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So loud it’ll hurt the delicate poor we souls affirmation of minorities.
We had a lass in a wheelchair (which was used as a key plot point👏), a transgender character and a Sikh captain in the space of like ten minutes. I was thinking "he's doing this on purpose to antagonise dickheads, because he can" and reaching for the popcorn before the ****stani vegan lesbians arrived.
Faux fans: "Doctor Who is too woke!!1!"
RTD: "Here's my beer, hold it a minute."
Doctor Who has been 'woke' since the madman in a blue box was a dark grey box. Bit late to the party here, sunshines.
richardkennerley
Lucky it’s ment for kids and not mid 40’s guys like me 😂
Out of interest, what age do we think it’s aimed at?
IIRC, RTD said in the run up to these specials that it's not a kids' show, but it is written for the 8 year old him.
Ah, found it...
Doctor Who is not a children’s show, its new boss has said, despite generations of viewers being reared on the sci-fi series.
Russell T Davies acknowledged that children do watch the series - it is the first programme he remembers watching - and said that the first of three 60th anniversary specials this year will be suitable for family viewing.
But the two subsequent specials will be “dark” and “weird”, with frightening and sometimes violent scenes.
All feature David Tennant making his return as the Doctor alongside Catherine Tate as Donna Noble.
“We do very scary stuff. Some stuff is quite violent. It’s not for children, it’s about children,” explained Davies, who has rejoined the show after stepping down in 2009.
Davies said that he had his eight-year-old self in mind when making the episodes, and the understanding that children do watch, explaining: “It’s not a children’s show but at the heart of it is an eight-year-old watching.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/doctor-who-is-not-for-children-says-russell-t-davies/ar-AA1jGfAx
Was enjoyable, Davison and Tegan was always "my" Dr & assistant just because I was a kid then but Tennant is on an equal footing as my fav
Whilst Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker are absolute legends in this role.....the old Dr Who's are just unwatchable! They're utter rubbish with the stories not even making sense. The acting and costumes are dreadful, it's all a bit 'hammy' Still good to reminisce with though!
IIRC, RTD said in the run up to these specials that it’s not a kids’ show,
Aside from the "educational" premise which got the show commissioned in the first place, it's never been a kids' show. It's a family show, the target audience is everyone.
Anyone asserting differently just wants to sneer and they are best ignored. I'd wager good money that the vast majority of people whining about adults watching primetime sci-fi aren't tuning in to University Challenge or sitting down to read something from their collection of Chaucer instead.
I just remembered a really long buried memory thanks to this thread.
My old dad used to be a rep for a building company and for whatever reason was on site at a quarry, no doubt somewhere down here in the SE. Must have been the 70's I reckon. I now remembering him saying they were filming a Dr Who episode when he was there.
Definitely fits the MO as let's face it, Dr Who used quarries as cheap alien-scapes a huge amount back then. 😁
The village I live & work in had the pilot episode for what became the Sarah Jane chronicles filmed in it in the late 70's early 80's. People still talk about it now. Fits the bill of a slightly creepy, odd olde English village.
Folks getting wound up about the “wokery” must lead incredibly small lives. I barely noticed it until it was pointed out here. Sikh officer? Check. Wheelchair? Check? Trans? Check. All daily features of my working life. Makes you wonder what sphere their spinning away in….
I did feel a bit sad about Bernard Cribbins RIP!
Wilf the character at least is not dead yet, and there may be a little more to come in the next couple of stories.
If there is... there will be tears.
Enjoyed it. Ongoing story of why he has the same face as before is intriguing and it appears to be that persona as well? It seems like it to me anyway. Tired of arguments about "wokeness" infiltrating absolutely everything. I was going to say more but I'll just agree with and quote @mrlebowski
Folks getting wound up about the “wokery” must lead incredibly small lives. I barely noticed it until it was pointed out here. Sikh officer? Check. Wheelchair? Check? Trans? Check. All daily features of my working life. Makes you wonder what sphere their spinning away in….
I absolutely loved the wokeism too.
Just as I appreciated all the environmental issues raised in the Tom Baker episodes I've been watching from 50 years ago and the inclusivity of the Jodie Whittaker era (apart from the criminal underuse of Yaz's family. They deserved more. As did Yaz herself).
Must admit I missed the first allusions to New Rose being trans, but I've a funny feeling inside of me, Damned fans, that we may not have seen the end of her.
Btw, even the luddites at work who complain about mixed race families being on every advert seemed to like this episode.
And I was a huuuge fan of Capaldi and Whittaker's tenures, genuinely enjoyed the oddness of many of their storylines.
In contrast, I found much of the Matt Smith era to be overblown, pretentious and self referential.
Tennant was far too messianic and melodramatic for me, especially toward the end.
it’s like the argument that gay characters should be played by gays and for that matter straight by straight, surely it’s shows the quality of the actor/actress that you believe they are who there meant to be. If it requires someone to essentially play themselves. Either the actor or more likely the writing is poor.
again just an opinion, we’re all allowed them<br /><br />
I think you’ve missed the point. It’s not that straight people can’t pretend to be gay, cis people act trans, or able bodied people pretend to use a wheelchair in a convincing manner - it’s that if you are an actor from one of those “niches” you likely face a whole load of barriers to getting a role of any type that if some straight/cis/able-bodied person is going to take all the jobs you could have done you are never going to get any work. It’s probably only in the last 10 yrs we’ve seen disabled actors getting roles - but we’ve had disabled characters for decades. Acceptance of gay people, particularly in media circles, is perhaps getting or the point where it’s less of an issue - but you’d be niave to suggest that there’s no discrimination or type casting involved.
Glad to see Tenant back. Still would prefer a gag being used on Catherine Tate. Bring back John Barrowman or Karen Gillan !
Didn't 'get' (or more over, tuened off and stopped watching) the Jodie Whittaker series. Probably the writing.
I'm sure as can be the reason for RTD coming back is that the BBC realised one of their few money spinners was heading for the toilet, so he was brought back with a remit of 'sort this shower of shit out before it's too late'.
For those who's kids aren't scared... sit them down in front of the TV without any other electronic device as distraction, and get them to watch the episode 'Blink'.
I truly believe its one of the best pieces of television ever.
Didn’t ‘get’ (or more over, tuened off and stopped watching) the Jodie Whittaker series. Probably the writing.
Genuinely interested, but what do you reckon was wrong with the writing?
I thought the opening few episodes were really strong, enjoyed the 'Fam', loved the historical stuff, Rosa, Punjab, Witchfinders etc and loved
her chaotic portrayal of a chaotic character.
Hell, I even enjoyed the John Bishop storylines.
For me, "It takes you away" is one of the most memorable stories ever, purely because of it's oddness.
No, not formulaic, but all the better for that.
For those who’s kids aren’t scared… sit them down in front of the TV without any other electronic device as distraction, and get them to watch the episode ‘Blink’.
Ironically, the story with probably the least involvement of the actual Doctor? But yes, the greatest episode of the modern era, closely followed by The Girl in the Fireplace.
the greatest episode of the modern era
You're not wrong but, we have a new contender. That was astonishingly good.
#14 is rapidly approaching #8 as my favourite Doctor.
When RTD trailed that Wild Blue Yonder was 'weird and different' he wasn't wrong.
Bits of it were a bit off tonally for me, but the core idea was great. Dr Who goes cosmic horror. That 8 year old RTD this was written with in mind would have deffo been behind the sofa at times!
Loving RTD's mix of big dark ideas and silliness seeming to be becoming a thing.
Great to see the gammon baiting continue with a non-white Isaac Newton and the Doctor fancying him.
Plus... Wilf!
"My arms are too long".
I watched the episode purely because sections of the internet were complaining about the wokery and wanted to see for myself.
While the woke stuff seemed silly to me and added nothing to the story I think their time would have been better spent complaining about the terrible plot, writing and acting.
While the woke stuff seemed silly to me and added nothing to the story
Did you feel it detracted from it?
terrible plot, writing and acting.
Terrible acting? David Tennant?
Bring back John Barrowman or Karen Gillan !
I'd love to see Gillan back, but Barrowman is not compatible with any sort of inclusivity and wokery. He's long gone.
Cribbins, though? Brilliant.
I thought they had done him a criminal disservice by just saying he was "fine and in a car home" without really dealing, so it was a great surprise to see him once again.
Elder abuse: Leaving Wilf in a garage. Not so wokie now.
I’d love to see Gillan back, but Barrowman is not compatible with any sort of inclusivity and wokery. He’s long gone.
James Marsters on the other hand, that would be a coup.
Oh, that was good. And the last scene setting up the next episode… it got me.
While the woke stuff seemed silly to me and added nothing to the story
I didn't even notice it 🤷
Good to see Bernard 🙂
And we got to see the new doctor, meh hate teasers.
but Barrowman is not compatible with any sort of inclusivity and wokery. He’s long gone.
Bet he wishes he had that strap on Time Machine now 🙂
I didn’t even notice it 🤷
Until I saw posts about it I honestly hadn't thought about it. Was just a funny gag with Isaac Newton, over in a minute. Can't say I even know what Isaac's heritage is anyway and only know he's usually depicted with that long hair.
I didn’t even notice it 🤷
I didn’t either.
Good to see Bernard 🙂
Very.
And we got to see the new doctor, meh hate teasers.
Wait… what?
I stopped watching the rebooted Who at the end of the Smith/Gillan era (my favourite along with the Ecclestone episodes). Just wasn't doing it for me. Thought I'd watch the first new one this morning after hearing it was outraging sections of the internet, despite never really getting on with the Catherine Tate character. Really enjoyed it. Bit too much intrusive music telling you what you should be feeling, but that applies to most British drama. Rainy day off, might watch the second one this afternoon.
Anyone else think that this weekend’s episode was really about…
Caught up with the latest episode last night. I did enjoy the Isaac Newton scientific discovery name joke, (think that avoids ruining anyone's fun who hasn't already seen it)
Was the sound bad just on the iPlayer? Could hardly hear the dialogue over the background sound effects and music during any hectic scenes.
Bring back John Barrowman or Karen Gillan !
Hopefully John Barrowman will never work again - grim chap flopping his little chap out at any given opportunity.
Apparently Andrew Tate thinks that Dr Who is Mind Poison. Which just goes to prove the adage that if Andrew Tate doesn't like something; it must be good.
Anyone else think that this weekend’s episode was really about…
Sounds about right!
Genuinely chilling episode this one, really well done I thought
It's about time we had a dark one.
NPH is the antagonist this week. Looking forward to that.
Hopefully John Barrowman will never work again – grim chap flopping his little chap out at any given opportunity.
TBH I don’t get why it didn’t come out earlier.
This only really hit the news when Mikey (Noel Clarke) got accused of sexual misconduct.
Both were ace.
As for woke issues, some of you need to get a grip.
Wait, Scrooge McDuck is Doctor Who... again?
Caught up with the 2 specials this week. Much better back to where it was, I tried watching a few after RTD stopped writing but they were just poor.
TBH I don’t get why it didn’t come out earlier.
It's been coming out for years, that's the problem.
His penchant for getting out Little John has been widely known for about as long as I remember him being on screen. It was all a big laugh until someone went "yeah, that's probably inappropriate." He's subsequently apologised but, eh, it all kinda puts him in the Russell Brand bucket for me.
Well, I can see that being quite divisive amongst fans.
FWIW, I think RTD is really playing a blinder with things right now.
The Giggle, for me, was wonderful. Bit of classic Who shenanigans, bit of unsettling scenes, bit of RTD attacking the very media that the programme exists in, bit of setting up some potentially interesting future stuff.
Neil Patrick Harris clearly having an absolute hoot playing The Toymaker.
TV can be great when showrunners are given their head to do what they want - loved the metaness of RTD just playing with the Whoniverse in a story with play at its heart.
bit of setting up some potentially interesting future stuff.
Although... Just watched Unleashed and RTD has kind of poopooed some of that.