makes as much sense as the idea of Rose being jealous over him saying "Oh, Rose, they're all dead," in Dalek, which she was obviously not.

Smith and Jones

In balance, this was still a good introductory episode.

At this point, I was working on the assumption that every Rose reference was the last. Knowing that that's not true casts all of them in a stronger light. She'll always be in his hearts and throughout this season, grieving for her is something that's obviously on the Doctor's mind (as proven by Human Nature -- once again, the only two names he says, that he remembers, are 'Gallifrey' and 'Rose'. The two homes he lost.). Like I said, way back when, I'm glad that it doesn't cripple him (though it comes close a couple of times --  I really wish he'd had someone with him who had been willing to let him be human, but I understand why the show waited on that one, as his grief is a vital part of the season) and that he still gets the job done. Overall, I think that loving Rose will have made him a better person in the end, but you have to work through the grief first.

But Rose isn't mentioned by name until the end of the episode. Let's talk about Martha!

I've always said that if I understand a character, it gives me a much better chance at loving them. Also, it helped when I figured out that Martha is the Willow to Rose's Xander (not exact comparisons, obviously, and clearly the relationship between Willow and Xander is irrelevant). My big 'intelligence' distinction between Willow and Xander was to say that she was smart and he was clever. I feel that this distinction also works for Martha and Rose. Plus, Willow tended to be a more passive character than Xander, but would totally get things done when necessary. This explains a lot to me, as Willow was my least favorite Scooby for... most the show and I only genuinely started liking her for herself in S7.

And I did (and do) genuinely like and enjoy Martha in this episode -- it wasn't until her look after the kiss and then the way she acts in the TARDIS at the end that I started going, "Oh, dear." The unrequited aspect of her love is set up quite well (as is the Doctor's genuine admiration and affection for her). I think that... hmm... trying to figure out Martha's overall character arc is pointless, because it isn't over yet, but her S3 arc would appear to be about learning what she's capable of and what's important -- to take things seriously. She doesn't, for a lot of S3 -- she treats it all like it is (like it should be) a holiday. Like it's a temporary break from her life and when it's over, she'll be able to go back with everything the same.

But being with the Doctor even for as much as a day changes a person -- her family notices how much she's already changed in The Lazarus Experiment. Learning to take things seriously, like words. The whole season is about the power of words and names -- the names that the Doctor points out to Martha are all important -- Gallifrey, Rose, Daleks. At the end of the season, she's become someone who won't make the mistake she made at the beginning, assuming that the Doctor doesn't mean it when he says that the kiss 'means nothing'. She's learned that words are important and can shape things. That the stories we tell, whether truths or lies, affect the way we behave.

Words can doom the world or save it.

And, now, where Donna was a sharp contrast to Rose, Martha has a bit more in common -- especially with the interest in the Doctor and travelling with him. She's given a couple of 'mirror' moments, particularly in the very beginning of the series ('run', taking the Doctor's arm, wondering that she went off with a complete stranger). She's actually, technically, probably a 'better' companion than Rose -- she pays attention to the Doctor's instructions, doesn't wander off and get into trouble as often, is much more willing to ignore her family back home while they're off on adventures. If the Doctor had made a list up, before he met either of them, of his ideal companion, Martha would probably hit far more of the points than Rose.

If the Doctor was making up a list, 'jeopardy-friendly' and 'won't stay put' would decidedly not be on it. Having a mother and boyfriend who both end up on the TARDIS wouldn't be on it. Someone recklessly brave to the point of backtalking Daleks when she has no way of stopping them killing her would definitely not be on it.

Rose Tyler was awfully inconvenient for the Doctor. She was work. He had to put serious effort into impressing her and, even then, it didn't always work! She offered him a sympathetic shoulder, but that couldn't have felt terribly special to him when he noticed that she was pretty much that compassionate to every stranger they wandered across (including Daleks). She frustrated him, confused him, and threw him off-balance. He never had much (if any) control over her.

She listened to him when he told her about his grief. She understood when he told her about his people and his planet. She was kind, brave, clever, curious as anything (just soaked up knowledge). And beautiful. Canonically, the Doctor thinks that Rose is beautiful, that she cares, and that she's 'the best'. That she'd look at a strange situation and pick up on the odd thing that would solve it all. He believes in her ability to never be a victim, no matter what the situation is trying to do to her.

It would be massively, impossibly hard for anyone to live up to Rose. Martha figures that out (I think it finally *pings* for her in Utopia). You can't live up to a lost loved one. But what Martha finally figures out is that she doesn't have to. The Doctor only compared her to Rose once, in The Shakespeare Code, when it was her first day. After that point, Martha is the one doing all the comparing. But the Doctor clearly cares about Martha and thinks that she's grand -- calls her thinking 'brilliant' in Smith and Jones, in The Shakespeare Code, says, "Martha Jones -- I like you." When she tells him that she deserves better than always going on 'one trip', he agrees ("you were never really just a passenger, were you?"). He thanks her for saving him in 42, and for looking after him in Human Nature/Family of Blood, and (of course) for saving the world in The Last of the Time Lords. He likes her. He likes her a lot.

He just doesn't fall in love with her. And, at the end, she realizes that he doesn't have to fall in love with her. That Martha Jones can just be Martha and be good, without trying to be Rose. She does grow up there, realizing that giving advice is much easier than taking it. And I love that, at the end, they understand each other. Here, the Doctor says 'okay' and he and Martha are talking about the same thing (to contrast against The Lazarus Experiment). Martha gets to be intensely strong and mature in all of tLoftTL and when she walks away... well, I was glad to hear that she'd be back. And that's good. It's a helpful thing to like the companions.

Oh, and I still very much covet her maroon coat.

Comments

[librarianstales.livejournal.com]

I really don't see the point of the Doctor's relationship with the Master as something to be jealous over, but then I don't see their relationship as particularly shippy. The Master has, despite all the wrong he does, a special place in the Doctor's heart. The Master and the Doctor were childhood friends that went to school together. The Master was the only other Time Lord that the Doctor knew of in existance. The Master is, in short, the only Contemporary and, in some ways, equal to the Doctor. It's like my husband being jealous that I love my mother or my best friend. Yeah, it's love but of a different kind.

I never liked Donna and I really do hope my opinion of her changes in S4 or I'm not going to be a happy camper.

I do think Martha has grown up a lot in the last episode. I'm looking foward to her return. I'm also curious to see the rest of the Torchwood crew's reaction to Martha. Here's a girl that knows a great deal of those secrets about Jack that they all want to know.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It's like my husband being jealous that I love my mother or my best friend. Yeah, it's love but of a different kind.

Exactly. The two relationships are so different as to be completely incomparable. I was so baffled when I read those comments, because it's not something that even occurred to me and it still doesn't make much sense to me.

I do think Martha has grown up a lot in the last episode. I'm looking foward to her return. I'm also curious to see the rest of the Torchwood crew's reaction to Martha. Here's a girl that knows a great deal of those secrets about Jack that they all want to know.

Indeed! All the things that they've wanted to find out for ages, Martha found out within hours of meeting Jack the first time.

[dettiot.livejournal.com]

Word to everything you've said. You're totally right that Martha, on paper, is the better companion; she reflects all those things that the Doctor should want in a companion. But since he had Rose, he wants someone who's jeopardy-friendly, who isn't awed by him, who's incredibly compassionate.

And Donna! I'm someone who's really looking forward to seeing Donna come back, which isn't how I would have felt before series 3. But now, I think Donna is just what the Doctor needs, whether she helps him move on from Rose or slaps him into going to get her. It's a win-win, in my book.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Word to everything you've said. You're totally right that Martha, on paper, is the better companion; she reflects all those things that the Doctor should want in a companion. But since he had Rose, he wants someone who's jeopardy-friendly, who isn't awed by him, who's incredibly compassionate.

Yeah. He didn't know that he wanted someone like Rose until he stumbled into her life and she completely took him over. One of my favorite things about S1 is how often the Doctor is put a bit off-balance because of her.

And Donna! I'm someone who's really looking forward to seeing Donna come back, which isn't how I would have felt before series 3. But now, I think Donna is just what the Doctor needs, whether she helps him move on from Rose or slaps him into going to get her. It's a win-win, in my book.

Right -- after the tragic and dark turn his character took for much of S3, it'll be good to have a lighter season and I think Donna will give us that. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

[freeze883.livejournal.com]

"I mean, not everything is about Rose"

This bit stood out for me as I can't help but think it now and then when reading reviews and suddenly there is four or five lines about how they don't like how the show tells them that Rose is better than Martha/Donna/The Master etc.

And I'm like Huh? When did they mention Rose?

Now I love Rose Tyler and am so glad she was not forgotten and will never not be happy to hear her talked about but when the Doctor was crying over the Master I was not thinking "he didn't cry that much over Rose"

I remember someone put that in a review and seriously what?

How could anyone not be thinking awwwwwwww and getting upset when the Doctor was so upset, or maybe that's just my reaction to the Doctor

There seems to be a lot of Doctor hate around lately and I honestly don't get it, but Rose Tyler was my first real Companion (I watched the show before but took little notice) so I guess I was trained to see things like she did

Also I am so glad other people are happy to see Donna again (or will be)

And I like the Martha vs. Rose on paper thing

Rose was a bit crap really or at least on paper she would have been yet the Doctor finds the most human, human he could ever find with Rose and loves every second of his time with her (in my opinion)

[solitude-82.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of fanwank in general surrounding Doctor Who now and It really really makes me rethink my position in it. I can't stand fanwank normally, and fanwank of this proportion is even worse than usual. Everyone is so annoyed at how emo/sad The Doctor was this series and how he treated Martha so horribly and how he obviously must be racist and all this crap. Sorry, but in my opinion he had every right to be emo/sad considering he lost someone he loved very very much and he's not racist just because he didn't fall in love with Martha. There's nothing saying he has to fall in love with every companion and had he fallen in love with her, I would've seriously put into question his feelings for Rose as it was much too soon to be moving on. So yeah...there's a lot of Doctor hate out there that is pretty unwarranted in my opinion. And yes Rose was technically crap as a companion but I loved her a thousand times more than Martha (I'm not even sure I like Martha most of the time) and I'll always miss her.

[freeze883.livejournal.com]

See I don't think he did treat Martha all that bad, if he treated anyone really bad it was Jack

He kept telling Martha how great she was but as she wanted him to love her it was never enough for her

Not that, that was either of there faults, I don't think they blamed each other or did not enjoy there time together

I will admit that I loved Rose more than Martha, but I loved Jack, Mickey and Jackie more too, I did like Martha and can't wait to see her again but I don't remember her ever holding someones hand and tell them it will be okay

Which is the main reason I took to Rose in the first place, she cared about people

I was the same with Sally Sparrow (who some people hate for reasons I don't understand) she stayed with Billy so he would not die alone, something Rose would have done

What really upsets me is that a lot of "Martha" fans insist Freema got axed (some go as far as saying because she is black and that also makes no sense to me as it's utter bull) when Freema herself keeps saying it was her choice and it hurts her when people say she was axed

There is also a lot of anger at how Martha left, I loved how strong she was at the end and loved that the Doctor respected her enough to let her make her own choice

I mean what was he suppost to do?

Lie and tell her he loved her so she would feel better?

I don't get a lot of the anger over the show, I think it's great and everyone making it seems to love it

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I remember someone put that in a review and seriously what?

There are a whole lot of completely random sideswipes at Rose in otherwise completely mature and thoughtful posts. It's so odd, seeing people be that pointlessly petty. I... don't think I've ever hated a character that much. Even Cally, who I absolutely loathe on BSG, I only mention when she's relevant to the episode. I've never felt the need to mention hating Cally in episodes where she doesn't appear or does nothing offensive in (which... do exist).

I really don't understand people hating on the Doctor because he fell in love. Again, to go to other fandom experiences -- I didn't like Angel until the very end of S4 of Angel. Seven years, I disliked the character. Did I ever hate on Buffy for loving him and not falling for my boy Xander? Never even crossed my mind. I thought she had crap taste in guys, sure (even with liking Angel, I still think that, mostly -- at least, she tended for fall for guys that she ended up helping way more than they helped her), but that didn't affect my feelings for her character. It was just something I considered a minor character flaw. Some people have bad taste in guys.

Seriously, I don't care if other people hate Doctor/Rose. Whatever, man, right? Not my concern. However, trying to dictate whether or not I should like them is very much my concern. And being rude about it crosses the line. And I am seeing a lot of both of those in this fandom.

[freeze883.livejournal.com]

"There are a whole lot of completely random sideswipes at Rose in otherwise completely mature and thoughtful posts."

I hate to admit it but someone who I read reviews of the stuff each week suddenly had a random petty dig at Rose and I lost a lot of respect for them

It was basically they were not as moved by Martha's exit and somehow it was Rose's fault and it was so petty in what was such an insightful review

I didn't reply because it would have been petty of me but I can't help feeling a bit let down I guess, which is stupid as I have no right

Anyway I'll say it again, I don't get the hate, you (Butterfly, hi btw, long time reader, love your DW posts) have not liked characters yet you have never attacked them or the actors so why can't everyone else be nice like that

The DW fandom would be a lot more fun

[jedi_of_urth]

You put the Martha as very good checklist companion while Rose isn't but that's what makes her awesome thing so much better than I usually do and I've been thinking it most of the season. I could not agree with you more with everything you said there, so I think I'll let your words stand without adding to it.

And that "Gallifrey" and "Rose" are the Doctor's words of power is also an idea of been pondering on. This was the season of word magic, and those were his magic words, and they worked in pretty much all directions, you could attack him with those words ("Is that what you said to her?") they defended him ("That name keeps me fighting.") they weakened him ("Her name was Rose." "How can Gallifrey be gone?") and they could be a weapon (to the Racnoss, or unintentionally at Martha). They were the things he held on to, can't and won't let go of because they define him.

And I don't get why people think Doctor/Rose shippers would be upset by him caring for the Master at all. We know how much it hurts him that he's the last, we understood it, maybe because Rose understood it. He loves Rose yes, but that doesn't take away what he lives with regarding to Time War and I certainly understand how that defined his relationship with the Master; Rose wasn't a factor in that relationship and you know what, that's fine every other relationship this season existed in Rose's shadow, the one between the Master and the Doctor existed in Gallifrey's which it should.

[ivydoor.livejournal.com]

It strikes me that those wondering about why us Doctor/Rose folks aren't jealous of the Master. Maybe because, unlike the whole D/M ship, ours is based in canon as much as it can be. The production & writing staff, hell even the actors playing the Doctor, have all named her as the love of his life. Maybe because of that, we have a sense of security that they don't and therefore can't understand. I don't know.

Something else along those lines: that is a very black and white way of viewing the world. [No pun on the recent racial wank intended...well, maybe a smidge. ;)] They see it as all or nothing: "He either loves all equally or he loves one and feels nothing for the rest." That is an astoundingly, and dare I say inexperienced, way of viewing life and love. Love is not black and white, it's millions of colors and all the shades in between. It's not something that can be quantified. You can't, as you showed in your companion qualities lists, write up everything about different people and tick off checkboxes and automatically feel something for them. Love will not be contained by logic.

It was obvious he cared about Martha, what bothered me the most about that is the character development that allowed for that feeling to develop seemed to either happen off screen or was purposefully held back for the finale. It did not help me enjoy Martha. Even at the end, they did her a disservice by having her come back to say goodbye a second time. She could have said all that without leaving and coming back. I felt that by making her leave then return, they seriously undermined the effect of her words.

I am looking forward to Donna's return. She'll be one part mother hen, two parts drill sergeant, one part best friend, and all around fun. I can't wait. *g*

[jedi_of_urth]

It strikes me that those wondering about why us Doctor/Rose folks aren't jealous of the Master

I don't get it either. It probably would *never* have occurred to me that any one could think such a thing (even in terms of thinking someone else thought it) if I hadn't started seeing that concept referred to (by non shippers thinking they had any idea what shippers might feel and being so so wrong). I mean what is there to be upset about? That he cared for someone else? That he could be broken by something else? The Doctor I know would care and be heartbroken over the loss, I would have really questioned the writing if he *hadn't* been upset.

They see it as all or nothing: "He either loves all equally or he loves one and feels nothing for the rest."

Maybe that's it. I don't know, but I guess that would cover "if he cares for Martha then it's the same as Rose and if it's not the same then he doesn't care," mindset which is really faulty logic.

Even at the end, they did her a disservice by having her come back to say goodbye a second time. She could have said all that without leaving and coming back.

I'm of two minds on the second bit of ending, because I think what she said needed to be said to clear the air, but you're right that leaving and then coming back to say it weakens her earlier argument a bit. Maybe she should have done the Colombo thing and half turned to go and them remembered that there was just one more thing to say.

[ivydoor.livejournal.com]

I don't get it either. It probably would *never* have occurred to me that any one could think such a thing (even in terms of thinking someone else thought it) if I hadn't started seeing that concept referred to (by non shippers thinking they had any idea what shippers might feel and being so so wrong). I mean what is there to be upset about? That he cared for someone else? That he could be broken by something else? The Doctor I know would care and be heartbroken over the loss, I would have really questioned the writing if he *hadn't* been upset.

Right? Never occurred to me once to be envious of him. It really cracks me up that non-shippers make such vast and generalized assumptions about how we will or will not feel. Like we couldn't possible recognize the difference between John Smith and the Doctor when it came to Joan or how he could love Martha as a friend. Just because she's in love with him don't automatically make her entitled.

And as for the Master, he was an old enemy but he was an even older friend. Not only that but he meant the Doctor was no longer alone. I sympathized with the Doctor's longing for that connection.

And maybe that's where the differences lay. Maybe it just depends on where your sympathies are, the companion or the Doctor.

I'm of two minds on the second bit of ending, because I think what she said needed to be said to clear the air, but you're right that leaving and then coming back to say it weakens her earlier argument a bit. Maybe she should have done the Colombo thing and half turned to go and them remembered that there was just one more thing to say.

That would have been ideal, in fact I would have loved that. Then there would have been a sense of closure and complete growth. I just felt that with her little speech at the end fractured by exiting weakened the strength of her whole arc.

[jedi_of_urth]

Maybe it just depends on where your sympathies are, the companion or the Doctor.

And you know, for the first couple seasons there was very little difference. Rose cared about the things that were important to the Doctor, the Doctor cared about the things that were important to Rose; sometimes because they were important to the other one and they cared about them, and sometimes because they was important to both of them. Rose's family was his family by the end, the TARDIS was her home by the end. Whatever one went though, the other one was there with them (god, the more I think about LotTL with Rose in it the more heartbreaking it gets because then you have two people whose hearts are breaking), they reacted to similar things even if they didn't react the same way always and a lot of the time they did.

But this season, you really couldn't see through both sets of eyes at the same time, they were looking at such radically different things; and the Doctor had all of my sympathies, so how could I *not* feel for him at the end?

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

You always say everything so perfectly. :D

I am completely baffled that any Doctor/Rose shipper would look at the Master and get jealous. It's a completely different relationship. The Master is the last of the Doctor's people. Of *course* he's going to go a little batshit over it. And like you, I absolutely believe that Rose not only would have felt his pain, but done whatever she could to let him lean on her. That's what they did for each other, over and over again.

And I pretty much want to quote your whole Rose vs. Martha paragraphs back to you. YES. Well said! Rose was far from being the perfect companion, but the Doctor doesn't fall in love with people just because they're good at following instructions. (And he doesn't not fall in love with people because they're black. *pulls hair*)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you!

I am completely baffled that any Doctor/Rose shipper would look at the Master and get jealous. It's a completely different relationship. The Master is the last of the Doctor's people. Of *course* he's going to go a little batshit over it.

Indeed. And the way it was put was very odd, too. Seriously, people who aren't shippers or aren't fans of a particular show should be very careful saying 'if I were', because there's, well, there's a reason that they don't like that pairing/show. That reason will likely mean that they don't actually understand the way that people who do like the pairing/show will react to various bits of information.

And I pretty much want to quote your whole Rose vs. Martha paragraphs back to you. YES. Well said! Rose was far from being the perfect companion, but the Doctor doesn't fall in love with people just because they're good at following instructions.

Indeed! That the Doctor fell in love with Rose... it has nothing to do with whether or not she made a 'good' companion. It was about who she was as a person, who he was, and who they became together.

And he doesn't not fall in love with people because they're black. *pulls hair*

*sigh*

Yes. Did people utterly fail to notice that Jack was also suffering from unrequited love for the Doctor? And what about Lynda who was, basically, sent off to her death while the Doctor made plans to keep Rose safe?

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

Okay, help: in the comments it sounds like Donna is going to be the S4 Companion. Is that right? Or will it be Martha?

[blessashell.livejournal.com]

Well, Donna is going to be like the constant companion. The one that's in every single episode, all the way through. To my knowledge, Martha isn't going to show up until around episode...6? Or something? And when she's not in Doctor Who, she's going to be hanging out in Torchwood with Jack a bit. So Martha's like the special guest, "Hey guys, look who it is!" companion for the season. I think once she is re-introduced she's going to be in it for the rest of the season.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

As blessashell says, it'll be both! Donna for all thirteen episodes, then we'll also get Martha for the back half of the season.

[blackcat-1.livejournal.com]

I'm in complete agreement, as ever. Too tired to add anything else right now, even though I've got a list of things I wanted to add wrt the season finale. I'll be back!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to it! *grins*

[debs7.livejournal.com]

Word.

It's usually at this point I try and write something that says Yes, I agree to everything you wrote but I'm still at the - nodding my head totally agreeing with you - stage.

Just Word.