So, what did we think?

[Ian]

To be honest, it's not the 'non kid friendly' aspect of the saucy humour that bothers me. If I were just worried about that the scary and occationaly disturbing stuff (e.g. cyber surgery machines) would also be a problem.

For me the issue is that this sort of stuff is like a 'knowing wink' to the audience, and takes me out of the drama. It's a bit like a character talking to camera or otherwise 'breaking the fourth wall'. An example from classic who might be in Rememberence of the Daleks, with the whole 'and now for a new sci fi show' on the television. A fun nod to the fans, but its actually detremental to the drama of the program as it takes you out of the show.

[lamuella]

it was a fun, silly, special.  It did the job of telling a short story fairly quickly and efficiently.  It was definitely an offering from Humour Moffat rather than Serious Moffat (as was the christmas special), but for what it was, it was pretty cute.

[Ian]

it was a fun, silly, special.  It did the job of telling a short story fairly quickly and efficiently.  It was definitely an offering from Humour Moffat rather than Serious Moffat (as was the christmas special), but for what it was, it was pretty cute.

Don't get me wrong, as I said at the top I don't have a problem with this particular episode and if this was all it was then I wouldn't care. My issue is that this isn't an isolated piece, but the latest installment in a developing theme. So I guess my complaint is more with that theme than this particular instance.

[Rory Pond]

Also, I have to agree with the other posters who don't understand the Amy haters.  I love the character.  Yes, she can be a b*tch.  This why I do like her.  She is flawed, but fun.  Amy doesn't second guess herself.  She is going to be herself no matter what while dealing with the issue that she really hasn't figured out her life.  This starting coming together in "Amy's Choice."   I'm convinced that Moffat has her still on a growth curve, and I still think River Song is tied into it somehow.  I also am betting that Rory will grow next season as well. 

Thank you for speaking out on the Amy hate. I was beginning to think I was the only one who felt differently.

Personally of all the female characters in the new series...  the ones I would love to travel in TARDIS with is Amy and Sally Sparrow.

For me, it's Amy, Sally, and Donna. It's a shame Sally was never meant to be a proper companion.

[lambowolf]

Thank you for speaking out on the Amy hate. I was beginning to think I was the only one who felt differently.

My pleasure

[lambowolf]

I did hear that someone confirmed that Moffat said that the question that Amy tried to ask the Doctor that she will ask during the season.   Any thoughts?

[bones_bullock]

I really liked this mini episode making me laugh for most of it. As to saucy type jokes in the show I do think its a matter of the changing of television. I also liked this short because it really showed the extreme of Who humor with the paradox but what i really like about Doctor Who is that it does drama and humor really well. In fact I find it more dramatic if a fun loving cast is thrown into things like having to stop the entire universe from never having existed.

[Michele]

I’ve been meaning to throw my two cents in for a long time, and I guess I should get around to it before the new season starts!

Good comments on all sides of the argument on this thread.  I was not deeply offended by the scenes, but you can put me into the disappointed camp – for the reasons outlined by others.  I thought I’d mention a few things not yet brought up here.

It could be argued that Amy actually takes the brunt of two negative stereotypes here – the saucy objectification which has been discussed at length, but also the stereotype that women are bad drivers. Certainly the guys get to play with the TARDIS technology where Amy’s abilities are ridiculed. Now of course I won’t read too much into this comedy skit, but sometimes the negative stereotypes seem to have a cumulative effect and seem more inappropriate for it.

On the opposite side of opinion for this story – I did actually appreciate that the saucy jokes showed a married couple actually enjoying each other – there is life after matrimony!

But back to the disappointed feeling:  Many have said that this should be taken in the context of being a short comedy skit within a comedy program (that contained a lot of this kind of humor, I take it?).  Weren’t the sketch that documented Rose’s first conversation with the tenth Doctor and Timecrash, also filmed for Children in Need specials? I found both of those infinitely more meaningful, charming, and memorable than what we saw this year.  Just because low comedy might be the order of the day, doesn’t mean you can’t rise above it to a higher standard and offer something transcendent.

Michele

[judgefloyd]

I'm late to this thread and agree with Michelle that the objectification is a bit tacky.  Overall it doesn't spoil the skit for me, but it's a bit un-Whoish.  One good thing about the usual kid-friendly prudishness of Who is that it's more respectful towards women than a lot of more 'adult' stuff.  The timey-wimey stuff was very clever, the Benny Hill element detracted from it and I think Michelle is right that it wasn't as good, all up, as the Tennant Doctor's first chat with Rose.  That was terrific because it seemed so natural - Rose said all the things you'd expect someone in that situation to say.
  With my sexist pig hat on, I note that the objectification bit didn't work for me because of the assumption that Amy is gorgeous.  I don't find her that hot.
     
   

[TomH1138]

I know the people here are awesome fans.  However, I do think we all fall into the trap of wanting Who to be the show we want it to be when we were introduced into the series.  We have to take into account that storytelling in itself has changed over time.

Personally of all the female characters in the new series...  the ones I would love to travel in TARDIS with is Amy and Sally Sparrow.

Very well said, lambowolf! I agree 100% with your post, and I only singled out these pieces because they were my favorites.

It could be argued that Amy actually takes the brunt of two negative stereotypes here – the saucy objectification which has been discussed at length, but also the stereotype that women are bad drivers.

That bothered me when I first saw it, too, Michelle, but then I remembered that the Doctor is an absolutely dreadful driver of the TARDIS, and River is always having to fix his mistakes.

On the opposite side of opinion for this story – I did actually appreciate that the saucy jokes showed a married couple actually enjoying each other – there is life after matrimony!

This is exactly why I didn't have a problem with the saucy humor here. It was all between two married people, and a healthy desire between a married couple is the kind of thing we need to see more of on television, IMHO.

One good thing about the usual kid-friendly prudishness of Who is that it's more respectful towards women than a lot of more 'adult' stuff.

In some ways, judgefloyd. In other ways, a lot of the women in the original series just screamed and got captured all the time. The females in the new series are just as likely to be saving the day.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. I've been enjoying this healthy, civil discussion!
 

[Ian]

As a follow up to this (and with mild spoilers for IA and DotM), there has been a continuation of the more 'blue' humour in the new series, so this clearly is a Moffat trope (who would have thought?!). But I have to say that the most recent examples, i.e. under the skirt and screaming, are a bit milder and benefited from being in a much larger episode, so therefore were a much smaller element in the scheme of things. I was certainly a lot less bothered by them (in fact not at all really) this time round than I was in Time/Space.

[Darkglasses]

This topic needed a poll...

I did not much enjoy 'Space' and 'Time'. I accept that sexual humour is a a part of the modern TV landscape, but in this case I feel that it was not funny because it was flaunted. It wasn't subtle at all. Subtlety is key in my opinion especially in a program such as Doctor Who.