Doctor Who & the South: Daleks in Manhattan

The presentation of an American-Southerner stereotype is not something one necessarily expects when settling in to watch a British television production such as Doctor Who. However, as the show features extraterrestrial and supernatural beings of all sorts, the portrayal of an American-Southerner may come as no surprise after all. The Southern character in this instance is Frank, portrayed by Andrew Garfield. Set amidst the harsh times of economic despair surrounding Hoover's presidency, we first meet Frank in the impoverished setting of a "Hooverville." Frank's role lasts throughout two episodes of Doctor Who, but his identity and ensuing Southern stereotype are introduced within the first twenty-three minutes of the first epiusode. The director achieves this through dialogue and semiotics.

The first interaction the audience has with Frank is an interesting enough scene in itself: the Doctor and Martha are conversing with Solomon, the unofficial leader of this particular "Hooverville." Frank bursts in and relays a message to Solomon, an African-American. This hierarchy shows a reversal of traditional Southern stereotypes as Frank willingly reports to and obviously respects the African-American Solomon. Past this point, many of the traditional stereotypes are enforced. When the antagonist of the episode appears seeking help with "tunnel work," Frank is the first to question the man and take a stand against going. As the Doctor the volunteers, Frank quickly changes his position and volunteers as well. The audience infers two messages from this: 1) Frank contains an admirable amount of courage as he follows the Doctor into a precarious position 2) Frank appears malleable as he immediately reverses his position based on nothing but a whim from the Doctor.

The next time the audience sees Frank is below the city, in the tunnels themselves. After brief dialogue with the antagonist, the party sets off into the darkness. Each member of the four-person party bears an electronic torch, but the physical arrangement of the party is interesting here. As the Doctor and Solomon walk together, Frank sticks close to the Doctor's companion, Martha. A woman in her early mid-twenties, she has seen great adventure with the Doctor and needs little protection from Frank. Frank remains by Martha's side though, going so far as to tell her, "You stick with me, and you'll be alright" in his thick Southern drawl. As the two walk, Martha remains bundled up due to the cold while Frank walks just a step ahead of her to remain the image of defense against danger.

Frank's courage quickly fades though as the group wanders upon an inanimate extraterrestrial substance, appearing similar to a brain. Unmoving, the brain appears harmless and non-threatening. It simply appears as an "unknown element." However, Frank quickly falls to the back of the group and stands behind his three companions. A shadow falls across his face, coupling with his own expression of fear to show the audience Frank's dramatic swing from bravery to fright. As the creature shows no sign of danger, the audience assumes Frank is only scared because the creature is outside his sphere of "knowing." Solomon, the native Northerner, appears less rattled. Juxtaposing these two figures, the Northerner appears more able to cope with the unknown, as the Southerner seems scared and possibly even unable to comprehend that extraterrestrial beings may exist. The Southerner appears less advanced. The final stereotype is implemented when the four attempt to escape out of a manhole cover after being chased by a hostile group of "pig men." Seeing that the creatures are closing in, Frank picks up a makeshift weapon and valiantly holds the creatures off until all can escape, sacrificing himself in the process. Forgoing his previous fear, Frank appears brave and valiant once more. Within the first twenty-three minutes of the episode, the producers of Doctor Who show that traditional stereotypes of the American-Southerner do not end at American borders. It appears that many of the stereotypes have leapt across the seas and found themselves embedded in foreign cultures as well. - James Cochran