Right Then. Thanks, You Two. I Can Handle This. See You Later.

“Right then. Thanks, you two. I can handle this. See you later.”

I’ve thought a lot about what was the moment where it all went wrong for the Doctor in the Turn Left universe, and I think it’s right here. We know he has to make his way to HC Clements and the Torchwood base below it, and to do that Lance and his unfortunate bride would have to come with him this far.

But then the Doctor says this. He still thinks he’s better off without taking on a new companion and he’s projecting an air of absolute confidence and ease. And considering we know most of what whoever took Donna’s place would have been through, is it any stretch of the imagination that she would take his word for it?

Most people would head for the hills at this point. Nearly dying, attacked at their own reception, the company they work for revealed to be harboring shady secrets? Maybe they might even leave to phone the police. It takes a special kind of person to say, “No chance, Martian. You’re the man who keeps saving my life. I ain’t letting you out of my sight” and get right on the lift with him to unknown danger.

It takes Donna Noble.

A lot of people tend to describe Turn Left as a “what if the Doctor died story” and they entirely miss the point. It’s a “what if Donna never met the Doctor” story. Because Donna was the crucial element that, if missing, sent the whole thing crashing down. No other substitute would do. The Doctor needed someone as loud and strong-willed and stubborn as he was, who both could see through his lies and could reach him at even the worst of his downward spiral, and who needed healing of her own. Only one person could save him in so many ways, and that was her.

This kind of story had to be done with Donna. To me, Turn Left is far more a showcase of her ability than Journey’s End. Because she saved the Doctor on her own just by being herself, and in turn ensured the survival of countless others. One seemingly inconsequential, coincidental human was all that stood between the Earth and total ruination. One simple act of kindness.

And I absolutely think the Doctor knows it.

It’s them a again!! Some Ten and Donna stuff from this month

“uh- donna and i, absolutely married. uh.. very happily. always, um, popping off down the farmers’ market, pick up some organic.. jaffa cakes”

This is my pièce de résistance. I've peaked.