(reply posted in 2 parts because of length. sorry! - Part 1 -)
You know, there have been so many versions of how Billies departure went down, but here's my theory:
Billie decided she wanted to leave, suddenly; RTD thought there was a possibility he could get her back; Because he hadn't finished her story arc and had something huge he wanted to do with it, he wanted to keep the memory/thought of "Rose" fresh in viewers' minds through season 3, while he tried to get her back for s4 - thus, the disposable companion idea was born; an unrequited-love arc was the vehicle; "Martha's" arc (in quotes because it wasn't much about her - it really seemed that she was a plot device, basically) was written (not as well as it could have been even given its purpose) in the time remaining; Freema turned out to be awesome and RTD decided to keep her around; Billie agreed to come back in s4; the "professional relationship" idea was born (i.e., Martha shows up part-time in Who and Torchwood, so that RTD can write for Freema "as much as possible") and proper Dr. Who writing resumed in s4.
This theory will be proved or disproved by s4 (it could still go either way, at this point), and although I won't go into detail (unless you really want me to) about all of the little interview quotes and s3 moments that contribute to this theory (cuz there are a lot and I've forgotten some of them), let me give you the main reason why I believe my theory is correct (cuz that's really the point of this comment):
I don't think RTD meant the Doctor and Rose arc to be True Love.
Don't flame me!!! lol :-) Yes, I've read RTD saying that they were in love. However, from *the way he was writing it*, it looked more like infatuation on her part, and desperation on his, on top of the usual Doctor/companion love - a verry different, and much more realistic, scenario. I'll explain why I believe this:
Reason 1: Rose was 19. And acted it. Meaning - She wasn't ready for "true love."
Reason 2: Rose kept her boyfriend (Mickey) hanging on. Even in s2 - she didn't actually "let" him go until he decided to stay in the parallel universe (*He* broke up with *her*). Meaning - Rose was not secure in her "relationship" with the Doctor, no matter how much she felt she was "in love" with him.
The Doctor as much as admits he loved Sarah Jane - says everything *but* the l-word (trails off before he says it, I think it's safe to assume that's what he meant). Meaning - He has *loved* - not just liked, gotten along with, cared about, but *loved* - companions before Rose, and admits it. So, loving Rose is not unique - it does not automatically equal One True Love.
Reason 3: When the Doctor thinks (Satan pit, I think) he has permanently lost his TARDIS and will have to settle down and "get a mortgage", Rose says to him "me too...it could be the same mortgage"; but after a look from the Doctor, she says, "or not..." the Doctor declines to comment on that either, just looks down. Meaning - Tactful rejection anyone? Even though he thought he would have to settle down, marrying/living with Rose was not an option. That's "true love"?
Compare the above conversation to the one with Mme. de Pompadour when he thinks he can't get back to the future, they toast the "slow path", and she says "it's too bad. I think I would have enjoyed the slow path, with you" -emphasis mine- and he returns "I'm not going anywhere." (note that they've already snogged, sans excuses, which cannot be said of the Doc and Rose - the implication of possible intimacy is *not* absent) Meaning - Here's what it looks like when he *is* willing to "commit" (for their lifetime, anyway) to someone (once he's been "forced" to settle down, that is).
You know, there have been so many versions of how Billies departure went down, but here's my theory:
Billie decided she wanted to leave, suddenly;
RTD thought there was a possibility he could get her back;
Because he hadn't finished her story arc and had something huge he wanted to do with it, he wanted to keep the memory/thought of "Rose" fresh in viewers' minds through season 3, while he tried to get her back for s4 - thus, the disposable companion idea was born; an unrequited-love arc was the vehicle;
"Martha's" arc (in quotes because it wasn't much about her - it really seemed that she was a plot device, basically) was written (not as well as it could have been even given its purpose) in the time remaining;
Freema turned out to be awesome and RTD decided to keep her around; Billie agreed to come back in s4;
the "professional relationship" idea was born (i.e., Martha shows up part-time in Who and Torchwood, so that RTD can write for Freema "as much as possible") and proper Dr. Who writing resumed in s4.
This theory will be proved or disproved by s4 (it could still go either way, at this point), and although I won't go into detail (unless you really want me to) about all of the little interview quotes and s3 moments that contribute to this theory (cuz there are a lot and I've forgotten some of them), let me give you the main reason why I believe my theory is correct (cuz that's really the point of this comment):
I don't think RTD meant the Doctor and Rose arc to be True Love.
Don't flame me!!! lol :-) Yes, I've read RTD saying that they were in love. However, from *the way he was writing it*, it looked more like infatuation on her part, and desperation on his, on top of the usual Doctor/companion love - a verry different, and much more realistic, scenario. I'll explain why I believe this:
Reason 1: Rose was 19. And acted it.
Meaning - She wasn't ready for "true love."
Reason 2: Rose kept her boyfriend (Mickey) hanging on. Even in s2 - she didn't actually "let" him go until he decided to stay in the parallel universe (*He* broke up with *her*).
Meaning - Rose was not secure in her "relationship" with the Doctor, no matter how much she felt she was "in love" with him.
The Doctor as much as admits he loved Sarah Jane - says everything *but* the l-word (trails off before he says it, I think it's safe to assume that's what he meant).
Meaning - He has *loved* - not just liked, gotten along with, cared about, but *loved* - companions before Rose, and admits it. So, loving Rose is not unique - it does not automatically equal One True Love.
Reason 3: When the Doctor thinks (Satan pit, I think) he has permanently lost his TARDIS and will have to settle down and "get a mortgage", Rose says to him "me too...it could be the same mortgage"; but after a look from the Doctor, she says, "or not..." the Doctor declines to comment on that either, just looks down.
Meaning - Tactful rejection anyone? Even though he thought he would have to settle down, marrying/living with Rose was not an option. That's "true love"?
Compare the above conversation to the one with Mme. de Pompadour when he thinks he can't get back to the future, they toast the "slow path", and she says "it's too bad. I think I would have enjoyed the slow path, with you" -emphasis mine- and he returns "I'm not going anywhere." (note that they've already snogged, sans excuses, which cannot be said of the Doc and Rose - the implication of possible intimacy is *not* absent)
Meaning - Here's what it looks like when he *is* willing to "commit" (for their lifetime, anyway) to someone (once he's been "forced" to settle down, that is).
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