Doctor Who Drabble: Reunited

[bk_forever]

Title: Reunited

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: The Tenth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith

Rating: G

Written For: Challenge 050: Reunion at dw100

Spoilers: School Reunion.

Summary: The Doctor unexpectedly encounters Sarah Jane.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters.

The Doctor wasn’t expecting to run into his old friend and travelling companion, not right now and certainly not like this, in the storeroom of a school. In a way though, it isn’t really strange; over the centuries he’s become accustomed to expecting the unexpected, and for once the surprise is a pleasant one.

Sarah Jane looks amazing. She’s older of course, but she’s still the same vibrant, intelligent, courageous woman he remembers from their many adventures together. It’s good to spend time with her again, but they’ve both moved on.

At least this time they get to say goodbye.

The End

Comments

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Well, Sarah Jane forced the issue... as usual, he was trying to avoid actually saying good bye.

Still, it was amazing that they got to see each other again, a lovely reunion. That rarely happens to the Doctor... and he never does seem to seek it out.

[bk_forever]

She did back him into a corner about saying goodbye, but I think in a way the Doctor was relieved to have that closure for once.

I'm glad Sarah Jane got to share another adventure with the Doctor, of the old companions she was the one who most deserved it.

Thank you.

[but_can_i_be_trusted]

That is such a good episode. The last time I watched it, I was surprised at how emotional I got. I think it was a combination of knowing that David was pretty much one big fanboy, so the enthusiasm wasn't just a performance, and then the fact of Lis having died; the time before that, she was still alive and I hadn't known what a fan David had been.

[bk_forever]

I watched Lis Sladen when I was a kid, so even the first time I saw the episode was quite emotional. Now, of course, it has an added resonance because of the sad loss of the wonderful Ms Sladen.

Thank you.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

RTD had to put that silly cat fight in with Rose didn't he?

[bk_forever]

Of course, because he can't let things just be nice, there has to be conflict *rolls eyes*

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It makes me wonder if RTD just wanted to create Torchwood just to rid Rose (tempoarily) and everything else was an after thought.

[bk_forever]

RTD DIDN'T want to create Torchwood at all. He wanted to make a series called Excalibur where a woman comes across an alien-hunting organisation and becomes part of it, and basically takes over, she was to be the central character. The BBC wanted an adult Doctor Who spin-off with Captain Jack as the main character leading a team. RTD agreed to do it, but added elements of the show he'd had turned down, then set about getting rid of all the bits he didn't want, which mostly meant the rest of the team

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Okay. I think you mentioned that. I just forgot. No wonder Torchwood unravelled.

[bk_forever]

Probably, I rant about it at every opportunity, lol! Sorry.

If something works, why try to turn it into something else? I just didn't understand that. People liked Torchwood, so he changed it out of all recognition and lost most of the fans. Idiotic!

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Your userpic.:(

RTD literally brought pain to all but Gwen.

That bullet she got was nothing compared to what the others went through!

[bk_forever]

Getting peppered with buckshot was hardly more than a flesh wound. Had to be because Owen just dug out the few pellets that hit her, slapped dressing on, and she was good to go. Minor injury, clearly. All the others went to hell and back.

I know *pets Ianto* I think that icon says it all. I want to wrap Ianto in a fluffy blanket and let Jack look after him.
=(

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

How did Ianto get through that without trauma?

That was some deep psychological crap RTD pulled. Sort of in the same scale as Ten when he was almost killed in "Midnight"

I guess RTD didn't care that when he tortured these characters he annoyed us viewers!

[bk_forever]

No, RTD didn't care what viewers thought, out opinions don't count with him.

Ianto, however, is made of sterner stuff than RTD anticipated, his fans are loyal and dedicated, and we love him. We will never let him die.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It's all about the money?

Characters like Ianto had the best comeback lines.

RTD did shamelessly "kill" off all sorts of characters even when it wasn't necessary.

[bk_forever]

He has stated that he wants viewers, not fans. It's the ratings that matter to him. He Kills characters because he enjoys doing it. He thinks drama requires killing people. Really, that's such a lazy attitude, and lazy writing too.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I consider myself both a viewer and a fan.

No wonder Ten spent most of the time full of angst and guilt.

That's entertainment?

[bk_forever]

Not in my books! I want my entertainment to be escapism from reality, I want a sense of hope, not doom, gloom, and wall-to-wall death.

Fans are the people who buy the merchandise and keep shows going through their enthusiasm. Casual viewers aren't going to stick with a show through every episode, buy the tie-in books, action figures, etc. Merchandising brings in a lot of money. RTD is just arrogant enough to believe he doesn't need fans.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I know some people were fine with the Tenth's Doctor's characterisation but it wasn't for me.

There had to be something to balance the darkness of the Doctor. I guess it served some kind of purpose story wise. How else was Ten going to "die"?. Moffat had to rectify some of what RTD did.*shrugs shoulders*

[bk_forever]

RTD was still in charge when Ten died, the Tenth Doctor specials were all RTD, Moffatt took over with Eleven and brought back the lightheartedness. That's not to say the stories didn't have a darkness to them, but it was offset by the fun and frivolity. Much more to my taste =)

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I agree. I know drama is apart of the plot but enough was enough. I wanted the Doctor to be genuinely happy or at least reasonable.

[bk_forever]

Drama should not automatically mean character death and abject misery all the time. There are a lot of ways to create drama without having to kill anyone. RTD just goes fr the quick emotional response and calls it drama, but that's a cheap trick.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

RTD should have consulted with other writers because he was struggling and it showed. A lot of things didn't go to plan so he just threw something and hoped it stuck.

I liked that Donna came back but I loathe what RTD did to get rid of her.

Is that userpic from "Countrycide"?

[bk_forever]

No, it's from the episode Captain Jack Harkness, where Ianto shoots Owen in the shoulder while trying to keep him from opening the Rift.

I hated what RTD did with Jack as well, turning Tenn into a pimp setting Jack up with a boy toy, like sex with a stranger (another of the Doctor's unwanted would-be companions) would heal Jack's heart after losing his Ianto =[

RTD is just not a very good writer, and part of that is because he focusses too much on certain characters and ignores everyone else. He's also no good at character development, or female characters, or relationships.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Okay.

I dislike that bit too. It would have been better if Ten had said goodbye from a distance and thats it. Jack was grieving.

Sure he makes Ten talk to past Rose who didn't even know him yet.*rolls eyes*

RTD has a biased that adds to the errors he does in storytelling. For example his favoritism over casting certain actors over their credibility to what they will bring to a character...

If you know what I mean.

[bk_forever]

I do, he casts his favourites whether they're suited to the role or not.

Everything in Ten's last special annoyed me *rolls eyes* It was like RTD saying "Oooh, I'm so clever, see all the characters I created! Look at what I can do to them!" The thing is, when the Doctor regenerates, there's not usually any kind of closure. Why should Ten be any different? RTD just wanted to show off.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Apparently scheduling for the series 4 finale was delayed due to the fact that Billie Piper was on honeymoon. That should have been a sign to not bring Rose back. But no.

Billie was reluctant to play Rose again because she had forgotten how to portray the character.

Apparently Ten's reward was to take a long farewell tour to see his former champions from a distance?

Even the TARDIS "regenerated" because Ten held off from changing.

[bk_forever]

Makes me feel that Ten's character was the most self-involved of all the Doctors.

Poor TARDIS, what she had to go through. It meant the Eleven got off to a bit of a rocky start. No wonder he was such a mess when he first met Amy, all because Ten didn't want to let go. *rolls eyes*

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

How Donna manage to love him unconditionally is beyond me.

Ten was pretty messed up. If Martha or Donna hadn't looked out for him he would have "died" alot sooner.

DT was considering staying one more series with Moffat. Maybe Ten would have been less vain before he regenerated. Who knows?.*shrugs shoulders*

[bk_forever]

I suspect Moffatt would have toned down certain aspects of his personality.

Ten really did need a strong female companion to keep him in line. Rose encouraged his bad behaviour, while Martha and Donna curbed the worst of it.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Ten had to be "maintained" by a champion the most. He learnt the hard way but it was even harder for him to break the habit.

Everytime Eleven or Twelve are held accountable for something, I wish it had been put to Ten instead.

Tens actions have left a mark on the Doctor's reputation.

[bk_forever]

He's a tarnished hero because of Ten's actions in the last few specials, especially Waters of Mars. He's not some super being whose actions don't have consequences. He did some real damage to the timelines.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Too bad. I wish we could move on from all that. Nine was less complicated. Rose made him better?. I don't think so.

Sarah Jane: You know, you act like such a lonely man, but look at you! You've got the biggest family on Earth!

Wilf: I'll look up at the sky and think of you.

Eleven at least realise he didn't have to go into self-destructive mode because he lost the "Ponds".

[bk_forever]

He did hide away for a while after he lost Clara the first time though. But like anyone, losing somebody he cared for hurt and he needed time to grieve, which is different from being self-destructive.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Precisely.

Ten didn't stop to think what Donna would have thought of him going all Time Lord Victorious. Was the fact that she doesn't remember him make it justified?

[bk_forever]

I wouldn't say so, but he was so out of control that I doubt he even gave a thought to what Donna would have said. She would've headslapped him and told him to stop acting like he could do anything he wanted without consequences, he's a time lord, not god! I really wish she's been able to show up and put him straight. That confrontation would've been epic. He was behaving like a spoiled child.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

He really was having a nervous breakdown.

[bk_forever]

That and a bit of a temper tantrum that could have destroyed the universe. As a Time Lord, the Doctor is one of the most powerful beings in all of space and time. If he misuses that power, the consequences can be catastrophic.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I'm being serious when I say that he should have been sedated.:(

[bk_forever]

Yeah, sometimes tranquillizers are a good idea.

Thank you.

Id

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Id so hoped sarah jane would have gone with them for a while.

Great drabble.

Re: Id

[bk_forever]

I guess she just had too many responsibilities on earth what with Luke and his friends. It would have been good though.

Thank you!