Thursday, June 26, 2008

A few more thoughts on Doctor Who

What makes the show for me is the emotional subtext. It's the adult bits in this very G-rated show that really trip my trigger - and clearly these are the bits that get to loads of other people, judging by the significant mature audience, the intelligent discussions on TWOP and the sophisticated fiction online.

People seem to label Nine as a depressive potential suicide because of his deep issues with the Time War, the death of his people and destruction of his planet, the genocide of the Daleks, etc. but to do so you have to ignore his very Doctorish zest for life. He has that immediate engagement with people; he's fascinated with people of all sorts. He has a childlike sense of wonder, the ability to continue to be surprised and pleased and amazed by the universe, even after 900 years of travelling through it. Certainly there is something new in him that we didn't see in previous Doctors; he NEEDS Rose. After she agrees to travel with him he goes to some lengths, really any length, to please her because he is kinda desperate for that kind of companionship - some new eyes to see the universe through.

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