thinky thought about Martha Jones

Not entirely sure where this will end up, but here goes:

I've been reading a fair bit of episode analysis and meta and bitching/squeeing over Doctor Who lately, especially the finale.

Now I like how Martha left. I thought it followed from her character that she couldn't stay any longer and it made sense for her. She has her family, she needs to finish her degree and she needs to take a step back away from the Doctor.

But along with several other people, the line about thinking she had been second best but she's actually really good (forgive the mangled quote, the video is downstairs) jarred me a little because the Doctor doesn't reply and agree with her.

And there have been a lot of comments on how dreadful of him that was, and how it shows he does think she isn't as good as Rose etc. and I was a bit unhappy about it myself.

And then I thought: but that's Martha's whole point. She doesn't need his validation. She knows she's good and to have the Doctor reply verbally just makes it about his opinion again when it isn't, it's about Martha and how she feels about herself. (And he does reply, he gives this happy chuckle - which to me says he agrees anyway and he knows she doesn't need the words from him.)

So that is my thought.