If the Doctor had known from the beginning that being the DoctorDonna would for certain sure destroy Donna's mind, he should have looked horrified and whispered something like "Oh no, I'm so sorry" as soon as he realized what had happened. But he didn't. He, and Hand!Ten, acted delighted and excited to have her as the third part of the equation, and neither one of them made any effort to coddle her.
When I saw the episode, I genuinely believed that the Doctor didn't know that Donna was dying until he saw the symptoms actually start. Once he realized how agitated she was and how frenzied her speech had become, he started to become quiet and sober as he realized what must be happening to her, and then when she started to stammer and panic, he finally admitted it out loud. He didn't have to explain to her in little baby words what he would have to do to save her: she already knew it, that's why she fought (though she wouldn't have if she'd been calm enough to realize that there really was no other choice except death -- and can you really imagine Donna choosing to die rather than live? I can't).
I really believe that the Doctor was hoping that somehow, Donna would be able to handle being part Time Lord and that it would never come to this. I think he almost believed that after all she'd done and been through, it might be possible -- and I think he WANTED it to be possible. So why would he go to her and say, "O hai, I know you're not feeling anything but great right now, and there's no real evidence that you're burning up inside, but fact is there's a pretty good chance your brain is going to turn into sludge if I don't wipe your head right now just in case?" It'd be a bit like saying, "Hey, I know there's no evidence of it at the moment, but given your family history there's a 75% chance you have terminal cancer. I figure the symptoms should be showing up in, oh, about ten minutes. Mind if I cut off your arm before it spreads?"
Now if you're going to say that RTD wrote the whole thing stupidly and it shouldn't have HAD to come down to such a fate for Donna, I'm with you there. But arguing from within the text that the Doctor's actions were reprehensible and that he should have told Donna about her impending mental doom earlier -- I don't think they were and I don't think he could have, because he wasn't certain yet. And I think it KILLED him when he realized that his worst fears were coming to pass and his best hopes never would. I think that was all there in Tennant's face when he was watching Donna stutter and start to panic.
Okay! That's good, that makes sense, that means I can stop being quite so flaily at the Doctor. I'm still marginally squicked by it, but this is an explanation I can totally get behind. Works beautifully for me. Thank you!
(I still feel like he should have warned her it might not all be sunshine, but I can totally see him not doing that because he's so hopeful she'll be okay.)
Now if you're going to say that RTD wrote the whole thing stupidly and it shouldn't have HAD to come down to such a fate for Donna.
I love your ability to articulate. <3 And speaking of that scene, his FACE when she started to spaz out. It was just killing him. I can't get over his face during that whole last sequence; it kills me too.
If the Doctor had known from the beginning that being the DoctorDonna would for certain sure destroy Donna's mind, he should have looked horrified and whispered something like "Oh no, I'm so sorry" as soon as he realized what had happened. But he didn't. He, and Hand!Ten, acted delighted and excited to have her as the third part of the equation, and neither one of them made any effort to coddle her.
When I saw the episode, I genuinely believed that the Doctor didn't know that Donna was dying until he saw the symptoms actually start. Once he realized how agitated she was and how frenzied her speech had become, he started to become quiet and sober as he realized what must be happening to her, and then when she started to stammer and panic, he finally admitted it out loud. He didn't have to explain to her in little baby words what he would have to do to save her: she already knew it, that's why she fought (though she wouldn't have if she'd been calm enough to realize that there really was no other choice except death -- and can you really imagine Donna choosing to die rather than live? I can't).
I really believe that the Doctor was hoping that somehow, Donna would be able to handle being part Time Lord and that it would never come to this. I think he almost believed that after all she'd done and been through, it might be possible -- and I think he WANTED it to be possible. So why would he go to her and say, "O hai, I know you're not feeling anything but great right now, and there's no real evidence that you're burning up inside, but fact is there's a pretty good chance your brain is going to turn into sludge if I don't wipe your head right now just in case?" It'd be a bit like saying, "Hey, I know there's no evidence of it at the moment, but given your family history there's a 75% chance you have terminal cancer. I figure the symptoms should be showing up in, oh, about ten minutes. Mind if I cut off your arm before it spreads?"
Now if you're going to say that RTD wrote the whole thing stupidly and it shouldn't have HAD to come down to such a fate for Donna, I'm with you there. But arguing from within the text that the Doctor's actions were reprehensible and that he should have told Donna about her impending mental doom earlier -- I don't think they were and I don't think he could have, because he wasn't certain yet. And I think it KILLED him when he realized that his worst fears were coming to pass and his best hopes never would. I think that was all there in Tennant's face when he was watching Donna stutter and start to panic.
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(I still feel like he should have warned her it might not all be sunshine, but I can totally see him not doing that because he's so hopeful she'll be okay.)
Now if you're going to say that RTD wrote the whole thing stupidly and it shouldn't have HAD to come down to such a fate for Donna.
Yes, that too.
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Your icon is cute, btw.
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