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Doctor Who 2024 Ep 3 Boom Review - The CRYING game
Published: 19th May 2024, by Andrew Radbourne.
My musings about Episode 3 of Doctor Who, series 40, 14 or 1 depending on your point of view, staring Ncuti Gatwa in Boom ...
Greetings everyone,
In recent times, there has been an undeniable uptick in press coverage and interviews surrounding the topic we discussed in our last video. The subtle undertones of favouritism and bias have grown to become glaringly obvious. Even RTD seems to have joined the ranks of those who are no longer keeping their inclinations hidden. There is an evident schism in the fandom, with some rooting for a particular outcome just to spite the other side. This begs the question if this is what the essence of fandom has now become. Fans are told that the show isn't for them, but if they choose not to watch, they are immediately labeled with derogatory terms. This unusual situation is a clear reflection of the inherent hypocrisy in the prevalent ideology.
My take on this is simple; if you want to silence your critics, the best way to do it is by creating a masterpiece. Doubling down on contentious issues will only prove your detractors right, which is not the victory you might think it is.
Moving on to this week's episode, I must confess that despite my initial reluctance, I decided to watch it as it was penned by Moffet, whose episodes during the first RTD run were my absolute favourites. Was it a good episode? Comparatively yes, but that doesn't necessarily make it a cinematic masterpiece. The episode was overly complex with some forced attempts at evoking emotions that fell flat. It continued the series' trend of promoting LGBTQ+ rights, anti-capitalism, anti-corporation, and a pointed critique of religion, specifically Christianity. The lack of subtlety was glaring, and it felt like viewers were repeatedly assaulted by the show's ideological stance.
The episode had its good moments and the core idea was commendable. However, Moffet's tendency to overcomplicate things didn't do it any favours. The Doctor, for the most part, did not act like the Doctor we know and love. There were glimpses of his true self, but they were far too sporadic.
The episode took a deep dive into the weeds, and it's impossible to fully discuss it without revealing some spoilers. The Doctor's arrival on a war-torn planet and his immediate entanglement with a landmine could have been a gripping emotional journey, but it was poorly executed. The Doctor's call for help to Ruby, asking her to navigate a minefield, seemed out of character and even irresponsible.
The episode continued its critique of capitalism by portraying war as a profitable venture, with arms suppliers capitalizing on conflicts. The irony of the creators, who owe their careers to capitalism and are funded by a massive corporation, criticizing capitalism, was not lost on me.
There were some questionable moments, including an overly suggestive prop and a jarring attack on religion that felt unnecessarily aggressive. It's perfectly reasonable to critique religion, but the harshness of the attack felt unwarranted.
In conclusion, the episode, while having some redeeming qualities, was a convoluted mix of ideas that attempted to tackle too many issues at once. It's a shame to see a beloved British institution like Doctor Who undergo such drastic changes. The creators seem to have set up their own landmines and are willingly jumping on them, all the while insisting that everything is fine and blaming others for their missteps.
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the episode. Did you find it somewhat better than the previous ones, or are we just witnessing the desecration of a once-great show?
In recent times, there has been an undeniable uptick in press coverage and interviews surrounding the topic we discussed in our last video. The subtle undertones of favouritism and bias have grown to become glaringly obvious. Even RTD seems to have joined the ranks of those who are no longer keeping their inclinations hidden. There is an evident schism in the fandom, with some rooting for a particular outcome just to spite the other side. This begs the question if this is what the essence of fandom has now become. Fans are told that the show isn't for them, but if they choose not to watch, they are immediately labeled with derogatory terms. This unusual situation is a clear reflection of the inherent hypocrisy in the prevalent ideology.
My take on this is simple; if you want to silence your critics, the best way to do it is by creating a masterpiece. Doubling down on contentious issues will only prove your detractors right, which is not the victory you might think it is.
Moving on to this week's episode, I must confess that despite my initial reluctance, I decided to watch it as it was penned by Moffet, whose episodes during the first RTD run were my absolute favourites. Was it a good episode? Comparatively yes, but that doesn't necessarily make it a cinematic masterpiece. The episode was overly complex with some forced attempts at evoking emotions that fell flat. It continued the series' trend of promoting LGBTQ+ rights, anti-capitalism, anti-corporation, and a pointed critique of religion, specifically Christianity. The lack of subtlety was glaring, and it felt like viewers were repeatedly assaulted by the show's ideological stance.
The episode had its good moments and the core idea was commendable. However, Moffet's tendency to overcomplicate things didn't do it any favours. The Doctor, for the most part, did not act like the Doctor we know and love. There were glimpses of his true self, but they were far too sporadic.
The episode took a deep dive into the weeds, and it's impossible to fully discuss it without revealing some spoilers. The Doctor's arrival on a war-torn planet and his immediate entanglement with a landmine could have been a gripping emotional journey, but it was poorly executed. The Doctor's call for help to Ruby, asking her to navigate a minefield, seemed out of character and even irresponsible.
The episode continued its critique of capitalism by portraying war as a profitable venture, with arms suppliers capitalizing on conflicts. The irony of the creators, who owe their careers to capitalism and are funded by a massive corporation, criticizing capitalism, was not lost on me.
There were some questionable moments, including an overly suggestive prop and a jarring attack on religion that felt unnecessarily aggressive. It's perfectly reasonable to critique religion, but the harshness of the attack felt unwarranted.
In conclusion, the episode, while having some redeeming qualities, was a convoluted mix of ideas that attempted to tackle too many issues at once. It's a shame to see a beloved British institution like Doctor Who undergo such drastic changes. The creators seem to have set up their own landmines and are willingly jumping on them, all the while insisting that everything is fine and blaming others for their missteps.
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the episode. Did you find it somewhat better than the previous ones, or are we just witnessing the desecration of a once-great show?
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