Episode Reaction: Evolution of the Daleks

[ninamazing]

I wanted to backpost all of my old episode reactions, but apparently you can't do that on a non-personal journal. So I hereby apologize for all the spam and I really really hope that you all don't defriend me. I promise I will write more fic soon. :)

Comments

[ninamazing]

Did Martha even have a plan? I realize there's this big dichotomy about how Martha's in medical school and Rose didn't (as I understand it) get to Grade 12, but as far as breaking into a place goes, Torchwood is a lot harder to crack than a construction site in 1930s New York. Also, the fact that lightning conducts through metal is really common knowledge, and Martha's training wouldn't give her any special advantage as far as that course of action goes.

That said, I think if Martha were written consistently and well (which is woefully not the case!), she would always be able to keep her head in a crisis and be a very good "business partner" type to the Doctor. In that respect, she's less like Rose. But I very strongly feel that it's not that Rose is UNHELPFUL; it's that she's helpful in a different way. Rose has a unique ability to connect with people and make close friends in different time periods and on different planets almost the instant she gets there, which means she always has a handle of what's going on, even if it's not intellectual. That's what made her so valuable. I think it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking she's stupid because her intelligence is not the kind that's often seen for what it is by society (and snotty Classic!Who fans), but yes, I think Rose is in fact more capable than Martha because of this.

Though if the writers had put a little more effort into defining and writing Martha, I think she could be as capable and valuable as Rose. We'll see if they improve by the end of S3.

HURRAY for the Buffy reference! It's so true. And as for the human/Dalek/Time Lord race dying, I was so far gone by that point that I'm not sure I was even thinking about the implications of the episode anymore ... I was pretty much wondering when it would all be over so I could pretend it had never happened and we were still in S2. Heh. :P