Part 6/8:
While some hailed the inclusion as progress, others condemned it as pandering or diluted storytelling. The ratings for the gay kiss episode were notably low—only slightly better than the episode preceding it—suggesting that audience appetite for messages overtaking plot might be waning.
A Legacy Marred by Modern Politics
The Doctor Who franchise, once a beloved icon of British sci-fi, appears caught in a cycle of modern social activism that is alienating a significant portion of its traditional fanbase. The saga of Jodie Whittaker’s female Doctor was met with mixed reactions, and many believed it couldn’t get worse. Yet, the introduction of Gatwa as a Black gay Doctor seems to have escalated the controversy rather than resolved it.