Oxygen and Thin Ice show that the monsters arent whats truly scary in Doctor Who series 10…
Warning: contains spoilers forDoctor Whoseries 10 episodes 1-5.
Sci-fi is often a testing ground for our fears.
Nuclear war, AIDS, terrorism?
Like any good sci-fi show,Doctor Whois full of fear and anxiety.
Its dressed up our worries in more costumes than that shopkeeper dressed up Mr Benn.
Crinkly bubble wrap suits and cute, tiny snaggle-tooth suits and one made fromI dontthinkI dreamed thisLiquorice Allsorts.
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It also has the Doctor.
Hes our guide to the shows assortment of stuff were anxious about.
Through bargaining and stern tellings-off, he stops the monsters in their tracks.
In a real pinch, hell resort to a bit of genocide, but hes not happy about it.
For the most part, one clever idea and one brilliant speech does the trick.
The Doctor has had a couple of brilliant speeches already this series.
Hes also, as youd expect, stopped a fair few monsters.
Sea serpents, alien woodlice and killer spacesuits though, arent the real threat in those episodes.
Theyre not, in the old sci-fi tradition, dressed up versions of our fears.
Theyre not whatDoctor Whoseries ten is really scared of.
WhatDoctor Whoseries ten seems to be really scared of, is us.
Specifically, humans who, because of selfishness or profit, dont treat other people as such.
Because time, in the world ofDoctor Whois running out for Earth and for us.
In other words: we maniacs blew it up, god damn us all to hell.
It didnt just fall, capitalism was pushed by the Doctor.
Next he took those workers to lodge a complaint at head office.
A rebellion followed and after that, the whole dehumanising system came toppling down.
Revolutionary work by the Doctor, you might say.
Thats not the half of it.
The Doctor asks Sutcliffe, Is it the money?
The accident of birth that puts you inside a big, fancy house?
Then the Doctor proved his point about accidents by giving that big, fancy house to societys poorest members.
The boy who died on the river, that boys value is your value.
Other people have money.
Between now-defunct ATOS work assessments and the spare bedroom tax, its barely satire.
The universe shows its true face when it asks for help, we show ours by how we respond.
Scrolling through timelines and scanning through headlines recently, its felt as though cruelty is winning out over compassion.
Sometimes it feels as though its already won.
Im maxxing out your adrenaline, fear keeps you fast, fast is good.
There is a way forward according to the Doctor, and it involves taking responsibility.
You know whats wrong with this universe?
he asks Nardole inOxygen.
Everyone says its not their fault.
Its all your fault, so what are you going to do about it?
Its a similar question to the one he posed Bill just before he freed Willy inThin Ice.
If your future is built on the suffering of that creature, what is your future worth?
Dont accept complicity in a system built on suffering, is the Doctors lesson.
And finally, complain to head office.
Promise him youll be loud.
