Story: Rosa
Written By: Malorie Blackman & Chris Chibnall
Length: 50 Minutes
Year: 2018
This is a powerful episode of the show. Chibnall and Malorie Blackman delve into the frighteningly not to distant past of 1955, in Montgormery, AL. This was a time when segregation was still very present, and the story revolves around one of key moments of the Civil Rights Movement that ended segregation...Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a bus. But a racist from the future is aiming to end this moment, hoping to rewrite history and keep black people "in their place."
Just how powerful the episode is going to be for our new TARDIS team is made clear very early on in the episode, when Ryan attempts to hand a woman the glove she dropped and is immediately slapped by her husband. That moment is shocking even knowing the time period it is placed. It sets the tone of the episode quickly...and it is uncomfortable. And that discomfort works to the episodes advantage from beginning to end. It's something I've thought about before, if I were a black person and I met the Doctor...would I really be interested in traveling a past of my planet that has so often mistreated me? But then this episode also makes a good point...Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement didn't end racism. It remained. Recent events have showcased just how present it still is in this ridiculous thing we continue to call a society.
The villain of the episode also makes a pretty bold point. Racism can very possibly never end. Here is a guy from the distant future, and he is still just a racist that doesn't like black people for any real reason. I appreciated that this was his entire backstory, there wasn't some sob story or reasoning for being a racist. He just is one, and a dangerous racist with Time Travel tech...hoping to disrupt the whole timeline just to set black people back a bit. He is eventually dealt with by Ryan, who uses his own Time Weapon against, possibly sending him into the distant past. I have this feeling that we will see this guy again though. Ryan didn't really know how to use the weapon and it seemed like there was a loose thread there. I wouldn't be surprised if he pops up again.
The ending of the episode is also really great. Our heroes are unfortunately forced to sit on the bus to make sure the bus is packed enough to force the bus driver to ask Rosa Parks to move, so they are actually become part of the problem in that moment. They don't get to stand up for her, they can't fight for what's right...they must silently sit and let the events unfold, in order for history to remain on the right track. I just thought that this ending beautifully played out. That look of resignation and sadness in our heroes...it made me feel for them and appreciate this new team all the more.
Overall, I thought this was a great episode, on the better end of the "brush with historical figures/moments" episodes. I'm not always a fan of that type of Doctor Who episode...but when done right they rise to the top. This one had a powerful message, and used it's new culturally diverse cast to tell a story like this in ways that sadly the series has had far too few opportunities to do so over it's long run. That new perspective from Doctor and Companions is really why this particular Series seems like it is a shot in the arm for the show.
NEXT TIME: Back to Yorkshire
Written By: Malorie Blackman & Chris Chibnall
Length: 50 Minutes
Year: 2018
This is a powerful episode of the show. Chibnall and Malorie Blackman delve into the frighteningly not to distant past of 1955, in Montgormery, AL. This was a time when segregation was still very present, and the story revolves around one of key moments of the Civil Rights Movement that ended segregation...Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a bus. But a racist from the future is aiming to end this moment, hoping to rewrite history and keep black people "in their place."
The villain of the episode also makes a pretty bold point. Racism can very possibly never end. Here is a guy from the distant future, and he is still just a racist that doesn't like black people for any real reason. I appreciated that this was his entire backstory, there wasn't some sob story or reasoning for being a racist. He just is one, and a dangerous racist with Time Travel tech...hoping to disrupt the whole timeline just to set black people back a bit. He is eventually dealt with by Ryan, who uses his own Time Weapon against, possibly sending him into the distant past. I have this feeling that we will see this guy again though. Ryan didn't really know how to use the weapon and it seemed like there was a loose thread there. I wouldn't be surprised if he pops up again.
The ending of the episode is also really great. Our heroes are unfortunately forced to sit on the bus to make sure the bus is packed enough to force the bus driver to ask Rosa Parks to move, so they are actually become part of the problem in that moment. They don't get to stand up for her, they can't fight for what's right...they must silently sit and let the events unfold, in order for history to remain on the right track. I just thought that this ending beautifully played out. That look of resignation and sadness in our heroes...it made me feel for them and appreciate this new team all the more.
Overall, I thought this was a great episode, on the better end of the "brush with historical figures/moments" episodes. I'm not always a fan of that type of Doctor Who episode...but when done right they rise to the top. This one had a powerful message, and used it's new culturally diverse cast to tell a story like this in ways that sadly the series has had far too few opportunities to do so over it's long run. That new perspective from Doctor and Companions is really why this particular Series seems like it is a shot in the arm for the show.
NEXT TIME: Back to Yorkshire
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