Monday 22 October 2018

Dr Who — Series 11: Episode 3 — Rosa

21st October, 2018.


It’s true … 

I am tired … 

I have, after all, been up since five, this morning.

After having got to work for ten.

That sort of day can take it out of a body.

At any rate … ?



I came home looking for ward to something to eat.

That’s covered.

And getting some sleep.

I’ll be doing that, once I’ve posted this. 

Oh … 

And catching some TV.



You can possibly guess, by now, what show I’ve caught, can’t you?

You’re right.



The one I’ve got on in the background, right now.

The one I’ll quite possibly start my day off, with, tomorrow morning.

You’re right … 

Episode 3 of Doctor Who’s eleventh series.

Rosa.

Yes … 

‘Hot stuff’ is bloody accurate … !

~≈§≈~

Episode 3Rosa — opens in 1943.

Show us a young Rosa Park (Vinette Robinson): being kicked off of a bus after refusing to use the rear, ‘coloureds only’ door.

And seeing the bus drive off without her, after trying to get back on through that door …


Time moves forward.

To Montgomery, Alabama.

Where Rosa walks past a back alley on her home … little knowing the TARDIS has arrived there.

With its usual unpredictability, the TARDIS has landed in Montgomery, in 1955: instead of Sheffield, 2018.

Yas, Ryan and Graham (Mandip Gill, Toisin Cole and Bradley Walsh) still can’t go home, yet.

The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) has found there’s loose Artron energy she needs to deal with first: warning Ryan and Yas, in particular, that the Southern US, in the 1950s, could be hell for anyone not white.



As Ryan puts it?



“She’s lived here all her life.   A couple of hours ain’t gonna kill me.”

It’s only when Ryan picks up a glove … that things start to get …


Nasty …

~≈§≈~

Now … 

‘Hot Stuff’ … ?


Oh, yes … 

Oh, my LORD, yes … !

I’ve seen something rare and incredible, tonight.

I’ve seen one of the rare episodes of Dr Who that both covers history: and a very relevant piece of history.

After all, racism is still with us, as I’m sure any of our black, Asian or Middle-Eastern neighbours will tell us.

We just have to ask Ryanair staff about it: one of their planes had a recent incident.

I also get the impression — from the few black and Asian people I know — that things are better than they were … but still not perfect.

After all, I’m convinced I’m not a racist: but very aware that I’m extremely tactless, And could easily say something that could get taken the wrong way.

So a history story that reminds us we are human … and capable of being cruel to others, simply because they have a different colour skin?

Is very relevant.



The fact it’s a rather good little SF piece about try to stop Krasko* (Josh Bowman), the villain of the piece — a paroled prisoner from the futuristic Storm Cage Facility — from altering history in his favour.

Is an added bonus.

Right at the moment?



Yes … I’ve seen a powerful piece: one that’s possibly one of the best episodes the new series had produced.

Yes: beautifully acted.   Bradley Walsh did well, I think: his face on the bus was a pleasure.

Yes, beautiful to look at … 


And yes: in having it co-written by Malorie Blackman, a person of colour, it’s added an authenticity like no other.

Actually, about Malorie?



If Chris Chibnall’s reading this — I doubt it, but I can at least mention it — I’d like to ask him a question.

Can we get more scripts from Blackman?

She’s a benefit to the show.







*        I thought Krasko  — initially — was a rogue Time Agent: as he was using a Vortex Manipulator to travel through time.   It’s not explicitly stated.   But he does hint — in a confrontation with Ryan — that racism is very much alive in his particular future.   And that he quite likes the idea …

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