Rose's departure would have been bitter-sweet and wonderful but she kept coming back, like a character who goes over a water fall in a soap opera. (Tina OLTL
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Donna's ending is like Rose's in that you could tell RTD had no idea what anyone could possibly want other than the Doctor. Which is... well, it's not an option real people have so it ends up being sort of meaningless.
Personally I really liked Rose's departure. I'm guessing (just guessing!) that folks who didn't like it, more wanted her arc to be of someone who grew with the Doctor, and then needed to learn to live without him. Whereas the arc that RTD wanted to give us was one of soulmates who never give up on each other, and end up having a (sort of) happily ever after in the end.
(The reason that's my guess about people who don't like her arc, is that I often see complaints that RTD 'ruined her story' - when I don't think the story which they WANTED to see was the one that he'd ever wanted to tell. JMO).
The problem is that the soulmates idea doesn't fit in with what Doctor Who is and who the Doctor is. Whatever feelings Ten did or did not have for her, the Doctor by his very nature changes and moes on. No human (or anyone mortal) could ever be his soulmate. That isn't how it works.
Yeah, it's kind of a stupid idea for DW, especially for doing it with the very first companion you attempt. Not that I think that's what he was actually going for, but even just the "Omg romance!" angle was a bit much and caused a fair few problems.
I'm not at all convinced he was going for "soulmates" but in any case that just doesn't work in Doctor Who, at least not with any old companion. (Obvious problem is look what happened with Martha as a result.) More of a problem though is that "the Doctor is mah SOULMATE!" isn't something that has any reflection in the real world, what with him being fictional and all. Any ending based on that story is going to be unsatisfying on the meta level because it means nothing.
I'm glad Ace has no ending because I can't really think of one that would work for her. But then I'm batshit about her.
Leela's departure is the worst, or at least the worst in the old series. It doesn't have anything to do with her as a person and it feels like a betrayal because of that.
The Nu Who ones tend to be OTT as though none of the writers can accept that anyone would ever want to do something other than travel with the Doctor. So they're all tragic, pretty much.
The Nu Who ones tend to be OTT as though none of the writers can accept that anyone would ever want to do something other than travel with the Doctor. So they're all tragic, pretty much.
I hate how prevalent this idea is among the writers. I'm tired of depressing companion departures; can't we get another one like Martha's where the companion just decides it's time for them to leave?
I liked Romana's departure. It was fitting if really fast.
Leela's was terrible.
I liked Rose's departure in Doomsday...which S4 kind of ruined; personally Rose's coming back is the reason, despite my really liking the Ponds, that I respect Karen Gillian not wanting to come back to Doctor Who after Amy and Rory's last episode.
I really liked Martha's. I like that she decided when she was going to leave instead of being forced out. I wish the current show would write more departures like hers, instead of going for depressing each time.
Just some scattered thoughts on a couple of my favourite companions:
Liz Shaw: I think a lot of people are generally dissatisfied with Liz' impassionate, off-screen departure. Initially I was too, but the more I think about it... while I would've loved another season with Liz around, her departure fits her character. She was very dubious about working for UNIT and while she respected the Doctor as a friend and fellow scientist, their relationship was more that of equals than Liz being his assistant (and, indeed, that's a reason she leaves in the end - she knows she's better than that). Going back to Cambridge was probably something she'd been planning all along.
While what makes many companions' character development fascinating is the person they become through meeting the Doctor, Liz knew exactly who she was and what she wanted. Which is actually rather refreshing. And so her going back, as if her adventures with the Doctor never happened, is more or less to be expected.
Jo Grant: The "marrying a female companion off to man they'
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I cried. And I seldom cry when companions depart, or even when the Doctor regenerates, but when Tegan left I cried. And it wasn't even particularly tragic (then again Tegan is one of my favourite companions, so I might be biased).
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Donna's departure was heartbreaking. And also very badly written.
Martha's ending was perfect for her, I think.
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(The reason that's my guess about people who don't like her arc, is that I often see complaints that RTD 'ruined her story' - when I don't think the story which they WANTED to see was the one that he'd ever wanted to tell. JMO).
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Leela's departure is the worst, or at least the worst in the old series. It doesn't have anything to do with her as a person and it feels like a betrayal because of that.
The Nu Who ones tend to be OTT as though none of the writers can accept that anyone would ever want to do something other than travel with the Doctor. So they're all tragic, pretty much.
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I hate how prevalent this idea is among the writers. I'm tired of depressing companion departures; can't we get another one like Martha's where the companion just decides it's time for them to leave?
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Leela's was terrible.
I liked Rose's departure in Doomsday...which S4 kind of ruined; personally Rose's coming back is the reason, despite my really liking the Ponds, that I respect Karen Gillian not wanting to come back to Doctor Who after Amy and Rory's last episode.
I really liked Martha's. I like that she decided when she was going to leave instead of being forced out. I wish the current show would write more departures like hers, instead of going for depressing each time.
I absolutely hated Donna's final episode.
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Liz Shaw: I think a lot of people are generally dissatisfied with Liz' impassionate, off-screen departure. Initially I was too, but the more I think about it... while I would've loved another season with Liz around, her departure fits her character. She was very dubious about working for UNIT and while she respected the Doctor as a friend and fellow scientist, their relationship was more that of equals than Liz being his assistant (and, indeed, that's a reason she leaves in the end - she knows she's better than that). Going back to Cambridge was probably something she'd been planning all along.
While what makes many companions' character development fascinating is the person they become through meeting the Doctor, Liz knew exactly who she was and what she wanted. Which is actually rather refreshing. And so her going back, as if her adventures with the Doctor never happened, is more or less to be expected.
Jo Grant: The "marrying a female companion off to man they' ( ... )
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