30
Sep

Okay, I’ve figured out why the broken wrist made me so uncomfortable. 

(TW: Domestic Violence)

It isn’t the Doctor’s fault that River is in that situation. It is just unfortunate that she is in the angel’s grip. He quickly establishes that the only way for her to get out is for her to break her wrist. Maybe you could argue that they could have just smashed the angel, but that probably would have broken her wrist in the process anyway. So, we have arrived at a situation where the wrist must be broken. 

And yet, the Doctor still makes it River’s fault. She is yelled at, and shamed and made to feel apologetic for being in a situation where she had to break her own wrist. The Doctor puts a huge amount of emotional pressure on her to get out of the situation, when he knows full well she cannot do it without help (which he quickly withdraws) or breaking her wrist. And he blames her for it. She hides her injury like she should be embarrassed about it, like she should feel apologetic. 

Never let him see your damage. This is what River says. The damage that the Doctor has essentially given her, because he put the pressure on her to get out by any means unnecessary. River hides her injuries, apologizes for getting them despite it not being her fault and the Doctor is made to be the hero for healing her despite the fact that he is the one who put the pressure on her in the first place. 

To me, this hugely echoes the shaming relationship between a victim and an abuser. 

I don’t know if anyone else interpreted it this way, but I’d be interested to hear. I’d also like to re watch the scene, and check it for the signs of an abusive relationship, because I am really fucking unhappy about this. Expect that post in the next couple of days. 

posted 7 months ago @ 06:25 am with 285 notes
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#tw: domestic violence
  1. ahr42p reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    holy crap, this happened in Doctor Who?!?
  2. omfg-am-i-hallucinating-again reblogged this from fandomsandfeminism
  3. allaindelon reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  4. professorelementary reblogged this from stilesisaslytherin
  5. stilesisaslytherin reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  6. pastlight reblogged this from crumplesnacks
  7. aspiringhermit reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    I can’t say I’m surprised that some have bought into the victim-blaming aspect of it all. Or that they’ve been willing...
  8. monaloveshanna reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  9. tedschmosbyarchitect reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    What? He was angry because she didn’t change the future and Amy is probably going to die. He also healed her after he...
  10. hyperspacefirefly reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  11. theatrefairy reblogged this from nightsinwonderland
  12. myheartbloomsoutofsheerloveofme reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  13. theoncomingsass reblogged this from do-you-have-a-flag
  14. iamstill-paintingflowers-foryou reblogged this from professorwolfjwolf
  15. do-you-have-a-flag reblogged this from professorwolfjwolf
  16. professorwolfjwolf reblogged this from amoratheenchantress
  17. serpentinred reblogged this from theplanetmidnight
  18. bombasticbookman reblogged this from fandomsandfeminism
  19. lupegarou reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  20. amoratheenchantress reblogged this from dftbrhi
  21. dftbrhi reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  22. lesmisloony reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    leaving this uncut and stuff because i think it’s important
  23. nightsinwonderland reblogged this from derinthemadscientist and added:
    I’ve always felt a little bit squicky about the Doctor/River relationship. Maybe it’s idealistic, but I think a...
  24. facingthenorthwind reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    On a totally different level, while we’re on the grossness of that scene, I also thought the “never let him see you age”...