The sci-fi show Doctor Who, now exclusively on Disney+, has showcased its title character’s first gay kiss shortly after Disney CEO Bob Iger assured investors that the company would tone down its strong progressive messaging.
In episode seven of the 2024 season, titled “Rogue,” the time-traveling Doctor arrives in Bath, England, in 1813, pursuing shape-shifting aliens known as the Chuldur who steal identities and lives. During this adventure, The Doctor encounters a space bounty hunter called “Rogue” (Groff) with whom he develops a romantic attraction.
Given the current direction of Doctor Who, this development is hardly surprising. The series is now under the helm of former showrunner Russell T. Davies, who is openly gay and the creator of Showtime’s Queer as Folk. Davies had previously promised to introduce such storylines to the show.
The characters eventually share a kiss, marking a significant moment as The Doctor has had girlfriends and wives in the past but never a romantic encounter with another male. However, there was once an openly gay character, Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), introduced in 2005. As Pink News highlights, Harkness gives a farewell kiss to The Doctor and his female companion in the 2005 season finale.
Another notable scene features Rogue and The Doctor engaging in a ballroom dance, stunning the aristocrats present in 1813 Britain. This scene culminates with Rogue kneeling and offering a ring to The Doctor, proposing marriage. This elaborate dance is ultimately a ruse to trap the Chuldur.
The episode concludes with Rogue sacrificing himself to send the Chuldur into another dimension, thereby saving The Doctor’s companion Ruby. However, the storyline leaves room for Rogue’s potential return.
In 2022, Disney+ announced it would become the “global home” of Doctor Who for viewers outside the U.K. after acquiring the streaming rights for all episodes.
Despite Iger’s memo suggesting a reduction in extreme progressive themes, this directive seems not to have impacted the company’s creative projects. For instance, Disney’s latest series The Acolyte has been promoted as the “gayest Star Wars yet,” which has delighted lesbian showrunner Leslye Headland. The series features main characters who are twins played by “non-binary” actress Amandla Stenberg, conceived by two mothers in a coven of witches.
Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy has affirmed that she will not alter course in response to critics, despite the declining fortunes of both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Recently, she criticized the franchise’s “male-dominated” fanbase and emphasized that Star Wars storytelling must be inclusive. “That’s an easy decision for me,” she said.
Headland has also expressed her frustration with fan backlash. “Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism, or hate speech … I don’t consider a fan,” she stated.
The Acolyte has garnered the lowest score of all Star Wars series, with an unfavorable 28 percent audience rating.
