i mean really the thing about curse of the duergar is trust. turlough cannot trust the doctor anymore because he doesn’t act the way he used to, he acts like a different person. the doctor cannot trust turlough because [gestures at planet of fire]. but turlough is presented with an easy way of getting the doctor that DID trust him back: it’s been proven to work. no one has to die. but this is enlightenment again, but reworked: he is not choosing between material greed and the doctor, framed as greed and the right thing; he is choosing between what he wants most (the doctor), and what is the right thing to do, the selfless thing to do. but this choice isn’t just for turlough, it’s also for the doctor. the doctor has to prove to turlough that five and six are the same person, that he still trusts turlough, and that he still knows how to handle him. and so: the doctor shows that he can handle turlough by telling turlough of course you can beat impossible odds for no reward, you’ve done it before. and i trust that you’ll do it again. because no matter what you think of yourself, you’re a good person. and this trust is what emboldens turlough: he can beat impossible odds, he can resist temptation, and he will. because the doctor trusts him to. the doctor has asked, so he will. they both show each other that they can still be trusted and that they still trust each other, and that’s how they find their way home to each other. as you can tell i am extremely normal about that
