‘Doctor Who’ Is More Queer Than Ever—Just the Way Its Showrunner Likes It
Under Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies—who has returned to the show for the first time since 2010, in order to helm its new Disney+ reboot—the British sci-fi classic is perhaps the most optimistic show on television. The Doctor’s companions, all of whom are good, loving people, are thrilled to go along for the ride. The villains, humanoid, monster, and robot alike, delight viewers as they try to torment our heroes. And through it all, the good Doctor, who never wields a gun, wins.
It’s also inclusive, full of queer characters, representations of disabilities, and a multiracial cast. The new season cranks this up a notch, starting with its star, Ncuti Gatwa—the first openly queer and Black male actor to portray the classic character.
“I’ve got to say, you have to be a pretty tough executive to stand up to me [and tell me] to take that gay character out,” Davies, who is gay himself, tells The Daily Beast’s Obsessed, when asked if he faced any pushback against this decision. “Good luck with that battle.”