(no subject)
I'm trying to be more positive about Journey's End, and here's something I've been thinking in regards to Donna.
So I've noticed that the previous series' historical-author episodes matched quite well with the Doctor's state of mind at the time. Charles Dickens was old and weary and ended up rejuvenated, which was Nine's journey throughout S1. Shakespeare was grieving his son and wondering what the point of life was, which is basically S3.
What's interesting is that Agatha Christie applies far more to Donna than she does to the Doctor. There are still some Doctor-Agatha comparisons, like Agatha trying to heal from her husband and the Doctor trying to heal from Rose. But Donna drew more explicit comparisons between Agatha and herself in the episode, and now there's another one from Journey's End--both Donna and Agatha experienced amazing things and had to forget them.
In the Journey's End Confidential, Julie Gardner said that of course Donna still had the potential to be the amazing person she was with the Doctor, but that she probably wouldn't realize that potential, because she wouldn't know she could. That was something I actually thought of myself--one reason I hate Donna's ending so much--but I'm going to be optimistic enough for one more comparison between Donna and Agatha.
Though she had to forget the amazing things she saw, Agatha Christie went on to become one of the most popular authors of all time, and even managed to be influenced by things she couldn't consciously recall. Donna may not remember either, but I'd like to think that her subconscious could be just as influential, and she'll still end up the amazing person we all know she can be.
So I've noticed that the previous series' historical-author episodes matched quite well with the Doctor's state of mind at the time. Charles Dickens was old and weary and ended up rejuvenated, which was Nine's journey throughout S1. Shakespeare was grieving his son and wondering what the point of life was, which is basically S3.
What's interesting is that Agatha Christie applies far more to Donna than she does to the Doctor. There are still some Doctor-Agatha comparisons, like Agatha trying to heal from her husband and the Doctor trying to heal from Rose. But Donna drew more explicit comparisons between Agatha and herself in the episode, and now there's another one from Journey's End--both Donna and Agatha experienced amazing things and had to forget them.
In the Journey's End Confidential, Julie Gardner said that of course Donna still had the potential to be the amazing person she was with the Doctor, but that she probably wouldn't realize that potential, because she wouldn't know she could. That was something I actually thought of myself--one reason I hate Donna's ending so much--but I'm going to be optimistic enough for one more comparison between Donna and Agatha.
Though she had to forget the amazing things she saw, Agatha Christie went on to become one of the most popular authors of all time, and even managed to be influenced by things she couldn't consciously recall. Donna may not remember either, but I'd like to think that her subconscious could be just as influential, and she'll still end up the amazing person we all know she can be.