Chibnall and the metal bikini

[elisi]

So, when trying to think back on the new showrunner's previous work, one episode did of course stand out...

Now a cyber woman fighting a pterodactyl is probably the single most iconic moment of Torchwood, and as someone who likes my crack deep fried I rather adore it.

However, there is the question of the metal bikini, and at whose feet we shall lay that whole fiasco? Before decrying Chibnall as an evil sexist (have we been on this band wagon before? Why yes we have! If you are in charge of Doctor Who, it is self-evident that you hate women/all minority groups/anyone else you can think of) I thought I'd try to find out if the outfit was his idea, or if - like the case with Amy's skirt - it was something completely out of his hands. (Amy's short skirts were Karen Gillan's idea, and had nothing to do with Moffat.)

For anyone not familiar with the episode is centers around the fact that one of the characters, Ianto, has hidden his girlfriend, Lisa, in the Torchwood basement. The twist being that she's a part-converted cyberman [see the S2 finale of Doctor Who]. Why this is problematic should be evident from these images:





I couldn't find a good quality image of her feet, but those are cute little Cuban heels she's wearing, a million miles from the big stompy footwear cybermen are usually seen wearing.

As I don't have access to the shooting scripts, I instead watched the Declassified episode for 'Cyberwoman' (it's from 2007). I transcribed the relevant parts:

Here is RTD talking about Lisa's outfit:

"There is a very long history of sexy pneumatic hydraulic women, strangely, in Science Fiction, and we actually wanted to tap into that, and to give a Cyberman version of that, which is just irresistible."

[Cue scene of Japanese science guy perving over Lisa, while Ianto looks disgusted]

RTD cont: "Great, iconic imagery of that woman, trapped, in half a cyberman suit. Brilliant."

[Then there's some talk by the costume/props people about how she's half converted, and trying to figure out what's underneath the cybermen's shiny exterior. And the actress was quite taken with her outfit.]

Director James Strong: "It was so important for this episode that the Cyber Girl looked a) amazing, but also looked threatening and looked scary and looked formidable, but still looked sexy and looked great."

RTD: "There are a lot of men on the team who were absolutely determined to make that Cyber Woman costume as sexy as possible. I've got no idea what they mean. I'm the one sitting there going 'Couldn't she do with a nice little bikini bottom in case she gets too cold in this environment? Apparently it's very very sexy..."

[Then a section where the cast talk about how scary she is - to their credit not one of them mentions the word 'sexy' just that she was intimidating.]

Director: "I think Cyber Girl be the most iconic monster and villain in the entire series...

[montage of Cyber Woman & pterodactyl]

RTD: "The idea of having a pterodactyl fight a cyber woman made us laugh for about three weeks. Solidly."

So... Unless the shooting script has 'SEXY' underlined and highlighted, I don't think we can lay the metal bikini at Chibnall's door - it seems to have been a team effort, quite literally. And RTD very clearly found the whole thing hilarious.

To be honest it's quite weird watching it. Like - can't you hear yourselves? But it's very clear that they wanted A Sexy Cyborg, and A Sexy Cyborg is what we got. Whether we should haul up every man involved, or quite simply blame the sexism that permeates society (and that this episode is a perfect example and symptom of), I can't say.

Let's all just hope that at some point, someone took Chibnall aside and said: 'That metal bikini? Was truly terrible, never do it again.'

Although to be fair, Torchwood was at that point still at the jumping up and down going: 'Look! Look! I'm all adult and violent and grim and full of sexual content!!!' stage. And I guess nothing symbolises that more than the sexy cyborg...

Because, if I'm honest, I'm not really outraged*, I'm just nostalgic. It was stupid, but ridiculously so, in that very special Torchwood way: It was also the episode where Jack - quite literally - snogged Ianto back to life.

And I'd rather have had hundred more offensive cyber women, than Miracle Day. :(

They killed my show, and I'm still sad. So I guess that's my final thought:

Dear Chibnall, please make Doctor Who full of weird and wonderful crack, but without objectifying women. And I'm pretty sure you're on that already. Thank you.


ETA: PLEASE BE CIVIL. I realise this is a hornet's nest, but I have no axe to grind. I generally like everyone & everything. (Except Miracle Day.) /fandom's Pollyanna



*They all wanted her to be sexy, and not one of them seems to have spoken up against it. It's just quietly depressing, much like when you read about studies showing just how much women are discriminated against, still, in every way.

Comments

[elisi]

even if it was only that one man and the Torchwood team wasn't objectifying her
Slightl confused as to which man you're talking about? Or do you mean the Japanese scientist?

Good point with the shoes, by the way. Some would argue that the costume was an imagination about how the inside of the cyber shell might have look line but the shoes are without doubts a proof that it was all about making her sexy.
I wonder what they were thinking. Like - why heels? Cybermen would have no concept of that sort of aesthetic.

I couldn't believe they've all actually said what you've kindly written down so I watched it myself.
Yeah, I had to rewind a lot...

On the guys defense, Chris said Davies presented him the story, and at the end he added, "oh, and there's a Cybergirl in the basement", so I believe the emotional touch was always their top interest.
Yes, he's the only one not talking about her being sexy, so it looks like his interest was story-led. (Wish I had the shooting script.)

Exactly. Just imagine a man in a cyberoutfit that hardly covers his man parts and let him walk like that for the entire episode.I'm sure no one would think that would be a good idea.
As sea_thoughts points out below, it also sidelined the body horror aspect of cyber men - Danny, when we saw him remove his mask, after his conversion, looked horrible. There was none of that with Lisa - although the actress did what she could - I think the intention was probably there, but the outfit worked against her, rather than with.

I heard some people saying it wasn't that bad, but I've heard people saying they disliked Children On Earth so I suppose there's the whole range of opinions about everything :)
I can understand people not liking Children of Earth... The best way of describing it is still this quote from Angel:

ILLYRIA: Your world is so small. And yet you box yourselves in rooms even smaller. You shut yourselves inside... in rooms, in routines.
WESLEY: There are things worse than walls. Terrible... and beautiful. If we look at them for too long they will burn right through us. Truths we couldn't bear. Not every day.

It's probably the best thing RTD has ever written, but it also doesn't shy away from unbelievably painful truths. In that way it's the complete opposite of Cyberwoman.

Miracle Day, on the other hand, is just rubbish. A few good ideas, but they were wasted. Do not go near.

Twelve's "Sometimes I miss Amy" in 8x01
To be fair, that was mostly a dig at how VERY short Clara is.

However, let me add that I don't blame him for all sexist elements on the show
He's also a troll. And he enjoys the interplay between the sexes - see Coupling etc. And he got Matt Smith to strip down quite regularly. ;)

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

Or do you mean the Japanese scientist?
Yes, that one. He even touched her metal breast, if his words weren't enough. Later, everyone else seemed just to be frightened by her.

Cybermen would have no concept of that sort of aesthetic.
Exactly. Their goal is to "improve" human bodies so flat shoes should be obvious, also they never made women and men look different.

There was none of that with Lisa - although the actress did what she could - I think the intention was probably there, but the outfit worked against her, rather than with.
I agree. I wonder if Russell and Chris were satisfied by the result, or if the thought "it was wrong" came to them when they watched the episode, but it was too late. It's so obvious to us...

I love that quote, it's so true.

Children of Earth was a masterpiece but I think the best episode Davies has written and I've seen is probably Midnight. Many writers came up with interesting monsters but to make humans the monsters of the week, in a totally realistic way, that was thinking outside the box. I always feel uneasy after I watch it.

To be fair, that was mostly a dig at how VERY short Clara is.
In the Victorian episode with the Eleventh, when she couldn't reach the ladder, that told us about her height. When she was supposed to only use her legs, well, I interpret it differently. But I'm not going to argue that it's the only possible way.

And he got Matt Smith to strip down quite regularly. ;)
I love that little video for Children in Need with Matt losing his clothes, so funny :)

[elisi]

Yes, that one. He even touched her metal breast, if his words weren't enough.
Well, at the time she was still attached to that weird frame. Of course she went on to kill him...

Later, everyone else seemed just to be frightened by her.
If any of the people drooling over her were faced with her in real life, trying to kill them, I'm sure their reaction would be different.

Exactly. Their goal is to "improve" human bodies so flat shoes should be obvious, also they never made women and men look different.
It's the shoes that show it up, funnily enough. The rest could almost be excused.

I agree. I wonder if Russell and Chris were satisfied by the result, or if the thought "it was wrong" came to them when they watched the episode, but it was too late. It's so obvious to us...
Chibnall doesn't mention it AT ALL. And RTD only as a joke. So it's entirely possible that they were just trying to put on a good show - they're there to 'sell' the show, not to point out flaws.

Children of Earth was a masterpiece but I think the best episode Davies has written and I've seen is probably Midnight.
We shall have to disagree. :) I never liked Midnight, but that's another discussion...

In the Victorian episode with the Eleventh, when she couldn't reach the ladder, that told us about her height. When she was supposed to only use her legs, well, I interpret it differently.
Fair nuff, to each their own.

I love that little video for Children in Need with Matt losing his clothes, so funny :)
I miss him still...

And sorry this reply is so late! Life just ate me.