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I also find that billie and davids chemistry isnt so much forced but they show their love more then nine and rose. Nine in general was subtle with his emotions whilst tens shows his (i could also write an essay on how ten got so many traits from Rose there was actually a scene they cut to show why ten had rose’s accent) but i love both doctors with rose but they both serve their purpose for one another

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not fear her last! i love that episode its not great but i find the way it handles abuse within the home great! the way the mother doesnt talk about it effects the daughter. Someone stated once that s3 and s4 would not have worked without s2 bc ten is essentially a puppy dog with rose; he is born out of love for her so loosing her is what brings back that darker aspects of the doctor

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I agree about the ending of Love and Monsters. I like the phrase “unearned cruelty.”

I am old enough to have watched the Tom Baker episodes they used to show on PBS, so always had a soft spot for Sarah Jane. I even watched a couple seasons of her revival show when it aired over here. I really enjoyed that episode.

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also last comment but i find the through line of ten and rose’s relationship to be this happy go lucky thing then ten see’s sarah jane again is hit with the reality he will loose rose no matter (then we get gitp) and well the rest of the season has them being separated from things out of their control till well doomsday

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No, no, I love comments! Thank you for these!! To be honest, the entire "lower tier" section of this one is just "episodes I don't quite vibe with and can't explain why." And I pretty much could've ranked them in any order because they all have things to like about them.

Anyway, I totally agree with your assessment that Ten chose his regenerated form explicitly for Rose; that there's no way to separate this version of the Doctor from her existence. (Which is why he remains so defined by her even after she's gone.) And I also agree that "School Reunion" and Sarah Jane's return is a pointed shattering of the honeymoon period that injects some interesting tension into the rest of their relationship. There's just something about the execution of that honeymoon period that feels off to me. Or maybe it's just that I love Eccleston's Doctor and his dynamic with Rose so much that I needed more time to process the shift than she does.

Indeed, I wonder if it might have worked better if the show had lampshaded the shift a bit more — like if "New Earth" opened with Rose saying "I love how much lighter and happier you are now" instead of just "I love traveling with you." But I also think there was a clear desire to present season two as a clean jumping on point without too many references to the past.

It's a nitpick, really, because Piper and Tennant find their own chemistry fairly quickly. I just feel like I can sense the director offscreen in Tooth and Claw saying "Laugh a lot so the audience knows you like each other" instead of that laughter being organic.

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i def would love to see it i guess they thought in new earth the “your so different” was just fine to clear cut the difference. Also tooth and claw thats so interesting you say that bc there are moments where im like is that rose and ten or billie and david (not saying the actors are in love just felt so natural like when rose is off to the rose nudging him or ten whispers stop) but yeah to each their own! it’s definitely different but i think its like oh he doesnt have the weight (at least compared to nine) of the time war on him as much

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Okay, now I've got to revisit Tooth and Claw through the "is this just Billie and David?" lens and see if I like it more. (Did you catch her appearance on his podcast a couple years ago? So sweet!)

I also rewatched the New Earth opening and I'm now convinced it's that painfully sappy score that's throwing me off as much as anything else. I wish they'd just let the actors' chemistry shine through naturally without the THEY ARE IN LOVE musical cue hitting us over the head.

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yeah rtd years (and murry gold) love to have a big score moment lol! And yes! loved that appearance so much hoping they work together again in the future would love to see them in something (doesnt even have to be who related)!

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also (sorry for all the comments) but not tooth and claw so low...my comfort episode!

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