She may or may not be a Doctor, and it may or may not be in a science, but on telly, does that really matter? She knows what’s what and that’s good enough. Anyway, there have been some great little bits in this short series, though there has also been the required quota of patronising explanations and over-long/boring “some science was done” montages. You do wonder if there are out-takes of Kathy losing her patience, for example when she was talking to the healers and the kirlian photo/aura people in the US – Kathy stands up throwing her chair over screaming “STOP SPEAKING CHARLATAN FOR YOU TALK NONSENSE” while pointing right in their faces.
She waits til she’s some safe distance away and does this calmly to camera “They were talking bollocks” sez she. What a saint. We should bury Dawkings and install Dr Kathy in his place. A little blander, which is perhaps a good thing, and anyway she has a much nicer smile. (Emma says she could do with a make over from those two harridans who insult people’s old cardies though.)
OK so the series hasn’t thrown up too many surprises, some herbs are great, the placebo effect is quite incredible and an active area of interesting research, but these are important things that need re-emphasising in the face of the maddening popularity of the dead-end that is “healers”.
So far Dr K’s only looked at accupuncture, herbalism and “healing”, and perhaps that’s it. I’m sort of hoping she’ll do a “mixed bag” episode where she spends a few minutes on all the other stuff:
Crystals and phials of coloured water are being balanced on a “patient”‘s back as whalesong plays quietly. Dr K leans over to and whisper’s in their ear “get 1x grip.. plz”
A reflexology “clinic”. Dr K hands the patient a note which is opened and reads “YOU ARE A MENTAL”.
Someone is practicing iridology. Dr K walks in at the back, crosses her eyes and winds her finger at her own temple.
Maybe on BBC3.