still testing her.
can she keep up? can she adjust to the situation?
the latter one is the most interesting. is martha just saving face? (yes). the doctor is insisting he meant nothing romantic by his actions at all. so martha says she's actually not interested - she only goes for humans. the doctor scrutinises her a little, assesses her answer and says good.
good that she is declaring she is not attracted to him? that she actually didn't want his actions to imply romantic intent?
good that she says she's not interested because she's actually only teasing? it may have only appeared suggestive but it doesn't matter. for the record, she's not remotely interested.
the doctor was flirting this episode, you can't really deny it, but what we also know for certain is that the doctor seems determined to close his emotions off, especially when it comes to romance.
so. he assesses martha. can she do the same? and look at that, yes she can. and she's quick with it too, sharp.
so he is impressed. good, he says.
can she be like me? can she switch it off? aha, so she can...good.
all of this of course begs the question: if one intereptation of this scene is the doctor approving and applauding her ability to quickly shut down her emotions, what does this say about him?
we know martha is interested. so if the doctor is also shutting it down that implies...well.
because if he's closing off his emotions and encouraging her to do the same...what emotions is he shutting down exactly? perhaps shutting down the undeniable spark the duo had on the moon not to mention outside the tardis, shutting down the idea that they could be good, even great together, the potential, the possibilities no no no there is nothing between us there is nothing nada zip it it meant nothing
