I wasn't paying that close attention by the end, and thought she was acting weird because she just merced Ricky September to save herself. And with that other guy saying he was defacto leader, I thought they were just finally being careful and not just going with what they were told. That they wanted to take control of their own lives now...
But after I saw a different article all the earlier stuff clicked into place.
Yeah, like I picked up on her dismissing the doctor, but giving Ruby a shot.
But like, the companion is literally there for the human side of stuff, and she is the same age range of everyone on the planet (early 20s) while the doctor is a little older and to a 20 year old would considerer him "old".
Like, they didn't hit people over the head with it. And they left a lot of room for plausible deniability.
Which is an incredibly accurate view of racism, especially looking back at the end, explains why the Doctor was so torn up. If it doesn't effect you, you might not notice. If it does, you recognize it.
My only complaint is that whether the Doctor is Black/white/whatever, he didn't grow up like that, he doesn't have the experience. I'm not sure how long it's supposed to have been since regeneration, maybe he's already picked up how different it is this time?
They should have ended it with Doctor and Ruby in the TARDIS, with the Doctor talking about how he just doesn't get why they wouldn't come.
The Doctor may be Black now, but because he hasn't been Black long, it would have made sense for him not to get it, and need Ruby to explain it to the doctor as a standin for explaining it to the audience. Even though Ruby is white, she grew up with a Black family, she would definitely recognize why they were nice to her, but shitty to the Doctor.
But if they were already hesitant about broaching the topic, I get why it ended like it did.
I had low expectations for this season, but they're killing it so far. Can't wait to go back and binge the full season once it's all released.
Much of her lousy behavior I immediately just chalked up to being a childish brat. And I figured her being nicer to Ruby because she’s easier to identify with as a young, hip, pretty girl. (I was so close to the truth…) Everything else past, including irritating with The Doctor, I just lumped into the unfolding insanity that started as soon as he first showed up.
The only part I wasn’t immediately sure about Ricky/“white Doctor” and how he fit into the whole story. I guess I expected some kind of eventual betrayal, just… not in the way it happened…
Man… I’ll be thinking about this one for quite a long time, I think. :)