I read an analysis of New Who that said, handful of visible exceptions included, it was not a universe that was kind to or valued age.
And yet those exceptions are very visible, and they keep recurring. Furthermore, they're usually the *most* invisible and undervalued demographic, older women. Usually if there's a codger somewhere in this entire ageist society, it's the wise male teacher. If there's an older woman, she's always the wise mother or (after a certain age) the granny with a heart of gold.
In new Who/Torchwood, we get Harriet (who survives the alien attack and makes it to Prime Minister *and* ushers in a new Golden Age before the Doctor gets his knickers in a knot), Mrs. Moore who was quite obviously the brains of the outfit, an aging Victoria who is every inch the monarch and tough as old boots as the job requires, and Sarah Jane, who is not only the one to deliver the big smack upside the head to the Doctor, but who is presented as being damned sexy and competent at an age when most actresses can only get character work.
The only complete ditzes in the whole crew are Jackie and Estelle, and even then, they're presented with saving graces. Jackie serves as the voice of reason, and rises to the occasion more than once. As for Estelle, while they make it clear she's fanciful cannonfodder, they also present her as someone who survived some of England's hardest times and still worthy at her age of great love. I saw no nostalgia in Jack's relationship with her - he loved her because he *loved* her, not that he *had* loved her, if that makes sense.
Considering that so many shows don't even bother to cast anyone over the age of 35, I think New Who/Twood are doing pretty darn well. Especially now with the Adventures coming up, where it's an older career woman who is the mentor figure. It's about TIME a 50+ woman can give advice to the lead without wearing pearls and serving up chocolate chip cookies at the same time!
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Date: 2006-12-08 03:04 pm (UTC)And yet those exceptions are very visible, and they keep recurring. Furthermore, they're usually the *most* invisible and undervalued demographic, older women. Usually if there's a codger somewhere in this entire ageist society, it's the wise male teacher. If there's an older woman, she's always the wise mother or (after a certain age) the granny with a heart of gold.
In new Who/Torchwood, we get Harriet (who survives the alien attack and makes it to Prime Minister *and* ushers in a new Golden Age before the Doctor gets his knickers in a knot), Mrs. Moore who was quite obviously the brains of the outfit, an aging Victoria who is every inch the monarch and tough as old boots as the job requires, and Sarah Jane, who is not only the one to deliver the big smack upside the head to the Doctor, but who is presented as being damned sexy and competent at an age when most actresses can only get character work.
The only complete ditzes in the whole crew are Jackie and Estelle, and even then, they're presented with saving graces. Jackie serves as the voice of reason, and rises to the occasion more than once. As for Estelle, while they make it clear she's fanciful cannonfodder, they also present her as someone who survived some of England's hardest times and still worthy at her age of great love. I saw no nostalgia in Jack's relationship with her - he loved her because he *loved* her, not that he *had* loved her, if that makes sense.
Considering that so many shows don't even bother to cast anyone over the age of 35, I think New Who/Twood are doing pretty darn well. Especially now with the Adventures coming up, where it's an older career woman who is the mentor figure. It's about TIME a 50+ woman can give advice to the lead without wearing pearls and serving up chocolate chip cookies at the same time!