What the Thunder Said (Meta on the Doctor Falls and the Twelfth Doctor's era)

[elisi]

Alternative title: Why Moffat Who is Poetry

Welcome to the meta café! Although this time it's more The Poetry Café (not that there's ever much difference). What I mean is, this post is like a follow-up to The Hollow Men and will be formatted in a similar way: I.e. first up is the poem/imagery, which will then be followed by lengthy, complex and in

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[sea_thoughts]

Linking River to Missy, The Doctor Falls is almost like the inverse of The Wedding of River Song. That was Eleven talking to his former self in young River, who is so much like the raging, despairing Tenth Doctor. Here, Twelve is talking to the Master in order to help Missy. Eleven solved the problem of the episode by accepting River (accepting himself, his anima) and marrying her. But here, no such union can take place. Missy has been transformed but the Master can never open up like that, never allow himself to even contemplate being on the same side as the Doctor. He would literally rather die (the same as in "Last of the Time Lords", he really hasn't changed). So Missy doesn't get to stand beside the Doctor like River did. She dies alone, unrewarded, unknown.

Bill has been ready to transform since we first met her but she also wants to keep her core qualities. She is a big fan of sci-fi, of endless possibilities, of knowing more. Her heart remains her biggest strength. Even all the Master's manipulation and meanness can't change that. (He worked so hard to convince her that he didn't care about her, I can only conclude he did. He did almost the same thing to Ten.) Of course, what's the one thing that can corrupt and even erode metal? Water.

I think this series was all about change for the Doctor as well... but the change he could bring about in other people. It was the whole point of his relationship with Bill to begin with and it's why he worked so hard with Missy. As if he needed to prove that change was possible. But he doesn't know that Missy was coming back to him; he doesn't know that Bill is alive and transformed from a Cyberman. So it was all for nothing, all his time and care and effort. What's the point of changing if there's no improvement?

[elisi]

Linking River to Missy, The Doctor Falls is almost like the inverse of The Wedding of River Song.
Very true. One is about cheating death, the other about embracing it. One about romantic love (marriage), the other about platonic (Stand with me).

So Missy doesn't get to stand beside the Doctor like River did. She dies alone, unrewarded, unknown.
But then, that is the point. 'Goodness is only good in the final hour. Without hope, without witness, without reward'. Without that, her transformation wouldn't be complete. (She fell where she stood. And she had chosen to stand with the Doctor. The fact that he wasn't there is immaterial. The choice condemned her.)

He worked so hard to convince her that he didn't care about her, I can only conclude he did.
Absolutely. (And I will write much & flailingly about the Master in my more 'normal' post - whenever I get round to that.)

Of course, what's the one thing that can corrupt and even erode metal? Water.
Ha! Yes, love it. <3

I think this series was all about change for the Doctor as well... but the change he could bring about in other people.
This is a beautiful point. And yes, there is that disappointment, although on the other side we have 'without hope, without witness, without reward'. It matters that he tried.

I think Christmas is very much going to be about what a difference he has made, much like River's speech in TWoRS:

RIVER: Those reports of the sun spots and the solar flares. They're wrong. There aren't any. It's not the sun, it's you. The sky is full of a million, million voices saying yes, of course we'll help. You've touched so many lives, saved so many people. Did you think when your time came, you'd really have to do more than just ask? You've decided that the universe is better off without you, but the universe doesn't agree.

[sea_thoughts]

But then, that is the point. 'Goodness is only good in the final hour. Without hope, without witness, without reward'. Without that, her transformation wouldn't be complete. (She fell where she stood. And she had chosen to stand with the Doctor. The fact that he wasn't there is immaterial. The choice condemned her.)

Oh, indeed! In the end, she very much died without hope, without witness, without reward. But she made her stand on the right side before she did that. <333

This is a beautiful point. And yes, there is that disappointment, although on the other side we have 'without hope, without witness, without reward'. It matters that he tried.

Absolutely, but he can't see that at the moment. He thinks it was all for nothing. So what's the point in changing when Bill and Missy couldn't change? That's why I'm so grateful that Moffat stayed to write the Christmas episode, so he could wrap up this last little storyline.

I think Christmas is very much going to be about what a difference he has made, much like River's speech in TWoRS

Yes! Hence Clara reappearing and also The Hug between Bill and the Doctor (that better not be a dream or a vision).

[elisi]

Oh, indeed! In the end, she very much died without hope, without witness, without reward. But she made her stand on the right side before she did that. <333
It's just so heart-stoppingly beautiful that I am yet at a loss to do it all justice.

Absolutely, but he can't see that at the moment. He thinks it was all for nothing. So what's the point in changing when Bill and Missy couldn't change?
But I am pretty sure he wanted to die before that. He keeps his regeneration at bay for a fortnight, and basically counts on going down fighting. ('Where I stand - I fall') He has no plans to survive. Losing everyone is just one additional reason. *pets poor Twelve*

That's why I'm so grateful that Moffat stayed to write the Christmas episode, so he could wrap up this last little storyline.
Totally. I can't imagine it otherwise.

Yes! Hence Clara reappearing and also The Hug between Bill and the Doctor (that better not be a dream or a vision).
CLARA?????

[sea_thoughts]

Well, Jenna was seen in Cardiff and they hired out the Ed's Diner there, which is the set they used for Clara's TARDIS so it's not like it's been officially confirmed but there are pretty strong indications?

[elisi]

I DID NOT KNOW THIS!!

Part of me is grumpy to have been spoiled, but otoh it's unlikely that I could have staid unspoiled for 4 months and also it's a BIG RELIEF OMG. ('Setting his lands in order' REALLY REQUIRES CLARA A LOT A LOT. Just look at the meta.)

[sea_thoughts]

Sorry for the spoiling. :/ It was genuinely unintended.

Also I think Twelve always wanted to go down fighting but 'losing' Missy and Bill the way he thought he did meant he ended up having this "screw everything, why should I change, I'm so tired of it all" mentality.

[elisi]

Sorry for the spoiling. :/ It was genuinely unintended.
No worries, it's probably general knowledge, I just... don't hang out on news sites.

Also I think Twelve always wanted to go down fighting but 'losing' Missy and Bill the way he thought he did meant he ended up having this "screw everything, why should I change, I'm so tired of it all" mentality.
Yeah, not surprising. CHRISTMAS WILL BE LOVELY AND LIFE-AFFIRMING.

[sea_thoughts]

I can't help but feel Christmas will be Moff's last message to all of us who've lived through the dark days of 2016 and the continuing WTF-ery of 2017. Because there's no doubt that many of us feel like Twelve felt at the end of TDF.

One more Moff episode to tell us "keep going, keep fighting, you can do it".

[elisi]

Apparently it'll be based on 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

I genuinely can't wait. ♥

[sea_thoughts]

O. M. G.

Moff + A Wonderful Life?! I AM SO EXCITED AND I AM PROBABLY GOING TO CRY BUCKETS.

[elisi]

It's ridiculously perfect? Suicidal man, being shown what a difference he has made.

But with two Doctors of course. :)

[sea_thoughts]

It's going to be even BETTER with One counteracting Twelve. Ugh, the world BETTER NOT END.

[elisi]

I have a feeling, that it might be Twelve trying to talk One into regenerating.

12: You have so many WONDERFUL things to come!
1: Which is why you want to die, mmm?

[sea_thoughts]

*SNORT*

Can't wait.

[elisi]

If this doesn't happen, I shall be much disappoint.