What's with all the charity stuff? (SPOILERS)
- Thread starter EJA
- Start date
It's a riff on the idea that the Doctor makes his companions "better," and that they do things after they leave his company to make the world a better place.
Consider the Doctor's disappointment in Jack heading Torchwood or Martha joining UNIT. In the Doctor's mind, these were bad things, and he said so in no uncertain terms. (Until, of course, he needs Torchwood and/or UNIT, in which case it's okay.)
It's bloody rubbish. One of the best things about Tegan was the way she left in Resurrection of the Daleks (probably one of the best things about Resurrection too, come to that). Rather than all hugs and kisses and crying towels and "you've changed my life" type rubbish like we get in new Who, she pretty much says "strewth Daawctaaa, I can't take this shit any more. I'm going home, you bland ineffectual jim-jam wearing twat". As for Ace, it's contrary to how she turned out in the books, but I suppose not many people care about that - least of all RTD. Wasn't Dodo's name also Dorothy though? As I say, it's bloody rubbish tacked on to the end of enough fanwank to make you go blind.
Yep. RTD is limited in his scope on what makes a person "better". He thinks being a cog in the great Corporate system of Earth is something to achieve and strive for. But, what do you expect from someone who thinks "Reality" Television is the height of good entertainment?
I think the fact that many people outright disliked Ace's character arc in the books means that they will be actively pleased about that. More simply than that, the series should never be beholden to spin-off media aimed at hardcore fans. Pinch from it - sure, Have to take it into account - no.
Well, given the funeral was a fake, why would they want people like Martha and Mickey there? They have guns! Much safer to call in Sarah Jane and dotty old Jo Jones.
I love the fact that they mentioned Ace as still around.
On the subject of RTD and reality TV, I was astounded when I first heard about how he loved it. I mean, that stuff in Bad Wolf with a world of fucking idiots watching 50 Big Brother houses of fucking idiots...was that meant to be a good thing in his view? Jesus Christ, the man didn't have a clue.
Yep. RTD is limited in his scope on what makes a person "better". He thinks being a cog in the great Corporate system of Earth is something to achieve and strive for. But, what do you expect from someone who thinks "Reality" Television is the height of good entertainment?
I always imagined Ace would end up in space or something. Doing space stuff. After all, that's where we found her in Dragonfire. Ultimately that was due to Fenric we find out, but...well, whatever. Having her on earth working for a charity like that doesn't fit the character, and is again a result of RTD's complete lack of imagination or talent. I hope he never writes for Doctor Who again.
Jo Grant I get, Sarah Jane on the other hand, I suspect UNIT view her with distrust, all kinds of alien tech in that attic she does not allow them access too, and tales of her breaking to nano tech labs, not to mention stealing from The Black Archive.
Look at the amount of guns they bought with them to tell her the Doctor was dead.
QFT. I needed a towel when all said and done.
I'm guessing Martha didn't leave UNIT on the best of terms.
Maybe the Colonel simply understimated Sarah Jane?
Tony Lee covers Martha's departure from UNIT in "Don't Step on the Grass," issues 9-12 of IDW's Doctor Who comic. It's on generally good terms, and it leads into when we next see her.
so why bring so many guns? ok its clear why they even held one, they could at least have given an excuse for Martha & Mickey, even if its its "shes off with Mickey in Peru" or something.
If I could be permitted to use a term that isn't well-liked around here, Death of the Doctor was a "valentine to the fans" of classic Who. Or you could call it fanwank, depending on your attitudes towards it.
Regardless, as such its focus was on the classic series and its companions. I imagine the only reason Amy and Rory were referanced was because as the Doctor's current companions, an explanation had to be given for their absence.
EDIT: Another possibility I just thought of is that the Colonel may have figured that Sarah Jane would be easier to defeat at UNIT HQ cut off from her alien tech. Really, we're talking about a one-shot villain in a children's TV show. Intricate planning shouldn't be expected from her.
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With Donna Noble winning the lottery she probably started an orphanage or something
Nah, remember she doesn't remember the Doctor made her a better person 
Just to add, re the charity stuff, we do need to remember that, obstensibly at least, SJA is a kids show, it's also worth noting that only a minute or so is spent discussing past companions. I'm not overly happy with the way it was done, but I think charity is just handy shorthand for "they're making a difference".
At Least Tegan had one specific charity she worked for, that's more respectable than Jo Grants have tea chest will travel appraoch which seemed to see her protesting everyone (lets be honest I bet she chained herself to herself once.)
Harry developing vaccines seems perfectly in keeping with him.
As for Ian and Barbara being immortal...well I think we're taking that too literally, I think it was just a very affectionate nod to the Doctor's very first companions (not counting Susan) and, lets face it, they are immortal, forever young on a whole host of DVDs. I think it's quite sweet in hindsight.
Just to add, re the charity stuff, we do need to remember that, obstensibly at least, SJA is a kids show, it's also worth noting that only a minute or so is spent discussing past companions. I'm not overly happy with the way it was done, but I think charity is just handy shorthand for "they're making a difference".
At Least Tegan had one specific charity she worked for, that's more respectable than Jo Grants have tea chest will travel appraoch which seemed to see her protesting everyone (lets be honest I bet she chained herself to herself once.)
Harry developing vaccines seems perfectly in keeping with him.
As for Ian and Barbara being immortal...well I think we're taking that too literally, I think it was just a very affectionate nod to the Doctor's very first companions (not counting Susan) and, lets face it, they are immortal, forever young on a whole host of DVDs. I think it's quite sweet in hindsight.
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I doubt they're truly immortal. When Captain Jack was made immortal, the Doctor freaked out and ran away, and tried to avoid him again when Jack tracked him down. I doubt he would have reacted that way if he'd once traveled with two people made immortal.
More likely they're just aging very slowly.
No, the TARDIS freaked out and the Doctor ran away from Jack because Rose made Jack a "fixed point in time and space." That made Jack "wrong." And also immortal.
There's no reason why immortality automatically means that someone is fixed in time and space. It just means they won't die. Ian and Barbara could very well be immortal, but there's no reason to assume that the Doctor would react as viscerally toward them as he would toward Jack.
(Also, Ian has damn well aged. See The Crusades.)
