Thorn

[scarfman]

Here's the absolutely, positively, ultimate reason, I promise*, why I won't regard Rose to be the Doctor's one true love of his life(ves): I think it's bad storytelling, because there're only two directions it could go from there on.

1. The Doctor never loved like this before and never will again. I hope and believe this character is going to be around for a long time still, and to go all that time without love while having the capacity is very, very sad. But the longer the character lasts - given that new people with their own ideas get put in charge of the character all the time - the more this direction is not going to happen. Now that the Doctor's fallen in love once, someone else will want to do it their way. So:
2. The Doctor loves again. But, the way the relationship with Rose has already been built up (and continues to be built up even though it's past), it's too late for it not to be cheapened by the Doctor loving again.

I never liked the development (and I think that, all along, this though unarticulated was the reason why I didn't), but now that it's there it oughtn't have that happen to it. Yet, if the property lasts, that can't be avoided. The reason I must believe it wasn't what the Doctor believes it was is that, in the end, it won't have been.

* subject to change without notice

Comments

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's where they're going with all this perception filter stuff? The idea that you can have a good thing sitting right in front of you and be too wrapped up in your grief to recognise it. I'd quite like to see it transcend the Rose or Martha or whoever thing - to see some new understanding on his part that the human race in general is capable of nurturing and supporting him - in a sense anyone can be Bad Wolf. But also to get away from the rather creepy, faithful companion "I'll never leave him" syndrome, to a more equal partnership.

Rose worked alongside him but it's been Martha who's taken the initiative and rescued him in some really significant ways - I didn't think I liked her at first but she has grown into the role and now convinces me that she has that potential.

So, if Rose came back, I'd squee, because I'm that way inclined, but I could also see it as a step backwards in emotional development for them both.

[melwicker.livejournal.com]

But if he can't fall in love at least once, this leaves him as less than human, not as something more than human.

[scarfman]

Perhaps. But there's a Western(?) tradition of purity and asexuality in heroes that denies or ignores that, including such diverse characters as Sir Galahad and Radar O'Reilly; and Doctor Who got on till Russell T. Davies being one of them. Even if it's true, and the Doctor needed this humanization after going so long without it, it still could have been handled differently, for its own sake.

[scarfman]

Because [I should have added] the Doctor can't fall in love once - not only once.

[taleya.livejournal.com]

see, that's the problem though. He isn't human.

[coneyislandbaby]

Got here via your link in who_daily

The thing is, what is it with people thinking that someone over 900 years old has only one true love in the first place? Humans don't only have one true love, why would the Doctor?

[taleya.livejournal.com]

:D He gets one per regeneration. Special deal!

[betawho.livejournal.com]

What I liked about the idea of an asexual Doctor was that it was a unique take on a main character in today's culture. Where else can you see a non-loser who isn't worried about his love life?

Very nearly everything on TV and in the media is set up with the idea that all people must pair off, without exception. It doesn't matter if it's with a person of the opposite sex or even your own sex, everyone is expected to be looking for a soul mate to settle down with and have a long meaningful sexual relationship with.

It was refreshing to see a character who broke that mold. Someone who decided there was something he wanted more in life than simply to settle down.

The Doctor never lacked for love in his life, he always has friends, people who love him and who he loves. It's just that he doesn't tie himself down to them. Yet he's also not the type to go in for one night stands. That would hurt him as much as it might hurt the other people involved. He's not a person who loves lightly.

So, the way I always interpreted it, was that he made his choice. He has already had a family, and there's nothing to say that at some point in the future he might decide that his travelling days are done and he'll be happy to settle down with a family again. You know he could if he wanted to.

But, for now, he's spellbound by the wonders of the universe, he wants to do and see everything. He's found his pearl of greatest price that he's willing to give up everything else for. And when you find something like that, giving up everything else is easy.

It's only RTD who thinks he must forever maunder on about a 19 year old girl that he knew he would never be able to keep, despite all her protestations.

The Doctor chooses, and he chooses to travel.

And that one lone hero, happy in his life and in his choices, doing what he loves best in the world, is the best definition of hero I've ever seen.

It doesn't matter that he doesn't get shagged every week.

[logicisfailing.livejournal.com]

"Everyone is expected to be looking for a soul mate to settle down with and have a long meaningful sexual relationship with"

I think that was point with Doctor/Rose (and perhaps, why it didn't turn out so well). He developed feelings for her even though he hadn't been looking or trying to find someone - not to mention, the Doctor settling down? Never!

[logicisfailing.livejournal.com]

I love Doctor/Rose & do think their relationship was special (do I think he'd never had a love before her? No. Do I think they were both in love? Heck yes!). Whether it was because he was emotionally unstable after the Time War or just Rose herself, I think that no matter what happens in the future, she'll always hold a special place in his heart.

That said, I absolutely agree with #2 (and actually, to some extent, #1). That's why I was for the whole let the Doctor & Rose at the end of Journey's End to live their (well, Rose's) life together and when the series/specials comes back she's gone - died, mysteriously taken, but they're finished for whatever reason. The Doctor grieves for a special/reminder of the series/whatver but eventually moves on with his life. It's only natural to move on once a loved one's gone and this way it wouldn't feeling like he was "betraying" Rose. IDK, I think it would've worked well...