I have recently come to the realization (which you probably already knew, but, hey, I'm slow sometimes) that anime is just cartoons that are socially acceptable for adults (or at least young adults). You won't usually find twenty-somethings proudly declaring their love of TMNT or the Powerpuff Girls, but you will find those (usually the more geeky ones, but that just means they're the brave ones who aren't ashamed of what they watch) who will loudly argue for their favorite anime, such as Naruto, Bleach, or Dragonball Z.
Why are cartoons and anime so different from reality tv or crime shows? When you look at any live-action television show, it's focused on the realities of life and is full of drama, comedy, and murder. You get what you get, with all the messy situations and crap that goes into making life what it is. Cartoons, on the other hand, are more focused on trying to impart some sort of message to kids. This is usually about friendship, love, hope, forgiveness, never giving up, etc. The villain is usually clearly defined, the protagonist is always the good guy who finds some way to save everyone, and the take-home message of every episode is that good will always triumph if you stick to your values.
Anime blends these two genres together. It takes the realities of life (death, murder, and all the tragedies and crap you can think of) and gives it some sort of good will triumph overarching message about friendship or never giving up or love or all that gooey stuff. Some anime focuses a bit more on the realities of life and the consequences of our actions, and the fact that there is evil and we don't always have answers for the hard questions (Death Note, Psycho-Pass), but this is what makes it for adults and not children and why it is acceptable to watch once you're no longer a child. Adults have become jaded and can no longer believe in the perfect outcomes of children's cartoons. What they can believe in are the messages portrayed through the more hardcore stories of anime shows that aren't afraid to show how life really is so that we can relate but can still come up with an ending that gives us the hope of a better world and a better life.
Some really good animes are Fairy Tail, Naruto, Bleach, and Psycho-Pass. Fairy Tail, while far from being realistic, imparts great messages about friendship, bravery, forgiveness, and never giving up all while keeping the action up and the audience in tears or laughter. Naruto, a classic, is focused on not living down to expectations but following your dreams, reaching beyond your potential, and never giving up. Bleach, another classic, looks at fighting for justice, even when everyone else is against you, doing what's right even if it goes against the norm. And Psycho-Pass (the only semi-realistic one in this list, albeit sci-fi and futuristic) really makes one think about justice, right and wrong, an individual's role in society, the structure of government, and human nature. All of these are amazing shows with great messages that are too violent for younger audiences, but are perfect for adults who still want to dream and hope and believe in humanity, despite what the news networks try to tell us. There still is, and always will be, hope for humanity and for a better, brighter future. That is what watching anime has shown me and why I will always argue that anime is as good as, if not better than, all those CSI and NCIS and all those other crime drama shows out there. Why focus on death when we can focus on life? That is my question here, why are so many people so interested in watching shows about murder and hatred? I don't get it at all.
Anime = a better outlook on life.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Preferences
So, this was originally going to be Doctor Who specific until I realized that it probably relates to all things fantasy/sci-fi that I read or watch. It will still be heavily Doctor Who, but it will have some other elements as well.
I've come up with a possible reason for why there are a number of things that other people completely love and I just despise, such as certain companions and the Hunger Games series. I say possible because, honestly, it could just be something I came up with so as to have an explanation that fits even if it actually isn't the reason. I don't really know for sure.
I think my problem with the Hunger Games, the Gemma Doyle trilogy, and the Doctor Who companions Amy, Donna, Martha, and Clara is that they are a little too "human." They represent what we think of as reality. Most people like characters that they can relate to, characters that they think of as real. These characters represent humanity's vices. They are far from perfect. We seem to expect people to be flawed, to mess up and make mistakes, to disappoint us, so that is what people expect from "realistic" characters. We use the phrase "I'm only human" to excuse our failures. Because we expect such faults, that is what we want to see because that is what people think they can best relate to. I, on the other hand, grew up practically living in a fantasy world. Every spare moment is spent with my nose in a book or my eyes glued to the t.v. watching something fantastic happen. Because I read so much fantasy, I pick up the themes and make them a part of my personal expectations. The difference comes in in that, while other people are focused on humans and their excuses for their faults, I am picking up ideas such as never giving up hope, always sticking by your friends no matter what, going to your limits and beyond to win. Yes, all good characters have some vices, but they are small, silly things that can be easily forgotten, not anything truly detrimental. So that is what I expect from my favorite characters, the attitude that nothing is impossible, that good will always triumph in the end, that there is truly some good in everyone.
While my philosophy and expectations may not necessarily be "realistic," I like them. They allow me to have hope and to trust in people, despite their failings. I don't like the phrase "I'm only human" because it just seems like an excuse, kind of like "life isn't fair" is an excuse to let things continue being unfair and not having to try to change them. When someone says that they are only human, they are admitting defeat, saying that they "know" that they couldn't do something so why even really try. Saying you're only human is saying that you're expecting failure, therefore you are setting yourself up to fail. Self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Hunger Games, Gemma Doyle, and a number of the Doctor's companions have glaringly obvious faults and little hope in humanity. I prefer those who give us hope that there are better things and people out there than what is expected.
In contrast, I actually think I prefer the Doctor to be more "realistic." The Doctors that are more emotional, those who show more baggage, bring a lot more to the show than ones who try to be above their mistakes (like Eleven). I think the reason for this might be that, if both Doctor and companion were too fantastical, then most people couldn't truly relate; it just wouldn't seem real. Nothing is perfect. It needs to be the Doctor who is burdened with failure and not the companion because the Doctor is an alien while the companion is usually the main representative of humanity on the show. It's better to let the companion represent hope, thus giving us hope in humanity, and let the alien Doctor, who is supposed to be a stranger to our world and our ways, take the heat when things blow up.
So, the lesson to take away from this is to read more fantasy where everyone has each others' backs and everything works out in the end. This will give you a bit more hope in humanity. Also, please stop using phrases like "I'm only human" and "life isn't fair." To use such phrases is to make them true.
So go home, read some Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables, or Redwall and figure out why I am so determined to believe that there is good in the world.
I've come up with a possible reason for why there are a number of things that other people completely love and I just despise, such as certain companions and the Hunger Games series. I say possible because, honestly, it could just be something I came up with so as to have an explanation that fits even if it actually isn't the reason. I don't really know for sure.
I think my problem with the Hunger Games, the Gemma Doyle trilogy, and the Doctor Who companions Amy, Donna, Martha, and Clara is that they are a little too "human." They represent what we think of as reality. Most people like characters that they can relate to, characters that they think of as real. These characters represent humanity's vices. They are far from perfect. We seem to expect people to be flawed, to mess up and make mistakes, to disappoint us, so that is what people expect from "realistic" characters. We use the phrase "I'm only human" to excuse our failures. Because we expect such faults, that is what we want to see because that is what people think they can best relate to. I, on the other hand, grew up practically living in a fantasy world. Every spare moment is spent with my nose in a book or my eyes glued to the t.v. watching something fantastic happen. Because I read so much fantasy, I pick up the themes and make them a part of my personal expectations. The difference comes in in that, while other people are focused on humans and their excuses for their faults, I am picking up ideas such as never giving up hope, always sticking by your friends no matter what, going to your limits and beyond to win. Yes, all good characters have some vices, but they are small, silly things that can be easily forgotten, not anything truly detrimental. So that is what I expect from my favorite characters, the attitude that nothing is impossible, that good will always triumph in the end, that there is truly some good in everyone.
While my philosophy and expectations may not necessarily be "realistic," I like them. They allow me to have hope and to trust in people, despite their failings. I don't like the phrase "I'm only human" because it just seems like an excuse, kind of like "life isn't fair" is an excuse to let things continue being unfair and not having to try to change them. When someone says that they are only human, they are admitting defeat, saying that they "know" that they couldn't do something so why even really try. Saying you're only human is saying that you're expecting failure, therefore you are setting yourself up to fail. Self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Hunger Games, Gemma Doyle, and a number of the Doctor's companions have glaringly obvious faults and little hope in humanity. I prefer those who give us hope that there are better things and people out there than what is expected.
In contrast, I actually think I prefer the Doctor to be more "realistic." The Doctors that are more emotional, those who show more baggage, bring a lot more to the show than ones who try to be above their mistakes (like Eleven). I think the reason for this might be that, if both Doctor and companion were too fantastical, then most people couldn't truly relate; it just wouldn't seem real. Nothing is perfect. It needs to be the Doctor who is burdened with failure and not the companion because the Doctor is an alien while the companion is usually the main representative of humanity on the show. It's better to let the companion represent hope, thus giving us hope in humanity, and let the alien Doctor, who is supposed to be a stranger to our world and our ways, take the heat when things blow up.
So, the lesson to take away from this is to read more fantasy where everyone has each others' backs and everything works out in the end. This will give you a bit more hope in humanity. Also, please stop using phrases like "I'm only human" and "life isn't fair." To use such phrases is to make them true.
So go home, read some Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables, or Redwall and figure out why I am so determined to believe that there is good in the world.
Doctor Who
Okay, so this is just going to be a rant about the NuWho Doctors and their companions. Pretty much, I don't have enough good Whovian friends to rant to and I need to get it out somehow, so why not on the internet? This'll probably be pretty long, but I'm going to try to get everyone in. Also, there will be a few Classic references, but nothing comprehensive about those Doctors or companions.
Incarnations
My first bit is actually going to be about the incarnation number. I will be using the accepted numbers (Hartnell=1, Tennant=10, etc.) even though I don't really believe these to be accurate. These are just a way to easily reference the different Doctors. Yes, there was a classic episode in which it was stated that Time Lords have 12 regenerations (The Deadly Assassin). The only problem with this is that if you're going to use Classic material in NuWho, you can't pick and choose. What people didn't pay attention to (including the Classic writers) was an episode of the Fourth Doctor's era (The Brain of Morbius) in which we flashed through the Doctor's previous incarnations, going from Pertwee to Troughton to Hartnell and then to another 8 faces. Eight! That would technically make the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) the 12th incarnation. I even tried looking this up and one of the writers had stated that they were trying to convey the fact that Hartnell was not the original Doctor, that he was just one of the many faces so far and that the Doctor had already lived a number of lives. Obviously this was forgotten or they would have had to make some excuse for how the 6th Doctor came about, because he would have to have been at least the 14th incarnation, assuming those eight faces were the only other ones. So, personally, I've given up on caring about how many regenerations the Doctor has because he has already passed them without any good explanations. I use the usual numbering system because it works and is understood, despite the fact that Moffat has to keep adding things to complicate it. I just had to explain because most people have no idea about the Brain of Morbius serial.
THE DOCTORS
9th Doctor Christopher Eccleston
I liked him. I wish he had had more than one season. I feel like the audience didn't really get to really know him. I do think he was a good first Doctor to reintroduce the series. His Doctor loved life. He could be hesitant about caring for people (completely understandable once you find out that he had recently destroyed his entire race), but when he does allow himself to care, it is with all of his heart. Most likely because of his recent experience with the Time War, the 9th Doctor has a true love of life and lives it to its fullest. He can be a bit harsh at times, a little rude, and somewhat distant, but his exuberance and heart, the light in his eyes, and his passion let you know that he may be beaten down by his struggles, but he is not done yet and won't let anything stop him. He'll keep going as long as there is still something to keep going for, whether it is a single person or an entire world. He was gone soon, but he gave the show back its life.
10th Doctor David Tennant
Personally, I think he is almost the definition of who the Doctor is to me. He is definitely my favorite NuWho Doctor. He is fun-loving and silly, somewhat dorky, and full of spunk and a spark for life, but he is also serious and knows that there are hard decisions to be made at times. He hates guns, but he knows how to dispense justice in other ways. He is a true culmination of his previous selves. When he chooses a path, he follows it to the end and never gives up. He is fighting for the future because he remembers the past. He is willing to give second chances, but he knows that, sometimes, there can be no mercy or it may cost more lives. He understands loss and consequences. He does what he can to save and be the hero everyone wants him to be, but he also does what he must to ensure there is a future, even if others might not agree with his choices. He keeps moving forward, working towards a better future than the past he has left behind.
11th Doctor Matt Smith
Honestly, I think he is just childish. I think he was trying to emulate 2nd Doctor Patrick Troughton, but also trying to keep it original and be himself. The 2nd Doctor was goofy, but he knew when it was time to be an adult. Eleven just refused to grow up. He is running away from his past. He is tired of letting it control him, so he chooses to forget. The problem is that he ends up forgetting the sacrifices that need to be made at times and ends up beginning to almost think himself to be invincible. He has survived countless times, and if he can forget the consequences, then he can easily believe himself to be nearly a god, someone who can do anything he wants without having to pay for it. He forgets the past, ignores the fact that there is a future that needs to be protected, and just lives in the moment. He is truly the madman with a box. I believe that everything he has been through has finally caught up with him and he just broke. He needed to forget it all or be consumed by it.
War Doctor John Hurt
He only had one episode, but I don't want to leave him out. He is the ruthless version of the Doctor without truly being the Doctor. He gave up his title of Doctor for a time so that he could give up his need to save everyone and thus make it possible to do the hardest thing ever and destroy two species to the point of extinction. This incarnation is the link between the Classic Doctors who could be glib and do what they wanted without thinking too much about the consequences and the New Doctors whose actions are shaped by this moment when he had to choose to destroy life instead of saving it for once and in doing so had to finally grow up.
12th Doctor Peter Capaldi
I haven't really decided whether I like him yet or not, but I think I have finally come to understood him. The 11th Doctor chose to forget about his past, and then he found out that it was all a lie. How does one deal with that? How do you come to terms with the fact that you willingly walked away from the most important decision of your life, ignored everything in your past that made you who you were, and practically gave up on everything outside of your immediate surroundings? And then come to find out that you did all this for a lie, for no reason. He found out that there was hope after he had already given up and must have been totally ashamed of himself. So he started over. Twelve kind of reminds me of the early days of Hartnell's time as the Doctor. It's like he is trying to find himself again and figure out why he is doing what he does. What is his reason for protecting Earth and the human race? When you first meet the First Doctor, he is a crotchety old man who only cares about himself and his granddaughter. He eventually opens up and comes to find that he cares about the fate of those around him. Twelve is starting back at the beginning and will need time to come to grips with everything and figure out what he will do about it. Moffat likes to say that he is more alien than the other doctors and I believe this is why.
THE COMPANIONS
Rose Tyler
Either you love her or you hate her. Honestly, that's probably the case for just about all the companions. There are no inbetweeners. Inbetweeners would be boring and bring nothing to the show. Personally, I loved Rose as a companion. She starts travelling with the Doctor and she grows, but she never loses who she is. I think she really matures and finds out how strong she can be. What she doesn't do is forget about her home. She loves travelling, and she loves the Doctor, but she knows that there is more to life and that at some point she needs to continue living hers. She stays in touch with her mom and Mickey. She calls, she visits, she even gets them to help her and the Doctor out and be part of the adventures. She doesn't separate her Earth life from her travelling life. A lot of people hated her, thinking she was a shallow companion and just there as a stupid love interest. Honestly, that was my first impression of her when she woke up in a pink bed and went to work at a clothing store, but once you get to know her, you come to see her spark, her love of life that so perfectly matches that of the Doctor's own fight to protect the future.
Mickey Smith
I feel so sorry for him. No one cares about him. In one episode, he even gets compared to K-9; he is the robot dog that just obediently does what he is supposed to and is expendable. The main difference is that more people like K-9. He really doesn't get the credit I think he deserves. He is so loyal. He loves Rose, and even after he knows that he has lost her to the Doctor and his travelling, that she loves the Doctor more than she loves him, he still sticks around and helps out her, her mom, and even the Doctor. He doesn't run away when he is needed just because he might be scared or jealous. He was understanding and moved on with his own life but he didn't write Rose out of it. He was always there whenever he was needed. He was dependable and loving and never gave up. He fought for what he believed.
Donna Noble
I didn't like her. She was just so condescending. I know that most people really liked her for her outspokenness and the fact that she was completely not a love interest, and I can admire the attempt, but I just didn't like her attitude. She seemed to think that she was above everyone else, even the Doctor. No one was as good as she was in her mind. I think part of what I didn't like about her was the fact that she was using the Doctor as an excuse to run away; from her nagging mother, her temp job, and her mediocre life. She wanted to escape from her reality, and the Doctor gave her that. She didn't care about what she was leaving behind or what her future would be. She really only cared about herself. Also, when she was done travelling, she just couldn't go on with her normal life. She couldn't accept her situation but didn't do anything to really try to change it. She just sat around mooning over her time in the TARDIS and gave up trying to make her life meaningful on her own.
Martha Smith
Another one that I didn't like. She was like the exact opposite of Donna, but that didn't make her any better of a companion. She didn't really care about the Doctor. She was just a flirtation for her, in more ways than one. Yes, she was interested in him. She knew that he didn't like her that way but she ignored that and mooned after him anyway. He was also a way to flirt with adventure, a way to have a bit of fun that wouldn't affect her daily life. She didn't grow at all. If anything, she went the opposite of what her time with the Doctor should have taught her. She was a doctor, a healer, but at the end she joins UNIT and we later see her as a soldier in a war. Apparently war was a little more interesting than saving lives. Her time with the Doctor apparently didn't teach her anything except how to do battle and thus kill, despite the fact that he always stood for protecting life. It was too easy for her to go back to her life; she didn't let the Doctor rub off on her. I think the Doctor would be quite disappointed, even ashamed, of who she became.
Captain Jack Harkness
Arrogant. But caring. I have a hard time deciding if I loved him or hated him. In Doctor Who, he seems to care only about himself and his own situation and the Doctor is a convenient travelling companion at times, but he doesn't really seem to agree with the Doctor's philosophies. But then in Torchwood you get to see the man behind the swagger. You get to know him, his reasons for what he does and what he believes in. He is noble and looks out for others. He is still quite arrogant, but he is also fighting for the same cause as the Doctor, just in his own way. If I had never watched Torchwood, I would have said I greatly disliked him, but after watching it, I can accept him in Doctor Who. He'll never be my favorite, but he is far from the bottom of the list.
Amy Pond
No. Just no. I have nothing against redheads except for the ones in this show. They (Donna and Amy) are both just so annoying. Like Donna, Amy is just running away and travelling with the Doctor is just a convenient means of transportation. She has no convictions. What does she believe in? Like Eleven, she is ready to just have some fun and ignore the consequences. She really only cares for herself through most of her time on the show. Near the end, right before she dies, she is finally showing that she has a heart for other people and their plights. She has finally grown up and found something to live for besides herself, just in time to die for it. She changed in just enough time to cause me to mourn her death at least a little. I was starting to like her when Moffat had to kill her off.
Rory Williams
One of my absolute favorites. How can you not like Rory? He's absolutely great! He knows who he is and what he will fight for and he never gives up, despite everything he is put through. He never loses himself or his beliefs. If anything, his convictions grow stronger over time and he learns to speak up and stand up for himself. He is a nurse and he continues to aspire to that. He wants to save lives and everything he sees with the Doctor never makes him waver in that dream. He even calls the Doctor out at times for his tendency to forget that there are real world consequences to his actions. He truly grows into himself during his time with the Doctor and he perfectly emulates what the Doctor has always stood for. He is the perfect balance to the madman that the Doctor has become as he forgets his past and his convictions.
River Song
I don't know. I haven't really decided. She just might be one of those inbetweeners that I mentioned. She is there, and a lot of people seem to like her, but I can't figure out if she is good for the show or not. It might be because she just pops in and out, she isn't constant enough for me to really get a grasp on her. I don't dislike her, but she can come on kind of strong sometimes. She is just so self-assured and a bit of a know-it-all when it comes to the Doctor, but she is also kind and compassionate and understanding.
Clara Oswald
For her first season, I would have said that she was an inbetweener. I just couldn't quite figure her out. Moffat started her as a mystery, the Impossible Girl. The hunt to figure out just who she was to the Doctor completely overshadowed her personality and who she herself was as a person. After that, you kind of start seeing who she is, but it isn't really obvious until she is with the 12th Doctor. She cares only about herself and how everything affects her. She is selfish, self-centered, arrogant, and conceited. Outwardly she seems to be a perfectly nice person, but when it comes down to the wire, she will always make the decision that benefits her the most, not caring what that means for anyone else. She is overly emotional and far too sure of herself. She doesn't seem to believe that she can do any wrong. In comparison to the very alien 12th Doctor, she is almost too human, the epitome of all our flaws barely covered by a thin layer of all our graces. I also want to say that I cannot wait for her to be gone. I would love to see 12 without her. I feel like for some reason she keeps me from getting a full grasp on who he is now.
So, that is how I feel about each of the NuWho Doctors and companions. If I were to rank them from favorite to least favorite it would be something along the lines of:
Doctor Companion
10 Rose
9 Rory
12 Mickey
War Jack
11 River
Amy
Donna/Martha/Clara
(I really can't decide which of those last three companions I hate more.)
So, those are my opinions. Many people will disagree with a lot of my reasoning, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I understand that a lot of people really liked Matt Smith as the Doctor, but he just wasn't for me. Other people hated Rose or Mickey or both, but I honestly loved them and hated to see them go. Everyone is different. If you want to tell me your own opinions or argue against one of my points, please do. I would welcome any comments you wish to give and will hear you out, though I cannot guarantee that I can be persuaded to change my mind about any of this.
Incarnations
My first bit is actually going to be about the incarnation number. I will be using the accepted numbers (Hartnell=1, Tennant=10, etc.) even though I don't really believe these to be accurate. These are just a way to easily reference the different Doctors. Yes, there was a classic episode in which it was stated that Time Lords have 12 regenerations (The Deadly Assassin). The only problem with this is that if you're going to use Classic material in NuWho, you can't pick and choose. What people didn't pay attention to (including the Classic writers) was an episode of the Fourth Doctor's era (The Brain of Morbius) in which we flashed through the Doctor's previous incarnations, going from Pertwee to Troughton to Hartnell and then to another 8 faces. Eight! That would technically make the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) the 12th incarnation. I even tried looking this up and one of the writers had stated that they were trying to convey the fact that Hartnell was not the original Doctor, that he was just one of the many faces so far and that the Doctor had already lived a number of lives. Obviously this was forgotten or they would have had to make some excuse for how the 6th Doctor came about, because he would have to have been at least the 14th incarnation, assuming those eight faces were the only other ones. So, personally, I've given up on caring about how many regenerations the Doctor has because he has already passed them without any good explanations. I use the usual numbering system because it works and is understood, despite the fact that Moffat has to keep adding things to complicate it. I just had to explain because most people have no idea about the Brain of Morbius serial.
THE DOCTORS
9th Doctor Christopher Eccleston
I liked him. I wish he had had more than one season. I feel like the audience didn't really get to really know him. I do think he was a good first Doctor to reintroduce the series. His Doctor loved life. He could be hesitant about caring for people (completely understandable once you find out that he had recently destroyed his entire race), but when he does allow himself to care, it is with all of his heart. Most likely because of his recent experience with the Time War, the 9th Doctor has a true love of life and lives it to its fullest. He can be a bit harsh at times, a little rude, and somewhat distant, but his exuberance and heart, the light in his eyes, and his passion let you know that he may be beaten down by his struggles, but he is not done yet and won't let anything stop him. He'll keep going as long as there is still something to keep going for, whether it is a single person or an entire world. He was gone soon, but he gave the show back its life.
10th Doctor David Tennant
Personally, I think he is almost the definition of who the Doctor is to me. He is definitely my favorite NuWho Doctor. He is fun-loving and silly, somewhat dorky, and full of spunk and a spark for life, but he is also serious and knows that there are hard decisions to be made at times. He hates guns, but he knows how to dispense justice in other ways. He is a true culmination of his previous selves. When he chooses a path, he follows it to the end and never gives up. He is fighting for the future because he remembers the past. He is willing to give second chances, but he knows that, sometimes, there can be no mercy or it may cost more lives. He understands loss and consequences. He does what he can to save and be the hero everyone wants him to be, but he also does what he must to ensure there is a future, even if others might not agree with his choices. He keeps moving forward, working towards a better future than the past he has left behind.
11th Doctor Matt Smith
Honestly, I think he is just childish. I think he was trying to emulate 2nd Doctor Patrick Troughton, but also trying to keep it original and be himself. The 2nd Doctor was goofy, but he knew when it was time to be an adult. Eleven just refused to grow up. He is running away from his past. He is tired of letting it control him, so he chooses to forget. The problem is that he ends up forgetting the sacrifices that need to be made at times and ends up beginning to almost think himself to be invincible. He has survived countless times, and if he can forget the consequences, then he can easily believe himself to be nearly a god, someone who can do anything he wants without having to pay for it. He forgets the past, ignores the fact that there is a future that needs to be protected, and just lives in the moment. He is truly the madman with a box. I believe that everything he has been through has finally caught up with him and he just broke. He needed to forget it all or be consumed by it.
War Doctor John Hurt
He only had one episode, but I don't want to leave him out. He is the ruthless version of the Doctor without truly being the Doctor. He gave up his title of Doctor for a time so that he could give up his need to save everyone and thus make it possible to do the hardest thing ever and destroy two species to the point of extinction. This incarnation is the link between the Classic Doctors who could be glib and do what they wanted without thinking too much about the consequences and the New Doctors whose actions are shaped by this moment when he had to choose to destroy life instead of saving it for once and in doing so had to finally grow up.
12th Doctor Peter Capaldi
I haven't really decided whether I like him yet or not, but I think I have finally come to understood him. The 11th Doctor chose to forget about his past, and then he found out that it was all a lie. How does one deal with that? How do you come to terms with the fact that you willingly walked away from the most important decision of your life, ignored everything in your past that made you who you were, and practically gave up on everything outside of your immediate surroundings? And then come to find out that you did all this for a lie, for no reason. He found out that there was hope after he had already given up and must have been totally ashamed of himself. So he started over. Twelve kind of reminds me of the early days of Hartnell's time as the Doctor. It's like he is trying to find himself again and figure out why he is doing what he does. What is his reason for protecting Earth and the human race? When you first meet the First Doctor, he is a crotchety old man who only cares about himself and his granddaughter. He eventually opens up and comes to find that he cares about the fate of those around him. Twelve is starting back at the beginning and will need time to come to grips with everything and figure out what he will do about it. Moffat likes to say that he is more alien than the other doctors and I believe this is why.
THE COMPANIONS
Rose Tyler
Either you love her or you hate her. Honestly, that's probably the case for just about all the companions. There are no inbetweeners. Inbetweeners would be boring and bring nothing to the show. Personally, I loved Rose as a companion. She starts travelling with the Doctor and she grows, but she never loses who she is. I think she really matures and finds out how strong she can be. What she doesn't do is forget about her home. She loves travelling, and she loves the Doctor, but she knows that there is more to life and that at some point she needs to continue living hers. She stays in touch with her mom and Mickey. She calls, she visits, she even gets them to help her and the Doctor out and be part of the adventures. She doesn't separate her Earth life from her travelling life. A lot of people hated her, thinking she was a shallow companion and just there as a stupid love interest. Honestly, that was my first impression of her when she woke up in a pink bed and went to work at a clothing store, but once you get to know her, you come to see her spark, her love of life that so perfectly matches that of the Doctor's own fight to protect the future.
Mickey Smith
I feel so sorry for him. No one cares about him. In one episode, he even gets compared to K-9; he is the robot dog that just obediently does what he is supposed to and is expendable. The main difference is that more people like K-9. He really doesn't get the credit I think he deserves. He is so loyal. He loves Rose, and even after he knows that he has lost her to the Doctor and his travelling, that she loves the Doctor more than she loves him, he still sticks around and helps out her, her mom, and even the Doctor. He doesn't run away when he is needed just because he might be scared or jealous. He was understanding and moved on with his own life but he didn't write Rose out of it. He was always there whenever he was needed. He was dependable and loving and never gave up. He fought for what he believed.
Donna Noble
I didn't like her. She was just so condescending. I know that most people really liked her for her outspokenness and the fact that she was completely not a love interest, and I can admire the attempt, but I just didn't like her attitude. She seemed to think that she was above everyone else, even the Doctor. No one was as good as she was in her mind. I think part of what I didn't like about her was the fact that she was using the Doctor as an excuse to run away; from her nagging mother, her temp job, and her mediocre life. She wanted to escape from her reality, and the Doctor gave her that. She didn't care about what she was leaving behind or what her future would be. She really only cared about herself. Also, when she was done travelling, she just couldn't go on with her normal life. She couldn't accept her situation but didn't do anything to really try to change it. She just sat around mooning over her time in the TARDIS and gave up trying to make her life meaningful on her own.
Martha Smith
Another one that I didn't like. She was like the exact opposite of Donna, but that didn't make her any better of a companion. She didn't really care about the Doctor. She was just a flirtation for her, in more ways than one. Yes, she was interested in him. She knew that he didn't like her that way but she ignored that and mooned after him anyway. He was also a way to flirt with adventure, a way to have a bit of fun that wouldn't affect her daily life. She didn't grow at all. If anything, she went the opposite of what her time with the Doctor should have taught her. She was a doctor, a healer, but at the end she joins UNIT and we later see her as a soldier in a war. Apparently war was a little more interesting than saving lives. Her time with the Doctor apparently didn't teach her anything except how to do battle and thus kill, despite the fact that he always stood for protecting life. It was too easy for her to go back to her life; she didn't let the Doctor rub off on her. I think the Doctor would be quite disappointed, even ashamed, of who she became.
Captain Jack Harkness
Arrogant. But caring. I have a hard time deciding if I loved him or hated him. In Doctor Who, he seems to care only about himself and his own situation and the Doctor is a convenient travelling companion at times, but he doesn't really seem to agree with the Doctor's philosophies. But then in Torchwood you get to see the man behind the swagger. You get to know him, his reasons for what he does and what he believes in. He is noble and looks out for others. He is still quite arrogant, but he is also fighting for the same cause as the Doctor, just in his own way. If I had never watched Torchwood, I would have said I greatly disliked him, but after watching it, I can accept him in Doctor Who. He'll never be my favorite, but he is far from the bottom of the list.
Amy Pond
No. Just no. I have nothing against redheads except for the ones in this show. They (Donna and Amy) are both just so annoying. Like Donna, Amy is just running away and travelling with the Doctor is just a convenient means of transportation. She has no convictions. What does she believe in? Like Eleven, she is ready to just have some fun and ignore the consequences. She really only cares for herself through most of her time on the show. Near the end, right before she dies, she is finally showing that she has a heart for other people and their plights. She has finally grown up and found something to live for besides herself, just in time to die for it. She changed in just enough time to cause me to mourn her death at least a little. I was starting to like her when Moffat had to kill her off.
Rory Williams
One of my absolute favorites. How can you not like Rory? He's absolutely great! He knows who he is and what he will fight for and he never gives up, despite everything he is put through. He never loses himself or his beliefs. If anything, his convictions grow stronger over time and he learns to speak up and stand up for himself. He is a nurse and he continues to aspire to that. He wants to save lives and everything he sees with the Doctor never makes him waver in that dream. He even calls the Doctor out at times for his tendency to forget that there are real world consequences to his actions. He truly grows into himself during his time with the Doctor and he perfectly emulates what the Doctor has always stood for. He is the perfect balance to the madman that the Doctor has become as he forgets his past and his convictions.
River Song
I don't know. I haven't really decided. She just might be one of those inbetweeners that I mentioned. She is there, and a lot of people seem to like her, but I can't figure out if she is good for the show or not. It might be because she just pops in and out, she isn't constant enough for me to really get a grasp on her. I don't dislike her, but she can come on kind of strong sometimes. She is just so self-assured and a bit of a know-it-all when it comes to the Doctor, but she is also kind and compassionate and understanding.
Clara Oswald
For her first season, I would have said that she was an inbetweener. I just couldn't quite figure her out. Moffat started her as a mystery, the Impossible Girl. The hunt to figure out just who she was to the Doctor completely overshadowed her personality and who she herself was as a person. After that, you kind of start seeing who she is, but it isn't really obvious until she is with the 12th Doctor. She cares only about herself and how everything affects her. She is selfish, self-centered, arrogant, and conceited. Outwardly she seems to be a perfectly nice person, but when it comes down to the wire, she will always make the decision that benefits her the most, not caring what that means for anyone else. She is overly emotional and far too sure of herself. She doesn't seem to believe that she can do any wrong. In comparison to the very alien 12th Doctor, she is almost too human, the epitome of all our flaws barely covered by a thin layer of all our graces. I also want to say that I cannot wait for her to be gone. I would love to see 12 without her. I feel like for some reason she keeps me from getting a full grasp on who he is now.
So, that is how I feel about each of the NuWho Doctors and companions. If I were to rank them from favorite to least favorite it would be something along the lines of:
Doctor Companion
10 Rose
9 Rory
12 Mickey
War Jack
11 River
Amy
Donna/Martha/Clara
(I really can't decide which of those last three companions I hate more.)
So, those are my opinions. Many people will disagree with a lot of my reasoning, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I understand that a lot of people really liked Matt Smith as the Doctor, but he just wasn't for me. Other people hated Rose or Mickey or both, but I honestly loved them and hated to see them go. Everyone is different. If you want to tell me your own opinions or argue against one of my points, please do. I would welcome any comments you wish to give and will hear you out, though I cannot guarantee that I can be persuaded to change my mind about any of this.
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