Mostly Martha...
So, I watched the first two episodes of S3 of Doctor Who, 'Smith and Jones' and 'The Shakespeare Code.'
They are not bad, and enough to keep me watching, certainly, but something is just not clicking the same way. I don't know what it is, but it's just not holding my attention as much, 'expeliarmus,' really hot Shakespeare, and Rose refs notwithstanding.
Oh, and I met Martha.
Hmmmm. I don't dislike here (there is nothing to dislike) but she made me realize how much of my enjoyment of S1 and 2 was bound in my love for Rose. Rose was one of the rare heroines who, for me, was someone I loved as much, or more, than the male lead. She really was the POV character and her enthusiasm and vulnerabilities were...
And I realize that the reason Martha is not enthusing me, the way I adored Rose and really liked Donna is because she herself is not a very enthusiastic, colorful personality. She is excited and all, but in a proper, nice, restrained way. I think a lot of it is socioeconomic. She is simply a different class than Rose. Better educated, better family, somewhat older.
But that is the thing. I loved Rose because she wasn't TV perfect. She had rough edges, she felt real. Martha is very very pretty. You could see her a model on some ad. Rose was pretty enough but hardly memorable, someone you wouldn't pay attention to on the street. She didn't have impeccable clothes, and perfectly matched earrings, and a fancy 'do.
Martha is a lynchpin of her family, the family mediator. She is clever and collected and smart. She is a resident about to pass her exams. All of which make her a wonderful human being, no doubt, but there is no great drive for her. No great drive to be anything, so do anything. She is going to have a nice trip(s) and go back to her normal life. Or at least that is the plan. I don't sense the craziness, or desperation, or hunger. Not like Rose, with her useless Mum, her dead-end job, no education, life in the Counsel Flats, and her 'epic' love for the Doctor. It is so much easier to root for Rose, because her want is so much more, her fallback is so much less. She has such strong enthusiams, and wants, and needs. She falls back into nothing, if her old life is back. For Martha? She already has a very nice life, so it's not as interesting.
Even Martha's thing for the Doctor is the very very normal 'guy's cute and got a cool ride. Neat. And once I finish travelling, I'll date a barrister' reaction. Not at all Rose's thing, which started as all sorts of desperate feelings of gratitude for escape from her life, and adventure rush, and just love.
I don't know, maybe I'll change my mind later. One never knows. But that is the thing, it's hard to root for Martha strongly because there is nothing she needs. Not really, deep down needs. She is too well-adjusted, too sane. She has a perfect life. She would be lovely to be friends with, but as to watch? Nah. I am glad they are bringing in Donna for next season because I loved her. She left a strong impression. More of an equal, less of a nice acquaintance.
Ooooooh, this said? Both Rose refs in TSC rocked. I don't care if the 'fighting' bit was cheesy, I loved it. And the bit when the Doctor and Martha are in bed and she wants to cuddle (or sex) and he is completely oblivious and brings up Rose and is all 'Rose would know what to do.' YESSS.
Oh, did I mention the Shakespeare hot? YES. Mmmmm.
ETA: The funny thing is, in RL I'd have more in common, socioeconomically, with Martha. But I think emotionally, I am more similar with Rose/Donna. Definitely loud :P
They are not bad, and enough to keep me watching, certainly, but something is just not clicking the same way. I don't know what it is, but it's just not holding my attention as much, 'expeliarmus,' really hot Shakespeare, and Rose refs notwithstanding.
Oh, and I met Martha.
Hmmmm. I don't dislike here (there is nothing to dislike) but she made me realize how much of my enjoyment of S1 and 2 was bound in my love for Rose. Rose was one of the rare heroines who, for me, was someone I loved as much, or more, than the male lead. She really was the POV character and her enthusiasm and vulnerabilities were...
And I realize that the reason Martha is not enthusing me, the way I adored Rose and really liked Donna is because she herself is not a very enthusiastic, colorful personality. She is excited and all, but in a proper, nice, restrained way. I think a lot of it is socioeconomic. She is simply a different class than Rose. Better educated, better family, somewhat older.
But that is the thing. I loved Rose because she wasn't TV perfect. She had rough edges, she felt real. Martha is very very pretty. You could see her a model on some ad. Rose was pretty enough but hardly memorable, someone you wouldn't pay attention to on the street. She didn't have impeccable clothes, and perfectly matched earrings, and a fancy 'do.
Martha is a lynchpin of her family, the family mediator. She is clever and collected and smart. She is a resident about to pass her exams. All of which make her a wonderful human being, no doubt, but there is no great drive for her. No great drive to be anything, so do anything. She is going to have a nice trip(s) and go back to her normal life. Or at least that is the plan. I don't sense the craziness, or desperation, or hunger. Not like Rose, with her useless Mum, her dead-end job, no education, life in the Counsel Flats, and her 'epic' love for the Doctor. It is so much easier to root for Rose, because her want is so much more, her fallback is so much less. She has such strong enthusiams, and wants, and needs. She falls back into nothing, if her old life is back. For Martha? She already has a very nice life, so it's not as interesting.
Even Martha's thing for the Doctor is the very very normal 'guy's cute and got a cool ride. Neat. And once I finish travelling, I'll date a barrister' reaction. Not at all Rose's thing, which started as all sorts of desperate feelings of gratitude for escape from her life, and adventure rush, and just love.
I don't know, maybe I'll change my mind later. One never knows. But that is the thing, it's hard to root for Martha strongly because there is nothing she needs. Not really, deep down needs. She is too well-adjusted, too sane. She has a perfect life. She would be lovely to be friends with, but as to watch? Nah. I am glad they are bringing in Donna for next season because I loved her. She left a strong impression. More of an equal, less of a nice acquaintance.
Ooooooh, this said? Both Rose refs in TSC rocked. I don't care if the 'fighting' bit was cheesy, I loved it. And the bit when the Doctor and Martha are in bed and she wants to cuddle (or sex) and he is completely oblivious and brings up Rose and is all 'Rose would know what to do.' YESSS.
Oh, did I mention the Shakespeare hot? YES. Mmmmm.
ETA: The funny thing is, in RL I'd have more in common, socioeconomically, with Martha. But I think emotionally, I am more similar with Rose/Donna. Definitely loud :P