The thing that sort of crystalized The Doctor in my head was listening to an audio book on writing where it discussed the need for the protagonist to change over the course of a story then it backtracked to say that this isn't universally true. There are central characters whose purpose is to bring change to other characters. That's The Doctor. His companions and the people he meets should change. Changes (other than in the specifics of his quirks) aren't nearly as important for a 900+ year old alien. It's not really a question of who the Doctor 'will become' it's who he is. And I think Ten drifted away from that which was why, by the end, we kept hitting the same note that The Doctor will be alone... because that is the Doctor. And that is his story. And no companion will ever stay. But that can only be restated in so many ways before it's just the reiteration of the same idea over and over again. I think it helps to go back to showing that what's important are the ways that he changes the people around him
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There are central characters whose purpose is to bring change to other characters. That's The Doctor. *nods* Someone wrote a longer post than mine about this a few months ago, and it's stuck in my head ever since, because suddenly it all made sense.
But that can only be restated in so many ways before it's just the reiteration of the same idea over and over again. I think it helps to go back to showing that what's important are the ways that he changes the people around him. *nods*
(And I think poor Donna may have been sacrificed to the Doctor who can't change problem because it ceased to be about her journey and her change in favor of reiterating yet again that the Doctor cannot change. Not really). So as a companion, she got hit with the same stick. Yes, there is some truth in that. Also, the problem with Donna and Rose was 'forever'. Once someone says that you *have* to break things to take it back.
And I'm still irked over Donna's fate. Can you tell?You're not alone
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I think you're right - THE Doctor is 1-7 inclusive. And Eleven. Not convinced about Eight. Nine and Ten were performed by wonderful actors, but they were always a touch too much about RTD's agenda, which is not always The Doctor's. Matt Smith is so very believably related to Hartnell, Troughton and Baker(1).
I can't claim that my insight is new - I've read quite a few posts stating the same thing - but I began thinking about the show in fairy tale terms, and suddenly it all made sense.
And I don't blame RTD for his agenda, since without him we wouldn't have a show at all, and I loved so much about his tenure, but something's just clicked with this latest series. :)
Don't get me wrong, I've loved S5 and I love Eleven, but Ten is still my Doctor. See this is what I was expecting my own reaction to be. And then I realised that somehow Eleven became *mine* and was wondering how on earth that happened...
I have to admit that Rory has been the best thing to come out of S5 for me. I adore him! :) Rory is made of pure win. ♥
I don't really have a Doctor, even though I'm more likely to click on stuff relating to either Ten or Eleven since I like keeping up with the present.... mostly because "my Doctor" is an amalgamation of his various characteristics in various incarnations.... after all he is the sum of his parts.
But I really do love that Eleven has become more like how the Doctor was meant to be initially. To me Ten was a stage where his broken-ness got to a point where he couldn't handle it, but Eleven is where he finally begins to let go.... yet there are still signs of underlying darkness so we don't forget, so that we are reminded of where he's been.
after all he is the sum of his parts. *nods* Definitely.
But I really do love that Eleven has become more like how the Doctor was meant to be initially. Old Who fans can see all sorts of traits in him harking back years and years. :)
To me Ten was a stage where his broken-ness got to a point where he couldn't handle it, but Eleven is where he finally begins to let go.... yet there are still signs of underlying darkness so we don't forget, so that we are reminded of where he's been. Absolutely. And I remember towards the end of Ten's time, when he was running and running, that I wanted to tell him to stop, because I was sure he'd be feel *so* much better once he'd regenerated. *pets poor Ten*
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*nods* Someone wrote a longer post than mine about this a few months ago, and it's stuck in my head ever since, because suddenly it all made sense.
But that can only be restated in so many ways before it's just the reiteration of the same idea over and over again. I think it helps to go back to showing that what's important are the ways that he changes the people around him.
*nods*
(And I think poor Donna may have been sacrificed to the Doctor who can't change problem because it ceased to be about her journey and her change in favor of reiterating yet again that the Doctor cannot change. Not really). So as a companion, she got hit with the same stick.
Yes, there is some truth in that. Also, the problem with Donna and Rose was 'forever'. Once someone says that you *have* to break things to take it back.
And I'm still irked over Donna's fate. Can you tell?You're not alone ( ... )
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He's the thing you drop into a situation to change it, not to change him.
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I blame David Tennant! ;- )
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Seems perfectly reasonable!
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And I don't blame RTD for his agenda, since without him we wouldn't have a show at all, and I loved so much about his tenure, but something's just clicked with this latest series. :)
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I have to admit that Rory has been the best thing to come out of S5 for me. I adore him! :)
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Of course I like the brokenness of 9 and 10. It makes them more relatable IMO...
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See this is what I was expecting my own reaction to be. And then I realised that somehow Eleven became *mine* and was wondering how on earth that happened...
I have to admit that Rory has been the best thing to come out of S5 for me. I adore him! :)
Rory is made of pure win. ♥
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But I really do love that Eleven has become more like how the Doctor was meant to be initially. To me Ten was a stage where his broken-ness got to a point where he couldn't handle it, but Eleven is where he finally begins to let go.... yet there are still signs of underlying darkness so we don't forget, so that we are reminded of where he's been.
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*nods* Definitely.
But I really do love that Eleven has become more like how the Doctor was meant to be initially.
Old Who fans can see all sorts of traits in him harking back years and years. :)
To me Ten was a stage where his broken-ness got to a point where he couldn't handle it, but Eleven is where he finally begins to let go.... yet there are still signs of underlying darkness so we don't forget, so that we are reminded of where he's been.
Absolutely. And I remember towards the end of Ten's time, when he was running and running, that I wanted to tell him to stop, because I was sure he'd be feel *so* much better once he'd regenerated. *pets poor Ten*
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