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

[neadods]

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

Comments

[juanitadark]

This is pretty much my objection to the finale. Even with s4 being the season to invert all of that it's still been written that way in the first place. And, like, why exactly?

Ask yourself: to get to the point where they are now with the Doctor emotionally, did they really have to make Martha not just unrequited but bashed in complete opposition to what we were seeing on screen? And for no other reason than not being Rose?

She's not Jack, she's not an anomalous and fixed event - so what were they trying to say? What about all the kids who particularly identify with Martha? Are they going to be thinking that in order to be liked they have to be more like Rose?

The logic here is disturbing.

[skywardprodigal]

It's not logic, though. It's a manifestation of white supremacy. Whether the writers meant it or not, in the two instances where characters of color got lots of screentime otherwise, the context was that no matter what they do, with what heart they do it with, no matter how successful they are at it, they will never receive the acknowledgment from the people that matter most to them that they are worthy of praise equal to that of other heroes. And that, what's heroic for others is just baseline acceptable behavior for them.

It's a hateful lesson.

[juanitadark]

It's unforgiveable.

It's not even just that, a lot of times Rose got on like an absolute spoilt 5 year-old - so it's a total double-standard. It's not no matter what you do you won't be good enough it's no matter what you do you're not white while doing it.

[skywardprodigal]

Agreed.

Agreed.

It's not no matter what you do you won't be good enough it's no matter what you do you're not white while doing it.

What Dr Who did was reify Who is right rather than What is right.

[neadods]

Can you IMAGINE the wank if Martha had done the "put her chin on the Doctor's shoulder and bat her eyes and pout" like Rose did in Cybermen? She really did get away with behaving like a child sometimes.

[shadowturquoise]

It's not just the "no matter what you (Martha-Mickey)do, it's not good enough" ... what makes it twice as bad is the "no matter what you do (Rose) it's funny and charming and perfect." Because there were MANY times that Rose's behavior was inexcusable and no one other than Queen Victoria seemed to call her on it.

It would have been a bit easier to take Rose being a spoilt 5-year old if it had been shown as bad. I bet if Martha had acted like Rose usually did, she really would have been put out after one trip.

[skywardprodigal]

I loved Rose, but I think she was immature and dangerous. She made huge messes and Martha didn't.

[neadods]

True. Martha never ended the world by disobeying the Doctor.

[skywardprodigal]

Martha never saved the world by screwing over one of her best friends (Jack). Or strung her loyal, decent lover along (Mickey). Or wore too much makeup. Or laughed at pain and suffering and death.