elisi | Thoughts on the end of Eleven's/the Pond era

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Thoughts on the end of Eleven's/the Pond era

I'm a lot more OK than I thought I'd be. Don't get me wrong, I'd happily watch Eleven forever, and oh, I will miss him LIKE BURNING. But.

The Eleventh Doctor is a Pond. And that is so fundamental that obviously he can't chance without changing completely...

He arrived, young and gangly, and met a young child... And they grew up together. They ran away from marriage and then accepted it, and dealt with the pains and difficulties that life brought - a lot of it back to front and upside down. And then he lost them. His Ponds. His family. First Amy and Rory, and then his wife. And this took its toll.

The S7 finale showed us that he'd also lost River - and yet not let go. He stepped off his cloud at Christmas, came back into the world, yet his hearts were still with his last Pond. I don't think he quite knows how to live without them. (He doesn't seem whole without them, y'know? River's goodbye was beautiful and so painful. The gap she's left behind can't be filled. So I almost welcome the end, because living with that emptiness would be unsustainable.)

So it seems to make sense that because they went, he goes too. There's still the business of Silence Falling (who DID blow up the TARDIS?) - and then Trenzalore (the Fall of the Eleventh). Because he needs to set his house in order. But it's clearly near the end. After all, the S7 finale took place in his tomb... (Not subtle, this show. *g*)

Which brings me to Clara. Wonderful, delightful, impossible Clara. Clara continues the trend of eras overlapping... River turning up 'too early' in the Library, Oswin turning up during the Pond era. It's like handing over, not leaving him on his own - giving him something to live for. (Amy, literally, tells River to look after him. And River pretty much does the same with Clara.)

Of course Clara exists across all of the Doctor's timeline, yet I think Twelve might be *hers*. Much like Rose imprinted on Ten...

Speaking of Twelve, here's Promethia:

I was just thinking how Clara is going to be the MOST PREPARED COMPANION EVER for regeneration. She's gonna be like "It's ok, Doctor, you're doing great. Just keep breathing and focus on my voice. You're going to be wonderful. I've got some tea here for you and a wide selection of eccentric clothing in a variety of sizes. Just . . . maybe try to keep the height under 6'6", yeah?"

Which reminds me that I was going to compare eras. This is slightly tongue-in-cheek (I *like* RTD! I will say nice things about Tinkerbell!Doctor), but I think it's fairly obvious that Moffat is a lot better for/nicer to the Doctor than RTD. (RTD is like Joss. He likes hurting his toys...) Using Texts From the TARDIS macros (so handy!), I shall illustrate where Ten and Eleven find themselves respectively as they come to the end of their time:

Ten was lonely, in pain, [half]-insane and generally a [terrifying] kicked puppy all round. Eleven has loved and lost, but made peace with his loss and found a new friend to hold his hand.

I'll be a mess come Christmas; but there's a time to live, and a time to sleep. Eleven has more than earned his rest.

Mind you - Twelve will have big shoes to fill! :)

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The most poignant thing about this is that as soon as I finished reading the article on June 1st, there was a clap of thunder and it started raining. That's right. Matt Smith made the sky cry. But it's been a couple days and I've gotten a bit more used to the idea.

I guess the reason I feel so disappointed is because it had been announced that Matt was staying for Series 8 a couple of weeks ago. And then the rug was suddenly yanked out from under me and a whole lot of other people. That might be why so many fans are angry.

"You gave us hope and then you took it away. That's enough to make anyone dangerous. God knows what it will do to Whovians. Basically - RUN!"

Although saddened by this, I'm trying to be optimistic by writing out Eleven's regeneration and Twelve's first words. So far, I'm enjoying it.

~ srmcd1

(It rains because you're sad...)

I guess the reason I feel so disappointed is because it had been announced that Matt was staying for Series 8 a couple of weeks ago. And then the rug was suddenly yanked out from under me and a whole lot of other people. That might be why so many fans are angry.
I'd heard that too! I'm sure someone somewhere at the BBC is getting one hell of a bollocking... I'd have LOVED to have him for one more series, but looking at it you can see all the signs being there. *sigh* There's just nothing we can do - I'm very good at adjusting my expectations. Esp when there's nothing I can do...

"You gave us hope and then you took it away. That's enough to make anyone dangerous. God knows what it will do to Whovians. Basically - RUN!"
Heh. Although they have what we want, so they have all the power...

Although saddened by this, I'm trying to be optimistic by writing out Eleven's regeneration and Twelve's first words. So far, I'm enjoying it.
That's the spirit! I'm thinking ELeven will say 'Geronimo!' and leap towards whatever kills him. :)

Well, this is what I've got so far. Although I agree that Clara will be prepared for regeneration, she'll still be sad to lose her Chin Boy.

CLARA
But youâll still be you, right?

THE DOCTOR
(taps his forehead) I will be in here, where it counts.

FX: The Doctorâs hands begin to give off that GOLDEN GLOW. He looks at it with a smile.

Clara looks concerned, however.

THE DOCTOR (CONTâD)
Promise me something, though.

CLARA
Anything. What?

THE DOCTOR
Donât give up on me. No matter what, please donât abandon me.

CLARA
I wonât. I promise.

THE DOCTOR
Thank you.

The Doctor steps back away from her. He relaxes his muscles.

FX: The Doctorâs face GIVES OFF GOLDEN GLOW now. Heâs almost gone.

CLARA
Doctor...?

THE DOCTOR
Shhh... Itâs okay. Trust me â Iâm the Doctor.

And then, the sudden acceleration hits â wham!

Yes, this. Clara's been so good for him, but I think he won't ever really get over the Ponds until he regenerates. And I'm excited as to what this might mean for Clara going forward too, I think it's a great chance for her to shine.

I'm just very very sad that all my Ponds are leaving me.

Eleven's/the Pond era

Hmm. Series 5 through 7, as a whole, could be subtitled as The Pond Era (at least- that's how it is in my head). Clara's basically catching Eleven right before he goes- because even with the 'spark' that she gave him- Eleven is very old and so very tired.

Not subtle, this show.

Yeah- some of the metaphors and analogies in this show tend be rather large, and shaped like anvils. Much like how Eleven is an old and kind Space Whale. :3

And yes, it is true that Eleven is essentially Doctor Pond. He's still one of Amy's boys. No pun intended with him being her son-in-law. xD

Eleven has loved and lost, but made peace with his loss and found a new friend to hold his hand.

Agreed. I like to think that when he goes- he won't go with a grin like Nine, but I can easily picture him leaving with a smile, and maybe telling Clara that it will be okay. Maybe similar to how he went out in TBB (when he was comforting Amy before he flew up into the explosion)- very calm, a little scared, but ultimately- a stage of acceptance. .... and of course "Geronimo."

"It's ok, Doctor, you're doing great. Just keep breathing and focus on my voice. You're going to be wonderful. I've got some tea here for you and a wide selection of eccentric clothing in a variety of sizes. Just . . . maybe try to keep the height under 6'6", yeah?"

The first time I read this- I honestly immediately thought that it sounded like Clara was helping him through pregnancy. Which, of course, I'm also remembering how Alex Kingston, during the Confidential episode, for LKH, had likened the regeneration process to giving birth.

Edited 2013-06-03 23:31 (UTC)

What you wrote makes a lot of sense to me, and basically what I feel. I was sad-- still am-- and expected to be even moreso as it sunk in. But being more sad hasn't happened. Him going now feels right.

I must say that I absolutely love that Clara won't be surprised by the process itself. It's a bit of a different take on things.

I'm not looking forward to Christmas. There will be a box of tissues in front to me. But the show is change, and that helps.

I agree with Anon - and I agree with you. I knew (just from the ending of S7), that he wasn't getting out of this one. This is Trenzalor. This was prophecied. He's not gonna be able to do the Big Bang all over again. He's not going to be able to fool anything with a Tessalecta. The Ganger!Doctor is truly gone. But I clung so hard to the announcement that he was doing Season 8, I let that rule my heart...and my head. Though both knew better.

I just...wanted a little more time.

But all good things come to an end. Each Doctor (with all their awesome) must go the way of their predecessors. Sometimes, you just have to know when/how to leave - and call it good. He's had one of the best runs. He has had good stories, good friends, good times and triumphant moments. He DID start over - and he made the best of the messes created in spite of/because of him. He tried to keep his promises. And he was honest about his lies.

Really, I would have loved one more season, but...I can follow his career and rejoice in Matt's fortune - like I do with David. Maybe one day we'll see our Eleven again. But until then, we have three solid years, memorable moments, fanfic, vids and metas. He is now part of the continuum. Eleven is now forever - and look how much time we have open to dabble in with adventures and stories and worlds yet to explore! Moffat did us a great service with that.

I'll just be upset I can't have MY DOCTOR on my screen each Saturday. Like my own private hour of joy.

We won't discuss my husband. He knows the reality of Who. He's been watching since HE was a kid (like me), but Eleven is HIS DOCTOR and HE'S NOT HAVING IT. He says he'll make the bad!Tenners look sick with the tantrums he will throw, lol!!

Edited 2013-06-04 00:33 (UTC)

Wonderful essay! Very much along the lines of what I'm feeling. And LOL that at least the regeneration process won't surprise Clara, and LOL really hard at the imagined dialogue!

Sniff! I can't add a thing to that!

This is... so spot the hell on. I couldn't figure out why I wasn't feeling Clara- she's delightful, don't get me wrong, but something was...off. Eleven is a Pond. And without them, he just isn't right. Clara deserves her own Doctor, and I'm glad she's going to get him. But holy crap will I miss Eleven.

10000000% word on Eleven being a Pond. I thought I'd be devastated about the news, but honestly, it seems right? It's just time. In a lot of ways the Doctor was at his most alive in S5/6, and I would hate to see him just becoming a walking dead man before finally kicking it for real. This way, he can go out with some hope. (Also, Clara really deserves better -- lbr Eleven has never been totally real with her the way he was with Amy, etc.)

I'm still not emotionally captured by Clara. So far she's the companion I've liked the least - with the exception of "The Name of the Doctor". I think you're probably right: maybe she will work better with Twelve and I'll be able to love her like the other companions.

I'm going to miss Matt Smith sooooo much! He created *my* Doctor. It was with him and Amy that I fell in love with the show, it was S5 that changed everything for me and made me *feel* the show. I think I'm going to cry when he finally leaves but I wish him absolutely the best. I respect his decision and I think that he deserves to play other characters. I'm mostly grateful. Also I'm curious to meet Twelve.

I hope he goes in peace and smiling. He deserves it after all he's been through. He came into this world in the most painful way, and I want to believe, that he is not that vulnerable anymore, that he is more mature in a way and maybe even happier despite all the losses.
But there's so little time left for him to finish his journey and he still has quite a long way to go. Please, Moffat, don't screw it up. Eleven deserves a decent goodbye.

(There were days when I hoped that River will be by his side when he regenerates, that she will hold him and comfort him, and maybe then it would be less like dying and more like being born again. But - this is it.
Still, I believe he's strong enough now to face it.
Be strong, my Doctor.)

Look, look, hang on, sorry, just a thought that came to me after reading all of the above -

IS TWELVE GOING TO *BE* CLARA? Because don't tell me that wouldn't be a) awesome and b) totally fitting with the complicated messing up of identities etc.

But you’ll still be you, right?
If anyone would know, it'd be her! Unless she's worried after having seen not!Doctor... OK, I'll give the line a pass. *g* (Although now I want him to answer: "Of course! Unless- No the Valeyard shouldn't come along until next time. If you're still around then, make sure to have a baseball bat ready."

[/incapable of taking anything seriously. Am tired, can you tell?]

Plz ignore me. Although now I'm curious to see what your Twelve will be like...

It's very sad... But then we've lost most of them already, y'know? He's not the same. I'm glad that he's found a good place, and is ready to move on, but it's just not the same.

Ans Clara deserves better. She needs her chance to shine & be the centre.

Hmm. Series 5 through 7, as a whole, could be subtitled as The Pond Era (at least- that's how it is in my head).
Same here. Esp since we know that River is hanging around, unseen, during 7B.

Clara's basically catching Eleven right before he goes- because even with the 'spark' that she gave him- Eleven is very old and so very tired.
She's so young and sparky, she needs some new to to shine with! :)

Yeah- some of the metaphors and analogies in this show tend be rather large, and shaped like anvils. Much like how Eleven is an old and kind Space Whale. :3
Funny, isn't it? Esp because there are endless layers once you dive in. But it does wear its metaphors on its sleeve. <3

And yes, it is true that Eleven is essentially Doctor Pond. He's still one of Amy's boys. No pun intended with him being her son-in-law. xD
Her Poncho boys... (Oh don't do this! I WANT S5 BACK!)

Maybe similar to how he went out in TBB (when he was comforting Amy before he flew up into the explosion)- very calm, a little scared, but ultimately- a stage of acceptance. .... and of course "Geronimo."
This. *points to icon*

The first time I read this- I honestly immediately thought that it sounded like Clara was helping him through pregnancy. Which, of course, I'm also remembering how Alex Kingston, during the Confidential episode, for LKH, had likened the regeneration process to giving birth.
LOL. That's brilliant! :)

What you wrote makes a lot of sense to me, and basically what I feel. I was sad-- still am-- and expected to be even moreso as it sunk in. But being more sad hasn't happened. Him going now feels right.
It's like an old couple... When one of them goes, the other doesn't last long.

I must say that I absolutely love that Clara won't be surprised by the process itself. It's a bit of a different take on things.
Isn't it just? And I look forward to Clara with a new Doctor.

I'm not looking forward to Christmas. There will be a box of tissues in front to me. But the show is change, and that helps.
The Doctor is dead. Long live the Doctor...

I just...wanted a little more time.
Well we've got half a year... (I know that's not what you meant. I just couldn't help myself.) And I'd take all the Eleventy I can get, but I'm happy with what we have. Esp because it's not the same without the [other] Ponds...

But all good things come to an end. Each Doctor (with all their awesome) must go the way of their predecessors. Sometimes, you just have to know when/how to leave - and call it good. He's had one of the best runs. He has had good stories, good friends, good times and triumphant moments. He DID start over - and he made the best of the messes created in spite of/because of him. He tried to keep his promises. And he was honest about his lies.
<3 <3 <3 This. And yeah, a good run. This was the problem with Ten - it all turned to ashes and dust around him ('And this is what I get!' <- rant against Wilf). Eleven will be at peace.

Eleven is now forever - and look how much time we have open to dabble in with adventures and stories and worlds yet to explore! Moffat did us a great service with that.
*draws hearts around Moffat* And yes - Eleven is forever.

I'll just be upset I can't have MY DOCTOR on my screen each Saturday. Like my own private hour of joy.
I know. It's very sad. I still don't know how to process that part.

We won't discuss my husband. He knows the reality of Who. He's been watching since HE was a kid (like me), but Eleven is HIS DOCTOR and HE'S NOT HAVING IT. He says he'll make the bad!Tenners look sick with the tantrums he will throw, lol!!
I like your husband very much!

Thank you. And I'm trying to look at the positives - of which there are many, thankfully. :)

<3 <3 <3

This.

I've been wondering too - she's so delightful, but just... Not right. I'm looking forward to seeing her shine with her own Doctor.

But there'll never be another Eleven. Goodbye Drunk Giraffe, we'll miss you.

Like you say, it just feels oddly right. It's not the same without the Ponds, and it shouldn't be - and now it's time for something new.

He had a great run, and he'll go out in style, but at peace. I couldn't wish for more. (I'm used to ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST and unrequited love.)

I think the problem is that she's been a mystery - the Doctor hasn't trusted her, and that's been passed on. Plus, I don't think he could ever give his hearts away again, so I'm really looking forward to seeing her with Twelve! Plus, it helps with the continuity - Clara will be the one we know, and we'll get to know Twelve through her. :)

Eleven was the one who taught me what the Doctor is *supposed* to be (= Wizard, Trickster). Nothing else will ever come close. it was like falling in love.

But if it's his time, then I shall look forward to Twelve.

If I was the betting kind, I'd bet on his last words being 'Geronimo'. :)

And very much yes to being more mature and happier. At peace, even. (I have absolute faith in Moffat. I've never trusted a showrunner before - both Joss & RTD loved nothing more than to stab everyone in the back - but Moffat likes good endings.)

Well River *might* be there - you never know. It'd be the most beautiful symbolism... And Moffat does love symbolism.

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Thoughts on the end of Eleven's/the Pond era

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