'Doctor Who' Season 12 Episode 7: Doctor's 'hurtful' reaction to Graham's heartfelt confession has fans divided
Spoiler alert for Season 12 Episode 7 'Can you hear me?'
Jodie Whitaker's Doctor has been divisive to the 'Doctor Who' fandom right from the first announcement of her casting. This week, a moment shared between her and Graham (Bradley Walsh) has fans split right down the middle once again.
During the episode, Graham tells the Doctor about his greatest fear — that his cancer could return at any moment. The Doctor, after listening closely to Graham, is a little at a loss here. "I should say a reassuring thing now, shouldn't I?" she asks, going on to say that she is "still quite socially awkward". She also tells Graham that she is walking away for the moment to try and come up with something that she should have said.
It's a moment that did not sit well with some fans. "As a person who's found sanctuary & hope in the show for years, it was genuinely so disappointing & even kinda hurtful to see 13 so bluntly apathetic in an episode literally about mental health," said one Twitter user.
"The speech The Doctor gives before they defeat the Eternals(?) is nice. Pity she's too SoCiAlLy AwKwArD LoL to comfort her friend at the end, innit?" said another fan, including a video clip from the episode about the Doctor extolling the virtues of humanity.
Another believed the show was making light of a serious issue. "The only issue about #DoctorWho tonight was the Doctor's "socially awkward" response over Graham's fear of his cancer returning. Played for a laugh in quite a serious moment."
Many fans, however, connected strongly with the moment and came out in support of the Doctor.
"As someone who is often expected to come up with something reassuring to say by merit of my job, I totally relate to the Doctor's "awkward" moment with Graham," said one. Another fan wrote, "My favorite moment from #DoctorWho tonight was 13 admitting she didn't know what to say or how to respond Graham. Such an incredibly real moment!"
One user believes the episode imparted an important lesson. "The whole 'I'll do this other thing and in a minute I'll think of something I should have said' setup demonstrates you can care about someone, wish you knew what to say, but come up empty no matter how smart or caring you are."
The next episode of 'Doctor Who' airs on February 16 on BBC America.