Bill = Will = Agency

Date: 31 May 2017 01:25 am (UTC)
shadowkat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] shadowkat
Interesting.

But, I didn't see this mentioned above... but the main theme of the entire season appears to be agency or loss of agency, or loss of Will or giving up your "will" or choices. (Maybe it was and I missed it?)

Bill is a nickname for Williamena or Will. Which simply put means -- "agency".

It's the only theme that is expressed in every episode this season. I mean every single episode makes a huge point about consent/agency or will.

Also, Bill, herself, is a student, living at home, floating, with almost no agency. She's afraid of asserting her "will". She flirts with the doctor's classes, but not committing to it, the Doctor tells her that he'll mentor her. When she moves into the house -- it's not her choice of a house, it's theirs. And the Doctor tells her to call Penny, she doesn't do it on her own.

Each episode is about Bill making a "decision" or significant choice.

1. Pilot -- she chooses not to go with her friend, breaks the contact. The alien entity requires her consent.

2. Smile - she chooses to help the Doctor and not leave him to his own devices while she stays with the Tardis, as a result she discovers the little boy.

3. Thin Ice -- she chooses to save the Big Fish and insists the Doctor do it.

4. Knock Knock -- she chooses to trust the Doctor finally, not keep pushing him away. Also she chose to enter and move into the house, although she didn't choose that house. Also that episode is all about the loss of agency, every character in that episode gets trapped and has no will at some point.

5. Oxygen -- she is taken over by the Suit, it controls her movements, but she chooses to overcome it, breaks its will with the Doctor's help.

6. Extremis -- she is pushed along by the doctor and Nardol, but in the beginning she took Penny home with her, and she insists that Nardol not put her behind him. This too is about characters with no agency.

7. Pyramid at the End of the World -- she makes a major choice. Consents to give the Aliens dominion or let them take her "will" in return for saving the Doctor. In effect, she also takes the Doctor's agency, or choice.
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Parapsychological librarian and friendly neighborhood heretic.