And it totally made me cry a few times. And it made something tight hurt inside my stomach.
And everything in me rebelled at the way Ryan and Yaz were treated in that time. And of course at the glimpse into the injustice of that time and the situation which made Rosa stand up for herself (…so to speak).
There were so many powerful moments in this episode. Like the conversation between Ryan and Yaz when they were hiding behind a dumpster from the racist cop. And the moment where they were thrown out of that diner. And the part where Yaz couldn’t figure out where she was ‘supposed’ to sit. And of course the end, where they all had to sit and be silent and do nothing and be complicit because the moment where Rosa Parks refuses to stand and gets arrested for it is too important.
But I also love this episode because of its other moments too. Like the excitement on Ryan’s face at getting to serve coffee to Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Or him getting to blast a time traveling white supremacist into the far reaches of the past (hope he ends up having a TERRIBLE time).
Or the time Yaz spent with Rosa Parks talking about being a police officer and that connection they made.
Or the part where Ryan and Graham mentioned Grace and how she would have started a riot.
Or the way The Doctor gives them the opportunity to go back to the TARDIS because no, they shouldn’t have to deal with this racist garbage and they stay to help protect the history of the woman who had fought for the future they live in.
Like… this is honestly one of the best Doctor Who episodes ever. It’s certainly one of the most important ones. And I’m definitely going to rewatch it again. And again after that probably.
Doctor Who has received significant viewer and critical acclaim for an episode, featuring Rosa Parks (Vinette Robinson) that tackled racism and discrimination.
The storyline also did not attempt to influence the event, or in any way inspire Rosa for her actions that day.
Rather, they helped protect the circumstances so that the event did happen.
Not only did the episode highlight racist attitudes in the past, they also highlighted how racism continues today. Ryan (Toisin Cole) talked about being stopped by police and Yaz (Mandip Gill) opened up about being the abuse she has experienced as a Muslim.
They also contextualised Rosa Parks’ story, highlighting the future difficulties she faced and the continued fight for civil rights.
Notably, this was also the first episode in Doctor Who history to have been written by a person of colour.
It was also pointed out that the episode was aired on the same day as a black woman was racially abused and was made to move on an Ryanair flight.
And at the end of the episode, The Doctor highlighted that Rosa Parks not only changed the world but the “universe,” pointing out an asteroid that has been named after her.
Look, there are so many things I already love about 13. And I love her, so much. But one of the things I loved best about this ep?
No one spent any time TELLING you she’s smart. There was no ‘oh listen to me because I’m brilliant’ or ‘don’t question it because the doctor is so smart’. NO. Instead she just gets right to work – don’t have your sonic? SHE’LL JUST BUILD ONE OUT OF SPOONS AND GUMPTION. Where did the TARDIS go? SHE’LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO CALL IT WITH JUMPER CABLES AND A MICROWAVE.
And you’re just sitting there going ‘of COURSE she’s brilliant – watch her figure things out and then build her way out of a problem’ and y’all… y’all I already love her.
I would just like to thank every single person involved in this Doctor Who season premiere for not making Ryan Sinclare magically overcome his disability through determination. When he goes back up to learn to ride a bike because that’s what gran would have wanted, any other show would have used that as an inspiration porn moment.
But he still falls.
Because wanting to do what gran wanted you to do won’t instantly make your hands keep still if they never have before. You can’t focus your way out of a medical condition and you shouldn’t have to. Ryan still climbs a crane but it isn’t miraculously easy just because it has to be done. “Trying harder” isn’t a miracle cure. And if he hadn’t chucked his bike off a cliff in frustration, he never would have gotten to travel the universe.
ForLoveFromFear 