Oh how I've missed Russell T. Davies, Catherine Tate, Murray Gold and of course, David Tennant!
When RTD is flowing there is such gravity about his writing, the scene of the war between the Wraith Warriors and UNIT juxtaposed with The Doctor and the team sneaking through houses was superb, as was the frenetic start to that scene with Donna, Rose, Sylvia, Meep etc. Joyous.
There's so many nods and call backs that are great...Some however do feel a little bit forced, I can't lie. Talking of forced and let me preface this, I can't begin to tell you how safe, respected, valued, accepted and heard I want people of the trans community (and any) to feel but something doesn't sit right with me about the way it was tackled in this episode.
Sure I may get scoffed at and there will be no doubt people who absolutely loved the representation shown on screen - which by the way, Yasmin Finney is spectacular as Rose - but I think going so far to have it central to a story and within some lines of dialogue the way it is, really comes across forced, there's little to no tact about it.
There's a superb scene however between Sylvia and Donna about how to talk to a trans person and highlights the 'they mean well' person who just says the wrong thing. That was real, that was nice. But the whole 'Male presenting doctor/did you assume Meep's pronouns/Binary-Non Binary stuff, to me at least seemed really shoehorned and box ticking, to the point if I was a trans person I'd feel a little bit bereft at how they handled it at certain points. However, I'm not, and as I said above I'm sure many people would have no issues with it, and in all honesty I'm glad to see we are taking strides to represent everyone in meaningful ways, I just wish it was done more with more reality.
Miriam Margolyes is stellar as the space rat Meep and does make you fall head over heels for the creatures' cuteness!
The whole Doctor Donna thing is simultaneously clever, but also a bit underwhelming. It really does feel like, what's the most convoluted way for us to write both her and the 10th doctor back in, the 'just let it go'...As if the doctor wouldn't have thought of that? All the grief? Just to let it go?
Also what's going on with the sonic? It can now render physical shields??
Finally though, with hope, Doctor Who is back, and for the most part appears to be in the hands of a seriously talented and in-touch writer who wants nothing more than the show to receive the popularity it truly deserves.
When RTD is flowing there is such gravity about his writing, the scene of the war between the Wraith Warriors and UNIT juxtaposed with The Doctor and the team sneaking through houses was superb, as was the frenetic start to that scene with Donna, Rose, Sylvia, Meep etc. Joyous.
There's so many nods and call backs that are great...Some however do feel a little bit forced, I can't lie. Talking of forced and let me preface this, I can't begin to tell you how safe, respected, valued, accepted and heard I want people of the trans community (and any) to feel but something doesn't sit right with me about the way it was tackled in this episode.
Sure I may get scoffed at and there will be no doubt people who absolutely loved the representation shown on screen - which by the way, Yasmin Finney is spectacular as Rose - but I think going so far to have it central to a story and within some lines of dialogue the way it is, really comes across forced, there's little to no tact about it.
There's a superb scene however between Sylvia and Donna about how to talk to a trans person and highlights the 'they mean well' person who just says the wrong thing. That was real, that was nice. But the whole 'Male presenting doctor/did you assume Meep's pronouns/Binary-Non Binary stuff, to me at least seemed really shoehorned and box ticking, to the point if I was a trans person I'd feel a little bit bereft at how they handled it at certain points. However, I'm not, and as I said above I'm sure many people would have no issues with it, and in all honesty I'm glad to see we are taking strides to represent everyone in meaningful ways, I just wish it was done more with more reality.
Miriam Margolyes is stellar as the space rat Meep and does make you fall head over heels for the creatures' cuteness!
The whole Doctor Donna thing is simultaneously clever, but also a bit underwhelming. It really does feel like, what's the most convoluted way for us to write both her and the 10th doctor back in, the 'just let it go'...As if the doctor wouldn't have thought of that? All the grief? Just to let it go?
Also what's going on with the sonic? It can now render physical shields??
Finally though, with hope, Doctor Who is back, and for the most part appears to be in the hands of a seriously talented and in-touch writer who wants nothing more than the show to receive the popularity it truly deserves.