Doctor Who is a show that works on many levels. While it started out aimed at kids, it has evolved to the point where it is now a family show in the best sense of the phrase it celebrates and explores family connection, both those we are born into and those we make and respects the fact that family means different things to different people. The new series of Doctor Who, especially in the Steven Moffat era, has become quite adept in its portrayal of complex adult concepts, relationships and emotions. While these threads run throughout the last three series that does not mean a child cannot still enjoy the show. We all love monsters and explosions and there are still plenty of those around. But intertwined with these elements is an emphasis on character and how humanity deals with conflict and chaos, growth and change, friendship and partnership, reason and fear. Doctor Who is allowing children to experience complexity from a safe place and hopefully with a parent nearby. So lets explore the adult themes that Doctor Who is contemplating and how they relate to the teaching of children in a world that is rapidly changing and evolving.
9. Suicide
So far in Series 7 of Doctor Who weve experienced at least 3 suicides Oswin turning off the force field knowing the Daleks will destroy her and the planet in Asylum of the Daleks, Kahler Jex self destructing in his ship in Town Called Mercy, and Amy and Rory leaping from the roof top in Angels Take Manhattan. All three of these scenes however are depicted in a very particular way. Suicide, it can be argued, is the ultimate selfish act - though of course there are usually extenuating circumstances. In Doctor Who, however, suicide is used as a way to portray the ultimate sacrifice a giving up of ones life in order to save another. In real life we sacrifice for love all the time a needy mother gives up her own share at the end of the month in order to feed her children, a refugee father carries his sick child miles through the desert in desperate hope he will find help across the border, people push each other out of the way of oncoming traffic, or give up life-changing opportunities to spend a few last days with a dying parent. While a child may not be ready to understand all the complexities of a suicide, they certainly understand sacrifice. Theyve seen for themselves what happens when they let their best friend play with the favorite toy they were coveting, or let their sister have the last piece of candy. And they know what happens when they dont share these things. Selflessness is not a bad thing to learn. Doctor Who does tend to go to extremes to make that point but its not gratuitous. It simply makes the message more powerful.