I think the biggest way in which the Doctor mistreats his companions is that he doesn't tell them what they're getting into. (I'm new and have only seen New Who, and am up to the beginning of Amy and Rory's time.) With Rose, Martha, and Donna, he never really warns them of the amount of risk they're going to take. Often, there's so much at stake, and he does seem to need help... I don't think he's wrong to look for it. But I think he should warn them more.
I enjoy both sad and happy endings so long as they're moving. I loved Martha leaving by choice. That's the happiest ending that I've seen so far. I felt so bad for Donna... I would have liked that ending better if she had given permission. But I like to think that the Doctor knew her well enough to know what she would have chosen, if her mind hadn't already been crumbling. I liked Rose's ending - both times - but her story feels really unfinished. I wish we would get a glimpse of her life with Metacrisis Doctor, and I hope it's a good one.
I guess I like having a mix of endings. It's not realistic to think that everyone ends up fine, but I don't want every companion to end up with some horrible fate, either.
I disagree on the Doctor not warning New!Who companions. Their first introduction to Doctor is rife with mortal danger and risk :eps Rose, Smith & Jones and Runaway Bride. Even if the Doctor didn't say anything they should be supremely stupid not to realise that life with the Doctor is dangerous. But Doctor warned them explicitly too, especially Rose:
(in ep Rose)
Rose Tyler: Is it always this dangerous? The Doctor: Yeah.
also Clive warns her before
Clive Finch: The Doctor is a legend woven throughout history. When disaster comes he's there. He brings a storm in his wake and he has only one constant companion. Rose Tyler: Who's that? Clive Finch: Death.
and she accepts it
Rose Tyler: I'm not going on about him, Mickey, really, I'm not, because, I know it sounds daft, but... I don't think he's safe. He's dangerous.
And even when she decides that adventure and Doctor are worth the risk he asks her again in End of the World-
The Doctor: You've seen how dangerous it is - do you wanna go home? Rose Tyler: I dunno... I want... Oh, can you smell chips? The Doctor: Yeah! [laughs] Yeah!
So she was properly warned both in words and experience.
Now to Donna. With her is more experience than words since the Doctor didn't intend at first to invite her to TARDIS. But experience with grief crazed Doctor was more that enough warning. In fact he scared her so much she refused to go with him -
The Doctor: You could always... Donna: What? The Doctor: Come with me. Donna: No. The Doctor: Okay. Donna: I can't. The Doctor: No, that's fine. Donna: No but really. I mean, everything we did today. Do you live your life like that? The Doctor: Not all the time. Donna: I think you do. And I couldn't. The Doctor: You've seen it out there. It's beautiful. Donna: And it's terrible. That place was flooded and burning and they were dying, and you stood there like... I don't know, a stranger. And then you made it snow! I mean you scare me to death.
Of course she changed her mind like Rose, she just needed a bit more time but you still can't tell she wasn't warned.
I think the least warned is Martha. At the time Doctor met her he was really messed up. He managed to built up some walls so he wasn't so raw and open as he was with Donna but he was at the same time closed up and desperate for company as it's obvious in the scene when he talks to empty TARDIS. So I think he partly intentionally lured Martha to be his companion 'cos he liked her. He didn't talk with her about dangers 'cos he didn't want to scare her away like Donna. And I know he said it's just one trip at the beginning but like I said - very messed up. On the other hand like I mentioned - in the first two adventures she was in mortal danger - so it's that not enough warning, he doesn't take the best but the thickest lol.
No comment on Moth Who 'cos I don't watch or remember it much, but from what I know no one has much choice there - it's all about obsession and everything revolving around the Eleventh Doctor.
There you go, this is the longest comment on LJ I ever made. I hope it's coherent enough.
I enjoy both sad and happy endings so long as they're moving. I loved Martha leaving by choice. That's the happiest ending that I've seen so far. I felt so bad for Donna... I would have liked that ending better if she had given permission. But I like to think that the Doctor knew her well enough to know what she would have chosen, if her mind hadn't already been crumbling. I liked Rose's ending - both times - but her story feels really unfinished. I wish we would get a glimpse of her life with Metacrisis Doctor, and I hope it's a good one.
I guess I like having a mix of endings. It's not realistic to think that everyone ends up fine, but I don't want every companion to end up with some horrible fate, either.
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(in ep Rose)
Rose Tyler: Is it always this dangerous?
The Doctor: Yeah.
also Clive warns her before
Clive Finch: The Doctor is a legend woven throughout history. When disaster comes he's there. He brings a storm in his wake and he has only one constant companion.
Rose Tyler: Who's that?
Clive Finch: Death.
and she accepts it
Rose Tyler: I'm not going on about him, Mickey, really, I'm not, because, I know it sounds daft, but... I don't think he's safe. He's dangerous.
And even when she decides that adventure and Doctor are worth the risk he asks her again in End of the World-
The Doctor: You've seen how dangerous it is - do you wanna go home?
Rose Tyler: I dunno... I want... Oh, can you smell chips?
The Doctor: Yeah! [laughs] Yeah!
So she was properly warned both in words and experience.
Now to Donna. With her is more experience than words since the Doctor didn't intend at first to invite her to TARDIS. But experience with grief crazed Doctor was more that enough warning. In fact he scared her so much she refused to go with him -
The Doctor: You could always...
Donna: What?
The Doctor: Come with me.
Donna: No.
The Doctor: Okay.
Donna: I can't.
The Doctor: No, that's fine.
Donna: No but really. I mean, everything we did today. Do you live your life like that?
The Doctor: Not all the time.
Donna: I think you do. And I couldn't.
The Doctor: You've seen it out there. It's beautiful.
Donna: And it's terrible. That place was flooded and burning and they were dying, and you stood there like... I don't know, a stranger. And then you made it snow! I mean you scare me to death.
Of course she changed her mind like Rose, she just needed a bit more time but you still can't tell she wasn't warned.
I think the least warned is Martha. At the time Doctor met her he was really messed up. He managed to built up some walls so he wasn't so raw and open as he was with Donna but he was at the same time closed up and desperate for company as it's obvious in the scene when he talks to empty TARDIS. So I think he partly intentionally lured Martha to be his companion 'cos he liked her. He didn't talk with her about dangers 'cos he didn't want to scare her away like Donna. And I know he said it's just one trip at the beginning but like I said - very messed up.
On the other hand like I mentioned - in the first two adventures she was in mortal danger - so it's that not enough warning, he doesn't take the best but the thickest lol.
No comment on Moth Who 'cos I don't watch or remember it much, but from what I know no one has much choice there - it's all about obsession and everything revolving around the Eleventh Doctor.
There you go, this is the longest comment on LJ I ever made. I hope it's coherent enough.
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