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!

I've never watched an episode of dr who before and only watched this one because a friend commented on how good it was. So I have nothing to compare it to nor do I know what an episode I'd typically like.

However I loved this even though it was such uncomfortable viewing, particularly the 'we have to not help her' bit. I can imagine even more so if you're a fan of the show having to watch the hero do nothing in the face of such a wrongdoing. I've never rated Bradley Walsh as an actor but I thought he conveyed his feelings so well in that scene.

More importantly though I loved how they didn't take anything away from Rosa Park's actions. I would've hated it if they'd tried to portray that actually it was some powerful words from the doctor that inspired her or something. But they kept her as the heroine of the story acting entirely of her own bravery and I think that's very important.

Finally I'm pretty sure it was timed to be shown during black history month (although I'd like it if I was wrong about that) but I think it's poignant that it was aired in the same week that a black woman was moved seats on a Ryan air flight after a white man took offence to sitting next to her. Some things have not progressed as much as we'd like to think.

“ Ryan air flight after a white man took offence to sitting next to her”

What bullshit are you spewing, when there’s a video of the incident? Both parties were vile to each other, with the daughter shouting abuse and name calling him because he asked her mother to please let him into his seat and she decided she was going to take her sweet ass time as everyone else tried to board. Then the man turned nasty and racist, yeah. But to compare it to Rosa Parks is a disgrace.

I mostly enjoyed it. I really wanted to.

It felt like a Malorie Blackman book. Which is great. She's the only author on DS's radar, apart from JK Rowling. But it didn't feel so much like Dr Who.

I completely agree that Vinette Robinson was outstanding as Rosa Parks. It must have been the directing, I think, because it felt clumsy, and as if it slightly missed the mark.

I feel this series is aiming at younger children than the last few. Which is fine. I appreciate it can be taken in any direction the producers want. I'm not one of those who think they have some sort of ownership of something, just because I'm a fan.

To be honest I still miss Russell T Davies. I haven't really loved it so much since he quit as showrunner.

Valasca the man on Ryan air was racist and nasty, the elderly lady was disabled so couldn’t jump out of her seat at his command.

And good on her for answering aggressive racist man back, she wasn’t racist to him altho probably you would have liked her to sit quietly and accept the racist unprovoked tirade meekly.

Fuzzy, it’s a video so I don’t really need you to tell me what happened like you witnessed it and I didn’t. I also said the woman’s daughter is quite vile and screaming obscenities at him at the start of the video. Isn’t the man in white shirt Ryan Air staff? I very much doubt she declared herself disabled as NO airline seats disabled passengers in the aisle. They can’t. Again, man was horrid and racist. But let’s not compare this lady and her adult daughter to a great woman like Rosa.

Valasca I've re-read my post and I don't think I implied that the lady on the Ryan air flight was on a par with Rosa Parks. Apologies if that's how it came across.

What I was trying to illustrate was that while we've come a long way in some respects, some people's attitudes with regards to people of colour is no different today than in 1955.

It might be worth reminding you lot of the real regeneration cycle.

whogives
Oh i love that cycle I saw it back in may or when ever peter annonced he was going

Ive loved the capaldi era its taken ot back to a lot of what who used to be but im excited to see what jodie brings

I thought it was a good episode, pretty sure that baddy is going to turn up again at a later stage too!

I loved it. Those saying the baddie wasn’t bad enough, I felt that it was making the point that racism isn’t just the angry bus drivers and the abuse of black people in the street, it’s also the quiet, persistent undermining in the background, those who don’t overly wound or kill but chip away determined to undo any progress. He was an underwhelming villain, but left unchallenged could have done a lot of damage.

As someone posted upthread it was like a poor episode of timeless.

I'm really hoping that this doesn't become a show where they guide historical events to there already known conclusions, It will be as bad as when Dr Who became all about the companions.

That's a bit daft Boney when have they ever done one episode with a guest writer, and completely changed the format of the show?

It was a subtle format breaker because it needed to be to tell the story. There's no way they will repeat the same plot style every week. It's not going to be in the past everyweek either.

I am wondering if they will have a set pattern of alternating past and future episodes as that is how it started. We've had present-future-past looks like present next.

WhirlwindHugs

The point is that not everyone liked it, and not due to being uncomfortable.

Did I like the content? Yes
Did I think that it was done in a manner that was suitable for children? yes
Did I like the episode? As an episode of Dr Who not really.
Was there enough Dr Who? Not in my opinion (and it is an opinion forum)

I thought it was great, it was such a small thing not moving from a seat but the way it built up, the suspense, the music, the looks was really well done. Had a lump in my throat.

I’m glad this series dosnt require you to have a degree in Doctor-theogly to keep up with the story lines. Sometimes they are so complicated it’s ridiculous.

That isn't what you said, though, is it?

Whirlwind

I stand by both posts. as they do not contradict each other.

Why wouldn't an airline place a disabled person by an aisle what a load of shite you are spouting valansca but I guess you are not afraid to show your ignorance which is fine least it is out in the open for all to see.

I very much doubt she declared herself disabled as NO airline seats disabled passengers in the aisle. They can’t.

Must be living in parallel universe then.

Me too cory

I liked it more than the first two episodes but still not keen. Looking back over it I think the bits I didn't like we're probably Chris Chibnall's character dialogue although that's just a guess. I liked the main premise and thought the actor playing Rosa Parks was brilliant. Also really liked Graham and thought Ryan really settled in as a character this week. The ending before the bit on the TARDIS was very moving and JW was good there.

But it's still clunky with far too much exposition and not enough this is The Doctor moments. It's suffering from the lack of Murray Gold's music and without RTD and SM's sharp snappy dialogue, which admittedly could get too much sometimes but a sprinkling of it added that emotion and wit that is notably missing. The acting is still wooden but that could be down to the clunky dialogue and direction.

It's changed too much for me, not because the Doctor is a woman, more the rest of it is so far removed from what I loved about nuwho that it doesn't feel like Doctor Who to me anymore. Really hope it'll click.

I bloody love that she kept her Northern accent though.

I think it will get there Enid it needs to pick up the pace a bit.

It's suffering from the lack of Murray Gold's music If that is the very loud overbearing music of the recent series' then I am very glad it's gone. It made watching unbearable for me.