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Classic Who - "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" Part 1/2 Full Reaction

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Comments

Ryan

The story that dares to say "So you thought Star Trek was as embarrassingly racist as old sci-fi could get, huh?" At least it gave us a great bit in the Honest Trailer, where they go over various ways the show is uncomfortably dated, and then say "And those are all just from The Talons of Weng-Chiang."

Azmat Mahmood

It's a shame The Talons of Weng Chiang has those uncomfortably racist aspects because it also just so happens to be one of the greatest stories the show has ever done. I think it's a shame that some people allow those other things to overshadow the rest of the story, something which has only grown more prevalent with the passage of time, but at the same time I can understand why. Personally, I'm still able to enjoy the story for the masterpiece that it is and I hope Jess is able to do that as well.... I haven't watched the reaction yet, so idk how she reacted....

Ian Smith

This is a story which, for many years, had an unassailable reputation as a Dr Who Masterpiece; but is now looked upon with a distinct sense of embarrassment, albeit tempered by the strength of the storytelling. Looking beyond the (nowadays) awkward casting decisions, it can be seen as a plot built around the concept of Victorian 'gothic' or 'sensation' storytelling stereotypes. It's all there: foggy London town; Jack the Ripper and missing young women; music halls; sinister sewers; devilish things stalking the back alleys; the dreaded 'yellow peril'; stoic and stolid policemen; Sherlock Holmes. For me personally, it's all a bit too much!

Azmat Mahmood

Just finished watching the reaction and I thought you handled the post ep thoughts very well, Jess. As you can tell I, and a lot of other fans, are very fond of this story. It's not that we aren't also made uncomfortable by the racism and don't acknowledge how problematic it is, but the rest of the story is so good that we're able to look past it and enjoy everything else about it. I'm sure we would all be a lot less forgiving if this wasn't made over 50 years! This is only the first two parts and I hope you aren't as put off by the rest of the story and are able to enjoy and focus on the positive aspects more, but if you aren't able to (and I can only speak for myself here), I certainly won't hold it against you and will understand why.

Ryan

Just check out the reception the Blind Banker episode of Sherlock got.

Anonymous

I can't *believe* you would suggest that Star Trek fans are allowed to watch your Doctor Who reactions!

Thomas Corp

Speaking as one of your Star Trek reaction viewers, yeah, we’ve been here once or twice before. As I'm seeing in the comments here, and I agree, the story itself is a particularly good one. I commented on youtube that it feels very Doctor Who meets Hammer Horror which is fine by me as I love the Hammer Horror films. The biggest hindrance to the story is the yellowface. Same as you, I'm white, thus, I can’t speak to what it feels like seeing one’s race misrepresented in media, though as you note, one can certainly sympathize. My own strategy is similar to yours in that if there’s something uncomfortable in a film or show, it bears discussion. And yes, sometimes it’s not pleasant to talk about, but like you’ve said in the past with Star Trek especially, stuff like, “This stuff bothers me. What do you want me to do? Lie about it and pretend that it doesn’t?” I know that as you noted, sometimes people argue that some things can’t be viewed through a modern lens, and you have to bear in mind the time in which it was made. I've said that myself at times, but I say it as you note, I'm not excusing and/or justifying anything of an uncomfortable nature, because there is no excuse for any of it. I say that to say, this is why some of it exists, I'm not happy about it, I don’t applaud it, it’s wrong, nonetheless. There are times as well when such as this Who story, or say for example, Breakfast at Tiffany's where you watch it, and you think even for when it was made you just wonder what the fuck anyone was thinking in signing off on any of it. I hate when people use the “view it through the time it was made” argument to say just ignore the problematic stuff. There's a really good program that’s been shown on Turner Classic Movies where blackface is discussed, specifically the history behind it, and why it existed in the first place. During this program, one sentiment is brought up that yes, we discuss, and we study why it existed, yes, but it’s insulting; regardless of when something was made, that it was a different time, it’s still offensive. This same program also argues in favor of preserving the films as is, one, if people wish to see them, even if they have these offensive and insulting elements, they should have the right to see them if they are genuinely curious. It does not excuse said offensive material, it simply presents the media as it is, because to pretend it never existed is more harmful, and it opens the door for discussion. It’s the great line in The Lion King, “Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it.” I do believe that everything you had to say in your post-episode thought was most eloquently said, Jess.

Vanessa J McNamara

I really appreciate they way you described how you had a right to feel uncomfortable. Of course you do. But I myself may have been guilty of using the take into consideration the time it was in. When I first saw this story, I'm embarrassed to say I did not know it was yellowface. I don't really think I thought about it. It was what actors did, played other people. But you are right, I have no idea really what that is like. I really like this story, and so the only person I am irritated is the people who decided this was a good idea. I don't know of all the circumstances. I'm sure others would be more knowledgeable about that than I would. To your credit, you didn't throw things at the screen and vowed never to watch Doctor Who again, lol. I think you showed considerable grace and intelligence discussing the issue. You actually provided some insights that I had not of thought of