InsaneJournal

So she left him. Moreover, she TOLD him why she left him. And he seemed to respond in a more PC- and enlightened-way than most people (i.e., human males) would.

Bear in mind that I had to split this episode with reruns of "Dog Whisperer", which is absolutely essential watching in this household  But I did catch the finale ultimo uninterrupted.

And all I can say is, sometimes is cigar is just a cigar.  The maids' uniforms?  Sure, they're commentary -- but not about *Martha as an individual* -- they're about the Master's world view (if only incidentally because the Jones's happen to be black), not about her or the Doctor.  And I see Martha's very realistic, ultimate decision about her role as a Companion as very reflective of the decisions that women of my and our 'tweener generation face every day as typical. 

Perhaps this is a function of Rusty's generation as a male and mine as a female, and perhaps not; all I'm saying is that there are compromises that one makes as an "enlightened male" and as a "feminist-era female," and that there may be coincidence in this case.  Those younger than I can argue that this shouldn't be, but in this case they should go suck an egg.  It's easy to see paradigm shifts in technology, but when you are looking at issues that revolve around Sociology, Belief and Philosophy, there is no clear-cut shift.  It takes several socio/genetic generations to change perception and expectations.

In short, I felt that Martha made a good choice in that it was right for her, but acknowledged that she depended on the Doctor as a friend and altruistic helper -- and that's totally reasonable. Regardless of the (inevitable) "her-vs.-me" references, Martha accepts that the Doctor will come through if she (i.e, humans as a whole) need him.

I don't think you can improve on that,actually. She set the terms; he seems willing, assuming that he's not some encaptured, ensorcelled dwarf at the time. What more can you ask for?