I guess I meant, by the way it's presented in the episodes where it's featured, getting nobbled by the Angels doesn't seem *that* bad, but I agree, if you think about it in real life terms depending on when and where you did get zapped to, it'd be no picnic. I think the big thing for me would be family, friends and my general support network - I don't think I could take being all alone in the world, not without time to plan for it and get used to the idea. So the idea that I've seen bandied about that Amy and Rory must be happy because they've got each other, that feels slightly weird to me. And really it's Brian I feel the sorriest for - he told them to go with the Doctor after all.
I...think they're leaving it open for her to make another appearance as and when, but her and the Doctor are apart for now. It was along the lines of "don't let the Doctor see you getting older, or getting "damaged" by travelling with him or he'll just take off and look for another companion". Which... Weird, like I say. Never has the Doctor, as far as I know, actually changed companions on such a basis or even expressed an opinion on humans and their weird ageing habits. River projecting, I think. It wasn't egregriously shippy, unless you count a couple of quick visual jokes with Eleven doing his hair/checking his breath before going to meet her, and her saying she loves him. No canoodling or nothing. ;)
Yeah, the loneliness would be the worst for me, too. I mean, I can go for a few days without company and be fine, but it's more the idea of those people being completely out of reach, or not even existing at that point that would be nightmarish. And, yeah, the ''They're happy as long as they've got each other'' thing is just more of that romantic-love-is-all-that-matters aspects that NuWho and other modern telly is full of these days.
Well, that actually does sound egregiously shippy in terms of the Doctor. I mean,doing those things would definitely mean romantic/sexual attraction of some kind (Did he do it in front of her parents? If so: Ew). I'm kind of losing hope that we'll see the last of her anytime soon. Probably not for years, depending on how long Eleven stays. I don't see the point of having her come back, now that she's fulfilled her arc. I guess she and Doctor/River are just that popular with Moffat and the fans. How did he react to the ILU? I know, I know, it's pathetic that I'm so bothered by it. Forgive me. ;)
It shows a certain degree of selfishness and self-absorption, I think, the idea that as long as they're together nothing and nobody else matters. Ditto the idea that the Doctor - a centuries old alien, lord of time and space, ffs - hasn't got the self-control and wisdom to just leave them to their seemingly very happy and fulfilling life on Earth and go off to seek pastures new, even though he's clearly worried sick about what might happen to them travelling with him. The Doctor didn't used to be that selfish, immature and generally drippy, did he?? And yet one suspects these are the values modern TV takes from our modern society. I don't think it's necessarily a deliberate storytelling choice, more like a depressing reflection of the zeitgeist.
Eleven at least had the self respect to do it crouched down behind the console where the Ponds couldn't see him. O.o I take it as another joke on Eleven's weird lack of sense when it comes to interpersonal relationships, tbh - does this sort of thing get reset when they regenerate, unsupported as it may be by prior evidence? To me, River's last scene here felt like a departure for now, but leaving the door open if required, you'd have to see it yourself to see what you thought of it. We will see, anyway. I agree, though, she doesn't really serve any purpose any more and it'd be better just to let her go. I don't think she actually said the ILU to him, but when she was talking about him to Amy and came out with the frankly bizarre aside about ageing.
Anyway, I liked the cut of the new companion's jib when I saw her in the Dalek story (same actress, possibly different character...possibly...), so we can live in hopes, till the Xmas special anyway. ;)
People will sometimes argue ''But the Doctor was always flawed!'' Which I absolutely agree with, but none of the classic Doctors were as self-serving and sugar daddy-esque about their companions. They could certainly be extremely selfish, yes, but not in the same way. We're supposed to think that nothing less than ''I'd sacrifice the whole Universe for YOU!'' is enough to qualify as True Love.
How did Amy react to River telling her that. With the usual ''He's so worth it'' attitude?
I've developed this fanon that the Doctor was brain-damaged (in some way that isn't cured by regeneration) by the Time War, and that this damage has severely lowered his impulse control. It explains everything from Nine's highly risky act of leaving Adam on contemporary Earth with that brain-thingy in his forehead*, Ten's obsession over Rose, Eleven's enabling of River's fixation (I don't care if he has actual feelings for her. Most halfway decent, self-aware people would feel disturbed by it) with him by continuing to flirt with her or (Rassilon forbid) sleep with her, not to mention all three NuWho Doctors' tendency to rely on whether or not they're currently offended by/fond of something in particular, rather than having an overall social conscience, guided by firm principles. Oh, and indulging in the Lonely God thing, whereas he used to fancy himself more like someone who would condemn that sort of attitude. Now, he condemns it as long as that person isn't him.**
ETA: I came across a quote by Joseph Gordon-Levitt regarding a character in one of his movies, which pretty much fits this subject perfectly:
''The (500) Days of Summer attitude of “He wants you so bad” seems attractive to some women and men, especially younger ones, but I would encourage anyone who has a crush on my character to watch it again and examine how selfish he is. He develops a mildly delusional obsession over a girl onto whom he projects all these fantasies. He thinks she’ll give his life meaning because he doesn’t care about much else going on in his life. A lot of boys and girls think their lives will have meaning if they find a partner who wants nothing else in life but them. That’s not healthy. That’s falling in love with the idea of a person, not the actual person.''
* Sure, Adam was a terrible person, but why does Nine assume that Adam will never accidentally reveal it? He can't stop completely associating with people, after all. Disturbingly short-sighted thinking from Nine. I also regard it as too much torture (like putting someone in lifelong solitary confinement) and I could never endorse that. ** Hmm, this all gives me an idea for my Eleven/Romana fic. Possessive!Eleven, perhaps?
I...think they're leaving it open for her to make another appearance as and when, but her and the Doctor are apart for now. It was along the lines of "don't let the Doctor see you getting older, or getting "damaged" by travelling with him or he'll just take off and look for another companion". Which... Weird, like I say. Never has the Doctor, as far as I know, actually changed companions on such a basis or even expressed an opinion on humans and their weird ageing habits. River projecting, I think. It wasn't egregriously shippy, unless you count a couple of quick visual jokes with Eleven doing his hair/checking his breath before going to meet her, and her saying she loves him. No canoodling or nothing. ;)
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Well, that actually does sound egregiously shippy in terms of the Doctor. I mean,doing those things would definitely mean romantic/sexual attraction of some kind (Did he do it in front of her parents? If so: Ew). I'm kind of losing hope that we'll see the last of her anytime soon. Probably not for years, depending on how long Eleven stays. I don't see the point of having her come back, now that she's fulfilled her arc. I guess she and Doctor/River are just that popular with Moffat and the fans. How did he react to the ILU? I know, I know, it's pathetic that I'm so bothered by it. Forgive me. ;)
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Eleven at least had the self respect to do it crouched down behind the console where the Ponds couldn't see him. O.o I take it as another joke on Eleven's weird lack of sense when it comes to interpersonal relationships, tbh - does this sort of thing get reset when they regenerate, unsupported as it may be by prior evidence? To me, River's last scene here felt like a departure for now, but leaving the door open if required, you'd have to see it yourself to see what you thought of it. We will see, anyway. I agree, though, she doesn't really serve any purpose any more and it'd be better just to let her go. I don't think she actually said the ILU to him, but when she was talking about him to Amy and came out with the frankly bizarre aside about ageing.
Anyway, I liked the cut of the new companion's jib when I saw her in the Dalek story (same actress, possibly different character...possibly...), so we can live in hopes, till the Xmas special anyway. ;)
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How did Amy react to River telling her that. With the usual ''He's so worth it'' attitude?
I've developed this fanon that the Doctor was brain-damaged (in some way that isn't cured by regeneration) by the Time War, and that this damage has severely lowered his impulse control. It explains everything from Nine's highly risky act of leaving Adam on contemporary Earth with that brain-thingy in his forehead*, Ten's obsession over Rose, Eleven's enabling of River's fixation (I don't care if he has actual feelings for her. Most halfway decent, self-aware people would feel disturbed by it) with him by continuing to flirt with her or (Rassilon forbid) sleep with her, not to mention all three NuWho Doctors' tendency to rely on whether or not they're currently offended by/fond of something in particular, rather than having an overall social conscience, guided by firm principles. Oh, and indulging in the Lonely God thing, whereas he used to fancy himself more like someone who would condemn that sort of attitude. Now, he condemns it as long as that person isn't him.**
ETA: I came across a quote by Joseph Gordon-Levitt regarding a character in one of his movies, which pretty much fits this subject perfectly:
''The (500) Days of Summer attitude of “He wants you so bad” seems attractive to some women and men, especially younger ones, but I would encourage anyone who has a crush on my character to watch it again and examine how selfish he is. He develops a mildly delusional obsession over a girl onto whom he projects all these fantasies. He thinks she’ll give his life meaning because he doesn’t care about much else going on in his life. A lot of boys and girls think their lives will have meaning if they find a partner who wants nothing else in life but them. That’s not healthy. That’s falling in love with the idea of a person, not the actual person.''
* Sure, Adam was a terrible person, but why does Nine assume that Adam will never accidentally reveal it? He can't stop completely associating with people, after all. Disturbingly short-sighted thinking from Nine. I also regard it as too much torture (like putting someone in lifelong solitary confinement) and I could never endorse that.
** Hmm, this all gives me an idea for my Eleven/Romana fic. Possessive!Eleven, perhaps?
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