Criticisms that Doctor Who has become too “woke” prove the series is doing the right thing by being inclusive, its new star Varada Sethu has said. Sethu plays the Doctor’s latest travelling companion, Belinda Chandra, in new episodes airing this month. With Ncuti Gatwa returning as the Doctor, the pairing marks the first time a Tardis team will comprise solely people of colour.
And as Tim points out, this is something people not having to face market pressures can say with impunity. Those facing commercial pressures learn the hard way.
Speaking about the milestone, Sethu told the Radio Times: “Ncuti was like, ‘Look at us. We get to be in the Tardis. We’re going to piss off so many people.’”
“Woke just means inclusive, progressive and that you care about people. And, as far as I know, the core of Doctor Who is kindness, love and doing the right thing.”
And nothing says 'kindness' more than gloating that your presence will upset and annoy people you don't like, I'm sure we can all agree.
But this is a trend in entertainment now - it's no longer sufficient to make a classic, beloved book or story if you aren't also using it to stick your thumb in the eye of the people you despise.
I suppose we should be greatful for small mercies, and that the sex of Lewis's main character is the only thing they are changing...
Meet the new Aslan!
6 comments:
I always wanted them to make The Magician’s Nephew into a film. It was sadly missing from all the very good TV and film adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Now I hope thay don't
Just been listening to a dramatisation of Josephine Tey’s 1949 novel ‘Brat Farrar’ on BBC Sounds.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve stopped listening to BBC radio adaptations because some of my favourite classic novels have been heavily larded with anachronistic preaching on feminism, race issues or climate change so this was a welcome surprise; a faithful adaptation with a pitch-perfect performance in the title role.
As it happens, both the scriptwriter and the lead actor are of non-white heritage (despite the young man playing the long-lost scion of a family of minor landed gentry); it just goes to show that it is entirely possible to treat the source material with respect and avoid, as you put it, sticking their thumbs in our eyes’ with their heavy-handed intrusions.
Excluding white people is all about being inclusive, got it.
Stonyground.
Yes, as soon as you hear that a beloved classic is being committed to film, the very next impulse is 'Shit! How are they going to ruin THIS ONE?'
Oh, it's always been possible, if what you wanted to do was entertain. So many directors these days don't.
We're in Topsey Turvey Land.
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