Belinda, a character with so much potential and depth, was reduced to nothing more than a traditional wife figure. Her agency, her independence, and her complexity were all brushed aside in favor of a more stereotypical and one-dimensional portrayal.
In the final episodes, Belinda’s character arc took a sharp turn for the worse. Instead of being a strong and independent companion who challenged the Doctor and brought a unique perspective to the TARDIS team, she was relegated to the role of a passive and subservient wife. Her previous convictions and values seemed to vanish, replaced by a more traditional and outdated portrayal of women in domestic roles.
The promising setup of Belinda’s character, her background as a nurse, her strong-willed nature, and her relationships with her family were all abandoned in favor of a regressive and uninspired storyline. It felt like a disservice to the character and to the viewers who had invested in her journey throughout the season.
As a fan of Doctor Who, it was disappointing to see such a promising character like Belinda reduced to a mere shadow of her former self. The potential for complex and engaging storytelling was there, but it was squandered in favor of tired and cliched tropes. Hopefully, future seasons of the show will learn from these missteps and give characters like Belinda the depth and development they deserve. In the alternate reality of Wish World, we witnessed a surprising turn of events for Belinda in Conrad’s utopia. She had transitioned into a stay-at-home mom to Poppy, the daughter of ‘John Smith’, also known as The Doctor. Initially, I found this development quite laughable, as Belinda was always portrayed as a young, ambitious woman who had aspirations beyond just being a mother.
I held onto the hope that there would be a twist in the plot, revealing Poppy to be more than just a simple child, perhaps akin to The Timeless Child controversy from Whittaker’s era of Doctor Who. However, the story unfolded in a way that cemented Belinda’s role as a devoted mother to Poppy, with her other qualities and complexities taking a backseat.
While there is nothing wrong with exploring parenthood in a character’s arc, the sudden and drastic shift in Belinda’s narrative felt forced and out of character. She was confined to a ‘Belinda box’ with Poppy, while other characters took center stage in saving the day. This left Belinda with limited dialogue and a singular focus on her child, overshadowing her previous dynamic personality.
As the story progressed and Poppy vanished due to universe-shifting events, Belinda’s true self began to resurface. However, her immediate reversion to prioritizing Poppy’s well-being highlighted the lack of agency given to her character. The universe was rewritten to imply that every decision Belinda made revolved around her desire to reunite with her daughter, stripping away her depth and autonomy.
The rushed nature of Belinda’s storyline was further evident in her interactions with her parents and the Doctor. Despite hints of a strained relationship with her mother and absent father, these dynamics were glossed over in favor of emphasizing Belinda’s maternal instincts. The final revelation that the Doctor was no longer Poppy’s father, yet Belinda remained her mother, felt like a contrived attempt to tie up loose ends.
Ultimately, the handling of Belinda’s character in this finale left much to be desired. The abrupt shift to portraying her solely as a mother and diminishing her other qualities was a disservice to her complexity. As the show moves forward, it is crucial for Doctor Who to learn from these missteps and avoid falling back on stereotypical gender tropes. Both Belinda and the Rani deserved better treatment in their character arcs, steering clear of limiting them to traditional roles and clichéd narratives. The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has seen exponential growth in recent years, with advancements in machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing. This technology has the potential to revolutionize industries ranging from healthcare to finance to transportation.
One area where AI is making a significant impact is in the medical field. AI-powered systems are being used to analyze medical images, such as X-rays and MRIs, to detect abnormalities and assist radiologists in making diagnoses. These systems can quickly analyze large amounts of data and provide insights that may not be immediately apparent to the human eye.
In addition to image analysis, AI is also being used to predict patient outcomes and personalize treatment plans. By analyzing vast amounts of patient data, AI algorithms can identify patterns and trends that may indicate which treatments are most effective for certain individuals. This can lead to more personalized and effective care, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
AI is also being used to streamline administrative tasks in healthcare, such as scheduling appointments, processing insurance claims, and maintaining electronic health records. By automating these processes, healthcare providers can save time and resources, allowing them to focus more on patient care.
In the field of finance, AI is being used to detect fraud, assess credit risk, and make investment decisions. AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of financial data to identify suspicious activity or patterns that may indicate fraudulent behavior. This can help financial institutions prevent losses and protect their customers from identity theft.
AI is also being used to assess credit risk by analyzing an individual’s financial history, spending habits, and other factors to determine their likelihood of defaulting on a loan. This can help lenders make more informed decisions about who to lend money to, ultimately reducing the risk of default.
In the transportation industry, AI is being used to improve safety and efficiency. Autonomous vehicles use AI algorithms to navigate roads, detect obstacles, and make split-second decisions to avoid accidents. These vehicles have the potential to reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and improve overall transportation systems.
Overall, AI has the potential to revolutionize industries and improve the way we live and work. By harnessing the power of machine learning and neural networks, we can unlock new possibilities and solve complex problems that were once thought to be unsolvable. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more advancements that will shape the future of technology and society.
