This is a perfect ending to another thought-provoking story. As always, you give us characters who are flawed and whose flaws aren't covered up or excused. Rose is self-centred here, particularly at the start, but then she gets past that and becomes caring and insightful - and that's exactly how Rose is, both self-centred and caring. The Doctor is his usual thick-skulled, I know best self, and Donna is... Donna ;) But they all grow and learn here.
I also like the lack of quick fixes. The Doctor has a long way to go before he can stop fighting the Time War in his head, and even longer before he'll learn not to keep blaming himself for things. But we see the beginnings of growth and acceptance and healing here, and that's just as it should be :)
One little thing - I'm not sure if it's a typo or mis-hearing, but when Jackie slapped Nine she said "Stitch this."
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting. I wanted to complete my little series of JE meditations by trying my hand at one where Brown Ten gets to keep the girl (sort of). You're quite right - there wouldn't be any quick fixes in a situation like that, but I hope at least I did Donna justice.
They did have a slower narrative pace, but they left many emotional issues unadressed back in those days. At least New Who has the courage to engage with them.
I'm glad it left you feeling optimistic. It swims against the tide of fandom at the moment, I think, to refuse to let the original Doctor stay on the outside of the party.
I thought that review of the history of DW in the magazine was excellent. It's one of the best reads for some some time.
I'm not the kind of person who can just write that they all slept with each other and travelled together and lived happily ever after. People just aren't that simple. When I started out I wasn't sure if I could make it work at all, but now I feel satisfied with the result - it's an ending I could imagine them having and it feels right to me.
A part of me wanted Brown Ten just to help himself to Rose, but his other self didn't ask to be brought into being, he loves Rose and has feelings too. Most grown-up decisions involve an element of sacrifice, but at least he's doing it to make things easier for someone else, and not just to punish himself for his own past.
A part of me wanted Brown Ten just to help himself to Rose, but his other self didn't ask to be brought into being, he loves Rose and has feelings too. Most grown-up decisions involve an element of sacrifice, but at least he's doing it to make things easier for someone else, and not just to punish himself for his own past.
I get this. Honestly, I do; I just don’t understand why it always has to be him that makes the sacrifice when he’s already sacrificed so much.
(That’s not a dig at you, I promise; much more aimed towards the likes of Moffat and RTD.)
"Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart".(Easter, 1916)
It's become a habit. He doesn't know how else to behave. But I agree, that lack of character development is awfully hard to square with the claim that it's an optimistic show. And I can't help feeling it gives the wrong message to children - that to be powerful and good leads to loneliness and misery.
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I also like the lack of quick fixes. The Doctor has a long way to go before he can stop fighting the Time War in his head, and even longer before he'll learn not to keep blaming himself for things. But we see the beginnings of growth and acceptance and healing here, and that's just as it should be :)
One little thing - I'm not sure if it's a typo or mis-hearing, but when Jackie slapped Nine she said "Stitch this."
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I'm glad it left you feeling optimistic. It swims against the tide of fandom at the moment, I think, to refuse to let the original Doctor stay on the outside of the party.
I thought that review of the history of DW in the magazine was excellent. It's one of the best reads for some some time.
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There are still so many things the Doctor won’t let himself have, aren’t there? And this chapter is (for me, at least) very bittersweet in that way.
It brought (brings!) me to tears to read it, but then it’s not the first time you’ve managed to do that with something you’ve written.
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A part of me wanted Brown Ten just to help himself to Rose, but his other self didn't ask to be brought into being, he loves Rose and has feelings too. Most grown-up decisions involve an element of sacrifice, but at least he's doing it to make things easier for someone else, and not just to punish himself for his own past.
Reply
A part of me wanted Brown Ten just to help himself to Rose, but his other self didn't ask to be brought into being, he loves Rose and has feelings too. Most grown-up decisions involve an element of sacrifice, but at least he's doing it to make things easier for someone else, and not just to punish himself for his own past.
I get this. Honestly, I do; I just don’t understand why it always has to be him that makes the sacrifice when he’s already sacrificed so much.
(That’s not a dig at you, I promise; much more aimed towards the likes of Moffat and RTD.)
Reply
"Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart".(Easter, 1916)
It's become a habit. He doesn't know how else to behave. But I agree, that lack of character development is awfully hard to square with the claim that it's an optimistic show. And I can't help feeling it gives the wrong message to children - that to be powerful and good leads to loneliness and misery.
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Please more!!! :)
Susan
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