scarfman | Death comes to Time?

For some time I've been speculating in this space about what I call the lonely god character arc in Russell Davies Doctor Who; that the Doctor's behavior since his regeneration in 2005 - pining for the Lords, and treating this companion like an angel and that one poorly - is reflective of a story arc planned to last for as long as David Tennant plays the part. I'm not the only one who's independently noting that the Doctor's indulged in some less-than-role-modelish behaviors and hoping that there's a resolution coming.

On one or more of my Doctor Who LJ communities it's being linked to news that Elizabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith with Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker in the 70s and in one episode with Tennant in 2006, is coming back for near the end of Season 2008. All Tennant's companions are shooting reappearances for late in the new season. Even the season's new companion is a reappearance, because she was in the 2006 Christmas special.

People are speculating that the companion reappearances are building up to the annual season finale climax, and that that climax is one of them is going to die.* And I think that's exactly what would happen if what I call the lonely god arc is in fact planned.** The good news is, a companion death is precisely what it would take to snap the Doctor out of his funk so he'd take a needed look at himself. The bad news is, we're going to go another season before the turnaround.

* One of them who doesn't currently head up a spinoff.
** Edit On more thought, I supposed it could have evolved the same way without being planned.