Preface to Second Series:
I suppose you could call this a disclaimer, in that I am expounding upon the Doctor-to-Companion relationship in series 2 as a warning to those who may be offended by some of my later comments, especially in the "Cringeworthy Moment" category. Please know that there are many, many, many things that I love about series 2, and I have nothing against Rose nor the Tenth Doctor as individuals. But together, I find them simply icky.
I understand why the producers of Doctor Who for time immemorial have felt the need to bridge the gap between Doctors by keeping the companion in place. It helps the audience with the transition. But I feel that this tactic in going from the Ninth to the Tenth Doctors just didn't work. I know it's odd, because the general public feels as though the Doctor and Rose's chemistry was made complete by the new casting. But I am not without my reasons!
Rose Tyler was created as the perfect companion to the Ninth Doctor. He was licking his wounds from the Time War, and he was a broken, raw man. What he needed was someone practical, ordinary and innocent to bring him round, to remind him of the good in the universe, and that life isn't all about great battles and anguish and pain. Sometimes, it's about chips and going to the shops and spending time with people you love. Rose understood that better than anyone. Please see my comments on the episode Dalek for how and why Rose works well with the Doctor in this context.
But the Tenth Doctor is a different animal. While he's certainly got his dark side, on a daily basis, he doesn't act as world-weary or damaged as the Ninth Doctor. Probably largely thanks to Rose, he has a much more sunny disposition. This give us two sunny, sprightly people aboard the TARDIS, without a buffer, not to mention the fact that Rose clearly finds the "new new" Doctor much prettier than the previous. This makes for a syrupy sweet relationship and a lot of eye-rolling moments. Yes, I know that this was at least in part designed so that Doomsday would absolutely annihilate everyone involved, but I'm sorry, I just don't like watching the Doctor and Rose being all cute and pleased with themselves.
I will grant you that it would have been callous of the Doctor, and the producers to cast off Rose at this point, not to mention a risky business decision, after all she had done to help the Doctor (and Doctor Who) heal. I'm really not sure how I would have done it, had I been in charge. It's simply one of those complaints that I have, that I personally couldn't fix, though it doesn't stop me from complaining.
I will also grant you that my feelings about the Tenth Doctor and Rose may very well stem from a deep and abiding admiration for Martha Jones, who is really the reason that I care so much about the series in the first place. I could write (and have written) volumes about the tortured relationship between the Doctor and Martha, and we Ten/Mar fans inevitably tend to blame Rose for our pain - it's just the way it is. Perhaps it's not fair, but that's how we think.
Although, my logic would suggest that a good companion to the Doctor is someone who can fulfill the needs of the man she has immediately inherited. At the beginning of series 3, the man is heartbroken and perhaps the last thing he needs is another young, attractive female on board, because the danger of heartbreak increases (for someone, if not the other). And so, it could be argued that the Tenth Doctor didn't really have a well-matched companion until series 4. However, part of Donna's charm stemmed from the fact that she wasn't a twentysomething who went all weak in the knees every time the Doctor smiled. And this phenomenon wouldn't have been completely possible without Martha's presence in his life.
I guess the continuum of time, cause-to-effect isn't something that just exists in the Doctor's world. Apparently the show's writers and producers have to deal with it too.
But I digress.
I'm not a Rose hater, but I do protest some of the decisions made in season 2, and I do warn you that many of the Cringeworthy Moments over the next ten stories might in fact be some of your favorite Fangirl Moments! Don't hate me - speak out! What would the Doctor do?
I understand why the producers of Doctor Who for time immemorial have felt the need to bridge the gap between Doctors by keeping the companion in place. It helps the audience with the transition. But I feel that this tactic in going from the Ninth to the Tenth Doctors just didn't work. I know it's odd, because the general public feels as though the Doctor and Rose's chemistry was made complete by the new casting. But I am not without my reasons!
Rose Tyler was created as the perfect companion to the Ninth Doctor. He was licking his wounds from the Time War, and he was a broken, raw man. What he needed was someone practical, ordinary and innocent to bring him round, to remind him of the good in the universe, and that life isn't all about great battles and anguish and pain. Sometimes, it's about chips and going to the shops and spending time with people you love. Rose understood that better than anyone. Please see my comments on the episode Dalek for how and why Rose works well with the Doctor in this context.
But the Tenth Doctor is a different animal. While he's certainly got his dark side, on a daily basis, he doesn't act as world-weary or damaged as the Ninth Doctor. Probably largely thanks to Rose, he has a much more sunny disposition. This give us two sunny, sprightly people aboard the TARDIS, without a buffer, not to mention the fact that Rose clearly finds the "new new" Doctor much prettier than the previous. This makes for a syrupy sweet relationship and a lot of eye-rolling moments. Yes, I know that this was at least in part designed so that Doomsday would absolutely annihilate everyone involved, but I'm sorry, I just don't like watching the Doctor and Rose being all cute and pleased with themselves.
I will grant you that it would have been callous of the Doctor, and the producers to cast off Rose at this point, not to mention a risky business decision, after all she had done to help the Doctor (and Doctor Who) heal. I'm really not sure how I would have done it, had I been in charge. It's simply one of those complaints that I have, that I personally couldn't fix, though it doesn't stop me from complaining.
I will also grant you that my feelings about the Tenth Doctor and Rose may very well stem from a deep and abiding admiration for Martha Jones, who is really the reason that I care so much about the series in the first place. I could write (and have written) volumes about the tortured relationship between the Doctor and Martha, and we Ten/Mar fans inevitably tend to blame Rose for our pain - it's just the way it is. Perhaps it's not fair, but that's how we think.
Although, my logic would suggest that a good companion to the Doctor is someone who can fulfill the needs of the man she has immediately inherited. At the beginning of series 3, the man is heartbroken and perhaps the last thing he needs is another young, attractive female on board, because the danger of heartbreak increases (for someone, if not the other). And so, it could be argued that the Tenth Doctor didn't really have a well-matched companion until series 4. However, part of Donna's charm stemmed from the fact that she wasn't a twentysomething who went all weak in the knees every time the Doctor smiled. And this phenomenon wouldn't have been completely possible without Martha's presence in his life.
I guess the continuum of time, cause-to-effect isn't something that just exists in the Doctor's world. Apparently the show's writers and producers have to deal with it too.
But I digress.
I'm not a Rose hater, but I do protest some of the decisions made in season 2, and I do warn you that many of the Cringeworthy Moments over the next ten stories might in fact be some of your favorite Fangirl Moments! Don't hate me - speak out! What would the Doctor do?