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locker_monster(LJ is evil. I've been trying to post this all weekend and it's still not working properly)
First off, the novel version of Human Nature is back up at BBC's classic Doctor Who website so I'm rather eager to give that a read. I know it's going to be different, but it'll be cool to check out the source material and see how things had to change so the story fit Ten and Martha rather than Seven and Bernice.
And next week's episode is written by Steven Moffat! I just love his episodes. The preview for the episode makes it seem like a horror movie. :-)
First off, the novel version of Human Nature is back up at BBC's classic Doctor Who website so I'm rather eager to give that a read. I know it's going to be different, but it'll be cool to check out the source material and see how things had to change so the story fit Ten and Martha rather than Seven and Bernice.
Family of Blood raised some good questions regarding the distinction between John Smith and the Doctor. I never really considered them to be two different people; John's just another aspect of Ten just as Ten is another aspect of the whole person that is the Doctor. But then you have John wishing not to become the Doctor and Joan saying at the end that John died so the Family could be stopped. And I suppose John Smith is an entirely different person from the Doctor. He had the potential to live a life that the Doctor could never have. So why would he want to give up his normal life to live one full of death and pain? Though it was so cute when John reverted back to the Doctor for a split second. David did a good job making each character unique.
The Doctor seems to be falling for women every season. ;-) And he keeps offering to bring them along in the TARDIS. But I suppose it really sucks for Joan. She fell in love with John Smith, not the Doctor, and John's basically dead by the end of the episode. It's interesting that Joan asked the Doctor if he could switch back to John but didn't right out demand that he do so. I guess she would only end up losing him again. You have to wonder if the Doctor would ever consider becoming human again. He can get the normal life but who would save the universe when trouble turns up? And speaking about a normal life, the snapshots into the life John and Joan could have had was nice and bittersweet. I wonder if John named one of his daughters Rose? :-D
It's starting to seem that I like Martha when she takes charge. She's clearly capable of looking after things when the Doctor's not there when it comes down to it. I'm going to steer clear of the topic of Martha declaring her love for the Doctor to John Smith. I am glad, however, that the Doctor actually remembers what Martha said. I just hate it when shows make a character forget what happened after they get possessed or swap bodies or something.
I also think the ending totally rocked. "Baines" narration was a nice addition. Rather than showing what happened to the Family you also get a verbal account. The fact that they went with a voice over makes me think that they pulled it right from the book. I also liked how the Doctor didn't kill the Family; he just made sure they could never hurt anyone else. It fits with how John didn't fire his rifle during the battle.
The Doctor seems to be falling for women every season. ;-) And he keeps offering to bring them along in the TARDIS. But I suppose it really sucks for Joan. She fell in love with John Smith, not the Doctor, and John's basically dead by the end of the episode. It's interesting that Joan asked the Doctor if he could switch back to John but didn't right out demand that he do so. I guess she would only end up losing him again. You have to wonder if the Doctor would ever consider becoming human again. He can get the normal life but who would save the universe when trouble turns up? And speaking about a normal life, the snapshots into the life John and Joan could have had was nice and bittersweet. I wonder if John named one of his daughters Rose? :-D
It's starting to seem that I like Martha when she takes charge. She's clearly capable of looking after things when the Doctor's not there when it comes down to it. I'm going to steer clear of the topic of Martha declaring her love for the Doctor to John Smith. I am glad, however, that the Doctor actually remembers what Martha said. I just hate it when shows make a character forget what happened after they get possessed or swap bodies or something.
I also think the ending totally rocked. "Baines" narration was a nice addition. Rather than showing what happened to the Family you also get a verbal account. The fact that they went with a voice over makes me think that they pulled it right from the book. I also liked how the Doctor didn't kill the Family; he just made sure they could never hurt anyone else. It fits with how John didn't fire his rifle during the battle.
And next week's episode is written by Steven Moffat! I just love his episodes. The preview for the episode makes it seem like a horror movie. :-)
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Date: 2007-06-05 12:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 07:18 pm (UTC)You know I was a bit shocked when the doctor said, 'yes,' to the 'could he turn back into Jhon Smith.' But then I read your post and I thought about it and I thought... it wasn't so much a matter of 'could' as would.
and I don't think that it could have ever worked. I don't think that Joan could have ever gone with the Doctor as a companion, because he's not the man she fell in love with. She fell in love with a very flawed and vulnerable human, not an all powerful, heroic Time Lord. Jhon Smith isn't the Doctor, the Doctor is so much more, but it's that bit more that makes him impossible to be like, and in a way not as good, as Jhon smith. Who was a man forged by his limitations as much as his possiblities.
Sure, the Doctor could have turned into Jhon Smith again but I'm guessing that would have either meant hiding his conciousness in a watch again, and that would just invite danger, a-la the family of Blood and would probably not be very pleasent. I don't know... perhapsthe Doctor could just destroy his essence so that Jhon smith could return... but that isn't right either. Because the Doctor also has a lot to live for, a lot of people counting on him and, as the last of his race, can he really give it up that easily.
Could the Doctor remain the Doctor and stay on earth? I don't know but I don't think so. Even if Joan fell in love with him that way I don't think he would stay there. Oh, he might stay for a year, or ten years or even twenty but as a Time Lord he'd still be forced to watching her grow old and die as he remained the same. And I think it's partly his very nature, his personality, to want to wander and explore and DO things. It's what set him apart from the Time Lords.
So no, I think the love between Joan and Jhon Smith/The Doctor was doomed from the start.