elisi | Doctor Who S11.03 Rosa

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promethia_tenk and free to good homes. :) (Although it should be noted that this episode was above 'serviceable'...)

So, hurrah, they didn't screw it up! I don't have an abundance of thoughts, and others have written eloquently about various aspects, so I'll just do a list of stuff that made me think.

- Both the Space Nazi and the Doctor & co treated Rosa's protest as if it were something like a fixed point, doing their best to change it/keep it intact, whereas in reality if it hadn't happened that day, it would just have happened later - it's not like the Civil Rights Movement would have disappeared if Rosa hadn't taken a stand THAT day. So Rosa is sort of the still centre around which all these people run; and the actions of all the time travellers say more about them, than it does her. She is quite simply living her life, and fighting for her rights. No time travellers (either good or bad) will affect her.
ETA: Go read this post to get more background.

- It is depressing, plausible and really quite interesting that the show introduces a proper racist from 51st Century; a time which has so far been depicted as very open minded in every way. However I very much appreciate that he is such a cipher. He could easily have been charming or rakish or dangerous (the actor is handsome enough, that's for sure), but he's just pathetic and has no discernible personality beyond his prejudices. Which is good, because his motivation is very empty.

- Stormcage! (I will take every almost-River-shout-out I can get. And no wonder she broke out so much, if that was the company...) Overall however Space Nazi was a mixture of Spike (neural inhibitor) and Capt Hart (murder rehab etc.). James Marsters was all over the role. ;)

- THEME! I think I have identified one. And it is (so far) very consistent. In short, it is Privilege. Tim Shaw was hugely privileged, hunting a more primitive race and thinking nothing of cheating. Ilin was clearly very wealthy, and caved the second his comfort was threatened. And here Space Nazi wanted to reach for 'lost privilege'. It's a very conceptual sort of evil to fight, but I like it. Plz keep it up. :)

I'm sure there was other stuff, but it's late and I am tired. I'll try to write about the characters next week.

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Finally watched the episode this morning and I was pretty happy with it all too. I think the idea of little things that change the future rather than big events was a good one, and one that people NEED to hear more often because I think a lot of times they think that "oh I'm not someone big or famous, how can I change the world?" and it is the people that are not big and famous that do change it! It's why we have to push so much to get Americans to vote - they don't think their vote matters because they are nobody.

I am wondering if the future-Nazi will show up again, especially since he was zapped into the past, which I'm sure The Doctor will not be happy about.

Yes, I agree that the theme of privilege is definitely coming up a lot so far and if that is going to be the season arc, then let's do it!

because I think a lot of times they think that "oh I'm not someone big or famous, how can I change the world?" and it is the people that are not big and famous that do change it! It's why we have to push so much to get Americans to vote - they don't think their vote matters because they are nobody.
Very much this. Here's to hoping it inspires people!

I am wondering if the future-Nazi will show up again, especially since he was zapped into the past, which I'm sure The Doctor will not be happy about.
He probably ended up with some dinosaurs, so it's unlikely?

Yes, I agree that the theme of privilege is definitely coming up a lot so far and if that is going to be the season arc, then let's do it!
It is a GOOD theme and I hope it carries on. :)

I tagged Rosa as a radical from the episode, she was already a friend of Martin Luther King.

Yes, they handled that quite well - I think the issue has changed from 'I hope they don't screw it up too badly!' to 'Actually, they should have done a, b and c also!'

So that's positive in a backwards sort of way. ;)

An interesting take on what was missing

Oooh, excellent! I knew some of this, but far from all. It's sort of what I was getting at in talking about how Space Nazi and the Doctor & co are massively focussed on one event, as if that was the only thing it hinged on. Thank you, will add it. :)

You're welcome. I would question if there was time in the episode to have all of that in but maybe some of it could have been included? Maybe one day Who can revisit the Civil Rights struggle in a broader context.

I think the coffee scene with Martin Luther King was intended to nod at all this, to show that Rosa Parks was actively involved with the organized civil rights movement, not just a random tired lady on the bus.

Oh definitely, just wish they'd had more time to explore the organised movement.

Yeah, it had to be an episode of Doctor Who, not a history lesson. It did quite admirably in both, but there were probably limits...

ETA: Next up - Marsha P. Johnson!

Edited 2018-10-24 11:43 (UTC)

I'd LOVE to see the Who take on Marsha.

Only with a trans writer! But yeah, imagine that kind of representation.

You've given me a lot to think about.

*is pleased*

in reality if it hadn't happened that day, it would just have happened later - it's not like the Civil Rights Movement would have disappeared if Rosa hadn't taken a stand THAT day

Ha, that's almost exactly what I said to my viewing buddy! It did throw me out of it a little, but I liked how they handled most of the rest of the episode (I thought some things were rather spelled out, but it wasn't too bad). If they had just had the Doctor say "this is a fixed point" at some point I would have been reconciled to that part.

I very much appreciate that he is such a cipher. [...] but he's just pathetic and has no discernible personality beyond his prejudices

I liked that too - I was glad they didn't give him any time to explain his reasoning because then it is so much clearer how irrational his prejudice and actions are. And that conveys the message "there is no justification for racism".

If they had just had the Doctor say "this is a fixed point" at some point I would have been reconciled to that part.
I think the best reading is probably that the Doctor realised that the TARDIS wanted them to sort it out (since the TARDIS clearly wanted them there), so in order to leave they had to fix the events surrounding Rosa's protest.

Mostly then I guess the writers wanted to do an episode about Rosa Parks, but didn't want to interfere with events, or undermine Rosa's work, which limited their possibilities.

I liked that too - I was glad they didn't give him any time to explain his reasoning because then it is so much clearer how irrational his prejudice and actions are. And that conveys the message "there is no justification for racism".
Exactly! Also there was no 'childhood trauma' and the Doctor didn't try to 'reach out' or 'understand'. He was just bad!

Doctor Who S11.03 Rosa

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