“I think it’s meant for Berlin, not here - belated forgiveness for her actual killing of him. And yet... He uses the words always and completely. It means that there is nothing she can do, which will make him reject her. Remember how much I’ve talked about the theme of acceptance this season? Specifically fathers? Well this is where we were going.
Forgiveness is something central to the Doctor, and what it means is that he loves her unconditionally.”
I think this is a truly fascinating part of their relationship, and one that resonates with me very much. And I think one reason it works so well is because of their timey-wimey lifestyle. They have apparently made an agreement to forgive each other. Just to live and love each other. And it makes perfect practical sense, because if they tried to keep resentments or demand apologies or any of that, it wouldn’t work. The next time they meet, the thing that needs apologizing for hasn’t even happened yet. So do they let those things spoil all their other meetings?
They, more than any others, are forced to live in the moment. Now is all they have. And the only way to live in the now is to let the past go. “You are forgiven, always and completely forgiven.” Not just for now, not just for that incident or this thing. But always. Completely.
Don’t sweat it. Do better. Love now.
And I think there’s a great deal of magic in that. Especially considering how hard their lives are, and how screwed up and covered with blood they both are. It gives them an innocence they could never regain in a regular relationship where past grievances pile up. It’s done. They’re covered. They’re clean again.
“You want to be forgiven.” “Don’t we all.”
The urge here is not to be forgiven over and over so they can continue to do those things that need forgiving. But so they can move past them, become better. Become someone who goes from “The woman who murdered you,” to “Someone you trust completely.” With absolute truth. She’s earned that trust, and so has he. By forgiving and being forgiven and growing to deserve it. Not by deserving it when it’s given.
“It’s what helps him believe that he is worthy of love (which I don’t think he ever thought he was during any of New Who).”
Yeah, that’s really a tone I haven’t liked at all in New Who. The whole “pity me” thing. I never used to have to pity the Doctor before. I always loved that he was a man who was more or less at peace with himself and his choices. Even when it meant tragedy sometimes.
“now he has been given everything anew (ooooh he is Job. Nice),”
Oh, briliant! I didn’t even catch that. And I was looking up a Job quote earlier today. Talk about serendipity.
“My Love, My Doctor - but it is so because he is hers. Literally. Completely. And because all of history was happening at the same time when they got married, they are married forever, across all of time and space. “
Good catch! I like that. Married forever. Not to mention sharing life energy.
Beautiful post and analysis and I enjoyed that a lot! Cheers!
Re: Part 3 (because LJ is stingy with word count, and I'm not)
Forgiveness is something central to the Doctor, and what it means is that he loves her unconditionally.”
I think this is a truly fascinating part of their relationship, and one that resonates with me very much. And I think one reason it works so well is because of their timey-wimey lifestyle. They have apparently made an agreement to forgive each other. Just to live and love each other. And it makes perfect practical sense, because if they tried to keep resentments or demand apologies or any of that, it wouldn’t work. The next time they meet, the thing that needs apologizing for hasn’t even happened yet. So do they let those things spoil all their other meetings?
They, more than any others, are forced to live in the moment. Now is all they have. And the only way to live in the now is to let the past go. “You are forgiven, always and completely forgiven.” Not just for now, not just for that incident or this thing. But always. Completely.
Don’t sweat it. Do better. Love now.
And I think there’s a great deal of magic in that. Especially considering how hard their lives are, and how screwed up and covered with blood they both are. It gives them an innocence they could never regain in a regular relationship where past grievances pile up. It’s done. They’re covered. They’re clean again.
“You want to be forgiven.” “Don’t we all.”
The urge here is not to be forgiven over and over so they can continue to do those things that need forgiving. But so they can move past them, become better. Become someone who goes from “The woman who murdered you,” to “Someone you trust completely.” With absolute truth. She’s earned that trust, and so has he. By forgiving and being forgiven and growing to deserve it. Not by deserving it when it’s given.
“It’s what helps him believe that he is worthy of love (which I don’t think he ever thought he was during any of New Who).”
Yeah, that’s really a tone I haven’t liked at all in New Who. The whole “pity me” thing. I never used to have to pity the Doctor before. I always loved that he was a man who was more or less at peace with himself and his choices. Even when it meant tragedy sometimes.
“now he has been given everything anew (ooooh he is Job. Nice),”
Oh, briliant! I didn’t even catch that. And I was looking up a Job quote earlier today. Talk about serendipity.
“My Love, My Doctor - but it is so because he is hers. Literally. Completely. And because all of history was happening at the same time when they got married, they are married forever, across all of time and space. “
Good catch! I like that. Married forever. Not to mention sharing life energy.
Beautiful post and analysis and I enjoyed that a lot! Cheers!