It's super annoying on so many levels. My inner geek wants to squee over ALL DAT TARDIS, but the rest is just, urgh.
I mean, the Doctor HAS been manipulative of companions in the past AND HAS BEEN CALLED OUT ON IT AND STOPS. My favourite is Seven and Ace. The pivotal story is The Curse of Frenric where the Doctor has all these plots and schemes but he underestimates Ace and she is cleverer than he thought and so puts a spanner in the works of his plan. He gets annoyed, but Ace fires back at him.
"Ace: You know what's going on. The Doctor: Yes. Ace: You always know. You just can't be bothered to tell anyone. It's like it's some kind of a game and only you know the rules. You knew all about that inscription being a computer programme, but you didn't tell me! You know about that old bottle and you're not telling me! Am I so stupid?"
Then the Doctor gives her the information. Because she stood up to him. Because she makes him realise he's been unfair to her. She realises that there's some serious shit going on, but he, too realises that he's been underestimating Ace. By the time we get to Survival, the Doctor does treat Ace like more of a grown up, he seems genuinely repentant for manipulating her. You'd think he'd have learned. This is why I have a fanslpanation that the 10-11 regeneration did a number on his brain. Maybe he is a 'mad man' and can't actually control himself. But I doubt Moffat would go as far as to, you know, DEAL WITH IT beyond making any 'mad man' comments a joke, or a hand waving nonesplanation of his stupid actions rather than giving the Doctor some lasting character development.
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I mean, the Doctor HAS been manipulative of companions in the past AND HAS BEEN CALLED OUT ON IT AND STOPS. My favourite is Seven and Ace. The pivotal story is The Curse of Frenric where the Doctor has all these plots and schemes but he underestimates Ace and she is cleverer than he thought and so puts a spanner in the works of his plan. He gets annoyed, but Ace fires back at him.
"Ace: You know what's going on.
The Doctor: Yes.
Ace: You always know. You just can't be bothered to tell anyone. It's like it's some kind of a game and only you know the rules. You knew all about that inscription being a computer programme, but you didn't tell me! You know about that old bottle and you're not telling me! Am I so stupid?"
Then the Doctor gives her the information. Because she stood up to him. Because she makes him realise he's been unfair to her. She realises that there's some serious shit going on, but he, too realises that he's been underestimating Ace.
By the time we get to Survival, the Doctor does treat Ace like more of a grown up, he seems genuinely repentant for manipulating her. You'd think he'd have learned.
This is why I have a fanslpanation that the 10-11 regeneration did a number on his brain. Maybe he is a 'mad man' and can't actually control himself. But I doubt Moffat would go as far as to, you know, DEAL WITH IT beyond making any 'mad man' comments a joke, or a hand waving nonesplanation of his stupid actions rather than giving the Doctor some lasting character development.