#like it felt like it would have been easy for yaz to figure out vulnerability during regeneration was something she could capitalize on

[frogmascquerade]

Potd spoilers in the tags :D

[capybaraonabicycle]

I get where you're coming from and I'm sorry if it hinders you from enjoying the series. I would disagree with the statement that it has been the same 3 times, though. Because I do believe the Doctor has changed. And while she ultimately decided to do the same thing (and then didn't do it, I guess, at least the 2nd time) I think she has learned and changed in her behaviour.

See, the series 11 Doctor was aggressively optimistic. Her whole thing was 'this time I'm having none of the trauma and all of the fun' and from that viewpoint it's pretty easy (and maybe naive) to say 'I'm not focusing on the past but enjoying the here and now'.

Then in series 12 this attitude was very drastically revealed to be a farce, because of course there is trauma and even more trauma that we haven't known about yet. And this time when the Doctor decided to stay true to herself it was maybe more of a desperate attempt not to break apart...which is maybe why she couldn't stick to that resolve.

And now in the third round for the first time she is allowing herself to be vulnerable. It felt a little bit to me like for the first time since spyfall, she had won a little. Like for the first time she had the means and wisdom to decide for herself. And maybe also that she has finally understood she needs help, that she can't do this alone. She has been constantly under stress for the last 2 series at least, constantly trying to fix things and to fix them herself and I feel like for the first time it's a 'I will focus on myself now and I will actually focus on myself. I will get help and allow myself to be weak and vulnerable and to heal.' kind of decision.

Like for me that scene where she tells Yaz she wants to tell her everything and then CRIES was so powerful. And I mean, it's the Doctor and they're an idiot, so maybe she won't actually let Yaz help her, but I am hopeful that she will. And that it might help her heal enough that for the first time she can actually be herself instead of just deciding that she wants that. And maybe then she won't need to ask for the fob watch anymore (and we'll finally have our closure).

And I def get how one can see that as not a rewarding character arc. Because it moves very slowly and for the most part it has been going in a problematic direction. But I think that maybe in the end it can feel rewarding and I think Flux was an important step in the right direction. But it's true, we haven't gotten closure yet and there is no way to be sure she won't fall back into her old patterns. But Yaz has grown, too (also maybe not completely in a good direction, that's debatable), so maybe they can actually figure it out together. But again, we're not there yet and I a) understand how that can be frustrating and b) understand how the whole arc may feel unsatisfactory to the viewer.

But I would disagree with the statement that nothing has changed and we're going nowhere. We're just walking very slowly and not in a straight line and there's no telling whether we will arrive somewhere. But we're moving and for my part, I find that interesting already. But yeah, I can see why other people wouldn't.

ok I'm sorry I'm TRYING to enjoy/understand what was the point of the memories arc. We had this exact arc in the women who fell to earth. The doctor can't remember who she is but she's the doctor and she can honor who she's been and move on and carry her loved ones with her and focus on who she is NOW.

she has the exact same arc in timeless children. She's faced with the fact that she has extra history she can't remember that the master/matrix infodump on her but she ultimately decides she's not defined by her past and chooses to focus on who she is NOW.

in flux vanquishers she's offered the memories from that time she just keeps them, focusing on who she is NOW but also like just in case she fancies knowing she keeps them. we've seen the exact same thing for 3 seasons now I'm bored where's the journey ?? What's the point ??