The "black servant" thing: a) you're expecting cultural attitudes to have changed overnight. Don't forget that the people who worked on this were probably born in the 20's. Think of D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation". b) we're a bit oversensitive now. We tend to see racism everywhere, and "servant" doesn't mean "slave". BTW don't forget the fuss over Lt. Uhura - a BLACK, FEMALE bridge officer on the Enterprise in Star Trek. It had the first interracial TV kiss - in the late 60's!
@Candidafox The black man is Toberman, the actor playing him Roy Stewart would have made an excellent Gan in Blake's 7 if the original idead of Gan been played by a black man had gone ahead. The late David Jackson, told me the production team for Blake's 7 wanted a black man to play Gan. Roy Stewart would have been great in that role Gan as a black man, much as I liked David Jackson in the role of Gan for a black man to play Gan Roy Stewart would have been great in that role.
But I have to say that listening to either Yanks doing British accents or Poms (Brits) doing American accents is appalling. The only thing worse is when either of them try what they think is an Australian accent!
@ashoftomorrow in the 1960's (and now to a far lesser extent) it was a basic statistical truth that a grater percentage of black people then white people worked in the service industry, (not because they where less intelligent but because they where often immigrants witch made it hard for them to get better jobs) the reason we consider something like what's in this episode racist is because it's not portraying it in that context it's making it seem like black people are inherently servile (cont)
@255ad the reason I say this being the 1960s makes it more forgiveable is because the logic was not common. the writer when he wrote "the black servant" in the script was not thinking "this all their good at" he just observed that a lot of the servants in the real world where black so why not make the servant black completely ignorant of the implication of doing that out of context, keep in mind I'm only guessing the writer may well have genuinely been resist (cont)
@255ad but their is a strong chance he did't know what he was doing, now if a writer to day did the same thing that's different a writer the odds of him being ignorant of "unfortunate implications" is far far lower and it far more likely he's just a racist (I'm looking at you Gibson)
I think the colured actor Roy Stewart who played Toberman, would ave made an excellent Gan in B7 Roy Stewart is the right height andbuild for the part I think he could have played Gan no problem. I also rate this Cyberstory very highly it is much, more fun and less violent than Earthshock was. Patrick Troughton is on top form in this story, and is also very protective towards Victoria who has just lost her father.
"I can't believe it! It's so big! What are all these knobs?"
Must. Resist. Immature. Humour.
VonCreakyskin 10 months ago 2
His Regen
Dalek115 11 months ago
Patrick Is A Good Doctor Check Jis Re
Dalek115 11 months ago
The "black servant" thing: a) you're expecting cultural attitudes to have changed overnight. Don't forget that the people who worked on this were probably born in the 20's. Think of D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation". b) we're a bit oversensitive now. We tend to see racism everywhere, and "servant" doesn't mean "slave". BTW don't forget the fuss over Lt. Uhura - a BLACK, FEMALE bridge officer on the Enterprise in Star Trek. It had the first interracial TV kiss - in the late 60's!
Candidafox 11 months ago
@Candidafox The black man is Toberman, the actor playing him Roy Stewart would have made an excellent Gan in Blake's 7 if the original idead of Gan been played by a black man had gone ahead. The late David Jackson, told me the production team for Blake's 7 wanted a black man to play Gan. Roy Stewart would have been great in that role Gan as a black man, much as I liked David Jackson in the role of Gan for a black man to play Gan Roy Stewart would have been great in that role.
rojblake82 10 months ago
@rojblake82 But do you have any strong feelings about Stewart in the role of Gan? Your post seems to be somewhat non-committal.
DefconWarningSystem 9 months ago
I wonder if Americans sound that fake when we talk like English people.
the1stLadyDoctor 11 months ago
@the1stLadyDoctor Worse.
But I have to say that listening to either Yanks doing British accents or Poms (Brits) doing American accents is appalling. The only thing worse is when either of them try what they think is an Australian accent!
Candidafox 11 months ago
@Candidafox I know what you mean. I've heard the Australian thing from Americans and British, and even the goods ones are bad.
the1stLadyDoctor 11 months ago
you know after this episode was first shown all the copies of it where wiped except one that sat in store room in hong kong until 1991
255ad 11 months ago
oh wow, probably millions of years in the future andddd the black guy is a servant. good job on that one, makers of doctor who.
ashoftomorrow 11 months ago
@ashoftomorrow it was 1967 to be fair
255ad 11 months ago
@255ad That makes it okay then?
Scarperguy 11 months ago
@ashoftomorrow in the 1960's (and now to a far lesser extent) it was a basic statistical truth that a grater percentage of black people then white people worked in the service industry, (not because they where less intelligent but because they where often immigrants witch made it hard for them to get better jobs) the reason we consider something like what's in this episode racist is because it's not portraying it in that context it's making it seem like black people are inherently servile (cont)
255ad 11 months ago
@255ad the reason I say this being the 1960s makes it more forgiveable is because the logic was not common. the writer when he wrote "the black servant" in the script was not thinking "this all their good at" he just observed that a lot of the servants in the real world where black so why not make the servant black completely ignorant of the implication of doing that out of context, keep in mind I'm only guessing the writer may well have genuinely been resist (cont)
255ad 11 months ago
@255ad but their is a strong chance he did't know what he was doing, now if a writer to day did the same thing that's different a writer the odds of him being ignorant of "unfortunate implications" is far far lower and it far more likely he's just a racist (I'm looking at you Gibson)
255ad 11 months ago
When in doubt, ask the black guy!
rjconnolly64 1 year ago
The opening scene is great. You can tell where Matt Smith gets his inspiration from.
viridismonasteriense 1 year ago 2
I think the colured actor Roy Stewart who played Toberman, would ave made an excellent Gan in B7 Roy Stewart is the right height andbuild for the part I think he could have played Gan no problem. I also rate this Cyberstory very highly it is much, more fun and less violent than Earthshock was. Patrick Troughton is on top form in this story, and is also very protective towards Victoria who has just lost her father.
rojblake82 1 year ago
6:30 - Oh well, they speak English, we don't need to shoot 'em...Rule Brittania!
This version beats the slacks off the one they have on Netflix - and it's free!
totallythepope 1 year ago 2
i think this is the first time the Doctor's ever revealed his age.
ADragonAmongRoses 1 year ago
I love the american accent
LilRonin01 1 year ago 2
you are AWESOME for posting these thanks!!!!!!
omega311888 2 years ago
"Fan-tastic!"
It's a joy to have a good, clean copy available for viewing here. Thank-you!
TheXMarks 2 years ago