The Doctor Who Episode Everyone’s Talking About
Does a Turning Point in History Signify a Turning Point for the Series?
Before it even aired, low ratings for “Rosa” were submitted to IMDb. Why? The storyline of the new Doctor Who episode has been a hot topic on the internet ever since the first teaser, leading to fights and furor on forums, in Facebook groups, on Twitter, and really just on any platforms where Whovians congregate to discuss.
There are those who’ve complained about Doctor Who becoming too “political.” A majority of the fans who are against a female Doctor are also the ones dissing this episode, with a common point being purported that Doctor Who is transforming into something unrecognizable due to attempts at political correctness.
The Doctor has encountered prominent historical figures before — from Madame de Pompadour to Charles Dickens to Winston Churchill, so why not Rosa Parks? The TARDIS takes The Doctor to particularly tumultuous points through time and space to meet illustrious characters, so then especially why not Rosa Parks?
When Doctor Who first launched in 1963, it was originally intended to be an educational program for the whole family that blended science and history. As the sci-fi element of the show soared in popularity, pure historical plots such as when The Doctor encountered the Aztecs or Marco Polo became less frequent.
So while some people argue that the latest episode is helping their beloved show turn into something distorted beyond repair, it could be said that this episode is actually paying tribute to the olden days of Doctor Who — while also tastefully being relevant in our current culture. Long-running TV shows must evolve in certain aspects to avoid cancellation, unhappy Whovians should realize this. There have been times where Doctor Who has been indirectly political before, and them tackling a powerful turning point in history head-on is very much in line with the new, bold direction.
“Rosa” shows that Doctor Who is not afraid to deal honestly with relevant subjects, or evolve to keep up with an evolving audience. Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall told the inspirational story of Rosa Parks in a respectful, heart-wrenching way — not letting The Doctor detract from Rosa’s strength or the significance of what she did, and shining a light on a hard topic and experience that many still empathize with today.
And I’m absolutely thrilled with it. Are you?
