This Would Be More Convincing If I Cited Primary Sources
Things much less crawl-into-a-hole-and-die possibly. Or rather, could still quite happily crawl into a hole and die, it seems a reasonable reaction to, um, everything, but now there are more options. Some of them might even be viable. Am mildly antsy due to lack of concreteness on anything/most things, but a lot of that should start to firm up in a
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I loved your comparisons to Seven, mostly because I think their regeneration eps are most similarly structured, the TD/Castrovalva ones are like shooting water under the bridge. I think part of it might also be the presence of a Villain to shift the majority of the blame to. Yes, of course, the Rani/the Master didn't make the Doctor do these things, but they are there as a concrete, familiar Big Bad who can distract somewhat from the Doctor's actions.
As for Peri well-- Look a Amy, look at Peri, look at Amy, look back to Peri-- sadly she will not be given that level of focus or development in fandom, despite starting off with a much richer, existent background, set of interests, characterization etc.
I hesitate to blame this on New Vs. Old who. There are plenty of characters in classic that get developed well beyond their original parameters. Whenever Liz turns up in fic, for instance, writers usually stop, think, and give her a little something to work with. And let's not even go into how deeply invested some people become in the cardboard cutout that is Turlough.
An interesting comparison to draw, I think, would be Peri and Mel. They're both pretty, both "screamers" and both smushed in to their previous Doctor's last episode. And, let's be honest, Mel gets her fair share of unearned fandom hate. (Which is weird, I mean, she's got some bad episodes, but so does any fandom fave) Obviously the main difference is that damn regeneration ep. I like Twin Dilemma. Frankly, if nonsensical plots with oddly written side characters annoyed me I would probably be in a different fandom. But even before you watch it there is the sense of it in canon as "That one where the Doctor attacks Peri." Good. That should be something shocking and slightly disturbing. But for two very similar episodes, TD has been branded "The Doctor is Bad" and Time and the Rani hasn't. In fact, not many people discuss Time and the Rani in relation to Seven's characterization at all. Hm. Weirdos.
I know you mentioned how that doesn't turn us against Seven-- but it makes me wonder why, with Peri, it generates both a "the Doctor is evil/abusive!" and a "Peri is annoying/a sex object" I know I've seen the strangulation scene fetishized in fic, but you'd think that'd be the exception, not the common consensus. Granted I think some of the Peri is sexy hate comes from different, icky places. (How DARE she turn up and have boobs at Five!) But the sheer amount of Six/Peri noncon in comparison to other Doctor/Companion ships is strange.
Mostly what I wanted to say is eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee more discussion. And the world needs more regeneration comfort!fic staring Six. Or Seven. Both of them are in need of kisses, Master, get on this thing.
P.S. should need to crawl in hole arise request permission to pursue with cookies and chai.
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