We do NOT give Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith their props for their character growth in the Parting of the Ways. Rose is absolutely amazing, an absolute ferocious beacon of hope and stubbornness and bravery in the finale, the absolute reason why the Doctor lives and the world is saved and an equal hero to Nine, but she has a moment of doubt. A moment of hesitancy.
And Mickey Smith and Jackie Tyler step in and help her save the day. Both Mickey and Jackie give up on their idea of Rose and their hatred of the Doctor and help her pull open the TARDIS. Even within this one episode we see them struggle with their feelings and decide to put them aside and help do this because Rose is right- this is a better way of living your life.
Doctor Who is about ordinary people making extraordinary decisions and making themselves extraordinary and this doesn't just apply to official companions (who I love with all my might)- it applies to the people they love, too. We see it over and over again in Davies' era, with Jackie and Mickey and Sylvia and Tish and Wilfred and Francine and Harriet Jones and every one-off character as well, from Lynda-with-a-Y to Jabe to Gwyneth to Novice Hame to McDonnell to Sally to Chantho to Nancy to all the rest.
Doctor Who is at its strongest when the story is focused on the strength of the bleeding, beating heart of humanity (and character in general, in its non-humans), when the characters drive the story, when at the end of the day you understand why, for all of the world's flaws, the Doctor comes back over and over again because of people like this- not just his companions, but the Jackies and Mickeys and all the rest of the world.
Gerónimo Rauch as the Phantom in West End (2013-2015) and in Madrid (2023-2024)
In West End his principal/alternate Christines were Sofia Escobar, Olivia Brereton, Harriet Jones and Emmi Christensson, while it in Madrid is Talía del Val and Judith Tobella.
i'm realising that the reason i don't like how s3 and s4 deals with the outcome of the doctor and rose's actions in series 2, particularly when it comes to torchwood is because...the show kind of chickens out on holding them to account. their cautionary tale becomes a star crossed lover's tragedy rather than the very real warning. the doctor never tells jack the whole truth of how exactly he lost rose, nor is the connection between the deposition of harriet jones and the master AND brian green in 'children of earth' discussed. in fact, i think the reason why the show never addreses the tidal wave that series 2 causes is because it is too great.
and the doctor and rose should thank their lucky stars that neither died or worse. because the doctor tells rose that the death toll was immense. it was tragic but it could have been worse. they could have ended up like ianto and lisa. or adeola. or yvonne. or literally anyone else who had their lives destroyed that day. they got the best outcome possible considering what happened to everyone else. they may not be happy about it but it is what it is.
i'm not laying the entire blame at that pair, they didn't start the ghost hour or decide to build torchwood tower around a void, but the entire thing was a domino effect. and we know what started it.
My headcanon is that 11 was so traumatized by not being there to protect the kids from the 456 that he vowed to protect any child he could. He saw Gwen’s plea, he found out what happened and it messed him up.
The 456 gave credence to what Harriet Jones said that one day will be a threat so severe and the Doctor won’t be there. He wasn’t, and that haunted the Doctor.
Look, it's Harriet Jones! Is it true you're no longer fit to be in position? No. Look at me! I'm fine! I look fine, I feel fine.
Doctor Who (2005-) | Christmas Invasion