The Companion Moment

[meddow]

I was thinking about companion’s first episodes in New Who, and that one scene there always is in which they prove themselves and become the Companion. And thinking about it, these scenes often reflect both the season finale and the role the companion has in the Doctor’s life.

Rose in Rose grabs onto a rope, not exactly sure of what she is doing, and saves the Doctor. And Rose in season one, not exactly sure of what she is doing, saves the Doctor. Literally when she stares into the heart of the TARDIS, but through the season she also saves him emotionally from his post Time War state of misery.

Martha, in an act of faith in the Doctor, gives her last breath to the Doctor so he can save the planet, which reflects Martha’s journey in which she gives everything she has to give, and through her own faith in him, puts the Doctor in the position where he can save the world. And I do think that Martha support, at great personal cost to herself and later her family, is the only thing holding the Doctor together through season three.

And then there’s Donna, who proves herself by simply providing exactly what is needed, when it is needed. And I think that’s what Donna’s role is going to be in the Doctor’s life, to provide what he needs – whether it is emotional support or a swift kick up the backside. And, of course, following my theory, Donna is going to provide exactly what is needed in the season finale to save the day. We’ll just have to wait to find out what it is.

Comments

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Wow, of all the reactions, meta, discussion I've read today, that is the most insightful yet simple, yet now-so-obvious thing I've read today. Brilliant.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[simply-lily.livejournal.com]

Phew, I agree. That was brilliant and went straight to the point.

[shaxophile.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with this. Simple, concise, a bit revelatory. (That's a word, right?)

And I'd argue that The Christmas Invasion is a similar introduction, where Rose becomes Ten's companion. In some way the new actors' first stories are all about proving to us that his Doctor is still our Doctor, but it needs to be shown that Companion & Doctor still fit together. And in Christmas Invasion, when the chips are down Rose steps up to the plate (wow, talk about mixing your metaphors). She uses what she's learned from Nine - the Slitheen, the Shadow Proclamation, etc. - and she tries to be Rose Tyler, defender of Earth, because no one else can. I think that shows a lot of the Ten/Rose dynamic, the way they were a team.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

I think the Christmas Invasion is more about establishing the new Doctor and his personality, and from that his arc, than it is about establishing Rose and Ten work together or how much Rose has learnt (though it does establish both those things as well, it's just that the introduction of the new Doctor is the main aim).

It may work in the same way that the Companion's first episodes have in the past, but I can't really speculate until we really she how Ten's arc really develops (it's still progressing, and if DT stays on, it may progress for quiet a while).

[aninvasion.livejournal.com]

Woah, I have to say that I definatly agree!

[yubsie]

That... makes an absurd amount of sense.

[janetlin.livejournal.com]

Wow, why hasn't this occurred to anyone before? I mean, the pivotal moment being an insight into the companion's role in the Doctor's life seems pretty common sense, since that's a reflection of her personality, but I'd never noticed the parallels with the season finales before. Most interesting...

[meddow.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's occurred to someone somewhere already - but for me, I need three incidents to notice a pattern forming. Shall be interesting to see if my prediction comes true come Journey's End.