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.