Mickey, Martha, and the Message that Doesn't Belong on Who

[neadods]

Cut for spoilers for entire season. Crossposted to personal journal.

Comments

[wynterhawk]

All without ever a "thank you" or "I'm sorry" outside of fanfic. But plenty of comparisons to the previous companion, and in full knowledge that she feels second best. At the very end of this season, she outright says "I've felt second best all along, but I'm pretty impressive."

And the Doctor says nothing. Not "you are impressive." Not "I shouldn't have let you feel second best. I only take the best."

I have to give your post a big head nod, and say that while I was trying not to think the exact same thing, I was still thinking the exact same thing. What brought it home for me were the last few moments of the finale. I have always loved and related to Martha Jones, but she just wasn't really completely the MJ I wanted. But, when she explained to Ten why she was leaving, saying that she had to get away for her own sanity *that* was the Martha Jones I had been waiting for the whole season.

That scene also made it very clear that Ten was not as clueless to his harsh treatment of Martha as general opinion seemed to suggest. His unsurprised expression of guilt as she expressed her opinion was so telling. It was as if he was thinking, "Oh yea... yea I did do that. I did make you feel that way. I know."

But, even if Martha doesn't come back, her exit was fantastic. I watched it thinking, "Yes, Martha Jones, you do what you need to do and you're wonderful. You will never be second best."