Here's what it feels like in the worst cases:

- Writers write an episode with no real political narrative woven into the story
- Someone higher up in the production (possibly RTD) gets their hands on the episode
- Realising that the episode isn't political at its core, shoehorns lines of surface level politically correct sound bites to add the episode, breaking scenes which would otherwise flow well

I want doctor who to be political. I want it to say something about how we can be kinder to each other. I want it to make people think twice about their held views. It will never achieve this with surface level virtue signalling.

Wherever you sit on the political spectrum (I lean slightly left to the center) is almost irrelevant. Bad writing is bad writing.

I was wholly expecting the Doctor's own attempt to use a delta wave to wipe out all life on Earth while trying to kill the Daleks to factor into the Eurovision episode at some point, but it never did. Oh well.

In regards to the messaging aging well, i adore how well the message of depression is handled in "Vincent and The Doctor", even back in 2010, Depression just wasn't as well understood, and was treated more as a joke, so to have the show outright say that depression is a serious thing, and that try as anyone else might, the only person who can truly see it's effects are the people living with it. it understands that it's not a constant stream of sadness, but it comes and goes at the flick of a switch, and how it begins draining your passion. The idea that the doctor and amy helped Vincent by just being there for and listening to him is great, and man that line from the doctor "The way i see it, life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things. and i think we definitely added to his pile of good things" is amazing. I also like that they didn't really change how vincent died, because it wouldn't be respectful to vincent's legacy, or people's experience to suggest that treating depression can be a one and done thing

and the most necessary sound bite :
"Sack Russell T Davies. Sack Julie Gardner,Sack Jane Tranter, sack Sam Collinson..."

It's as simple as this:
It used to be story first, message woven in. Now it's The Message as a weak story, written by hacks that are far out of their depth

They handled Rose so badly that I, a trans woman, geniuenly prefer Cassandra as a trans character 😭 Because as problematic™ as she was atleast she was a character.

Hell yeah, another guy who refers to Channel Pup as the guy who created the Abzorballoff.

Much like Ncuti’s TARDIS interior, the RTD2 era seems incredibly shallow, sterile, bland, repetitive, and like it’s banking on surface-level callbacks, nostalgia bait, and performative whimsy to try and cover up the gaping pit of apathy.

You can actually apply the comparison of the TARDIS to other eras, too, especially those of the Moffat and Chibnall eras; the Eleventh Doctor’s TARDIS was enchanting and magical like the fairytale vibes of his first two series, Twelve’s was a bit darker and more functional, with shelves full of books and warm, comfy lighting to suit the more profound and philosophical nature of Capaldi’s run whilst still containing the wonder and excitement of travelling through time and space (Twelve’s is the best TARDIS interior, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise; it just screams “the Doctor’s home”), and Thirteen’s felt a bit rushed, oppressive, a bit unfinished, and carried the same “good on paper, bad in execution” vibes that practically defined Chibnall’s run.

This video came on as I was passing out and in my delirious state I thought the 9th Doctor was narrating this video

As both a Whovian and a Trekkie, I hate the current eras of those shows for their virture signaling, surface level politics because we are in the age of nostalgia of long-lasting shows.
And especially with both Doctor Who and Star Trek, shows that have been political from the very beginning in the 60s! And the nostaliga is also surface level and cheap!
And I wonder how long that era lasts. Doctor Who at least has the advantage that it can literally ignore "canon" and and reshape itself and do something entirely different while still being the core show. Star Trek can't do that without doing the Kelvin timeline thing and setting its story in a parallel universe.

probably the most necessary dr who video ever lol

I 100% think for political stuff to work in doctor who we need a writer who  knows how to write that sort of stuff and for the show to go back to how it was a fun epic  space show about a time traveler who saves the day

Yeah, also a fellow pronoun enjoyer here. I think you hit the nail on the head. I do have limited experience with RTD’s work outside of Doctor Who, but to me it feels like his politics are just permanently stuck in the mid to late 2000s and it stuck out to me most when I was watching Years and Years.. I agree it’s a brilliant, often very cathartic, show, but even in Years and Years he still struggles, for instance, to write a trans allegory without playing into some harmful stereotypes about trans people. My biggest problem with the conclusion to that series feels disconnected to the actual world we live in - it feels too easy in a story that’s told us there are no easy answers. It ultimately also makes the whole ending feel a lot more shallow.

Never watched this channel before, but I think this video was awesome. You were able to express your opinions in a very clear and, I think, inteligent way, something that seems to be rare these days. Great job!

People need to be reminded that approaching a topic of racism or minorities with fear or dismissal IS RACIST AND DISMISSIVE

Being afraid to approach a topic for fear of angering people is exactly why stuff like facism and racism exist in the first place. It's just coming from the opposite direction.

You are NOT helping ANYONE by including characters for diversity's sake and not doing anything with them.

The ONLY way to do right is to either understand the ins and outs of whatever minority you are representing and do it right

Or ignore the fact they are a minority entirely and cast them just as you would cast anyone else

Can’t wait until you get called out for being a hateful bigot over a very fair, even-handed and, let’s face it, incredibly valid take.

No, seriously though… THIS. I love Doctor Who being a beacon for progressiveness and inclusivity. I think it should be a breeding ground for upcoming talent and unheard voices.

And I think it’s insanely disrespectful that the lead writers and producers have the guts to lecture us on not being inclusive enough… while NONE OF THEM are actually being inclusive.

Your Dot & Bubble comparison is bang on the money.

But without getting too passionate about it… great video, pal. A very needed discussion.

I don't think the woke is the problem, I just hate how the writing just got... shittier. Like, literal plot holes, incoherent character development, nostalgia baiting...
Doctor Who always played with limits, ever since 1963 when it aired just 3 days after JFK death.

The RTD apologist in me thinks that his biggest (and perhaps the most subversive) commentary is that Ncuti's Doctor themselves is a personification of the Disney brand.  All virtue signals, primary colours, hypocrisy, big smiles and PR stunts.

It's kinda like he threw in the towel, gave Disney what they wanted and then went on to The War Between.  Sure, The War Between isn't perfect but at least it's got some earnest messaging and heart.

If anybody wants a fun 13th doctor story with some solid trans rep, try out the book The Wonderful Doctor of Oz by Jacqueline Rayner! I liked Rosa and a lot of 13’s era despite its flaws (she’s my fave doc!) but this book really solidified my opinion that 13’s era was a missed opportunity for exploring stories about gender and identity.  Maybe Rosa should have been kept until we had a black doctor to tell the story with, and 13 could have had a historical on an important moment in queer and especially trans history instead, like the stonewall riots.

i woke up, that was bad because now i have to get out of bed and do things that arent sleep