The One Time the Doctor Couldn’t Run Away From His Recklessness
The One Time the Doctor Couldn’t Run Away From His Recklessness
The Girl Who Waited emphasizes the Doctor's cavalier attitude by forcing his companions to deal with the consequences of his lifestyle.
Plot summary
An alien medical facility that accelerates time for its patients means Amy spends most of her life alone and running from robots after she’s separated from Rory and the Doctor.
Notable for:
Title is a play off of how Amy is described in her first story, The Eleventh Hour.
Writer Tim McRae also wrote Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel. For this story, he challenged himself to write a time-bending adventure worthy of Moffat.
Second Twitter reference in Doctor Who after The Eleventh Hour.
The interface mentions “Disneyland Clom.”
Pete commentary:
One thing about Matt Smith’s run — the stories aren’t simple templates. This is not a story where you could just slot in a generic companion, or any Doctor. This is something very specific to Amy, Rory, and their relationship with the Eleventh Doctor, which is fairly evolved at this point.
There’s a parallel here with Amy’s Choice – the timing of that episode felt a bit off, like it should have come later in the characters’ relationships. This is a similar idea, but perfectly placed in the arc of these characters.
The Twitter reference certainly dates this episode, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It echoes the “blogging” comment from Utopia and the “outer space Facebook” in The Stolen Earth. When does Reddit get its mention? Or ChatGPT?
“Cameraphone” probably dates it even more.
Disease affecting two-hearted species is a clever way to make this a Doctor-lite episode.
When the Doctor says “no regeneration,” does he mean the disease is that potent, or is he referencing that he’s run out? At the time, they probably meant the latter, but it’s better to retcon it as the latter rather than assume this disease is superhumanly aggressive.
Love the, “This is a kindness” line. Reminder to not trust labels.
“Not how I travel.” This line is meant to underscore the Doctor’s recklessness, and how dangerous a life with him can be. Rory’s visceral reaction reminds us that he, a normal bloke, was dragged into this life somewhat unwillingly, via his relationship with Amy. Rory sees the appeal of life with the Doctor, but he wouldn’t have chosen it for himself. He wants kids, a comfortable domestic life, weekends with parents/grandparents. He’s only on this ride for Amy.
Given that, this episode really serves as a key part of the final arc with these two. I was reminded that the next episode is The God Complex, which, on its own, feels like a sudden shock when the Doctor dumps Amy and Rory, seemingly for good. But it’s really a culmination. Not of calamities, but of a series of incidents that underscore that the Doctor’s life really is incompatible with a normal one. If there’s any part of a companion who wants that kind of normality, they’re going to have to leave one day. Sorry, Rose — you really can’t travel with him “forever.”
There’s definitely a reset button feeling with the ending, though. But the story earns it: You don’t get there without sacrifice and emotional highs and lows that stick with you. We’re back to normal, but the characters are changed, and I think how that plays out in subsequent episodes confirms this.
And let’s just take a moment to raise a glass to Karen Gillan for altering her performance perfectly for older Amy. I can’t believe they even considered recasting. In any case, the writing is excellent: Amy’s harsh Scottish edge has thickened considerably, but it’s still a front hiding the warm and caring girl inside. Only Rory could reach behind it, and he does — somewhat effortlessly. His line about not caring that she’s old but that he didn’t get to grow old with her weakens the armor, and then he smashes it with the Fez reference.
What did Pete’s family think?
Grace said something really wise about this episode: In trying to think about who the bad guy is, she said, “Time is the bad guy.” She really liked old Amy.
Four Questions to Doomsday
Why did the Randomizer take us here? In the mood for something “Terror” free? No, it’s clear that the Randomizer got intrigued by the timey-wimey nature of Mel’s introduction, and took us to arguably the most timey-wimey companion story ever.
Also: Night Terrors was right before this.
What if the evil plot had succeeded? In keeping with my daughter’s idea, if “time is bad guy,” the opposite result is that older Amy goes with Rory and the Doctor, leaving young Amy to live out 36 years at the facility. That would alter The God Complex, since Amy certainly would not be idolizing the Doctor anymore. Does that mean they still get dropped off on Earth at some point? Maybe, but if so, boy does Rory have some explaining to do! Also, I’m so sorry Amy, but no modeling career for you.
Where's the Clara splinter? She programmed Interface. That’s why it’s helpfully incompetent with regard to coordinating with the handbots to treat patients.
Dalek, Ogron, Professor Hayter, Viscount Banger, Fixed Point in Time, or Lady Cassandra? Dalek Caan. Hard to remember, but wow was it incredible for these characters. Would be a banger if it wasn’t borderline Doctor lite.