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It has all the spark and joy of a non-romantic romance. Do you know what I mean by that? When you meet somebody who really does become incredibly close to you and it has an awful lot of what a romance has, except it doesn’t have any sex or romance in it. […] When you meet the people in your life who do become your great teachers, you do have a different sort of crush on them. As I say, it’s not an erotic one. It’s a fascination. It’s a joy in their company. It’s meeting someone who opens new doors to you. That’s a good relationship to model the Doctor and his best pal on.
There are some exquisite romances in Doctor Who, the Doctor with Rose Tyler and the Doctor with River Song being two big examples. But the Moffat era feature that I value possibly the most is the way friendships are portrayed. Pure friendships, with little to no overt romance, but nevertheless, relationships so transforming and magnetic that it surprises many. Sometimes, even the characters within the relationship are shocked by it. It points out how relationships are often more fluid than thought, and how love is truly incalculable - bringing up stories of asexual and aromantic relationships.
Steven Moffat - as a writer and as someone who has clearly experienced deep friendship himself (descibing Mark Gatiss as someone who he “should have married”) - seems to have a well-developed grasp of the concepts of squishes and queerplatonic relationships, although I highly doubt he is actually familiar with modern aro/ace terminology. …
Moffat’s fictional platonic relationships are incredibly varied as well. Amy and the Doctor, who just recognise each other and eventually develop an almost familial bond. Clara and the Doctor, in all their complicated, messy extremes. And now Bill and the Doctor, joyful and eye-opening, full of lessons and respect. What these friendships have in common is just how vivid they are.
He gets, like few others, just how formative and complex friendship can be. The spark of two people drawn to each other. And this quote, in particular, really expresses that.
- @tillthenexttimedoctor on this quote [+]
From a more personal perspective, Moffat-era Doctor-companion friendships showed me that relationships of the kind I want in life, and that I feel comfortable in, are totally possible. It showed me that the kind of love I want is not inhuman, dangerous, or unfair. In fact, it’s as strong, fulfilling, and beautiful, as any other kind of love. For me, this will always be the unforgettable story - of love that needs no labels, no justifications, other than being itself, other than being love that shapes life and death.