I'm being a ~free spirit~ and not actually answering my own discussion questions. Instead, I'm just going to ramble about how much I love this episode and how it makes me feel all the things.
But first, my one bit of criticism for this episode. I'm not really a fan of the dialogue where Nine tells Rose to "just tell me you're sorry". In an episode that is all about Rose’s Daddy Issues, this scene is a bit too much like a parent scolding a child for my tastes and it doesn't really jive with the rest of the episodes in terms of how their relationship is portrayed. Other than that, I think this episode is pretty brilliant.
I think Rose's decision to save Pete was pure impulse. Without really thinking, she just decides that she can’t watch her dad die again, and jumps out to save him. And for the Doctor, this calls into question the person he thought Rose was, accusing her of planning this the whole time and using him for his time travel. But I think that both the Doctor and I know that this wasn’t some grand plan. Rose just couldn’t stand to stand by and watch her father die again when there was something that she could do to save him. I think this shows a bit of the Doctor’s insecurity. He’s hurt because he thinks that maybe Rose is with him not because she likes being with him, but because she wants to use him for the Tardis. And when he’s just learning to care about people again, that hurts. A lot. And so he and Rose have a pretty nasty fight.
Rose: No, I get it. For once, you’re not the most important man in my life. Doctor: Let’s see how you get on without me. Give me the key. The Tardis key. If I’m so insignificant, give it me back. Rose: Alright then, I will. Doctor: You’ve got what you wanted, so that’s good bye then. Rose: You don’t scare me! I know how sad you are. You’ll be back in a minute. You’ll behanging around the Tardis, waiting for me. And I’ll make you wait a long time!
Ouch. That fight hurts. They know just how to hurt each other. But it feels real. Real people in relationships (not just romantic, friendship and familial relationships too) hurt each other like that. They go for the weak spots because they know how best to hurt you. Rose's line "I know how sad you are" is especially hurtful to the Doctor... because it's true. But in spite of all of that, the Doctor doesn’t want Rose to have to lose her dad again. He knows from the beginning that the easiest way to fix this would be to have Pete die like he was supposed to, but he does everything he can so that Pete won’t have to die.
Another thing I love is that this episode deals with the disillusionment that comes with meeting your heroes. Rose grew up idolizing her dad because she didn’t know him, but when she does meet him, she discovers that he was just a man who made mistakes like everyone else. As a kid you kind of think that your parents are perfect and can do no wrong, but as you grow up, you see that they’re screwed up humans like we all are. In the end Rose realizes that Pete might be ordinary, but he’s still her dad and that makes him, “the most wonderful man in the world”.
I love that moment when Rose tells Pete what kind of a dad he was. Of course he was the perfect dad in her mind. He was always there for her and loved her so much- or he would have done if he had lived. Pete knows that he’s human and he wouldn’t have been that dad that Rose's described. But then he goes and shows that he IS a good dad. He wasn't able to be there when she was a kid, but he can still do something to save her (and the rest of the world).
He’s her daddy, so he is going to give up his life to save the world. And then in that last bit, at the end, Rose is able to do something for her dad and to be there with him when he dies so he’s not alone.
But first, my one bit of criticism for this episode. I'm not really a fan of the dialogue where Nine tells Rose to "just tell me you're sorry". In an episode that is all about Rose’s Daddy Issues, this scene is a bit too much like a parent scolding a child for my tastes and it doesn't really jive with the rest of the episodes in terms of how their relationship is portrayed. Other than that, I think this episode is pretty brilliant.
I think Rose's decision to save Pete was pure impulse. Without really thinking, she just decides that she can’t watch her dad die again, and jumps out to save him. And for the Doctor, this calls into question the person he thought Rose was, accusing her of planning this the whole time and using him for his time travel. But I think that both the Doctor and I know that this wasn’t some grand plan. Rose just couldn’t stand to stand by and watch her father die again when there was something that she could do to save him. I think this shows a bit of the Doctor’s insecurity. He’s hurt because he thinks that maybe Rose is with him not because she likes being with him, but because she wants to use him for the Tardis. And when he’s just learning to care about people again, that hurts. A lot. And so he and Rose have a pretty nasty fight.
Rose: No, I get it. For once, you’re not the most important man in my life.
Doctor: Let’s see how you get on without me. Give me the key. The Tardis key. If I’m so insignificant, give it me back.
Rose: Alright then, I will.
Doctor: You’ve got what you wanted, so that’s good bye then.
Rose: You don’t scare me! I know how sad you are. You’ll be back in a minute. You’ll behanging around the Tardis, waiting for me. And I’ll make you wait a long time!
Ouch. That fight hurts. They know just how to hurt each other. But it feels real. Real people in relationships (not just romantic, friendship and familial relationships too) hurt each other like that. They go for the weak spots because they know how best to hurt you. Rose's line "I know how sad you are" is especially hurtful to the Doctor... because it's true. But in spite of all of that, the Doctor doesn’t want Rose to have to lose her dad again. He knows from the beginning that the easiest way to fix this would be to have Pete die like he was supposed to, but he does everything he can so that Pete won’t have to die.
Another thing I love is that this episode deals with the disillusionment that comes with meeting your heroes. Rose grew up idolizing her dad because she didn’t know him, but when she does meet him, she discovers that he was just a man who made mistakes like everyone else. As a kid you kind of think that your parents are perfect and can do no wrong, but as you grow up, you see that they’re screwed up humans like we all are. In the end Rose realizes that Pete might be ordinary, but he’s still her dad and that makes him, “the most wonderful man in the world”.
I love that moment when Rose tells Pete what kind of a dad he was. Of course he was the perfect dad in her mind. He was always there for her and loved her so much- or he would have done if he had lived. Pete knows that he’s human and he wouldn’t have been that dad that Rose's described. But then he goes and shows that he IS a good dad. He wasn't able to be there when she was a kid, but he can still do something to save her (and the rest of the world).
He’s her daddy, so he is going to give up his life to save the world. And then in that last bit, at the end, Rose is able to do something for her dad and to be there with him when he dies so he’s not alone.
And I end the episode in a flood of tears.
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