The Parting of the Ways

Okay - I can't stand it anymore - I need to add my comments to the reviews of this splendid series. The thing that really gets up my nose is the amount of bitching about whether or not it is any good, and the intense analysis it's put through, as though it were a 19 century novel up for a PHd thesis. It winds me up because, like it or not, (and forgive me raising my voice here) DOCTOR WHO IS A KIDS' PROGRMME. It always has been. I guess many of those who are "disappointed" with RTD's vision seem to forget that you first saw it when you were kids and it's grown with you - probably fed by the many books and audio tapes that have been predominantly written for the kid-become-adult audience. What particularly offends me is that so few hard core Who fans seems to appreciate that this new series is giving something absolutely wonderful (and amazing and frightening and MORAL) to a whole new generation of children. RTD understands this, and he also understands that along with the kiddies content, he also needs to throw nods at the adults watching alongside their offspring. So we have Capt Jack's bisexuality, post-modern references scattered all over the place (big bruv, weakest link et al), and I'm convinced that the Eastenders council estate revisits - Rose, Micky and her Mum - are tongue in cheek as well.

You lot (as the Doctor would say), or many of you, don't seem to be watching with children, or understanding that all this is, at least for the greater part, for them. I can gleefully report that mine (7 and 9) have been absolutely transported over the last 13 Saturday evenings. The gas aliens gave the youngest a nightmare (and I remember having a nightmare about being chased by daleks on Saturday night in 1963, and it didn't do me any harm). Hand-holding duty went on for half an hour until she went back to sleep. Next day the video was watched again!!!!

And what's wrong with farting aliens? Kids love fart jokes. I watched my two reduced to giggling wrecks one moment, closely followed by jumping up on the sofa (not behind until the first dalek appeared) the next, when the Slitheens took off the skin suit and started chasing Rose and the MP (forget the name) through No 10.

The dalek story terrified them and perplexed them by turns. The gasmask kids just plain and simply terrified them, but everything was alright in the end, and the last two episodes had them wide eyed. Not a peep all the way through. The regeneration scene absolutely astonished them (as did the bigger-inside-than-out tardis at the front end of the series).

So okay - the way I've watched this is by watching my kids watching a programme that is made for children. And it is very very very good television. I'd make a guess that like me (and like a lot of you) they'll carry the seeds that have been planted over the past 13 weeks into their adulthood and develop a healthy respect for science-fiction, which is wonderful genre.

And what of me watching with the kids? Well, yes, RTD's storylines have weak points, but the characterisation is wonderful. He is writing for children and they demand less internal logic than adults. You want intellectual coherence go pick up an adult sci-fi novel - there are lots of them about that really do take on big subjects in a challenging way. The acting has been superb throughout (what is it with this carping criticism of Rose's mum? She's been fine. I live in east London and she's like any number of my neighbours...REALLY). The effects are better than they ever were before and the music must be better than that dreadful electronic stuff of the 70's and 80's.

So, a plea..think on. Who's (haha) this series written for? Not for 20, 30 or 40 year olds. They have to stretch their imagination a bit, and remember what it was like to be a kid. Do that and you'll love it.