(no subject)

[rynne]

I've been plagiarized again. This is the original, posted more than four years ago. And I think this is the third time I've been plagiarized. WTF is up with that? I mean, yeah it's sorta flattering that someone likes my story enough to want to claim it, but...MY STORY. NO TOUCHY. If you like it that much, rec it, don't steal it. And this one seems particularly stupid--not only did she lift the entire thing word-for-word, she kept the title. People usually at least change the title. Gah. I've reported it, so hopefully it'll get removed soon, but knowing the ff.net management, I can't be sure. *sigh*

In other news, I--unsurprisingly--have more thoughts about DW. I've made a couple other posts about Ten's character arc, especially as it relates to the Lonely God thing, and Midnight sparked those thoughts again. Spoilers for 4x10.


In my other posts, one before Partners in Crime and one after The Doctor's Daughter, I theorized that Ten will ultimately learn that he doesn't have to be the Lonely God, that that's what his character arc is going for. I predicted that S4 would lead him to that point, and now that we're entering the final stretch, I think that's actually what's been happening.

Midnight especially reinforced this. We don't often see episodes where the Doctor is so completely and utterly wrong, where he underestimates the danger, and where he's neutralized--especially not all three at the same time. Last week, in Forest of the Dead, River Song neutralized him so she could sacrifice herself in his place, but it was still his plan, and he was right about the Vashta Nerada and able to get a deal out of them. Even when he's not the one saving the day, often it's still his plan carried out by someone else, or he's helping. In fact, the only episode I can recall that puts him in a similar position is Parting of the Ways, when he had no idea what to do and Rose took over. eta: mls03j reminded me of The Unquiet Dead as well, which, now that I remember, is also rather similar.

Something I noticed in this episode, and that I saw a couple people on my flist comment on, is that the Doctor tried to assert authority, to emphasize that he's special and that's why he can help. I don't have a problem with this: he does, after all, have reason to think the way he does. He has a proven track record with saving the day, as well as talking to aliens, finding out what they want, and discovering how to stop them or make them go away. He has justifiable confidence in his skills.

The significant thing here is that he fails. He fails to assert authority--the people he tries to command disregard him, then are insulted when they think he thinks he's superior, decide he's in league with it, and try to kill him. It's not unusual for the Doctor to be initially mistrusted, but he usually manages to win important people over--but not this time. Then his communication skills fail him as well. He couldn't manage to talk to the thing, and then it ended up taking hold of him. The best solution ended up being the one to which he was most opposed. He wasn't able to defend himself from the people wanting to throw him out the airlock, and was really unable to do anything other than hope things would somehow turn out all right.

This has to have shaken him pretty badly. Apart from the general horror of the experiences themselves, it's not often that he's so completely wrong like that. But as awful as it is, it's also a good thing, in a way. The Doctor does rather buy into his own myth--from declaring himself the highest authority in New Earth to that godawful snapping thing in Forest of the Dead, he buys into a myth that gets constantly reinforced. This episode thoroughly stomped on that myth, and showed him how fallible he could really be. He had to completely rely on other people for his salvation, as the hostess at least stepped up to the plate.

I want him to learn that he's not the Lonely God. That, though he does have great power and great responsibility, he's not a god, and he doesn't have to be lonely. I just hope that that's what episodes like this are going for, and not that these are just incidental implications.

Comments

[treenahasthaal.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you were plagiarized! And so obviously! At least someone was able to tell the thief that it wasn't his/her story. I've been lucky, I think, that no-one has done this to me. Then again... maybe they don't like my fic that much... lol!! : ) I hope it gets taken down soon.

I like your thoughts on the Dr. He was pretty shaken up by his experiences and by the fact that he could not control events or the people involved. I hated the way they all ganged up on him because he was different, but RTD really nailed the more negative responses of human's in peril. And I do wonder what the emo kid thought of his parents now that they were willing to kill an innocent man to save themselves.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Well, I've been plagiarized before, and it's usually obvious enough. *sigh* Though most people do have enough sense to think of a different title. But yeah, be glad it's never happened to you. Any kind of flattery is totally outweighed by the fact that they STOLE it.

I hated watching how they all ganged up on him, but I loved it for its emotional truth--because honestly, that kind of thing would happen.

[shinyopals.livejournal.com]

Plagiarism is kind of sucky... people are just so stupidly lazy sometimes.

And good point about the Doctor.

I kind of worry for him, though, because the one thing he seems to *hate* is losing control. You can see it in The Sontaran Strategem and The Poison Sky. Heck, you can see it going back as well - the Seventh Doctor has a bit of a loss-of-control-of-the-situation freak out in Survival.

But yeah, sometimes I think he needs to be reminded that the entire universe doesn't rest on his shoulders - hopefully this is a sign of things to come!

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Totally sucky. And I totally realized how ironic it is, coming after this episode. This plagiarist stole my voice and is trying to make people think it's hers! XD

Yes. He totally hates losing control. I just hope it was for a reason, and not to torture him further! :p He does need to be reminded not everything rests on him, and he needs some hugs.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

I've never understood WHY someone would want to take the credit for someone else's story. What sort of kicks do you get out of that? *hugs*

Really, really good point about the Doctor.

This episode thoroughly stomped on that myth, and showed him how fallible he could really be. He had to completely rely on other people for his salvation, at the hostess at least stepped up to the plate.

Yeah. Such a contrast to so many of the other episodes RTD himself has written - I think 'Midnight' really works as a brilliant counter-point to what we saw in VotD. And I like that we're reminded here that the Doctor doesn't have much in the way of superpowers. When those people turn on him, he's scared and basically powerless to stop them.

I want him to learn that he's not the Lonely God. That, though he does have great power and great responsibility, he's not a god, and he doesn't have to be lonely.

Word. It comforted me that he had Donna there at the end to give him a hug, and show him that he's not alone. More of that, RTD, please!

[rynne.livejournal.com]

*hugs back* I have no clue why someone would plagiarize. I get reading an awesome story and wishing you'd written it, since that happens to me all the time, but a lot of the satisfaction that comes of having written an awesome story is that I did actually write it, that something like that managed to come from me. Plagiarism...just totally misses the point.

Though I totally realized how ironic it is, coming after this episode. This plagiarist stole my voice and is trying to make people think it's hers! That's...actually sorta funny, you know, in an ironic way. :p

And I like that we're reminded here that the Doctor doesn't have much in the way of superpowers. When those people turn on him, he's scared and basically powerless to stop them.

Yes. THIS IS WHY HE CAN'T SNAP THE TARDIS OPEN. (*cough* Sorry. I'm still bitter. :p)

One of the things I like best about the Doctor is that he thinks and talks his way out of bad situations. He has a few advantages from being an alien, like being able to regenerate, but for the most part he relies on his brain. That's awesome, but it must totally scare him to death when thinking his way out fails. *pats him*

Word. It comforted me that he had Donna there at the end to give him a hug, and show him that he's not alone. More of that, RTD, please!

I so want Donna to stay! She's just been so awesome for him! Too bad Catherine Tate is only doing this season--I just hope the finale will be as open-ended for her as LotTL was for Martha.

[shaela]

We don’t often see episodes where the Doctor is so completely and utterly wrong, where he underestimates the danger, and where he’s neutralized—especially not all three at the same time.

You’re right about that. But the episode this reminded me of wasn’t “The Parting of the Ways”—it was “The Unquiet Dead.” You had aliens using a human being as a spokesperson. The Doctor wanting to think the best of them, despite the fact that they’d already killed several people. Other people trying to argue with him. The Doctor ending up trapped and helpless. And someone else having to sacrifice themselves to clean up the mess he’d made.

But as awful as it is, it’s also a good thing, in a way.

Well, it’s a good thing if he learns from it. But I think you’re right—I think that’s where the story is going. His family is coming back. His friends are banding together. He can’t do it alone, but that’s all right—he doesn’t have to. Sometimes, I really love this story.

P.S. Sorry about the plagiarism thing. That’s just… WTF, people?

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot about The Unquiet Dead! *facepalms* Thanks for the reminder, and yeah, you're totally right--The Unquiet Dead does rather fit the bill. Except then the Doctor had Rose with him, while here he was alone. Poor guy.

Yeah, it's totally only a good thing if he learns from it--but I hope he will. I think that's where the story's going. And it's totally awesome. :)

Plagiarism always leaves me going WTF. It's just...what's the point? *sigh*

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Oh, it DID shake him -- did you see the LOOK on his face in that very last scene? "Don't do that, don't," he says, harkening back to Tooth and Claw and The Shakespeare Code... but then he adds another, quieter, "Don't," and my heart just breaks. We also don't often see the Doctor being completely, utterly scared (which is why 42 freaked me the hell out), and the way this episode ended left me very very shaky indeed.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Yes. The Doctor really needs some hugs--and to learn from the experience. Here's hoping!

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

I need some hugs too, dammit. Episode. Wah.

[prettyveela.livejournal.com]

Oh man I remember another time a few years ago when the HP fandom was still very active, we all went batshit we did.