I guess my problem is that I don't see that helplessness. I don't see them as having any reaction to it at all. I can understand perfectly that there's nothing that they can do, but I just expected to see them rage/mourn/actually show hopelessness in some way, you know? I just don't see that happening onscreen. It's kind of like the cognative dissonance some people feel when they watch "Older and Far Away" right after "Dead Things." Now, I'm one of the people who thinks that that makes perfect sense in the context of Buffy and Spike's relationship, but a lot of people feel like they missed something--that there is a moment that wasn't there where this really dark thing that happened should be emotionally addressed. That's where I am at the moment; I've been fine with everything up to now, but now I feel like there's an episode missing where the Ponds go through the stages of grief over knowing that they lost their daughter in this specific way even if they know she's okay. Emotionally, that's something I need so that I don't feel adrift.

...I guess I'll just have to seek out fill-in-the-blank fic!

Speaking of fill-in-the-blank fic, have you read this fic yet? I loooove it!

[eta] And no, I don't think I've read your last piece, I'm a little bit behind on your meta, I'll have to catch up!