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While I *get* the disappointment, if your reaction to the John Bishop casting went any further than "awh shucks, oh well" then I think a desperate re-reading of the room is in order here.
I know I'm normally expected to call out NMD stuff but you can do two things at once.
I know I'm normally expected to call out NMD stuff but you can do two things at once.
I've said this before but DW fans have done the cycle of "comedian = bad" before getting proven intensely wrong loads of times.
Catherine Tate, Matt Lucas, Bradley Walsh etc. We should be smarter than this by now.
Frankly, fans should be full of glee that the show is able to...
Catherine Tate, Matt Lucas, Bradley Walsh etc. We should be smarter than this by now.
Frankly, fans should be full of glee that the show is able to...
...attract the attention and talent of one of the countries most famous comedians to be a companion for what could be a whole season (or multiple because who knows?).
Not to mention, complaining about "white man bad" when the actor in question seems to be playing...
Not to mention, complaining about "white man bad" when the actor in question seems to be playing...
...a working-class handyman from Liverpool (an legit unrepresented demographic, especially for 'Doctor Who') then it reads as an uneducated own goal.
Now, I get it. You wanted your all-female TARDIS team and a potential romance. But that ain't John Bishop's fault.
Now, I get it. You wanted your all-female TARDIS team and a potential romance. But that ain't John Bishop's fault.
Dan, the character, is a role/character. Bishop didn't create him. Your options for S13 were never;
"Jodie + Mandip"
or
"Jodie + Mandip + John"
It was always the latter, but with a different name at the end. That's how media works. And that ain't John's fault.
"Jodie + Mandip"
or
"Jodie + Mandip + John"
It was always the latter, but with a different name at the end. That's how media works. And that ain't John's fault.
Thankfully, I imagine Bishop will have a thick skin as a long-standing comedian but that's no excuse. Just because a guy is a celeb doesn't mean they're an open target (especially in this case when they've not done anything wrong).
Now, I can't get TOO worked up about it, mainly because this (along with so much of the online-left) is mainly just people trying to showcase that they're "more left than you".
Compared to NMD stuff, this stuff burns half as brightly for half as long.
Compared to NMD stuff, this stuff burns half as brightly for half as long.
But yelling at a casting team and an actor without seeing any of the end result and with zero context to go off of is reductive, dumb, helps no one and we all know you'll be watching and sharing "Fun Dan Reaction Gifs" during Series 13.
Just read a room, okay?
Just read a room, okay?
Like I said, I can't get *too* mad because there are discussions to be had about representation and casting.
But when you're complaining that 1/3 of your lead cast is white and male (sight unseen)...it's not a good look.
Aim those justified concerns in the right direction.
But when you're complaining that 1/3 of your lead cast is white and male (sight unseen)...it's not a good look.
Aim those justified concerns in the right direction.
If we had a male Doctor, a male companion and THEN John Bishop had been thrown in, then I'd get it (even though I still wouldn't condone the rhetoric being thrown against an actor doing a job).
But 'Doctor Who' still has one of the most diverse leading casts on TV right now.
But 'Doctor Who' still has one of the most diverse leading casts on TV right now.
And now, enjoy this image of Graham O'Brien for no reason.
