To think that there's really no need for all the flirting/romance/sexual tension in Doctor Who

[fishdishwish]

I thought we might have a respite from it with Capaldi's arrival, but it now seems his companion must have a younger man to flirt/cheekily banter with.

It's supposed to be about monsters for god's sake, not soapy flirtation.!!

[PiperRose]

OP, did you actually watch the episode? They were very, very clear, in a very clunky and obvious way that there was to be no flirting between the Doctor and Clara. This was the mission statement for the 12th Doctor from day one.

[tobiasfunke]

feel for my 10 and 6 year olds, excited to watch, sitting quietly, clearly no clue what's happening but feel they have to watch end enjoy it because it's DW.

This with bells on.

[SolidGoldBrass]

I was hoping they were going to continue the Kenny trope and kill Clara in every episode, because she really gets on my tits.

But DS and I liked the clockwork Victorians: very creepy, and I am always prepared to enjoy any episode featuring the Paternoster Gang because, steampunk.

[sashh]

I find it amusing that some people are worried about how you could have a same sex marriage in Victorian England completely ignoring the blue box that can travel in time and space which could obviously be used for them to go somewhere more enlightened to marry.

As for inter-species attraction, well the Dr is not human is he? And is Jack? And what about Captain John and the poodle (OK that was Torchwood).

[DownByTheRiverside]

'The inter-species gay marriage is also quite confusing for my nephew. Not the gay bit, he's got friends with two mums/dads. It's the difference in body temperature.'

Didn't cause a problem with Buffy, Twilight or all the other vampire/human romances.
That said, I now really want to see DW villains invading tedious soaps.

[KEGirlOnFire]

In fairness, I can't stand Doctor Who so it's probably the only reason that it's bearable when DH insists on watching it. Thank goodness for the ability to record it so that I don't have to endure it anymore...

[TortoiseUpATreeAgain]

I am not in favour of a flirty Doctor, but I don't mind companions having boyfriends/girlfriends/complicated polyamorous setups of their own. In Classic Who being a companion was a bit like being a nun or a Victorian schoolteacher in that you were expected to remain chaste and celibate and if you wanted to get involved with anyone then you had to leave, but I think we've moved on since then.

I was a big fan of including Rory in the series because, crucially, it gave us a companion who wasn't there because he/she thought that the Doctor was super-smashing-great, but for more complicated reasons of his own. I think that makes for a more interesting dynamic.

[AskBasil]

Actually the doctor seeing humans a bit like pets would fit very well with having a romance - lots of men see women as being a bit like pets.

[NinjaLeprechaun]

But very few men see pets as women. I hope. Which is what would be required.

[overthemill]

I thought the innuendo was ridiculous in the new episode. Watched with my 15 year old and although not the slightest but prudish felt embarrassed for the actors in such tosh. I just want to watch Dr Who beat the bad aliens and help the good aliens. The lizard is daft storyline although obviously recognise it's all just a story! Hope Peter Capaldi manages to make it his own. I see him as an older David Tennant really. But Patrick Troughton will always be my favourite (I'm one of the oldies who remembers first William Hartnell episode).

[QueenTilly]

Madame Vastra is a Silurian from a completely different culture and time, who seems at ease with humans, and other alien species and cultures.

I expect she is married to Jenny. They just didn't hold the wedding during the 1800s in Victorian England.

[AskBasil]

Tom Baker's mine.

[Fubsy]

I actually prefer the increased emotional depth. When I watch Old Who it seems to be as lot of shouting and running and wobbling scenery, I like a bit of complexity. Maybe not as much complexity as we've had the last couple of seasons (I still don't really know what the crack was - was it always the Time Lords?) but I do like characters to be people.

[QueenTilly]

Or actually, perhaps they did hold it during in Victorian England, but simply not in an English church!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

You can have Tom Baker, basil.

[trikken]

Even in the beginning there was flirting and romance. Ian and Barbara were quite romantic. It started off having a female and male companion, its not a new thing. Romance is more of a theme generally though.

[RussTDaviesBear]

"wildfig: Not until someone falls in love with a Dalek."

Anyone remember this?

[ArsenicyOldFace]

Strangely enough I don't Russ

[trikken]

Thats an..interesting picture.

[TortoiseUpATreeAgain]

Oh yes.

And the follow-up

[TortoiseUpATreeAgain]

And the LEGO homage...

[RussTDaviesBear]

Actually I think this picture might be thought more shocking these days - a companion signing books at a convention - and smoking...

[DrMalcolmTuckerWhosMistress]

FLIRT WITH ME DOCTOR!!!

[shadypines]

YANBU it's fecking irritating, they'll have someone shagging a dalek next...

[AnyoneForTARDIS]

Dr Who was originally (1963)brought in to be between Saturday sport and evening shows, a segue for the children/teens and good old family viewing.

bug eyed monsters, comic book thrills, an alien lead and the stories seen through the companions.

fast forward 2013 and its turned into a soap, snogging, sex,etc etc. all to 'be in with the in crowd' when DW was (no pun intended) in a world of its own and totally original.

Whovians, we know the doctors been a father and grandfather but it was said, not shown, and the doctor remained an enigmatic other-world alien.

the current writers have made him too ordinary with too many human emotions and hormones.

LOVE the old Who better, up until Paul McGann where the snogging started and the flirting and innuendos which get less subtle each episode.

love Peter Capaldi, Love Matt Smith, but to summarise, OP, YADNBU!

and breathe..............