Doctor Who tonight! One of the best episodes I have ever seen! Did you see it?

[LavendarGreen]

If you didn't see it, PLEASE get it on catch-up on BBC iplayer. It was about Rosa Parks, the activist in the civil rights movement in the 20th century (I'm sure you all knew that!) It was one of the most moving, well-written, brilliant episodes of anything I have ever seen.

So well acted, well written, and very educational. Brilliant, brilliant brilliant. Well done to all involved! Including Vinette Robinson who played Rosa.

Do watch it if you can. Excellent piece of television! I am soooooo loving Jodie Whittaker as Doctor Who!

FWIW I am a northerner. Definitely more nothern than Sheffield where this series is supposed to be based

The problem I am having is it used to be a series that had unknown actors in mainish roles. Young actors who had auditioned for a part and got the job on their own merit. Occasionally you would get a name.

Now I just get the feeling from the first 2 episodes it predominantly features actors doing the rounds from the soaps, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, Casualty, Doctors etc and Broadchurch, where the writer comes from so I am left wondering if they auditioned anyone with any real possibility of giving a lot of unknowns a part or was it a case of going through the motions.

It was good when they had the unknown actors, southerners like Christopher ecclestone and Peter caprildi.

Those were the days!

I was referring to Pearl Mackie and Karen Gillan and Matt Smith etc

Riiight, weird you didn’t say that then.

It has so gone downhill since they padded it out with northerners who are already famous. Bring back David tennant eh!

To people complaining about the history lesson. Doctor who originally intended to teach children about history and science.

To people complaining about the history lesson. Doctor who originally intended to teach children about history and science

Don't think anyone learned anything from Dr Who especially when most of us were hiding from the Daleks behind the sofa.

So where would the Cybermen and The Daleks come under. History or Science

Oliversmumsarmy, you didn’t even realise it was a children’s show!

Padded out with northerners now- so funny.

I watched it with my ds2 (aged 10) - he loved it (he knows about Rosa Parks and has read some Malorie Blackman). I'm ok with it....

For me it's just a lovely opportunity to spend time with ds2 when he's not fortnite-ing or Minecraft-ing!

(Bradley Walsh is my biggest issue...).

Good point: the writers didn't interfere with Rosa Parks' "history", ie she wasn't forced to interact with the sci-fi side of the story, eg no visits to the Tardis or asking the Doctor about the sonic screwdriver. Her story was preserved (they avoided any temptation to have the Doctor persuade her to make her pivotal protest).

Weak point: the baddie - he couldn't commit violence and his most evil moment was putting up signs saying the bus was cancelled. He hardly seemed a threat. Although I also wonder if we'll meet him again.

So where would the Cybermen and The Daleks come under. History or Science

Do you actally watch or understand doctor who oliver

You've actally picked examples that show very important scientific advancements and debate.

The current version of the cybers for instance, not the ones from mondas, were created by a dying man john lumic in a bid to cure his terminal illness, human bodys are week get ill and die, cybers do not. - scientific debate at what point medical technology goes to far
Also in this epusode we see everyone wearing bluetooth like headsets, where people no longer really talk to eavh other, news, phone calls etc just get piped stright through these head pieces. Again causing a debate about when commoincation technology goes to far.

It tirns out these head pieces are actally used to control people and send identify them as the ones that are upgraded in to cybers - this how mathas cousin (also played by freema who played matha) died and how lisa, ianto jones (from torchwood) was part upgraded in the battle of canery wharf

Also in terms of history/citzanship theres theme about resistance forces that dont go along with the government/controlling power in these episodes.

Maybe give them a watch and actally see beyond oh its a fun entertainment show

It was good when they had the unknown actors, southerners like Christopher ecclestone and Peter caprildi

This is a joke isnt it??? Both Chris Ecc and Peter were very very well known and NEITHER OF THEM ARE SOUTHERN

CHRIS is from LACASTERSHIRE
PETER and for that matter DAVID ARE SCOTTISH!!!

padded out with northerners you say well jodie is from a lot further south that either Peter or David and about level with Chris

I take it geography isnt your strong point

Billie piper was an unknown was she?
Noel clarke was an unknown was he? (Ok prehaps noel was slightly cult)
John Barrowman was an unknown was he?
john simm was an unknown was he?
David casnova tennent was an unknown was he?
Athur Darvil was an unknown was he?
Reggie yates was an unknown was he?

The answer by the way is NOPE

It was good when they had the unknown actors, southerners like Christopher ecclestone and Peter caprildi

This is a joke isnt it???

Yes, it IS a joke, but clearly one that didn't work

I was responding (sarcastically!) to the nonsense that Doctor Who was better before it was 'padded out with northerners' and 'it used to be a series that had unknown actors in mainish roles.'

Awesome episode

helmet my bad i was reading the tread backwards and came to your reply before i saw the persons comment.

But i'll join you in the sarcasm

With ay, those unknown southerners like peter chris and david, and those just completely unkowns like billie noel and the two johns,

Just in the nuwho-verse theres only been matt, karen gillan and pearl that were punknowns, and matts the only southern doctor but im not entirely sure the person has really understood much of doctor who other than its scary

I missed the first half but was in tears by the end. Can’t wait to watch again and show my 11yo who was out yesterday.

I also love josh bowman 😳 but that is secondary to the fact it was a really moving episode

Random fact. If anyone recognised the actress who played Rosa, she was in the David tennant episode called 42

I adored this episode. I thought it was excellently written.

The fact that the doctor and her gang in No Way helped Rosa directly or suggested the idea or told her what to do or anything that could in any way detract from Rosa's actions was great. they just had to make sure that Crasco's tweaks got 'untweaked'

The idea of it being White Saviourdom is utterly ridiculous partly because of the above and partly because Malorie Blackman wrote the episode and I can't imagine anyone less likely to have written anything in any way associated with white saviourdom.

HOWEVER, I'm not surprised that some people didn't like the episode. IT was an uncomfortable awkward and at times difficult episode to watch. but that is precisely what makes it brilliant. Segregation wasn't an easy thing it was violent and disgusting as is racism now still. The writing handled both of these things truthfully and excellently. I felt queasy in the scenes depicting the worst of the racism but that is how I SHOULD feel when witnessing that sort of behaviour.

My son is 11 and he thought it was a magnificent episode. He knew of Rosa Parks, but not of her life afterwards. when they showed the footage or her in 1999 he said "she looks happy but her life was so sad". I told him that it wasn't always sad and that although we hadn't eradicated racism look at how much change she had got to see in her life and knowing that she was instrumental to it must have been a great sense of achievment and hope for the future.

he then also said it mustn't have been nice for the actors having to pretend to be racist and we had a chat about that probably being quite difficult for them.

I caught up. I loved it, proper return to form!

my ds was still talking about it today. He (and the other dcs) were all chatting about Rosa Parks and the unfairness of segregation etc at dinner today. (Proud mother moment - they're all currently shouting at the PS4 so it was shortlived). I didn't think it's overly preachy, but I do think it's more aimed at children than previous series.

How old are your kids who are watching it? DS is 7. He hasn’t seen any of it yet but I think he would enjoy it. Not sure re some of the scarier ones...

Sorry, not feeling the love. She reminds me of Leanne Battersby!

Well said soupforbrains

I thought it was a great episode, poweful history moment with the subtle introduction to a new baddie.
I am sure we will see him and tooth face again.

MnerXX mine are 16 and 13 now., My eldest started watching it from the very first episode with Christopher Eccleston at the age of 4. Youngest grew up with it

I thought it was great, and have found my new favourite song - Andra Day, Rise up. Made me tear up! m.youtube.com/watch?v=lwgr_IMeEgA