DW Series 4
Awwh, I love the latest spoilers...
Regarding the return of Mickey and Jackie to the series in the finale, as well as Rose and Jack.
First of all, it's just going to be lovely to see Mickey and Jackie, and it feels right to bring back Jackie and Mickey as well as Rose. Besides being an intrinsic part of Rose's story, they have important relationships of their own with the Doctor -- the Doctor didn't just lose Rose in Doomsday, but her family as well, which had become his in some ways. I really hope we get scenes of the Doctor, Jackie and Mickey together again. I am getting very curious as to how much of the story will take place in Pete's World versus "our" universe, because it's easier for me to imagine the story going to Pete's World than Mickey and especially Jackie returning to ours.
The finale does appear to be shaping up as a companion-alooza, with Rose, Martha, Jack, Sarah Jane, Jackie and Mickey present as well as of course the one and only, the fantastic and fabulous Donna. But -- I don't know if it's so much about the Return of the Companions as it is bringing together the major characters whose lives the Doctor has changed, improved and inspired. That's such an intrinsic part of the Doctor's characterization -- I love that they're paying tribute to it. Because of the Doctor, Rose became Defender of the Earth, Mickey went from zero to hero, Jackie got back the man she loved and a new family, Martha saved the world, Jack has gone from conman to leader and defender, Sarah Jane takes on aliens, adventure and kids at every turn, and Donna woke up to a whole new world and wanted to become part of it. The Doctor didn't give them those things, but he inspired them -- they became better, stronger, heroes in their own right. There was danger and pain and loss, they didn't get everything they wanted, and yes, the Doctor hurt them in some ways -- but they all became so much more than they would have been otherwise, and most of all, they became his friends.
I think it was all foreshadowed by Astrid in VotD. She saw that the Doctor tries to save everyone, but sometimes he needs someone to save him -- she made the choice to do so and became a hero. I think that's what this is -- after everything he's done to save the world, the Doctor needs his friends, and they're going to be there for him. That to me is the heart of it -- and it might be over-the-top cheesy, but after watching what the Doctor's gone through and lost for two years, I'm pretty ready for it. Although there is also the painful thought that Astrid had to give her life to save the Doctor...but even that could be well done, depending on how the story is told. RTD bringing back Mickey and Jackie, understanding what those characters mean to the audience, gives me a lot of hope.