Since the series debuted in 1963, “Doctor Who” has been no stranger to controversy.
That tradition seems to extend to the latest season of the show, led by new producer Steven Moffat.
The British newspaper the Telegraph reports that some fans are complaining the show is “too sexy.”
If you haven’t seen the first installment of the Matt Smith era and are waiting for the U.S. debut on BBC America, stop reading now.
Some of the complaints stem from the fact new companion Amy Pond is working as kiss-o-gram when she encounters the Doctor and that she wears a short skirt. They also object to the new Doctor changing clothes in front of Amy and her boyfriend at the end of the episode.
One reader said : “Why did she dress up as a tarty policewoman? Surely that’s not fitting for a family show.’
Another said: “They’ve completely demeaned Doctor Who by replacing good episode stories with slutty girls.”
The “sexy” inclusions inspired some to call the new companion slutty, and elicited Piers Wenger, executive producer, to defend the changes: “The whole kissogram thing played into Steven’s desire for the companion to be feisty and outspoken and a bit of a number. Amy is probably the wildest companion that the Doctor has travelled with, but she isn’t promiscuous. She is really a two-man woman and that will become clear over the course of the episodes.”
As a long-time “Doctor Who” fan, I must respond. Please note that all comments made after this point are only those of myself (Michael Hickerson) and do not reflect the views of Farpoint Media and Slice of SciFi as a whole.
Honestly, I think a lot of people are getting their noses out of joint for no good reason. Even back to the classic run of the show, female companions were showcased as sexy women “for the dads.” (See also: the fourth Doctor’s companion Leela, who was from a race of warriors and she wore little more than a leather swimsuit throughout most of her travels in the TARDIS).
And the outfit Amy wears in “The Eleventh Hour” is no more or less revealing than much of what Nicola Bryant wore during her first year as Peri.
More recently, the show introduced and gave us Captain Jack Harkness, who while he grew into a more in-your-face character on “Torchwood” was still kind of out there in terms of his own sexuality on the show. We also saw just as much of Captain Jack in “What Not to Wear” parody scenes in “Bad Wolf” as we saw of the new Doctor here.
Sounds to me like people just wanted something to hate. Is Doctor Who a family show? Pretty dark and terrifying at times, if it is. I guess it’s not a problem giving kids nightmares about gas masks so long as they don’t see a woman in a short skirt…
doctor who was first an “educational” tv program for kids.. which is why the first companions were teachers. but… times have changed thru the years, and doctor who is STILL a family program. my daughters loved the new episode, and didn’t even think anything about the “kiss-o-gram” companion.. (although, wilfred and donna are the best!!!!)
the program is still educational (my daughter actually got books about pompeii after that donna episode) and very entertaining for the whole family
Oh, please. People just complain about anything these days.
Yeah – looks like some people are just *wanting* to complain about something …. *anything !!*
Jan from Denmark
Oh my freaking god, is there nothing that people won’t complain about, seriously. Maybe because of all the sexual content in TV I barely noticed Amy’s legs. To be sure she is attractive but doesn’t make me go “boing!” I think some of these people have short memories because I remember in the episode “Arc of Infinity” Tegan running around in very tight shorts, now that was hot but I digress.
Also, Michael makes a very good point about a very nude Captain Jack in “Bad Wolf” or how about the nude meta-crisis Doctor in “Journey’s End”? Those two examples are just from the last 4 years of Doctor Who and I am certain there is more sex in the previous episodes. So honestly I don’t know what everyone is getting bent out of shape for.
So in closeing, Amy is attractive but not that hot so get over it you prudes.
Maybe they are complaining because of the ugly stockings, and because she does not have the legs for it.
@ ejdalise – No, they aren’t, and yes, she does. But that is my opinion of course. YMMV.
Personal preferences . . . nylons in my opinion are not flattering, and darker hues more so. As far as legs go, never liked the calf-less look, and some muscle tone/definition would be nice.
Truth be told, physical attributes within a fairly broad (get it? broad . . . never mind) spectrum are not all that important, and most everything is trumped by kindness, good humor, and positive self-worth.
But, I understand preferences vary . . . otherwise we’d have a lot more unmated people, and the population would not be growing as fast as it is. JHGTY (does not stand for anything; I just don’t want to be left out of the acronym craze)
Bad news is good news in this case I believe. Their ratings are sure to go up with all this free press they are getting.
I was more unsure if I would like the new doctor but after the first episode I am quite happy with their choice. And the previews at the end make it look like this is going to be a good season.
Oy! I guess I can see their point to some extent, but (and I realize the irony of someone posting on a sci-fi website saying this) they need to get a life. Yes, Doctor Who is a family show, but what does that mean? Of course it should be suitable for children to some extent but it should also appeal to an older crowd. This is no different from having little off-colour in-jokes in kids movies like Shrek. And, as someone else has mentioned, Amy is actually more conservatively dressed than many past companions like Leela and Peri.
Of course, the real reason for the complaints is probably more about the desire of lazy journalists to find a sensational story where it doesn’t exist rather than go to the trouble of reporting real news.
As many have said, “Doctor Who” is produced as a family show….and it has layers that the younger kids may miss but the older viewers can pick up and enjoy.
And the show has always been a lightning rod….read up on the controversy during Tom Baker’s era that culminated in “The Deadly Assassin” and ended up having Philip Hinchcliffe removed as producer.
In that case (and this one) “Doctor Who” was doing very well and I guess someone had to complain about something…
Wow! She wearing a short skirt, she must be a slut. What next; will we find out she’s smoked cigarettes or heaven forbid, she’s not a virgin? If this was an American show I would think the producer dreamed up the entire controversy to get free publicity for the show.
Are these complainers trying to imitate “Moral campaigner” Mary Whitehouse.
Because, this has all be done before on Doctor Who (40 years ago to be precise) by said person.
And as usual, it says more about the complainers than the show.
It’s not a family show, it’s a fan show.
Some of Rose’s clothes were straining to do their job. Is this all about short skirts?
Haven’t seen the episode yet but, it looks like they are trying to appeal more to the US audience.
Amy Pond: Hottest. Companion. Ever.
IMHO. 🙂
At the risk of turning this thread into something else, I would say back in the day Elizabeth Sladen was hotter than Amy Pond.
This feels like a plant story. How better to get ratings up for a new show and a new doctor than to call it “Too Sexy”? There will be geeks watching in droves just to see what the “sexy” is all about.
Some people clearly need to get a life. The new Doctor Who was great. A pacey story, great acting, and well written characters. And dare I say that the serial complainers were obviously spending too long gazing at her legs (understandable) rather than watching the show – they missed the point of the costume altogether! (and yes, there was a point to it). Typical of people who have nothing better to do with their lives. Change the channel or, better still, change the record.
Just watched the first episode.I have no problem with short skirt etc, but with the sound, you couldn’t make out what they were saying some of the time, the background music (which is always great was too loud and he spoke so fast and like he was mumbling. David Tennant spoke fast but you could always understand what he was saying. i hope this improves
If anything I think this series is too water downed. Its the same old, same old. The Doctor gets a companion who’s in love with him; that ‘same love’ isn’t returned. Enter jealous boyfriend. This is the same as the first two series.
I often find that sometimes they go through the plot too fast. I still don’t know half of what the plot for the weeping angels story or the vampires episode was!
As for being scary? Dr. Who SHOULD be scary! If you don’t want scary go watch a cartoon or the more children oriented Sarah Jane Adventures. Series 2 and 3 were my fave seasons. Actually seeing people die, makes a more intense episode. Blink and Midnight were two of my all time favorite episodes. Why? Because it was intense, original and scary.
I’d really like to see a scary version of Dr. Who and if you don’t like the raciness (I don’t get that either) or scariness, find something else to watch.
And does anyone else not see ANY resemblance between the NEW Silurians and the old Silurians?