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Is there? I always thought Doctor Who was escapism.
I haven't kept up with the latest series, but it always had that British liberal fondness for the Empire and "Britishness", especially in any episodes set in the 19th or 20th centuries.
I'm talking typical stuff, like portraying Winston Churchill as a lovable rogueish wholesome chungus instead of a brutal bloodsoaked demon, or the modern UK government/PM being important on the world stage or any kind of a force for good, that sort of thing. But that just accords with about 99% of British people's understanding of history anyway.
I don't disagree but I still can't help myself from enjoying Doctor Who.
But you'd think a time travelling alien would be a lot more terrified and saddened by the material conditions of the 20/21st century. The Doctor can travel time and space and thus would have seen the very best and most equitable systems sentient beings have ever created. The show definitely forwards a very hobbesian ideology in that even when humans / sentient beings have no scarcity, they still end up doing evil things because apparently sentient beings are inherently selfish and bad.
And I'm sure there is an argument that the doctor saving the day reflects a sort of "white man's burden" discourse.
With all that said, i still think it's one of the best sci-fi TV shows.