Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Doctor Who Showrunner Russell T Davies Defends Diversity Amidst “Wokeness” Accusations
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has responded strongly to accusations of “wokeness” directed at the long-running BBC series, dismissing criticisms from some former viewers as “toxic.” Davies asserted he has “no time” for such claims, speaking after the program’s recent return featuring new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, and co-star Varada Sethu.
Davies Rejects “Toxic” Criticisms
In a recent interview on BBC Radio 2, Davies stated that incorporating diverse elements into the program was not a “conscious” effort, before passionately declaring: “Someone always brings up matters of diversity. And there are online commentators accusing us of diversity and wokeness and involving messages and issues. I have no time for this. I don’t have a second to bear [it], because what you might call diversity, I just call an open door.”
Davies then urged detractors to reconsider their perspective, cautioning against negativity: “Why limit yourself? Why breathe in the exhaust fumes? Why be toxic? Come over here where the life and light and air and sound is.”
Varada Sethu Responds to “Doctor Woke” Label
Varada Sethu also addressed the “woke” claims following her debut as Belinda Chandra. Acknowledging the negative comments, Sethu stated: “There’s been a couple of ‘Doctor Woke‘ remarks, but I just think we’re doing the right thing if we’re getting comments like that.”
Rumors of Potential Cancellation and Audience Figures
Sethu’s comments come against a backdrop of intense speculation regarding the BBC’s commitment to the show, fueled by reports of declining audience numbers. These reports, along with unconfirmed rumors of Ncuti Gatwa’s potential departure, remain unsubstantiated. The BBC has clarified that a decision regarding future series will be made after the conclusion of the current season.
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Episode Content and BBFC Warnings
The latest episodes feature storylines with complex themes. One episode sees the Tardis crew arrive on a planet where a seemingly utopian society enjoys prosperous lives, but they soon discover a darker side when it’s revealed the citizens exploit “savages” outside their city to steal their life force.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) issued a PG rating for the second episode, citing warnings for “exploitative” and “discriminatory” portrayals of aliens.
BBFC Warning Details
The PG warning for episode two specifically mentioned: “References are made to discrimination and to the exploitation of people by more technologically advanced civilisations.”
The debut episode also carried a warning, attributed to the show “reflecting the broadcast standards, language and attitudes of its time”.
Fan Reactions and Future of Doctor Who
Some viewers expressing nostalgia for older iterations of Doctor Who have voiced disapproval of the content warnings. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the relatability of the current lead characters.
The debate surrounding the show’s direction continues as audiences await future episodes, amid what has been described as an “increasingly uncertain time” for the future of Doctor Who.