Aww! That was fine. Lol. It was a valid visual point of reference even though we later see the irony in the place being the exact opposite. I like that Calvin said, "we should've foreseen what was going to happen, with that attitude in the beginning."
someone is gonna try and say that statement is accurate but wakanda didn't have any issue with white people hanging around (like captain america or bucky)
The walking issues stem from the Bubble's rotation. They've learned to walk with that rotating anti-clockwise around them. That's why when she tried without it, she immediately speared to the right because her reference point was static. Eventually she recalibrated, but for those first few moments, it was problematic.
I totally get it. We just have to realise how things can disorientate our sense of balance in the real world - from wearing VR headsets for a long time, to inner-ear defects.
At first I thought it was silly writing that she couldn’t walk without the arrows in the Bubble… until I realised that the screens are always constantly rotating around her head. If anyone’s ever played something like Guitar Hero for a while and then suddenly looked away from the screen, you might notice how it messes with your vision and orientation. I guess the arrows in the Bubble circumvent that, that and it’s also a long-established movement habit.
Also, if you literally haven't observed your surroundings while walking in years, you're going to have no idea how to process that visual information to relate it to physical movements. Your sense of spatial reasoning and awareness would be completely shot.
Also, whenever I used to be on a trampoline for ages and then got off, it was always a weird feeling because my body would have to compute that the material beneath me was no longer bouncy. It would be a strange feeling trying to jump on ground expecting to bounce higher.
@@evan_escence95 I had something like that but I think worse. Every time I got off a trampoline onto a hard floor, pretty much regardless of how long I'd been on it, the initial step onto the hard floor would just *hurt.*
I think the most interesting thing is rewatching this episode is watching her reactions to everything or just certain things she says, like her concerned about them being in the same room, or her blocking him instantly but not Ruby etc.
It honestly made me question how I missed it until the end. All those microaggressions, some of which were pretty explicit ("I thought you just looked the same," "He's not as stupid as he looks"), and they just passed me by until the ending. This episode should in part be considered a wake-up call to all the tiny casual racism we tend to miss in everyday life, but that the people it affects probably notice all the time and have to deal with on a near-constant basis.
I believe the Doctor and Ruby attempted to contact many of them (Ruby mentioned being turned down), and were able to help a handful of them (who we meet underground later), and Lindy was just the last one before they finally figured out what was going on. Ricky was able to work it out on his own because he habitually disconnected from the Bubble.
The guy who appeared at the end is a mystery though. His last name is Cavendish. He should've died ages ago. And he can't have saved himself, as the slugs wouldve stopped killing anyone else until they got him. And the doctor can't have saved him and deleted him from the records because it was a week ago, and the doctor didn't know what was going on yet. I think that Brewster Cavendish is a bigger part of the story and we will come back to it. "C comes before P". They focused on him last minute a bit too much.
I've noticed on some forums that the same folks who were complaining about Chibnall always being "on the nose" not only didn't get that this was about racism, but they also completely missed the part where Lindy is literally living in a bubble, and that when she's confronted by anything new, she retreats back into her bubble for comfort, where she can hear people who look like her telling her things she wants to hear. That's about as subtle as a cannon.
No one has said the messaging in this episode is subtle lol. The only thing people have missed is the racism angle, but that is to be expected when you arent wired that way and so do not pick up the signs. Most people will watch this assuming its a thing about classism
@@charg1nmalaz0r51 I didn't say they did - I'm just saying it's hilarious they're so oblivious to it this time, when they were misinterpreting everything as "woke" or "preachy" in the Chibnall era - which let's be honest, had a lot more to do with them trying to cover up their own misogyny (knowingly or unknowingly).
@@charg1nmalaz0r51 for the record is is also about classism, elitism, and such. This episode is making several points, including being over reliant on social media.
Nah homie, RTD and Moffatt frame political commentary leagues better than Chibnall. Good political commentary can be on the nose, it just needs to be written without jackin off to the commentary. Chibnall always felt self fellating in a worse way than when the other two do it.
Some people still don't realize it's about racism. Lindy is grossed out when she sees the Doctor and immediately blocks him, but listens to Ruby, says "they" all look the same, is disgusted when Ruby is in the same room as him, says she will get him punished, says "he might have a point even if he looks like that", and they call his tardis "vodoo". And "contaminated"
"You sir," not "you two" when declining the offer shows that she think that he, specifically, is the problem. And then the very blatant "contaminated".
Would be clearer for most of the audience if the system wasn't tagging his initial hack as unsolicited. If he had appeared exactly as Ruby (without the red warning text and flashing borders) and it was just Lindy’s actions then ppl would get it without the plausible deniability factor
I knew this episode would be one that had a lot of both positive and negative opinions. But for me, Ncuti blew me out of the water when he "lost his sh**" To be his first scenes filmed, he stood in that Doctor role, and BECAME the Doctor. The rage, along side the compassion....Waring in his eyes was EXTRAORDINARY 💯💯💯
Lindy primarily treated the doctor badly for seemingly no reason for the whole episode. She was more cooperative with ruby despite saying similar things. There were signs throughout the episode
I admit I didn’t quite see that ending coming, but I wasn't really surprised either. It felt like a puzzle had finally come into focus. Even then I didn't really wish them ill, I just felt kind of sad for them that they are so caught up in their reductive ideology that they would rather brave the wilderness that they had been sheltered from their entire lives, then take a safer option that was being freely offered to them. It reminded me of the few times I had been called a slur. I mostly felt bewilderment than insulted.
There’s so many layers to this episode, but I think it all circles back the idea that any society built on something like “racial purity” is doomed to failure. The Finetime kids delusionally think they can succeed against a world actively out to kill them, despite the fact they could barely walk unassisted an hour prior. They come from a culture that’s taught them they are superior, but not taught them any meaningful livable skills, or the kind of love and loyalty you need to collectively survive in a harsh world. Bigotry comes from a mindset that teaches you how to keep a *myth* alive, but not how to keep a person or a community alive.
I would say it's not even just racial purity. It's a society based on an echo chamber. While yes this episode is about racism, you could replace it with any and all type of discrimination. The biggest problem the people of Finetime have is that they only listen to people who look, talk think, and have roughly as much money as them. And that's what dooms them. But yes also they're racist and stupid lmao
Yeah, they definitely refuse to see how privileged they are so they just chalk up their cushy life so far to being better than everyone, thus making them think they can survive anywhere.
Ive said this on other reaction vids but even without thinking how absolutely dumb the FInetime survivors are you just know they are doomed already with that one dude just being all "Yeah i guess im leader" with no discussion from the other survivors and just his own arrogance as seemingly his only qualification? Ive seen enough horror movies to know that dudes gonna get a bunch of them killed, some purposely so he can escape then he's gonna get a messy karmic fueled end so the audience can cheer.
Or... assuming they have more I.Q points as a group than i think they do.... what they hit is like the SPACE SEED episode of classic STAR TREK. If revisited 2 decades later, we arrive at a bitter, angry group of colonists like the ones inside STAR TREK II.
@@HiIIzRelliking The are racist bigots who we're willing to die rather than accept help from a black man. Honestly I feel bad for the aliens that were eating them because they must have gotten indigestion
She cannot walk straight because she always has a spinning hologram on her head, that turns left. She veers to the right for a few minutes when it's off. After that it wears off in a few minutes but almost none of them have the experience of waiting until the effect disappears so they all think they cannot walk without the bubble.
Am I the only one suprised the crew didn't notice any of the racism in this episode? Everyone here is talking like the Crew picked up on it, but they don't mention it at all.
I didn't notice it either since I watched this episode through reaction vids and noticed that Lindy was kind of rude to Ruby too and thought that she only spoke to Ruby because Ruby flattered her. I just thought she blocked the Doctor because he was being "negative" and because he was a man that she didn't know but felt safer talking to Ruby.
@@bonniestar4707 Ah, you probably didn't notice because you didn't actually watch the episode itself lol. The first hint I noticed was when she said "You all look the same" to the Doctor. Then I realized that everyone being white might be a narrative choice and not just usual casting practices. I imagine the penny dropped for most people at the end scene. It still hit me like a ton of bricks there as well.
@@TkOHarley14 Yeah maybe lol, but I can't say for sure. I just thought that maybe she was a bit of a snob who had classist issues or something. Yeah the penny did drop at the end and I ended up writing a fanfic online of an alternate ending where Ricky September lived.
Definitely don't blame the BW for not thinking of this, but I truly don't think Ricky was much better. All he did was read while he knew people were getting killed, he read the histories Finetime gave them, he spoke casually about the Great Aborgation (? Spelling), which was most likely a mass segregation event or even a genocide. He rolled his eyes at the Doctor not just because he knew about code, but because he was also racist. He is the most dangerous Finetown citizen: the white liberal, with awareness of what's happening but only sending "thoughts and prayers", an already established anger from this series.
He did say that he was trying to get the message out.But his messages kept getting deleted. Which ironically enough was what lindy's job was Data processing a k a removing unwanted Information from the web before transmitting it to the homeworld
The reference made was to 'The Great Abrogation', which means past rights and laws had been revoked. The suggestion is in this future that the hard fought for rights of minorities through mankind's history have now been abolished, only the white and rich having privileges.
@bemasaberwyn55 ooh, that's interesting. Never thought of that. However, I still feel like he was just giving up, and was still probably super racist 😭
@@beesbrownies There wasnt really any evidence he was Racist though was there? I feel like you are reading extra subtext into his actions due to the general actions of the rest of the people. Sure he might not have been doing much but what can he do? It all already happened to the point where he couldn't change things at all
i assumed he was the ONLY person inside FINETIME who is capable of independent thought. I keep on thinking we are seeing an environment like the one that created the DALEKs on SCARO.
Maybe it's because racism is illogical when you get to the root of the thinking, so we assume people who have the ability to critically think would at least choose the doctor even if they were racist because they would know the likelihood of their survival would otherwise be slim.
@@boop-9167 Unfortunately, there are some educated racists, which does seem counterintuitive. Yes, a lot of them would be pragmatic and take the out, just to stab their rescuer in the back later. I think Lindy would never think that the white people are leading her into a Lord of the Flies situation and the black guy is the real way out, though.
I was saying to a friend the other night, there are probably a billion people now carrying cellphones with NO idea why you "hang up" at the end of a call.....
@@kordei-7839 Technically speaking, on cell phones you "end the call." The term "hang up the phone" comes from the first phones where you literally had to "hang up" the receiver after the call.
@@scotthewitt258The original phones were mounted to the wall. To use the phone you had to pick up part of it to dial and talk and hang it back on the wall to end the call. It’s why we also say “pick up” when answering a call
The previous episode and this one were shot first and are light on the Doctor because Ncuti was wrapping up filming on his other show. In fact, his powerful scene at the end was his very first Doctor shoot. An amazing performance from the start!
What I think is going under the radar with THAT ending that I love...is despite the bigotry...The Doctor still wants to save them and wants them to be educated and redeemed in some way. Ncuti does such a good job with the scene. Incredible performance!
@joshuajoshua2732 Of course he KNOWS that, but I would still feel so bad for having to say that to his face (even tho we both would have been in character) that I'd have the need to hug him. It can't be nice hearing that, even if it's from a script, but I don't know if he would neeeed the hug, but it would also feel bad saying that and the hug would probably help me feel better. And he seems like he likes hugs anyway 🤷🏼♀️🤣 So yeah, maybe it would mostly be for my comfort, and maybe that makes it racist again (idk, i don't really understand all those rules 😅) but I would need a hug 😅🙃
Astonished you barely mention racism. That's what the episode was all about. Interview with Russell T Davis confirms this and he said it would be interesting what people would not get it and if they did how long would it take. I am white and I didn't notice everyone was white until the end. Got the racism theme as soon the "you sir" bit at the end. Brilliant how a family entertainment show can reveal our blindspots like this. Loved it
I'm pretty gobsmacked that they put this out so long after the episode aired and still didn't go back and in post editing mention that the episode was centered on the doctor directly experiencing racism for the first time.
Well why would you notice everyone was white until the end? if you are white and live in a majority white country its not going to be odd to you at all. That isnt a bad thing lol, nor does it make you racist for not picking up what he was laying down. It isn't a blindspot. I would honestly be more worried if you picked up on the racist hints he has stuck in here tbh
Same it didn’t fully click for me until the end. In hindsight it’s obvious when you go back and rewatch, but at first I thought it had to do with classism.
@@charg1nmalaz0r51 wow, you would be worried about me if I recocnised the racist bits straight away? Glad I don't think the way you do then. But that's ok, we can all think our different ways. The UK is 19% non white, every fifth person. That's kind of noticeable? In the USA it's much more noticeable, 40% or non white, you should be noticing that straight away. Buy I understand why people don't, it's the society we grow up in.
Fun fact: that ending scene was Ncuti’s first scene he filmed on this new series, including the Xmas special. His FIRST day was that stellar performance
At the end i wanted the master to just show up with a bucket of popcorn, not doing anything, just enjoying the show as the dr is forced to accept that some people are too stupid to be saved
I can picture it, but not just one Master, all of the actors to play the Master (Sims twice, one with goatee and one without) and they've brought a full row of cinema seats with them.
You must have watched a different episode then me. Dull uninteresting characters you wanted to die immediately after you saw them, killer caterpillars, and once again it was all about racism plus Ncuti couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag. Doctor Who is dead, sadly killed by the woke BBC and woke Disney.
@@peterwright6721 Once again?? When was the last episode about racism? Also, putting attention on the issue of racism is woke to you? Should we just never address it then? Grow up...
Peter, you live in echo chamber mate. I’m not gonna bother arguing, just hug somebody you love, and go outside for a bit. It’ll do you some good I promise. Have a nice day man
@@jeroen3468 Yes, anything not racist, sexist, homophobic etc is now branded "woke." Woke is good now (and perhaps always was). The fact that so many continue to use it as a pejorative is proof of why episodes like this absolutely need to be made.
P.S. A fun Whovian game to play is "Which Doctor would have just walked away at the end of 'Dot and Bubble'?" My votes would be Nine, Eleven and Twelve.
nine would definitely let them go die in the wild, probably saying they’ll get what’s coming to them lol ten i think would refuse to acknowledge their racism and force them to let him save their lives, probably just have the tardis materialise around them so they’re inside, then drop them off on a new planet eleven i think would get very emotional about the morality of it, before eventually letting them decide their own fate twelve would see their racism, but not think much of it and likely call them childish. he’d then give a big speech trying to change their minds (whether it would work or not is anyone’s guess) thirteen would criticise them for their racism, but eventually i think she would let them die (or chibnall would write in a big red button to kill all the slugs) fourteen would likely recognise the racism, but like ten i think his hero complex would force him to still save them, regardless of their choices
@@LauraMallorca1908 Honestly I think only 9 would and even then it's questionable. This society doesn't do anything worse than what the Zygons were trying to and 12 was 100% an advocate for trying to educate people there and getting them to live together.
I believe the Doctor suspected this colony or at least Lindy was racist but still wanted to save them. He'll help people no matter what but will get angry at their stupidity. I hope there are slugs just outside the exit. No one mocks the TARDIS like that.
There were soooo many overt and subtle signs of racism and prejudice scattered throughout the episode: 1. Lindy was revolted and blocked the Doctor when he first appeared on her feed. 2. Lindy didnt block Ruby. She was more receptive to Ruby when she appeared on her feed. Lindy spoke to Ruby and believed her over the Doctor. 3. When the Doctor appeared for the second time on her feed, Lindy asked him if the monsters "have something to do with you" (she didnt ask Ruby this, just the Doctor) 4. Lindy told her groupcall to listen to the Doctor and that "i know this is wrong and after this is all over he will be so disciplined, i cant wait, and he doesn't look as stupid as he looks" (of course due to the color of his skin) 5. No person of color lived in Finetime 6. Lindy was shocked to learn that Ruby and the Doctor were in the same room together in such close proximity 7. Lindy told the Doctor "Didnt I block you? I knew it. I just thought you looked the same, but you're the same person I blocked. I was so right to hate you." (Implying all black people look the same) 8. When they met, Lindy told Ruby and the Doctor "Gosh, you two, this is strange." (meaning a white and black person working together) 9. And a few more microagressions towards the Doctor before they met in the final scene AND in the final scene where the racism got blatant.
What makes it work is that the subtlety can be misinterpreted as other things. 1 can be assumed to be a parody of pop up adds. 3, 4, 8 and 8 could be preserved in the sense of how people have reacted in the past to the Doctor when they first met (which happened a lot in the classics) 4, 6 7 and 9 could've been her just panicking. but on rewatch, clearly isn't the case. It what makes the twist work. On first viewing I thought they where just vacuous Gen Z types. But no, defiantly xenophobic and racist.
@@flaggerify Wasn't clear? "Outsider" is anyone not white -- there are no non-white people in the episode and so many people still think it wasn't about racism?
The first episode where The Doctor faces direct racism and prejudice. He/she kind of blew off Martha and Ryan's problems going back in time, but now The Doc is experiencing it directly.
I find a lot of viewers outside the UK don't realise it's explicitly about race. Think it's about class. The supporting Space Racists (all blond and white) have working class accents, so it's obvious to a UK audience it's not about the Drs class. but his skin.
@@joevictor53 Yeah, I thought it was about class until the reveal. Just noticed some people/ reactions vids outside the UK not picking up on it even after the reveal that it's because of his skin colour.
@@crabbitwife5463 Yeah, I've been surprised too. Even from very liberal and socially conscious youtubers not picking up on it. Why do you think that is? I thought it was very intentional to have scouse and Scottish space racists ve part of the bubble. Even Lindy is a bit Essex.
It's obvious in hindsight but I caught myself giving her a pass and the benefit of the doubt so many times, it's baffling. That's white privilege, that I cna just brush all that shit off as problematic and unconnected than what it obviously was.
Except for the one Ginger friend, they are all literally Aryan. And it is still so subtly played until the final scene, it still comes out of left field. I even was developing a feeling that the issue with Ruby associating with The Doctor was because he was older. Because they make sure to establish everyone on this planet is under 27.
The pee doctor had red hair I think, and then there’s Gothic Paul, but if you look at their screens in the bubble I’m pretty sure he had the lowest follower count… Still, was absolutely starkly noticeable how blonde and lightly tanned the screen was the whole episode🤣 Doctor Who casts have been fairly consistently diverse for ages now, it sticks out for sure
I'd like to remind you that the concept of "Aryan" being a real racial classification has been outdated for centuries and was only dredged up by the nazis because it was convenient for them. I know the citizens of Finetime might call themselves that in theory, but using the terminology of racists means approaching race on their terms. They're white europeans, and even that is a purely social category with a loose definition
Racism twist foreshadowing: *[1]* Everyone in this society is white. Doctor Who always prefers to have diverse casts, so this is an immediate red flag. *[2]* Lindy is immediately displeased when the Doctor appears a second time. Since we later find out she didn't recognise him, this isn't her thinking "Him again?!", it's her going "Another black person?!" *[3]* When Lindy does finally realise that the Doctor is the man she blocked earlier, she says that she'd just assumed he _"looked the same."_ *[4]* When Lindy realises that Ruby and the Doctor are in the same room, she is apalled. Since she had coworkers in the same room as her, it's not like this is a society where no-one is allowed near each other. What disgusts her is that Ruby is near a black guy; she's _"contaminated",_ as Lindy's friend warns. *[5]* When Lindy is made to introduce the Doctor to her friends, she says _"I know, just listen to him, he's smarter than he looks"_ (because they're all seeing a black person and don't want to interact with him) and _"He will be disciplined"_ (which feels very controlling, as if he's a slave or servant acting out of line). *[6]* Ruby is frustrated that there are still battery problems in the future, showing that this future still has issues that plague the present (like racism). *[7]* Lindy looks uncomfortable when Ruby and the Doctor start approaching her by the river. On first watch, this seems to be out of guilt, for getting Ricky September killed, but she never seems upset about it. Plus, we saw her learn how to hug and that she likes to do it now, so not hugging the people who saved her life means she doesn't want to be near them. *[8]* Right before the penny drops, Lindy is only antagonistic to the Doctor, not Ruby. If she were prejudiced because they're lower-class, she'd address them both, especially the girl who'd annoyed her with lots of questions.
A few more signs: 1) Lindy instantly blocked the Doctor but let Ruby talk to her even though they were both unsolicited 2) The Doctor couldn’t get into Finetime. I wonder why… 3) Lindy immediately blames the Doctor for the situation
@@joelmole3157 1) I mean, The Doctor also popped up yelling about monsters, while Ruby came in calmly asking survey questions and complimenting her top.
I love everything about this episode - best episode in years and years imo. I even think the slugs are just so awesome… why are they even needed if the dots can kill? XD i like to think its just cause the slugs deaths are hilariously grim…
@Corlwow My theory is that death by the dots is quick and relatively painless, as we saw with Ricky September. On the other hand, although dying by the slugs is somewhat quick, I assume its pretty painful. The dots have learned to hate these people over many years, and I think when you hate someone that much you don't just want them dead, you want it to be painful. This was the dots way of doing that, no matter how gruesome it is. The dots can and will kill when they have to as they did to Ricky, but they don't seem to prefer to do it that way.
15 came across a group of people he couldn't save because they didn't want to change from their elitism and racism. This comes after he consoled his former self by telling him he can't save everyone.
I am a bit disappointed that there wasn't a discussion on the racism in the show. There were so many micro-agressions, that during the last 10mins or so I said "there it is" out loud. I believe Melanie started to mention it, but was overwhelmed and distracted with a overly lengthy discussion about the color palate and retro look of everyone. I'm almost sure had they watched with a few of the Normies, it would have been picked up quickly and a proper discussion taken place.
Regardless of the story's overall handling of racism, I think setting it in the future and showing that racism still persists is important. Having it just be a feature of a historical would potentially have many viewers handwave it. Racism is alive today and will very likely exist in the future, so it's good to force viewers to think critically about that.
@@soulstealer5625 Well no, it wasnt the racism that was harmful to the believers. It was the ai deciding it was sick to death of hearing their vapid lives lol. If anything Russel kind of portrayed these racist characters of having a wonderful life, which is a tad problematic
@@charg1nmalaz0r51Also the racism is what killed them in the end. They decided. to go to the woods where the doctor said they’d die verses going in the TARDIS with a man who had just given them codes to save their lives. I’d be instant friends if some random man saved my life like that but racism made them go to the woods instead.
@@charg1nmalaz0r51I don't think it's problematic to acknowledge the relationship between racism and how people have achieved wealth & power. These characters have been shielded from misfortune by their power and privilege built on the backs of people of colour and by implication, other marginalised groups. Except they're running out of other people to throw under the bus and their inability to recognise they're not self-sufficient or "lucky" means that reality is catching up with them while they choose to remain blind to it.
This may very well be my favorite Doctor Who episode since Heaven Sent. While I picked up pretty early on that everyone inside the bubble seemed to be white, young and well-to-do, I admittedly still wasn't able to put together what was actually going on with their society until the reveal actually happened and completely recontextualized everything we'd seen to that point. Just a great bit of science-fiction writing, performance and production.
Well that’s the thing isn’t it, there were so many other factors that made her and her clique so samey and likely to fear ‘otherness’ that it was really hard to pick only one that differentiated them all from the Doctor, any kind of tribalism behaves like that in some fashion, bigotry and xenophobia isn’t limited to skin. It could’ve been class, age, grooming, snobbery, hair, eyes, skin, or all of the above, they were all so blandly homogenous it really didn’t have to be just race.
This episode is easily equal to BLINK in that there is not a skipped beat. RTD was very careful and clever. Patiently deliberate. Enough "red herring" rival explanations for what Lindi is doing so as to allow the ending to have the profound impact it does.
I hate to point this out but I feel this is necessary. We have no reason to believe Ricky doesn't hold these views either. If we assume this entire group holds these views, we have to logically assume he would as well. I feel like this episode really highlights how our perceptions of a person can change the level by which we hold someone accountable, or the assumptions we make about them. The trap we face in this episode: We let Lindy make all those very obvious hate statements without questioning it because we saw her as an idiot, feeble and less capable. That lowered our guard collectively so we didn't process what she meant when she said The Doc would be disciplined. However similarly, we can't assume that there capable people like Ricky who hold unfortunate beliefs. JK Rowling unfortunately has demonstrated that can be true. Someone of talent, and insight and intelligence who holds problematic views. Ultimately, I would love to assume Ricky was woke and realized the Doc was cool despite what his people believe in, but I feel that undermines the tragedy of the ideology. They have doomed these rich dumb young idiots to death because they didn't value the opportunity the doctor created for them. Ricky being a racist, is a probability and still a tragedy because he has so much potential that could be colored by something so ugly. It taints him, and frankly he is a victim of his culture that ruined him then.
Worse...... if FINETIME is a cult group.... was Ricky the ONLY cult member intellectually open to any "deprogramming" after leaving the interface environment? Insofar as i often cuss out Facebook, it seems to be a kinder interface.
I had to watch this twice to see all of the micro aggressions I unfortunately missed the first time because of my privilege. This episode was hard and brilliant and uncomfortable and I loved it. I thought it was about the dangers of overuse of social media and that's some of it but no... no. It was White Supremacy. That's what this is. And now that I see it, it was everywhere and obvious and I'm embarrassed for missing it.
Don't be embarrassed to have missed it. I didn't get it until the voodoo comment... That was the point I allowed myself to see what was starring me int he face all along. While I don't have white privilege I have others...
You didnt miss it because of your privilege, you missed it because you dont view the world in a race based lense. which is a good thing. Any regular person would associate all these racist hints russel put in as classed based dialogue of a spoilt rich kid online.
I think the episode is about both. Lindy couldn't even walk properly without her bubble at first and refused to lower it at first even when she was in danger. So this very much highlights the danger of overuse of social media and technology.
This episode benefits so much from re-watches, there's so many nuances to Callie Cooke's performance when interacting with the Doctor and Ruby I didn't catch first time around, I thought I was on board with a Social Media bad, eat the rich storyline until RTD yanked the rug out from under me and I had the moment of "oh...OH..."
Melanie @15:47 "they're all blond haired and blue eyed" and totally ignored by the guys. She actually seemed to get it and they all missed it or chose to ignore it...hopefully the former and not the latter. This was about racism, so many clues, ignoring the Doctor, things Lindy said to him, about him, no problem dealing with Ruby, the ending!
At first I thought the guys didn't pick up on the racism at all, but they do sort of acknowledge it at 35:56. Still, I don't think they grasped just how central it was to the whole story.
@@RikvA I'm sure when the team tries to defend the review they will try to use that spot as cover... but if you can't even bring yourself to say the words bigotry or racism in a story centered on bigotry and racism there is a underlaying problem.
@@mark_da_it_guy I doubt they'll actually "defend the review" but I agree that their discussion missed the mark, maybe they'll talk about it at the start of the next reaction. (Edit: they did!)
@@ipottinger I agree... I speculate that they a directed to steer clear of areas like racism as it will affect thier potential ad-revenue... having a episode centered on Rasism makes that blood difficult.
The racism was very clear lindy’s comment the she thought the doctor with two separate people. The two times he popped in her feed, because to her Black people all looked the same. There was also the comment about voodoo along with the comment that she made about the doctor helping because that was basically his only reason to exist. I
I've been noticing a worrying trend with reactors on youtube, most of them, not all, seem to be afraid to say the word "Racist". I feel like they GET the point, like they'll give out a disappointed sigh when they see the racism in the episode, but then they won't explicitly cover it in their discussion?? And they should! It was literally the main point being made by the episode.
They’re so scared. More worried about ad revenue and placating the masses. Fence sitters for views. God forbid they point out someone being racist to a black person.
On Monday we lost William Russell, who played Ian Chesterton - one of the first three companions with William Hartnell’s First Doctor, from the very first episode in 1963 and for the two years following. You might remember him being portrayed in An Adventure in Space and Time. He also made his last appearance as the character in “The Power of the Doctor” during the Companions support group scene. That episode by the way, earned him a Guinness world record for the longest time between appearances of a character on any show anywhere. He was a few months short of his 100th birthday. Please you could pay tribute to him during the next episode?
Somewhat disappointed in your discussion after the review. It would have been a great opportunity to discuss the main topic of the episode, racism, more detailed: When did you notice what the Finetime society is about? Did you notice it at all (before the end)? What did you feel when you realized you only noticed it at the very end? How likely is it that Ricky wasn’t just another racist as well (reading books doesn’t automatically mean you have a certain world view)? What did it say about Lindy (and the fandom) that Ricky was presented as some kind of Doctor substitute (helping, explaining, running, hugging, holding back information to prevent his companion grief, giving hope, making people trust in him) and the viewers liked him for it. Idk, is it a RUclips related/ fear of demonetizing issue, that you didn’t talk about the racism aspect more?
The end powerful scene was the 1st thing Ncuti filmed as the solo lead Doctor after "The Giggle" & before Church On Ruby Road Ncuti & David's bi-generation was shot on 21st & 22nd of June 2022 (Ncuti's first days) & the Dot & Bubble end scene here was shot on December 17th 2022. It was shot on location of The Cardiff Bay Barrage & due to this (+ fear of leaks) this was the costumes first revealed for Ncuti & Millie on socials. Both 73 Yards & Dot & Bubble were part of the same filming block with the same director Dylan Holmes Williams filmed between Dec 2022 & Jan 2023 while Ncuti's time was limited due to Sex Education to be on the set of Who full-time
I think the one who waits is the neighbor lady. In the previous episode what she said could be interpreted as "Oh what you do with your phone and your mom is not my business. I just go inside and wait my turn."
This is true, but I expect it was when Chiwetel Ejiofor was in the running, and along with the heavy CG, ending up with Matt Smith is why we didn't get it.
@@SNMG7664, no Russell had said he proposed it to Moffat in April or May 2010, when Series 5 was already airing and Karen Gillan was there when it was pitched in a restaurant in LA
@@SNMG7664RTD pitched it to Moffat when series 5 of Doctor who launched, with Matt smith as the Doctor. But only the dot and bubble finetime concept. The racist undertones were worked in the script for Ncutis doctor
I thought the take on racism was brilliantly handled. I loved that it was relatively subtle, as in, not the Orphan-55 type of "in your face" commentary, but one that takes a while to realise and recognise for what it truly is. I did notice many of the micro-aggressions on my 1st viewing (the different treatment of the Doctor vs Ruby, the language used, the fact that literally everyone else was white etc), but was still surprised when they fully went there so relatively explicitly at the end. I can understand how some people might miss it, or maybe just see these moments/lines as being more about classism or treatment towards outsiders rather than racially motivated, but I personally believed it was at least partially about race, and that was confirmed once I watched the episode of Unleashed. I do think that even most of the people who missed these hints along the episode itself, probably caught up by that ending scene. I mean, unlike last week's episode, the ending wasn't ambiguous and confusing at all imo. I thought the implication was pretty clear that they were going to their deaths. There's no way these young, rich kids who never even learnt to walk or think for themselves, are going to survive out there alone in the "wild woods".. Hence why the Doctor tried so hard to get them to go with him instead, even though they were insufferable and racists (he's the Doctor, he always tries to save everyone regardless). However, they literally chose death, over being saved by a black person. It was so awful and so brilliant at the same time, and the Doctor's reaction was heartbreaking. I also really liked the fact that it seemed like Ruby caught on to what it was a bit before the Doctor himself, probably due to the fact that she was raised by a black family and witnessed these micro-aggressions growing up, while the Doctor has spent thousands of years as a white person. It made his moment of realisation and the very real frustration that followed, even more visceral imo. Overall, I really enjoyed this episode. I'd even go as far as to say it was one of my favourite this season. I adored the setting and world-building, the use of technology/visuals, and the social commentary of course. The acting was also fantastic. The moment when Lindy makes the choice to turn on Ricky was amazingly done imo (loved your reactions to it lol). And as much as I did miss the Doctor, the scene we got with him at the end of the episode was literally EVERYTHING. It was perfect in a way that made his absence for most of the episode, worth it imo. While Social media wasn't the main point of the episode, I still loved that aspect of it as well. I mean, beyond the racial aspect, the episode was trying to show the dangers of over-relaying on technology and social media, while also criticising the 1%. The fact that these aren't just "any kids", as you've said, was a great choice imo. They are well established to be the rich, white kids, who are very much stuck in their own bubble (literally and figuratively). It was an amazing criticism of echo chambers, about the dangers of surrounding yourself with people who only think and act like you do, and being afraid or even unable to look beyond it.
All (yes ALL) the Doctor-lite stories are fire. Here the nasty Sally Sparrow betrays Elton. I need to see a sequel to this episode where they all die horrific deaths.
Im going to be completely honest, I was only half paying attention to this episode until like the last 15 minutes. I hated the people in this episode, even before the twist of what I thought was initially classism. I just hate the self-absorbed social media thing. But the end really brought it up and made me hate them even more. And rewatching it looking back it's racism more than classism. And I’m ashamed that I didn’t catch on sooner.
Oh the dangers of echo chambers and being to algorithm ideas. I love the process of this episode all of the people were very dense and ignorant because they wanted to, they couldn’t even bother to be kind to each other
No lie, these 2 episodes ("73 Yards" and "Dot & Bubble") have felt like Black Mirror episodes. So much horror elements with biting commentary on top of it. I don't know how this episode/season will be overall examined after Ncuti's time is done as The Doctor, but, you can't say that RTD isn't giving this new Doctor and companion some damn great material, because Episodes 2-5 so far have been stellar work. Moral of the story/episode is no matter what, you can't save ignorance and/or bigotry. Sadly, there are those who'd rather choose hate than love.
I think Ricky would have wanted to go with the Doctor, he would have stayed, I can hear him saying, I have to stay how can they fend for themselves, and the Doctor would have realised with Ricky they would have had a small chance to survive,
Because He had educated himself, he had read books, had not lived in the bubble as the others had, the indoctrination came from living in the bubble.that girl said at the end, we have to retain the standards of free time
@@user-fh4qo9tw2y You don't know for sure though do you? Almost everyone was racist 100 years. Does that mean they were all round evil? It's not that simple.
Blind Wave BEYOND members and Raw Rider Patrons can watch the Full Length here: blindwave.com/video/doctor-who-2023-1x05-full
I let out a very nervous laugh when Melanie said “It’s like Wakanda” when they showed the opening shot of Finetime…
Aww! That was fine. Lol. It was a valid visual point of reference even though we later see the irony in the place being the exact opposite.
I like that Calvin said, "we should've foreseen what was going to happen, with that attitude in the beginning."
Same 😂😂
Yeah then ended up like a total opposite of Wakanda.
someone is gonna try and say that statement is accurate but wakanda didn't have any issue with white people hanging around (like captain america or bucky)
Well, one of the villains in Black Panther wanted Wakanda to be all black and anti white. But he was showcased as a villain.
Everyone: What if 15 goes to the past and faces racism?
RTD: What if 15 goes to the future and faces racism?
Bowlestrek: What if 15 is in the present and faces racism?
was a smart choice
@@TobesOnYTbowlestrek: what if 15 exists?
RTD the man who discriminates against older actors and his team are all white privileged people.
I don't know if you seen but he said exactly that.
The walking issues stem from the Bubble's rotation. They've learned to walk with that rotating anti-clockwise around them. That's why when she tried without it, she immediately speared to the right because her reference point was static. Eventually she recalibrated, but for those first few moments, it was problematic.
I totally get it. We just have to realise how things can disorientate our sense of balance in the real world - from wearing VR headsets for a long time, to inner-ear defects.
Wait that's so smart! Thanks for explaining!
@@ameliacraiig4193 Or getting off of a treadmill and those next few seconds it takes to remember how to walk correctly
Saw an edit of lindy running into that pole face first for like 30 minutes straight lol
Is there a link to it?
That sounds healthy.
@@MercenaryX84 I hope so
awesome
On YT?
At first I thought it was silly writing that she couldn’t walk without the arrows in the Bubble… until I realised that the screens are always constantly rotating around her head. If anyone’s ever played something like Guitar Hero for a while and then suddenly looked away from the screen, you might notice how it messes with your vision and orientation. I guess the arrows in the Bubble circumvent that, that and it’s also a long-established movement habit.
Also, if you literally haven't observed your surroundings while walking in years, you're going to have no idea how to process that visual information to relate it to physical movements. Your sense of spatial reasoning and awareness would be completely shot.
I have that experience with Geometry Dash. If I play too long, it literally distorts my visions when I close the game. My body expects things to move!
Also, whenever I used to be on a trampoline for ages and then got off, it was always a weird feeling because my body would have to compute that the material beneath me was no longer bouncy. It would be a strange feeling trying to jump on ground expecting to bounce higher.
@@evan_escence95
I had something like that but I think worse. Every time I got off a trampoline onto a hard floor, pretty much regardless of how long I'd been on it, the initial step onto the hard floor would just *hurt.*
“Oh my god. Lindy was racist. That came out of nowhere!”
“Did it?”
"It's going to be a maze."
It's going to be a maze.
@@scotthewitt258I still wish they'd made the joke be "it's going to be a windmill" and tied it back to the pictionary episode
Totally a maze!
Ruby: "Let's go travel to the land of ice-cream. My white guilt is doing summersaults"
I think the most interesting thing is rewatching this episode is watching her reactions to everything or just certain things she says, like her concerned about them being in the same room, or her blocking him instantly but not Ruby etc.
Yeah i was a bit late watching this ep, so i was spoiled on the twist, and there is so much that jumped out at me
It honestly made me question how I missed it until the end.
All those microaggressions, some of which were pretty explicit ("I thought you just looked the same," "He's not as stupid as he looks"), and they just passed me by until the ending.
This episode should in part be considered a wake-up call to all the tiny casual racism we tend to miss in everyday life, but that the people it affects probably notice all the time and have to deal with on a near-constant basis.
I believe the Doctor and Ruby attempted to contact many of them (Ruby mentioned being turned down), and were able to help a handful of them (who we meet underground later), and Lindy was just the last one before they finally figured out what was going on. Ricky was able to work it out on his own because he habitually disconnected from the Bubble.
The guy who appeared at the end is a mystery though. His last name is Cavendish. He should've died ages ago. And he can't have saved himself, as the slugs wouldve stopped killing anyone else until they got him. And the doctor can't have saved him and deleted him from the records because it was a week ago, and the doctor didn't know what was going on yet. I think that Brewster Cavendish is a bigger part of the story and we will come back to it. "C comes before P". They focused on him last minute a bit too much.
I've noticed on some forums that the same folks who were complaining about Chibnall always being "on the nose" not only didn't get that this was about racism, but they also completely missed the part where Lindy is literally living in a bubble, and that when she's confronted by anything new, she retreats back into her bubble for comfort, where she can hear people who look like her telling her things she wants to hear. That's about as subtle as a cannon.
No one has said the messaging in this episode is subtle lol. The only thing people have missed is the racism angle, but that is to be expected when you arent wired that way and so do not pick up the signs. Most people will watch this assuming its a thing about classism
I just think its dumb they did the racism episode in the future. The people in the future know about aliens why would they still ascribe to racism.
@@charg1nmalaz0r51 I didn't say they did - I'm just saying it's hilarious they're so oblivious to it this time, when they were misinterpreting everything as "woke" or "preachy" in the Chibnall era - which let's be honest, had a lot more to do with them trying to cover up their own misogyny (knowingly or unknowingly).
@@charg1nmalaz0r51 for the record is is also about classism, elitism, and such. This episode is making several points, including being over reliant on social media.
Nah homie, RTD and Moffatt frame political commentary leagues better than Chibnall. Good political commentary can be on the nose, it just needs to be written without jackin off to the commentary. Chibnall always felt self fellating in a worse way than when the other two do it.
Some people still don't realize it's about racism. Lindy is grossed out when she sees the Doctor and immediately blocks him, but listens to Ruby, says "they" all look the same, is disgusted when Ruby is in the same room as him, says she will get him punished, says "he might have a point even if he looks like that", and they call his tardis "vodoo".
And "contaminated"
🤡🤡 Those people
Also, all the residents of Finetime are white and Lindy specifically is blonde with blue eyes 😬
"You sir," not "you two" when declining the offer shows that she think that he, specifically, is the problem. And then the very blatant "contaminated".
Conservatives: hmm this Lindy character seems alright
Would be clearer for most of the audience if the system wasn't tagging his initial hack as unsolicited.
If he had appeared exactly as Ruby (without the red warning text and flashing borders) and it was just Lindy’s actions then ppl would get it without the plausible deniability factor
I knew this episode would be one that had a lot of both positive and negative opinions. But for me, Ncuti blew me out of the water when he "lost his sh**" To be his first scenes filmed, he stood in that Doctor role, and BECAME the Doctor. The rage, along side the compassion....Waring in his eyes was EXTRAORDINARY 💯💯💯
Ncuti Gatwa was finishing off Sex Education when production started so he wasn't totally available. That's why there are two Doctor-light episodes
They couldn't put Boom in between them?
@@flaggerify That was my thought too. I wouldn’t personally have put the two Doctor-lights right next to each other
@@Matt-cz6ti New Who viewers must be bemused.
You don't half spout some rubbish.
@@TheRagzzz If you mean me you know where you can shove it.
Lindy primarily treated the doctor badly for seemingly no reason for the whole episode. She was more cooperative with ruby despite saying similar things. There were signs throughout the episode
Racism Spooky
@@fayesouthall6604 yup, meant to put "no reason" in quotes
Conscious observation: "1970's aesthetic."
Subconscious reason: "Everyone in the Brady Bunch squares are white, mostly blond, conventionally attractive, and unnaturally happy."
I admit I didn’t quite see that ending coming, but I wasn't really surprised either. It felt like a puzzle had finally come into focus. Even then I didn't really wish them ill, I just felt kind of sad for them that they are so caught up in their reductive ideology that they would rather brave the wilderness that they had been sheltered from their entire lives, then take a safer option that was being freely offered to them. It reminded me of the few times I had been called a slur. I mostly felt bewilderment than insulted.
There’s so many layers to this episode, but I think it all circles back the idea that any society built on something like “racial purity” is doomed to failure.
The Finetime kids delusionally think they can succeed against a world actively out to kill them, despite the fact they could barely walk unassisted an hour prior. They come from a culture that’s taught them they are superior, but not taught them any meaningful livable skills, or the kind of love and loyalty you need to collectively survive in a harsh world.
Bigotry comes from a mindset that teaches you how to keep a *myth* alive, but not how to keep a person or a community alive.
I would say it's not even just racial purity. It's a society based on an echo chamber. While yes this episode is about racism, you could replace it with any and all type of discrimination. The biggest problem the people of Finetime have is that they only listen to people who look, talk think, and have roughly as much money as them. And that's what dooms them.
But yes also they're racist and stupid lmao
White supremacy hurts everyone and they would rather die than break their bubble.
Yeah, they definitely refuse to see how privileged they are so they just chalk up their cushy life so far to being better than everyone, thus making them think they can survive anywhere.
i like the idea of this maybe being the genesis of the daleks, they were supposed to be humans who went nuts
best comment i've seen about this episode yet
Ive said this on other reaction vids but even without thinking how absolutely dumb the FInetime survivors are you just know they are doomed already with that one dude just being all "Yeah i guess im leader" with no discussion from the other survivors and just his own arrogance as seemingly his only qualification? Ive seen enough horror movies to know that dudes gonna get a bunch of them killed, some purposely so he can escape then he's gonna get a messy karmic fueled end so the audience can cheer.
Let's be generous tho cuz a 1/3 probably are going down drinking dirty water or eating something poisonous.
how long before they resort to cannibalism or some handmaiden's tale level shit
Or... assuming they have more I.Q points as a group than i think they do.... what they hit is like the SPACE SEED episode of classic STAR TREK. If revisited 2 decades later, we arrive at a bitter, angry group of colonists like the ones inside STAR TREK II.
When you realize that the aliens that you were rooting for the doctor to defeat... Were 100% correct
No. If your take away from this episode is that those people deserve to be eaten, then you haven't learned much from watching Doctor Who.
@@HiIIzRelliking The are racist bigots who we're willing to die rather than accept help from a black man. Honestly I feel bad for the aliens that were eating them because they must have gotten indigestion
She cannot walk straight because she always has a spinning hologram on her head, that turns left. She veers to the right for a few minutes when it's off. After that it wears off in a few minutes but almost none of them have the experience of waiting until the effect disappears so they all think they cannot walk without the bubble.
AGREED. They lack patience. They lack gravitas. They do not think deeply about life.
God, the way the spit flies off his mouth as he stands back up screaming is JUST SO GOOD. Ncuti was Acting with a capital A
I happily accept the new slug overlords.
I'd welcome them
@@ianstopher9111 I'll be your slug daddy
Am I the only one suprised the crew didn't notice any of the racism in this episode? Everyone here is talking like the Crew picked up on it, but they don't mention it at all.
Anyway, for the Poll, I'm black so Lindy would probably kill me if I brought her along with me. So no.
I didn't notice it either since I watched this episode through reaction vids and noticed that Lindy was kind of rude to Ruby too and thought that she only spoke to Ruby because Ruby flattered her. I just thought she blocked the Doctor because he was being "negative" and because he was a man that she didn't know but felt safer talking to Ruby.
@@bonniestar4707 Ah, you probably didn't notice because you didn't actually watch the episode itself lol. The first hint I noticed was when she said "You all look the same" to the Doctor. Then I realized that everyone being white might be a narrative choice and not just usual casting practices.
I imagine the penny dropped for most people at the end scene. It still hit me like a ton of bricks there as well.
@@TkOHarley14 Yeah maybe lol, but I can't say for sure. I just thought that maybe she was a bit of a snob who had classist issues or something. Yeah the penny did drop at the end and I ended up writing a fanfic online of an alternate ending where Ricky September lived.
@@bonniestar4707 Cool, where can I read it?
Definitely don't blame the BW for not thinking of this, but I truly don't think Ricky was much better. All he did was read while he knew people were getting killed, he read the histories Finetime gave them, he spoke casually about the Great Aborgation (? Spelling), which was most likely a mass segregation event or even a genocide. He rolled his eyes at the Doctor not just because he knew about code, but because he was also racist. He is the most dangerous Finetown citizen: the white liberal, with awareness of what's happening but only sending "thoughts and prayers", an already established anger from this series.
He did say that he was trying to get the message out.But his messages kept getting deleted. Which ironically enough was what lindy's job was Data processing a k a removing unwanted Information from the web before transmitting it to the homeworld
The reference made was to 'The Great Abrogation', which means past rights and laws had been revoked. The suggestion is in this future that the hard fought for rights of minorities through mankind's history have now been abolished, only the white and rich having privileges.
@bemasaberwyn55 ooh, that's interesting. Never thought of that. However, I still feel like he was just giving up, and was still probably super racist 😭
@@beesbrownies There wasnt really any evidence he was Racist though was there? I feel like you are reading extra subtext into his actions due to the general actions of the rest of the people. Sure he might not have been doing much but what can he do? It all already happened to the point where he couldn't change things at all
It blows my mind when people assume Ricky is definitely not racist because he was kind and helpful and reads.
i assumed he was the ONLY person inside FINETIME who is capable of independent thought. I keep on thinking we are seeing an environment like the one that created the DALEKs on SCARO.
Maybe it's because racism is illogical when you get to the root of the thinking, so we assume people who have the ability to critically think would at least choose the doctor even if they were racist because they would know the likelihood of their survival would otherwise be slim.
@@boop-9167 Unfortunately, there are some educated racists, which does seem counterintuitive. Yes, a lot of them would be pragmatic and take the out, just to stab their rescuer in the back later. I think Lindy would never think that the white people are leading her into a Lord of the Flies situation and the black guy is the real way out, though.
"It's like Wakanda" out of all the comparisons 😭😭😭
I was saying to a friend the other night, there are probably a billion people now carrying cellphones with NO idea why you "hang up" at the end of a call.....
What do you mean? You hang up or the other person does
@@kordei-7839 Technically speaking, on cell phones you "end the call." The term "hang up the phone" comes from the first phones where you literally had to "hang up" the receiver after the call.
@@kordei-7839 But, WHY is the term for disconnecting a call "hanging up"?
@@scotthewitt258The original phones were mounted to the wall. To use the phone you had to pick up part of it to dial and talk and hang it back on the wall to end the call. It’s why we also say “pick up” when answering a call
The previous episode and this one were shot first and are light on the Doctor because Ncuti was wrapping up filming on his other show. In fact, his powerful scene at the end was his very first Doctor shoot. An amazing performance from the start!
It was overreacting quite a lot on Ncuti's part, but I really like his acting in the episodes. Just not in that scene.
What I think is going under the radar with THAT ending that I love...is despite the bigotry...The Doctor still wants to save them and wants them to be educated and redeemed in some way. Ncuti does such a good job with the scene. Incredible performance!
Just because they're ignorant doesn't mean they deserve to die.
In just that short amount of time in which he gave such a performance, made me tear up. That acting came from a place of truth.
For me it was more like he was so used to being the white savior that he thought it would be that easy but finally had to face reality
I think he overacted in that particular scene, but I like his acting in th rest of the episodes
Callie Cooke did a really good job this episode
Had this been a movie, she's Oscar worthy!!!! Brilliant!
If I was in her shoes, I would have felt the need to hug Ncuti after finishing filming 😅 after having to say all of that..
@@lotemylife3006 Yeah it's called "acting" and they are professionals he would had known already she didn't really mean it.
@joshuajoshua2732 Of course he KNOWS that, but I would still feel so bad for having to say that to his face (even tho we both would have been in character) that I'd have the need to hug him. It can't be nice hearing that, even if it's from a script, but I don't know if he would neeeed the hug, but it would also feel bad saying that and the hug would probably help me feel better. And he seems like he likes hugs anyway 🤷🏼♀️🤣
So yeah, maybe it would mostly be for my comfort, and maybe that makes it racist again (idk, i don't really understand all those rules 😅) but I would need a hug 😅🙃
I doubt this is it, but its like Susan Twist has pulled a Clara and entered the Doctor's time stream.
I'm really, really shocked that you guys barely mentioned racism, when that's what the ENTIRE episode was about.
Yeah it’s disappointing. They stay on the fence to not rock the boat. Not realising that that is picking a position
This episode has not left my mind.
Why? It's shit
@@peterwright6721it's not. But do you happen to hate it because you were represented here?
@@nikdik154probably hates the show calling out white supremacists.
@@peterwright6721 Pete sad.... Pete needs a hug
I watched it the minute it came on, and right now it's 8 hours until the next ep, and I can't stop diving into the reactions. It hit me hard.
Fun fact, the ending of this episode was Ncuti's first ever filming on the show, even before the regeneration
Are you sure it’s before the regeneration? I’m sure The Giggle was filmed before Dot and Bubble
Not true, it's his first shooting after The Giggle
It was filmed after the regeneration, the ending was the first scene he shot for this season. Russell mentioned it on Doctor Who Unleashed
Yeah Russell confirmed he filmed the regeneration first, but this is the first filming he did for his own series
False, the only thing he'd filmed before this was the regeneration, but he hadn't shot the The Church on Ruby Road or any other episodes
Astonished you barely mention racism. That's what the episode was all about. Interview with Russell T Davis confirms this and he said it would be interesting what people would not get it and if they did how long would it take. I am white and I didn't notice everyone was white until the end. Got the racism theme as soon the "you sir" bit at the end. Brilliant how a family entertainment show can reveal our blindspots like this. Loved it
I'm pretty gobsmacked that they put this out so long after the episode aired and still didn't go back and in post editing mention that the episode was centered on the doctor directly experiencing racism for the first time.
Same. Stunned by this omission as well.
Well why would you notice everyone was white until the end? if you are white and live in a majority white country its not going to be odd to you at all. That isnt a bad thing lol, nor does it make you racist for not picking up what he was laying down. It isn't a blindspot. I would honestly be more worried if you picked up on the racist hints he has stuck in here tbh
Same it didn’t fully click for me until the end. In hindsight it’s obvious when you go back and rewatch, but at first I thought it had to do with classism.
@@charg1nmalaz0r51 wow, you would be worried about me if I recocnised the racist bits straight away? Glad I don't think the way you do then. But that's ok, we can all think our different ways. The UK is 19% non white, every fifth person. That's kind of noticeable? In the USA it's much more noticeable, 40% or non white, you should be noticing that straight away. Buy I understand why people don't, it's the society we grow up in.
Fun fact: that ending scene was Ncuti’s first scene he filmed on this new series, including the Xmas special. His FIRST day was that stellar performance
I don't know where that idea got started but Ncuti had already filmed the regeneration episode.
@@Tao_Tology I meant first thing filmed AFTER the 60th specials, so first thing he filmed when he’d properly taken over
@@Tao_Tologyit was his first day of filming for the new season.
@@marshsundeen Yes so the "first day, first day on set!!" is disengenuous since it was not his first day filming as the Dr at all.
Stellar, eh? I'd call it many things, but definitely not stellar.
They’re putting Ncuti to WORK 😂😂😂
"Threw him under the bus." One of the most appropriate uses of that phrase.
"It's like Wakanda! 😄"
Yeah. About that...
By the end of the episode, EVERYONE watching winds up rooting for Dot and/or the bugs.
At the end i wanted the master to just show up with a bucket of popcorn, not doing anything, just enjoying the show as the dr is forced to accept that some people are too stupid to be saved
I can picture it, but not just one Master, all of the actors to play the Master (Sims twice, one with goatee and one without) and they've brought a full row of cinema seats with them.
This ep has probably been my favorite so far. It’s dark twist at the end, and Ncuti’s performance of absolute befuddlement and anger is tremendous
You must have watched a different episode then me. Dull uninteresting characters you wanted to die immediately after you saw them, killer caterpillars, and once again it was all about racism plus Ncuti couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag. Doctor Who is dead, sadly killed by the woke BBC and woke Disney.
@@peterwright6721 Once again?? When was the last episode about racism? Also, putting attention on the issue of racism is woke to you? Should we just never address it then? Grow up...
Peter, you live in echo chamber mate. I’m not gonna bother arguing, just hug somebody you love, and go outside for a bit. It’ll do you some good I promise. Have a nice day man
@@jeroen3468 Yes, anything not racist, sexist, homophobic etc is now branded "woke."
Woke is good now (and perhaps always was). The fact that so many continue to use it as a pejorative is proof of why episodes like this absolutely need to be made.
@@peterwright6721 are you OK Pete mate... do you need a hug?
Lets all send Pete a hug
P.S. A fun Whovian game to play is "Which Doctor would have just walked away at the end of 'Dot and Bubble'?" My votes would be Nine, Eleven and Twelve.
Eleven? Nine and Twelve, always, yes. But Eleven, not sure. Too much Golden Retriever energy.
@@LauraMallorca1908don't forget his ancient angry energy though he liked to let that through sometimes.
nine would definitely let them go die in the wild, probably saying they’ll get what’s coming to them lol
ten i think would refuse to acknowledge their racism and force them to let him save their lives, probably just have the tardis materialise around them so they’re inside, then drop them off on a new planet
eleven i think would get very emotional about the morality of it, before eventually letting them decide their own fate
twelve would see their racism, but not think much of it and likely call them childish. he’d then give a big speech trying to change their minds (whether it would work or not is anyone’s guess)
thirteen would criticise them for their racism, but eventually i think she would let them die (or chibnall would write in a big red button to kill all the slugs)
fourteen would likely recognise the racism, but like ten i think his hero complex would force him to still save them, regardless of their choices
@@LauraMallorca1908 Honestly I think only 9 would and even then it's questionable. This society doesn't do anything worse than what the Zygons were trying to and 12 was 100% an advocate for trying to educate people there and getting them to live together.
@@tortoiseoflegends4466 It's the eternal ambiguity of The Doctor. Both of you above are right. I rather thought about "Who has it in them?"
The ending scene was Ncuti's first scene on Season 1/Series 14. His first "proper" scene was this
Walking into the pole is funny.
Backing up and walking into it again is hilarious.
Everybody is Bowlestrek in the furure!!!
I believe the Doctor suspected this colony or at least Lindy was racist but still wanted to save them. He'll help people no matter what but will get angry at their stupidity. I hope there are slugs just outside the exit. No one mocks the TARDIS like that.
Why doesn't she have reflexes. Melanie she lives in a bubble she's probably never been afraid before in her entire life.
Never thought we'd get Slurms Mckenzie as a Doctor Who villain
The Doctors reaction at the very end was powerful !
This episode and the last were both made the way they were due to limitations caused by Ncuti’s schedule, as he was still finishing Sex Ed at the time
There were soooo many overt and subtle signs of racism and prejudice scattered throughout the episode:
1. Lindy was revolted and blocked the Doctor when he first appeared on her feed.
2. Lindy didnt block Ruby. She was more receptive to Ruby when she appeared on her feed. Lindy spoke to Ruby and believed her over the Doctor.
3. When the Doctor appeared for the second time on her feed, Lindy asked him if the monsters "have something to do with you" (she didnt ask Ruby this, just the Doctor)
4. Lindy told her groupcall to listen to the Doctor and that "i know this is wrong and after this is all over he will be so disciplined, i cant wait, and he doesn't look as stupid as he looks" (of course due to the color of his skin)
5. No person of color lived in Finetime
6. Lindy was shocked to learn that Ruby and the Doctor were in the same room together in such close proximity
7. Lindy told the Doctor "Didnt I block you? I knew it. I just thought you looked the same, but you're the same person I blocked. I was so right to hate you." (Implying all black people look the same)
8. When they met, Lindy told Ruby and the Doctor "Gosh, you two, this is strange." (meaning a white and black person working together)
9. And a few more microagressions towards the Doctor before they met in the final scene AND in the final scene where the racism got blatant.
She called Ruby very offensive. Never showed her any warmth or gratitude.
What makes it work is that the subtlety can be misinterpreted as other things.
1 can be assumed to be a parody of pop up adds.
3, 4, 8 and 8 could be preserved in the sense of how people have reacted in the past to the Doctor when they first met (which happened a lot in the classics)
4, 6 7 and 9 could've been her just panicking.
but on rewatch, clearly isn't the case. It what makes the twist work. On first viewing I thought they where just vacuous Gen Z types. But no, defiantly xenophobic and racist.
@@flaggerify so? does that change anything?
@@monumatt It wasn't very clear if Lindy was racist or didn't like any outsiders.
@@flaggerify Wasn't clear? "Outsider" is anyone not white -- there are no non-white people in the episode and so many people still think it wasn't about racism?
I was rooting for the lamp post.
The first episode where The Doctor faces direct racism and prejudice. He/she kind of blew off Martha and Ryan's problems going back in time, but now The Doc is experiencing it directly.
I find a lot of viewers outside the UK don't realise it's explicitly about race. Think it's about class. The supporting Space Racists (all blond and white) have working class accents, so it's obvious to a UK audience it's not about the Drs class. but his skin.
I'm in the UK and a lot of people I talked to thought it was a class thing up until the ending. I was the same
@@joevictor53 Yeah, I thought it was about class until the reveal. Just noticed some people/ reactions vids outside the UK not picking up on it even after the reveal that it's because of his skin colour.
UK here. Watched about 10 reactions so far 8 of them American. 7 of them had no idea it was about racism. Mindblowing
@@crabbitwife5463 Yeah, I've been surprised too. Even from very liberal and socially conscious youtubers not picking up on it. Why do you think that is? I thought it was very intentional to have scouse and Scottish space racists ve part of the bubble. Even Lindy is a bit Essex.
It's obvious in hindsight but I caught myself giving her a pass and the benefit of the doubt so many times, it's baffling. That's white privilege, that I cna just brush all that shit off as problematic and unconnected than what it obviously was.
Except for the one Ginger friend, they are all literally Aryan. And it is still so subtly played until the final scene, it still comes out of left field.
I even was developing a feeling that the issue with Ruby associating with The Doctor was because he was older. Because they make sure to establish everyone on this planet is under 27.
The pee doctor had red hair I think, and then there’s Gothic Paul, but if you look at their screens in the bubble I’m pretty sure he had the lowest follower count…
Still, was absolutely starkly noticeable how blonde and lightly tanned the screen was the whole episode🤣 Doctor Who casts have been fairly consistently diverse for ages now, it sticks out for sure
I'd like to remind you that the concept of "Aryan" being a real racial classification has been outdated for centuries and was only dredged up by the nazis because it was convenient for them. I know the citizens of Finetime might call themselves that in theory, but using the terminology of racists means approaching race on their terms. They're white europeans, and even that is a purely social category with a loose definition
Hair dye is a thing
Racism twist foreshadowing:
*[1]* Everyone in this society is white. Doctor Who always prefers to have diverse casts, so this is an immediate red flag.
*[2]* Lindy is immediately displeased when the Doctor appears a second time. Since we later find out she didn't recognise him, this isn't her thinking "Him again?!", it's her going "Another black person?!"
*[3]* When Lindy does finally realise that the Doctor is the man she blocked earlier, she says that she'd just assumed he _"looked the same."_
*[4]* When Lindy realises that Ruby and the Doctor are in the same room, she is apalled. Since she had coworkers in the same room as her, it's not like this is a society where no-one is allowed near each other. What disgusts her is that Ruby is near a black guy; she's _"contaminated",_ as Lindy's friend warns.
*[5]* When Lindy is made to introduce the Doctor to her friends, she says _"I know, just listen to him, he's smarter than he looks"_ (because they're all seeing a black person and don't want to interact with him) and _"He will be disciplined"_ (which feels very controlling, as if he's a slave or servant acting out of line).
*[6]* Ruby is frustrated that there are still battery problems in the future, showing that this future still has issues that plague the present (like racism).
*[7]* Lindy looks uncomfortable when Ruby and the Doctor start approaching her by the river. On first watch, this seems to be out of guilt, for getting Ricky September killed, but she never seems upset about it. Plus, we saw her learn how to hug and that she likes to do it now, so not hugging the people who saved her life means she doesn't want to be near them.
*[8]* Right before the penny drops, Lindy is only antagonistic to the Doctor, not Ruby. If she were prejudiced because they're lower-class, she'd address them both, especially the girl who'd annoyed her with lots of questions.
A few more signs:
1) Lindy instantly blocked the Doctor but let Ruby talk to her even though they were both unsolicited
2) The Doctor couldn’t get into Finetime. I wonder why…
3) Lindy immediately blames the Doctor for the situation
8 - nope Lindy addressed to t he doctor only ''in screen is acceptable not in person'' to him BECAUSE he is BLACK
Lindy calls the police but pointedly stares at the Doctor like she wants him to be arrested
6 is a bit of a stretch, but the rest is spot on.
@@joelmole3157 1) I mean, The Doctor also popped up yelling about monsters, while Ruby came in calmly asking survey questions and complimenting her top.
I love everything about this episode - best episode in years and years imo.
I even think the slugs are just so awesome… why are they even needed if the dots can kill? XD i like to think its just cause the slugs deaths are hilariously grim…
@Corlwow My theory is that death by the dots is quick and relatively painless, as we saw with Ricky September. On the other hand, although dying by the slugs is somewhat quick, I assume its pretty painful. The dots have learned to hate these people over many years, and I think when you hate someone that much you don't just want them dead, you want it to be painful. This was the dots way of doing that, no matter how gruesome it is. The dots can and will kill when they have to as they did to Ricky, but they don't seem to prefer to do it that way.
“It’s like wakanda” I doubt they’d appreciate that observation 😂
loved the episode, saw a few of her reactions and i think after the third or fourth backhanded comment i was like O.o is she that.... YES SHE IS
The dark doctor theme is like a sith star wars theme… was a shock to hear after used to the excellent upbeat normal 15th doc theme
15 came across a group of people he couldn't save because they didn't want to change from their elitism and racism. This comes after he consoled his former self by telling him he can't save everyone.
I am a bit disappointed that there wasn't a discussion on the racism in the show. There were so many micro-agressions, that during the last 10mins or so I said "there it is" out loud. I believe Melanie started to mention it, but was overwhelmed and distracted with a overly lengthy discussion about the color palate and retro look of everyone. I'm almost sure had they watched with a few of the Normies, it would have been picked up quickly and a proper discussion taken place.
Regardless of the story's overall handling of racism, I think setting it in the future and showing that racism still persists is important. Having it just be a feature of a historical would potentially have many viewers handwave it. Racism is alive today and will very likely exist in the future, so it's good to force viewers to think critically about that.
I like that its shown to be fundamentally harmful even to the believers
@@soulstealer5625 Well no, it wasnt the racism that was harmful to the believers. It was the ai deciding it was sick to death of hearing their vapid lives lol. If anything Russel kind of portrayed these racist characters of having a wonderful life, which is a tad problematic
@@charg1nmalaz0r51Except that’s sadly reality isn’t it? Wealth doesn’t care if you’re racist or not and bad people get nice things.
@@charg1nmalaz0r51Also the racism is what killed them in the end. They decided. to go to the woods where the doctor said they’d die verses going in the TARDIS with a man who had just given them codes to save their lives. I’d be instant friends if some random man saved my life like that but racism made them go to the woods instead.
@@charg1nmalaz0r51I don't think it's problematic to acknowledge the relationship between racism and how people have achieved wealth & power.
These characters have been shielded from misfortune by their power and privilege built on the backs of people of colour and by implication, other marginalised groups.
Except they're running out of other people to throw under the bus and their inability to recognise they're not self-sufficient or "lucky" means that reality is catching up with them while they choose to remain blind to it.
This was technically his first episode he filmed on production as he was still doing Sex Education at the time. What a first performance.
This may very well be my favorite Doctor Who episode since Heaven Sent. While I picked up pretty early on that everyone inside the bubble seemed to be white, young and well-to-do, I admittedly still wasn't able to put together what was actually going on with their society until the reveal actually happened and completely recontextualized everything we'd seen to that point. Just a great bit of science-fiction writing, performance and production.
Well that’s the thing isn’t it, there were so many other factors that made her and her clique so samey and likely to fear ‘otherness’ that it was really hard to pick only one that differentiated them all from the Doctor, any kind of tribalism behaves like that in some fashion, bigotry and xenophobia isn’t limited to skin.
It could’ve been class, age, grooming, snobbery, hair, eyes, skin, or all of the above, they were all so blandly homogenous it really didn’t have to be just race.
This episode is easily equal to BLINK in that there is not a skipped beat. RTD was very careful and clever. Patiently deliberate. Enough "red herring" rival explanations for what Lindi is doing so as to allow the ending to have the profound impact it does.
9th Doctor would enter the Tards without blink and with a devilish smile
THE DOT WAS RIGHT!!!
And that was Ncuti's first scene shot as the Doctor, what a performance indeed.
It wasn't. It was his first scene of the season, but he did The Giggle before this.
I hate to point this out but I feel this is necessary. We have no reason to believe Ricky doesn't hold these views either. If we assume this entire group holds these views, we have to logically assume he would as well.
I feel like this episode really highlights how our perceptions of a person can change the level by which we hold someone accountable, or the assumptions we make about them.
The trap we face in this episode: We let Lindy make all those very obvious hate statements without questioning it because we saw her as an idiot, feeble and less capable. That lowered our guard collectively so we didn't process what she meant when she said The Doc would be disciplined.
However similarly, we can't assume that there capable people like Ricky who hold unfortunate beliefs. JK Rowling unfortunately has demonstrated that can be true. Someone of talent, and insight and intelligence who holds problematic views.
Ultimately, I would love to assume Ricky was woke and realized the Doc was cool despite what his people believe in, but I feel that undermines the tragedy of the ideology. They have doomed these rich dumb young idiots to death because they didn't value the opportunity the doctor created for them. Ricky being a racist, is a probability and still a tragedy because he has so much potential that could be colored by something so ugly.
It taints him, and frankly he is a victim of his culture that ruined him then.
Worse...... if FINETIME is a cult group.... was Ricky the ONLY cult member intellectually open to any "deprogramming" after leaving the interface environment? Insofar as i often cuss out Facebook, it seems to be a kinder interface.
I had to watch this twice to see all of the micro aggressions I unfortunately missed the first time because of my privilege. This episode was hard and brilliant and uncomfortable and I loved it.
I thought it was about the dangers of overuse of social media and that's some of it but no... no. It was White Supremacy. That's what this is. And now that I see it, it was everywhere and obvious and I'm embarrassed for missing it.
Don't be embarrassed to have missed it. I didn't get it until the voodoo comment... That was the point I allowed myself to see what was starring me int he face all along. While I don't have white privilege I have others...
You didnt miss it because of your privilege, you missed it because you dont view the world in a race based lense. which is a good thing. Any regular person would associate all these racist hints russel put in as classed based dialogue of a spoilt rich kid online.
I think the episode is about both. Lindy couldn't even walk properly without her bubble at first and refused to lower it at first even when she was in danger. So this very much highlights the danger of overuse of social media and technology.
Here's a funny, then: I noticed it, but was going, "Oh, Russell didn't know how that was going to come across with a black Doctor!"
@bonniestar4707 it's all about isolation and bubbles. White Supremacy is a bubble, too.
This episode benefits so much from re-watches, there's so many nuances to Callie Cooke's performance when interacting with the Doctor and Ruby I didn't catch first time around, I thought I was on board with a Social Media bad, eat the rich storyline until RTD yanked the rug out from under me and I had the moment of "oh...OH..."
That performance at the end by Ncuti Gatwa was just incredible!
Melanie @15:47 "they're all blond haired and blue eyed" and totally ignored by the guys. She actually seemed to get it and they all missed it or chose to ignore it...hopefully the former and not the latter. This was about racism, so many clues, ignoring the Doctor, things Lindy said to him, about him, no problem dealing with Ruby, the ending!
At first I thought the guys didn't pick up on the racism at all, but they do sort of acknowledge it at 35:56. Still, I don't think they grasped just how central it was to the whole story.
I totally spotted that as well...
This is a fail of a review because they failed to actully talk about the entire purpose of the episode.
@@RikvA I'm sure when the team tries to defend the review they will try to use that spot as cover... but if you can't even bring yourself to say the words bigotry or racism in a story centered on bigotry and racism there is a underlaying problem.
@@mark_da_it_guy I doubt they'll actually "defend the review" but I agree that their discussion missed the mark, maybe they'll talk about it at the start of the next reaction. (Edit: they did!)
@@ipottinger I agree...
I speculate that they a directed to steer clear of areas like racism as it will affect thier potential ad-revenue... having a episode centered on Rasism makes that blood difficult.
Martha and Bill faced racism. The Doctor now gets to experience it.
Ryan too...
The racism was very clear lindy’s comment the she thought the doctor with two separate people. The two times he popped in her feed, because to her Black people all looked the same. There was also the comment about voodoo along with the comment that she made about the doctor helping because that was basically his only reason to exist.
I
I've been noticing a worrying trend with reactors on youtube, most of them, not all, seem to be afraid to say the word "Racist". I feel like they GET the point, like they'll give out a disappointed sigh when they see the racism in the episode, but then they won't explicitly cover it in their discussion??
And they should! It was literally the main point being made by the episode.
They’re so scared. More worried about ad revenue and placating the masses. Fence sitters for views. God forbid they point out someone being racist to a black person.
On Monday we lost William Russell, who played Ian Chesterton - one of the first three companions with William Hartnell’s First Doctor, from the very first episode in 1963 and for the two years following.
You might remember him being portrayed in An Adventure in Space and Time.
He also made his last appearance as the character in “The Power of the Doctor” during the Companions support group scene. That episode by the way, earned him a Guinness world record for the longest time between appearances of a character on any show anywhere.
He was a few months short of his 100th birthday.
Please you could pay tribute to him during the next episode?
Somewhat disappointed in your discussion after the review. It would have been a great opportunity to discuss the main topic of the episode, racism, more detailed: When did you notice what the Finetime society is about? Did you notice it at all (before the end)? What did you feel when you realized you only noticed it at the very end? How likely is it that Ricky wasn’t just another racist as well (reading books doesn’t automatically mean you have a certain world view)? What did it say about Lindy (and the fandom) that Ricky was presented as some kind of Doctor substitute (helping, explaining, running, hugging, holding back information to prevent his companion grief, giving hope, making people trust in him) and the viewers liked him for it.
Idk, is it a RUclips related/ fear of demonetizing issue, that you didn’t talk about the racism aspect more?
I'm thinking Susan Twist is splintered through time the way Clara was.
ricky and lindy being a quasi-doctor-companion duo but in the boring homogenous way that a certain type of dw fan would prefer is so clever
The end powerful scene was the 1st thing Ncuti filmed as the solo lead Doctor after "The Giggle" & before Church On Ruby Road
Ncuti & David's bi-generation was shot on 21st & 22nd of June 2022 (Ncuti's first days) & the Dot & Bubble end scene here was shot on December 17th 2022.
It was shot on location of The Cardiff Bay Barrage & due to this (+ fear of leaks) this was the costumes first revealed for Ncuti & Millie on socials.
Both 73 Yards & Dot & Bubble were part of the same filming block with the same director Dylan Holmes Williams filmed between Dec 2022 & Jan 2023 while Ncuti's time was limited due to Sex Education to be on the set of Who full-time
I think the one who waits is the neighbor lady. In the previous episode what she said could be interpreted as "Oh what you do with your phone and your mom is not my business. I just go inside and wait my turn."
fun fact, I believe this ep was originally going to be a 11th doctor story
This is true, but I expect it was when Chiwetel Ejiofor was in the running, and along with the heavy CG, ending up with Matt Smith is why we didn't get it.
@@SNMG7664, no Russell had said he proposed it to Moffat in April or May 2010, when Series 5 was already airing and Karen Gillan was there when it was pitched in a restaurant in LA
@@SNMG7664RTD pitched it to Moffat when series 5 of Doctor who launched, with Matt smith as the Doctor. But only the dot and bubble finetime concept. The racist undertones were worked in the script for Ncutis doctor
Did they not pick up that they were all white and racist
I thought the take on racism was brilliantly handled. I loved that it was relatively subtle, as in, not the Orphan-55 type of "in your face" commentary, but one that takes a while to realise and recognise for what it truly is. I did notice many of the micro-aggressions on my 1st viewing (the different treatment of the Doctor vs Ruby, the language used, the fact that literally everyone else was white etc), but was still surprised when they fully went there so relatively explicitly at the end. I can understand how some people might miss it, or maybe just see these moments/lines as being more about classism or treatment towards outsiders rather than racially motivated, but I personally believed it was at least partially about race, and that was confirmed once I watched the episode of Unleashed.
I do think that even most of the people who missed these hints along the episode itself, probably caught up by that ending scene. I mean, unlike last week's episode, the ending wasn't ambiguous and confusing at all imo. I thought the implication was pretty clear that they were going to their deaths. There's no way these young, rich kids who never even learnt to walk or think for themselves, are going to survive out there alone in the "wild woods".. Hence why the Doctor tried so hard to get them to go with him instead, even though they were insufferable and racists (he's the Doctor, he always tries to save everyone regardless). However, they literally chose death, over being saved by a black person. It was so awful and so brilliant at the same time, and the Doctor's reaction was heartbreaking.
I also really liked the fact that it seemed like Ruby caught on to what it was a bit before the Doctor himself, probably due to the fact that she was raised by a black family and witnessed these micro-aggressions growing up, while the Doctor has spent thousands of years as a white person. It made his moment of realisation and the very real frustration that followed, even more visceral imo.
Overall, I really enjoyed this episode. I'd even go as far as to say it was one of my favourite this season. I adored the setting and world-building, the use of technology/visuals, and the social commentary of course. The acting was also fantastic. The moment when Lindy makes the choice to turn on Ricky was amazingly done imo (loved your reactions to it lol). And as much as I did miss the Doctor, the scene we got with him at the end of the episode was literally EVERYTHING. It was perfect in a way that made his absence for most of the episode, worth it imo.
While Social media wasn't the main point of the episode, I still loved that aspect of it as well. I mean, beyond the racial aspect, the episode was trying to show the dangers of over-relaying on technology and social media, while also criticising the 1%. The fact that these aren't just "any kids", as you've said, was a great choice imo. They are well established to be the rich, white kids, who are very much stuck in their own bubble (literally and figuratively). It was an amazing criticism of echo chambers, about the dangers of surrounding yourself with people who only think and act like you do, and being afraid or even unable to look beyond it.
Yep and this is what happens every day and goes unseen.
All (yes ALL) the Doctor-lite stories are fire. Here the nasty Sally Sparrow betrays Elton. I need to see a sequel to this episode where they all die horrific deaths.
Loved this episode.
Im going to be completely honest, I was only half paying attention to this episode until like the last 15 minutes. I hated the people in this episode, even before the twist of what I thought was initially classism. I just hate the self-absorbed social media thing. But the end really brought it up and made me hate them even more. And rewatching it looking back it's racism more than classism. And I’m ashamed that I didn’t catch on sooner.
11:40 Hahha, Phantasm. Good horror movie, yes. Good reference, yes.
30 years of age? Seriously? I'm 63 and I'm always on my phone.
Oh the dangers of echo chambers and being to algorithm ideas. I love the process of this episode all of the people were very dense and ignorant because they wanted to, they couldn’t even bother to be kind to each other
No lie, these 2 episodes ("73 Yards" and "Dot & Bubble") have felt like Black Mirror episodes. So much horror elements with biting commentary on top of it.
I don't know how this episode/season will be overall examined after Ncuti's time is done as The Doctor, but, you can't say that RTD isn't giving this new Doctor and companion some damn great material, because Episodes 2-5 so far have been stellar work.
Moral of the story/episode is no matter what, you can't save ignorance and/or bigotry. Sadly, there are those who'd rather choose hate than love.
GO SLUGS
when the series started shooting Ncuti was still finishing his other show so they had less shooting time with him for some episodes.
Lindy would've made me become The Valeyard in this episode... Looks like the Villains are the Hero's in this episode.
The reason Ncuti hasn't been in much of this season is because he was starring in the final season of Sex Education.
I dont think susan twist is doing this but what if its like quantum leap haha
I think Ricky would have wanted to go with the Doctor, he would have stayed, I can hear him saying, I have to stay how can they fend for themselves, and the Doctor would have realised with Ricky they would have had a small chance to survive,
Why do people assume he wasn't racist or xenophobic too? Because he was superficially nice?
Because He had educated himself, he had read books, had not lived in the bubble as the others had, the indoctrination came from living in the bubble.that girl said at the end, we have to retain the standards of free time
@@user-fh4qo9tw2y You don't know for sure though do you? Almost everyone was racist 100 years. Does that mean they were all round evil? It's not that simple.
That kind of powerful performance at the end deserves ALL the awards.
Ncuti does an amazing job.
Go slugs! Go! True heroes of the episode!