Doctor Who: Human Nature (The Doctor)

[butterfly]

We don't get much of the Doctor in his episode, but one thing that we do get breaks my heart, in the way that the Doctor is breaking my heart this year.

"Martha, before I change, here's a list of instructions for when I'm human. One: don't let me hurt anyone. We can't have that, but you know what humans are like."

He has... no faith in humans anymore, he really doesn't. "Humans -- you grab whatever's nearest and bleed it dry." There, it was so bitter and angry, here, it's casual. Even the worse for that, because it's just something that he's accepted, now, that this is what humans are like. He still clearly has shades of how he felt before this season ("There's no such thing as an ordinary human.") but the bitterness that he's carrying now is overwhelming the good feelings.

Last season, humanity was curiosity and cleverness and hope. This season, so far, humanity is cruel and thoughtless and mercenary. God, Doctor, what Torchwood did to you.

Also, I can only think of one reason why the Doctor would tell Martha that he is entrusting everything to her, that the watch is him, and then not giving her the watch. If it's within reach, he doesn't trust her to wait until it's absolutely necessary to open it. From 42, I got the impression that however much he wants to trust Martha, he can't quite trust any humans again just yet (yelling "no" when she asked if he was ready and his complete unresponsiveness to her attempts to calm him down), and it continues, here. Because he's trying to trust her ("It's all down to you. Your choice. Thank you.") but he doesn't actually give her that trust when it's down to the wire.

Just... it really does break my heart for him.

Comments

[dettiot.livejournal.com]

Last season, humanity was curiosity and cleverness and hope. This season, so far, humanity is cruel and thoughtless and mercenary. God, Doctor, what Torchwood did to you.

God, this was something I hadn't really picked up on from Human Nature, but you're so right--he really can't trust anyone right now, even though he's trying to. It's such a sad, wretched thing, because the Doctor has always been about helping people live up to their potential, but now he's not capable of doing that. It's all he can do to keep going. [sniffle]

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Just... it really does break my heart for him.

His Mr. Smith -- yes, he only reflects how harsh the Doctor views humanity, how many jagged edges there are in this odd affection for the species.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Your icon makes me swallow hard.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I hadn't picked up on this - that this was all yet another example of the Doctor's view of humanity this series, but you're right. This series humanity goes in circles, drains hearts for profit, beats students, and so on.

And I think you may have a point about the watch. It's not just Martha, he trusts no one this series. I think maybe even he realizes this is bad - I could very well put that in his expression at the end of 42 when he's back in the TARDIS. I think he may even be able to see he's in a pit, but has no idea how to get out of it. Or maybe lacks the will to get out of it. :(

[dettiot.livejournal.com]

I had thought at first that the bed scene in Shakespeare Code, as much as I liked it as a Doctor/Rose shipper, was perhaps a little too much, a little too obvious. But now, having seen more of the season, it's actually all part of the bigger problem--losing Rose has caused the Doctor to lose almost all his faith in humanity. He's on the edge of sanity, I think, and it's all about whether he's gonna go over that edge. [sigh] It just hurts so much.

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

I'm actually quite glad he's stopped gushing about how wonderful humans are - we already think we're far too good as it is, without Time-lords reinforcing the idea!

[misssara11.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else, I hadn't really thought about this. Just thought it was interesting that he didn't actually give the watch to Martha and left it at that. But you are so right. He really did lose everything when he lost Rose. I thought that when you saw him walk away from the wall. His expression said it all. Or more like his lack of expression. There was nothing there and that's just incredibly sad.

And you know Jack will make it worse, if only for a bit. Because this is his friend and works for the place he blames for his current state. It's heartbreaking but fascinating to watch.

[katesutton.livejournal.com]

!!?? Wow, they slipped that one right past me; he was so matter of fact about it. And...that's as good as any explanation for the very odd choice of leaving the watch in John Smith's possession. He just can't let go of it.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

Last season, humanity was curiosity and cleverness and hope. This season, so far, humanity is cruel and thoughtless and mercenary.

Oh, it's so sad. We still occasionally see glimpses of that boundless energy and enthusiasm that he has, but it's tempered by so much anger and bitterness. And the adventures this year are a lot darker, too. There's far less New Earth, Tooth and Claw, and Fear Her like episodes. It's just been one thing after another.

If it's within reach, he doesn't trust her to wait until it's absolutely necessary to open it.

Okay, THANK YOU for giving me an explanation for not giving the watch to Martha that makes perfect sense and ties into canon.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It really is incredibly sad. He's just so intensely lacking in that hope and faith this season. He's surviving right now, the Doctor is, not truly living.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

So many more jagged edges than he used to have. Odd, that someone nine-hundred plus had so much innocence to lose.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I hadn't picked up on this - that this was all yet another example of the Doctor's view of humanity this series, but you're right. This series humanity goes in circles, drains hearts for profit, beats students, and so on.

It's all pretty grim. And I don't have any clue, right now, of how deep RTD is going with all this. Will the Doctor pull out at the end of the season? I'm just... not sure.

And I think you may have a point about the watch. It's not just Martha, he trusts no one this series. I think maybe even he realizes this is bad - I could very well put that in his expression at the end of 42 when he's back in the TARDIS. I think he may even be able to see he's in a pit, but has no idea how to get out of it. Or maybe lacks the will to get out of it. :(

Yeah. I think that he's trying -- he clearly wants to be able to trust Martha. But he can't quite get there. He isn't able to give that trust to her.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think that people (in general) flip-flop between arrogance and self-loathing. And that neither extreme is particularly healthy.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else, I hadn't really thought about this. Just thought it was interesting that he didn't actually give the watch to Martha and left it at that. But you are so right. He really did lose everything when he lost Rose. I thought that when you saw him walk away from the wall. His expression said it all. Or more like his lack of expression. There was nothing there and that's just incredibly sad.

Indeed -- he was so blank and lost. And we've seen that look on his face more than once this season.

And you know Jack will make it worse, if only for a bit. Because this is his friend and works for the place he blames for his current state. It's heartbreaking but fascinating to watch.

I'm really looking forward to the Jack episodes. Because RTD has really been going all-out on the emotional reality, so their interaction should be very interesting.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I know! It's that very matter-of-fact nature of it that makes me so sad for him.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's so sad. We still occasionally see glimpses of that boundless energy and enthusiasm that he has, but it's tempered by so much anger and bitterness. And the adventures this year are a lot darker, too. There's far less New Earth, Tooth and Claw, and Fear Her like episodes. It's just been one thing after another.

Indeed. There's been a lot of darkness this year and not much (if any) comfort for the Doctor throughout it all. He's running on empty.

Okay, THANK YOU for giving me an explanation for not giving the watch to Martha that makes perfect sense and ties into canon.

Welcome! And, yeah, it made so much sense once I'd thought of it.