The Darkest Episode of Family Entertainment

[@thecountrywarrior]

God that scene with Wilfred knowing EXACTLY what's going on while the Italian guy hides the truth so Donna doesn't need to worry gives me chills every time! Wil slowly breaking as he realizes this is a repeat of what came before is such good acting. "That's what they called them last time." So good. So damn good. Great line.

[@Daniel_Lancelin]

The real twist of the knife for me is that he fought overseas and presumably watched a lot of good friends die to stop this from happening again, only to see it in the very country he served so faithfully. Imagine the absolute betrayal you would feel, realizing all that pain and sacrifice was for _nothing._

[@dimethylhydra]

this feels like a combination of two really specific senses of unease that I only feel like I've felt from something once each: - alternate timelines where things go worse for everyone in the most depressing way possible, with the few scraps of hope only serving to make the despair stand out more - passively observing a borderline abstract apocalypse where the cause is so alien that it would be nearly impossible to pinpoint before everyone dies around you with the addition of some Threads on top because of course. I suppose of all series to pull something like that it'd be Dr. Who, but damn.

[@Painticus]

I totally agree in the sense that this is a rare feeling, and that this is a rare one. Very few shows are willing to go to such lengths as Doctor Who. Somehow it keeps a family friendly rating though! The two types of unease you mention are interesting. The first is one that freaks me out often - I have dreams where events take place slightly differently, leading to disaster, and those dreams are definitely haunting. The second type is a kind we can all relate to - one in which we are powerless to stop our incoming doom. It's a horrific idea. I love it.

[@eveningdreamermusic]

those ending directions have some serious "Welcome To Night Vale" vibes

[@Painticus]

I've always heard good things about Welcome to Night Vale. I guess I should check it out!

[@eveningdreamermusic]

@@Painticus you really should. It ticks a lot of boxes of things you like (lovecraftian small town horror weirdness)

[@Painticus]

Sounds ideal!

[@jprofio]

Somehow I forgot about this episode of Doctor Who until right now, even though Donna is one of my mom's favorite companions. That one got dark

[@Painticus]

Your mom has good taste! Donna was always my favourite too.

[@calemr]

Sometimes, it's the small things that can make or break a scene. And for me, sadly, that scene was really broken by Donna not knowing what a labour camp is. It was a little blunt to even call them "Labour camps", and not be more euphemistic. To then have Donna basically go "I've never heard of one of the most well known aspects of probably the most well known event in all of human history." rather shatters any suspension of disbelief for me. I just wish they'd have named them something a little less on the nose, then they could have easily gone "Oh they call them that on the news, that's how the government got them through, but really, they're labour camps." (Sorta like the Americans calling enacting a surveillance state "The Patriot act") and then Donna can be appropriately horrified. But instead, it makes what is otherwise probably my favourite companion look like a bloody moron who'd go "Hitler? Never heard of her."

[@BewegteBilderrahmen]

Like "reception centre" is used for places where asylum seekers are detained and indefinitely ghettoised? That would have probably been too much on the nose for british television seeing as they don't even talk about british concentration and labour camps from the last two centuries even in hushed euphemistic tones. They wanted a clear "oh it's just the nazi thing", not something that makes people realise these things are happening in their own countries. For EU people, try Moria "Reception and Identification Centre", or other such places, your country is probably very complicit. I do wish they'd be more open in the media about such topics being whitewashed, though, and you said it well.

[@Necroxion]

Honestly, this actually feels authentic to me after observing so many people either view actual fascism straight in the face and miss it, or look at something that just happens to be in the opposite of their political spectrum and call it fascist People like Donna simply grew up at a time or place where stuff like this is more legend than history, like yeah they taught them at school, but they've only experienced them at school and probably just memorized it for a few quizzes, unlike someone who actually lived through that area who could immediately understand what was happening

[@CoDcomrade2]

Wilfred will always be my favorite side character in Dr. Who, full stop.

[@theraccoonatic]

Ah yes, Doctor Who. What was once the darkest show on family television that I grew up loving is now a convoluted, inconsistent mess where the main character is now super duper special and lacks the flaws they had before. This episode reminded me of how good this show used to be

[@Beeyo176]

Goddammit, now I have to binge all of Painticus' videos...again.

[@lenafisher2793]

know what. the 2014 tumblr girlies were right. this is the only tv show

[@mrred773]

Doctor Who is some of my favourite fiction. At least new doctor who, can't speak for old DW. I should rewatch it sometime. One of the things I like about Donna as a character, despite her being my least favourite of the first 3 companions, is she doesn't really have much of a skill (to my memory) other than being sassy and having a lot of spirit. Kinda like how Bilbo is a relatively normal person, not a lot of skill but making up for it with heart. This episode, to me, always sort of represented the idea that there's nothing wrong with wanting more, but it's infinitely better to sacrifice for the better of others - That just because you're kinda a weakling, that doesn't mean your choices and actions don't matter. That you CAN make the right choices in the end, and even if nobody will know it it is still worth celebrating. Thanks for the vid Paintman, I'm thinking of putting some cash towards your patreon.

[@Painticus]

Donna was probably my favourite of the first 3 companions for the very reason you said - she's largely unremarkable, but with a confident personality. Rose and Martha (while both excellent) often felt like second fiddles to the Doctor, but series 4 really is a double act. Your interpretation of the episode is excellent - I hadn't considered the sacrificial part in my theory. Your theory would also tie in to the rest of series 4, given how Journey's End, The Waters of Mars, and The End of Time finish. It's a running theme that I had completely missed! Thank you for considering donations on patreon - it really is greatly appreciated, and I aim to do more for my patrons this year. I hope I make it worth your while!

[@Mordrevious]

I haven't watched this episode of DH since I was a teenager. Watching the facial acting and Cribbins' dialogue at around 9:00 actually got me to inhale sharply and got my heart rate up, it's so well done. I'm glad I can appreciate it now.

[@fabrizioschiappacasse5048]

As someone who does not know antthing about doctor who, loved the stories, the way you told them and the overall feeling of the video, thanks.

[@amysaysbye]

this will always be my favourite episode of DW, still get chills every time i watch it. great video on it!

[@spinballwhizzkids]

How are your videos not getting more views. Fantastic, well-edited content. Excuse me, bout to go on a binge...

[@chadmanlet5949]

Keep it up Painticus love your videos

[@musicaluprising924]

I didn’t understand this episode as a kid. Now, it fills me with dread.

[@toethumbghost]

damn paint, you make some excellent content.

[@Painticus]

Thank you! You make some excellent toe/thumb themed ghosts.

[@Shenaldrac]

So I'm sure it wasn't the intended message, but my takeaway from this is "You better fucking choose whatever decision gets you with The Doctor or everything is FUCKED forever!" I really dislike these kinds of premises in the first place, the whole "go back in time to make a single change and it inevitably makes things worse" shtick, but this just goes harder than most.

[@dejan17464]

The holocaust part was hilariously sudden and out-of-nowhere

[@owneyw4374]

Commenting for algorithm as I have nothing to add other than good video

[@redpepper876]

I Agree also

[@Painticus]

You are a champion and a hero

[@owneyw4374]

@@Painticus no you

[@runningsloth3324]

You make fantastic videos dude, keep it up!

[@beefwellingtonRaptor]

hell yeah more painticus content

[@groerhahn225]

What makes this even harder to digest to a Doctor Who fan is that oyu really FEEL the abscene of the Doctor. Doctor Who frequently has dark and serious themes, but what you only realize after this episode is how much the Doctor balances out the dark themes. Yes, he may react in a goofy and light-hearted way as often as he burns in righteous anger or serious cynicism, but what he always is, is proactive. In a way, he brings sense to the chaos. The Doctor always has a plan, always knows what he does, and while he doesn't always succeed, he tried and triesuntil he does. Without beein able to rely on him, we as the viewers are just as much tossed around by the tides of the events as Donna and her family are. It is a feeling you don't get that often in other episodes of the show.

[@waltervoidbringer4491]

And the lord provides! By the one that lurks beneath the darkened soils, this whole thing just took the "and then it got worse" trope and went overdrive with it. Holy shits!

[@Painticus]

"'Turn Left' but the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' theme kicks in (with increasing bass boost) following each atrocity"

[@Blayze]

This aged instantly, given America today.

[@Painticus]

Aliens may have been preferrable tbh

[@Voingous]

There has assuredly never been a moment in America's history where you could inaccurately call it racist and genocidal.

[@gamermccoolman9312]

Not too sure about that. They may have been racist, but they haven’t really been genocidal since the 19th century.

[@Astoratatouille]

just discovered your channel, dude you need at least 100k subscribers wtf

[@21Cayque12]

Well, I didn't know this episode existed and they really tried hard to make the worst possible reality

[@Maggerama]

Wait, this isn't a cryptids-only channel? Can't say I mind. Your writing elevates any topic, it seems.

[@SonicfanTheNightfury5099]

Holy moly It's dark

[@scarecrow2097]

Are you.....my mommy?

[@Painticus]

I always loved that David Tennant's doctor references those episodes in the Sontaran invasion arc.

[@scarecrow2097]

@@Painticus that episode gave me legitimately nightmares when I was a kid by the way

[@Darxide23]

Not sure why I don't remember this episode. I never cared much for Donna, so maybe that's why. Or maybe there's only room for so much Doctor Who in my brain since watching it from the time of Tom Baker's Doctor. That's at least 12 episodes.

[@Painticus]

I always had a soft spot for Donna because she was the only companion that could match the Doctor's confidence, despite not having any of the Doctor's special qualities. I always found that funny, but also endearing. She always knew what she wanted, and she often had fun ideas of how to get it.

[@Darxide23]

@@Painticus I think maybe that's it. She's the most "believable" companion from the revived series. The least fanciful of them when the Doctor himself is, at his lowest, still easily described as fanciful and at his most, well you've got David Tenent talking about wibbly wobblies. It was an odd juxtaposition.

[@riflemanpickles7013]

Doctor who is definitely my favorite TV show. My favorite doctor is Tennant, what is yours?

[@Painticus]

Definitely Tennant as well. Capaldi is second, follwoed by Ecclestone, then Capaldi, then Smith. All of them have their strengths, but the 10th/10.5th doctor is definitely my favourite. Tennant carried an energy that none of the others have. We've really been blessed with all the doctors, even Jodie Whitaker has had her moments, but unfortunately she has been let down by writing.

[@riflemanpickles7013]

@@Painticus I agree, I haven't watch the Jodie Whitaker season or seasons, but I might at some point just because doctor who. Ecclestone is also my second favorite as he has some great episodes like the empty child (which is one of my favorite episodes) and a good season. I'd probably put Smith above capaldi because I though Smith had better overall seasons, though that is just my opinion.

[@riflemanpickles7013]

@@Painticus Also what is your favorite episode? Mine is silence in the library.

[@yungkri5t]

Hit my screaming pinky toe to that subscribe thingy. Now i can laugh periodically. Thank you for your entertainment!

[@snakekingblues3017]

last time lord that rich 🤣

[@Beeyo176]

Channel 58 is my *shit*

[@Painticus]

It ruined the moon for me tbh

[@mystical_esp]

Edinburgh

[@Painticus]

doxxer

[@mystical_esp]

uh yes