I'm reflecting that more companions left out of weariness and wanting to go home than for romantic reasons in the early years:
Romance: Susan Had had enough + went home: Ian, Barbara Romance: Vicki Killed: Katarina, Sara Romantic destiny à la Nyssa/Romana: Steven Had enough: Dodo, Ben, Polly, Victoria Sent home by Time Lords: Jamie, Zoe Sent home by Barry Letts Had enough: Liz Romance: Jo Had enough: Harry Kicked out: Sarah Jane etc
So of the first 14 companions only two left for immediate romance, exactly the same number as those who died horribly.
These two, though, had been actively wanting to get home from episode 2 of the series, though. Their ongoing desire to get home was a very good reason for the production team to make sure the Doctor didn't return to Earth in the 1960s. The first chance they got to go home, they took.
As it happens, I'm watching The Romans right now, and they seem pretty comfortable: nine minutes into episode one, Ian says "I'd like to stay here as long as possible!" Cue affirmative nodding from rest of Tardis crew, and dismay when the Doctor suggests leaving.
Yes, but after the year they had just had, their period in that villa was a real break for them It's no different from any of us saying we would rather not leave at the end of a very good holiday.
You also have to remember that by then they knew very well that the Doctor was not going to be able deliberately to get them back to 1963 in the Tardis. :)
But part of the point, surely, is that Rose leaves by accident as the only way to save her from a fate literally worse than death. Neither she nor the Doctor want to be parted, and the family she goes back to is in a very real sense one she has never known.
A Rose that is working for Torchwood in a serious capacity is not a Rose who has gone backwards, but rather a Rose who is making the best of a bad situation.
But part of the point, surely, is that Rose leaves by accident as the only way to save her from a fate literally worse than death. Neither she nor the Doctor want to be parted, and the family she goes back to is in a very real sense one she has never known.
I think there are two important ways I disagree with this.
First, although it's true that she leaves by accident, there are plenty of places she could have ended up. The writer's choice of place means something no matter how she got there.
Second, she didn't leave by accident the first time. The Doctor made the decision for her to send her into the other Universe with her family, and she chose to come back. She wants to grow up, he doesn't want to let her.
It's weird, though. Because she isn't reluctant to break away but she ends up with them anyway. And coming back home because you decide to is different than ending up back home because your boyfriend decides you'd be better off with your mum.
I'm busily devouring Christopher Booker's "The Seven Basic Plots" at the moment, and the arc seen from Rose's point of view is a Voyage and Return story where Rose both falls into and out of her dreamworld suddenly, and then returns to her previous (humdrum) existence. She has been somewhat affected by the events of the story, and the external trappings of the world are different; but I don't think you get a sense of her being profoundly altered or made complete by the experience.
Booker points out that this is a very common plot indeed in children's literature (Alice, Oz, Peter Rabbit etc), so I think it's a fairly sensible choice for a family show.
Difference is that in Alice, Oz and Peter Rabbit the hero wants to get home. By the end of The End of the World Rose has made her peace with traveling. By Boom Town she's broken up with Mickey. For Alice, Dorothy and Peter, getting home is winning, for Rose it's not.
But as they are in love (l.u.v.) she either has to be the permanent companion (nope), die, or be put so far away she can never return. As the Best Companion Ever she does not deserve to die, so...
Agreed -- it was an excellent ending and I loved those two episodes more than any other this year except School Reunion. But as I said above there are plenty of far away places she could have gone.
Comments 16
Romance: Susan
Had had enough + went home: Ian, Barbara
Romance: Vicki
Killed: Katarina, Sara
Romantic destiny à la Nyssa/Romana: Steven
Had enough: Dodo, Ben, Polly, Victoria
Sent home by Time Lords: Jamie, Zoe
Sent home by Barry Letts Had enough: Liz
Romance: Jo
Had enough: Harry
Kicked out: Sarah Jane
etc
So of the first 14 companions only two left for immediate romance, exactly the same number as those who died horribly.
Reply
These two, though, had been actively wanting to get home from episode 2 of the series, though. Their ongoing desire to get home was a very good reason for the production team to make sure the Doctor didn't return to Earth in the 1960s. The first chance they got to go home, they took.
Reply
Reply
You also have to remember that by then they knew very well that the Doctor was not going to be able deliberately to get them back to 1963 in the Tardis. :)
Reply
A Rose that is working for Torchwood in a serious capacity is not a Rose who has gone backwards, but rather a Rose who is making the best of a bad situation.
Reply
I think there are two important ways I disagree with this.
First, although it's true that she leaves by accident, there are plenty of places she could have ended up. The writer's choice of place means something no matter how she got there.
Second, she didn't leave by accident the first time. The Doctor made the decision for her to send her into the other Universe with her family, and she chose to come back. She wants to grow up, he doesn't want to let her.
Reply
It supports the whole "adultescence" thing though doesn't it - prolonged adolescence and reluctance to break away from nuclear family...
If you look at Rose's backstory she's already left home and come back once, when she was about 15/16....
Reply
Reply
Booker points out that this is a very common plot indeed in children's literature (Alice, Oz, Peter Rabbit etc), so I think it's a fairly sensible choice for a family show.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment