All right, after five episodes, my initial impression has solidified. Martha Jones bores me. When she isn't boring me, she irritates me for being so vanilla, it hurts. After watching (and regretting watching) "Evolution of the Daleks" I'm wondering exactly who replaced Russell T. Davies with the second season writers of Lost? The doctor helping the Daleks? Martha taking six freaking minutes of film to figure out what we already knew about the alterations to the Empire State Building? Please! How hard is that? Isn't she supposed to be studying to be a doctor? Aren't doctors supposed to be observant? House so would have fired her by now.

I know there's the whole overshadowing by Rose problem. I knew I was going to have difficulty adjusting but I was determined to try. I enjoyed "Smith & Jones." I hoped that she was clever yet inoffensive in that episode as a gentle way of introducing her. I wanted some character development. Most of all, I wanted to spend one day of my life being as pretty as Freema Agyeman. I was expecting a different relationship between the Doctor and Martha. The whole puppy dog thing is annoying. Her initial statement that she's only interested in humans would have been perfect, if it had been true. That statement, said differently, would have given me what I needed, a clear distinction from Rose. Unfortunately, we got a clear distinction in a different way. Rose, for all her little annoyances (okay, no one should ever be that perky) was a character. Even when she was being annoying, she found ways of being endearing. (Want proof, see "School Reunion.") Martha's character has been developed through the inspiration of wet dishtowels. She's the peacemaker of her family. Peacemakers are very important but make for extremely dull characters.

Five episodes and not one fricking costume change into the season (um ew!) Martha is reminding me a little of Helena from A Midsummer Night's Dream -- she'll follow her Demetrius anywhere, just in the hopes of being treated like his spaniel. Oh look Doctor, I found your Sonic Screwdriver! Please love me!

Intellectually, Martha should be closer to the Doctor's equal (as close as anyone could ever get) but she doesn't take intuitive leaps and she doesn't try and get herself out of trouble. The Doctor has to tell her to leave him in the genetics lab. She has faith in the doctor in "Gridlock." Great, fine, but how did he earn that faith other than being mildly adorkable? Rose questioned the Doctor in "The End of the World." Martha waits until after he's saved her life and then sits petulantly in a conveniently placed chair? The only good thing about that scene was that the Doctor opened up, but she was more a catlyst for him and she needs to give me something more. At the moment, I'd rather be annoyed and infuriated than suffering irritation due to boredom. Give me some interaction like in "Smith & Jones." Allow a rapport to develop. Sadly, Martha's comment about being a rebound in "Gridlock" is ringing too true. If RTD is giving us a character to last, we need to establish her as something more than a rebound. Right now, I'm holding out hope that rebounds don't last long.

I realise the tranisient nature of the old series. We shouldn't be attached to companions -- but this is the new series and damnit, I will get attached. Give a reason to attach to Martha. Five episodes in, I shouldn't be terribly excited over finding a "Bad Wolf" reference in Torchwood and giving me hope Rose may come back and save me from Martha.

The people in the fandom who are oohing and awing over Martha perplex me. What exactly are they seeing in her and can they explain it to me? I know I should enjoy Martha. I love the fact she's supposed to be a smart woman. I love the fact that the initial idea of Martha was to be a juxtaposition to Rose but offering the different point of view doesn't mean Martha has to be the total opposite. I'd be relieved if she had a quarter of the personality of Rose.