The Problematic Gaze

Few British sitcoms are as warmly remembered as Dad’s Army, and “The Deadly Attachment” — originally transmitted in 1973 — remains one of its most beloved episodes. In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we return to Walmington-on-Sea as the Home Guard are tasked with guarding a German U-boat crew.While we do explore some problematic elements through a modern lens, we also talk about what Dad’s Army gets right, why its characters and catchphrases — including the iconic “Don’t tell him, Pike!” — still resonate, and how its gentle satire, performances, and wartime humour helped make it a classic worth revisiting with affection and thoughtful context.

Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments and discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week.In this week's Gazette we dive head first into the Beckham's feud scandal, get excited for the Traitors final, and recount tales of wildlife massacres in the countryside!

Welcome to The Problematic Gaze! We're Dave and Dr Lee. Find out more about who we are and what we're about. If you love TV and Film and want to find out more about what life was like when they were released, then we're the podcast for you! A blend of critique, history and culture. We're lighthearted, fun, and never take ourselves too seriously! We hope you enjoy our show!

This week on The Problematic Gaze, we bravely press play on 'The Word ', a UK live youth magazine show from Friday 19th November 1993 — a time when TV was live, loud, and deeply unconcerned with tomorrow’s headlines. Featuring a young Dave Chapelle, Reeves and Mortimer, the death of River Phoenix and Pulp.Once hailed as edgy, anarchic brilliance, The Word promised that anything could happen… and frequently did. Watching it now is a mix of nostalgia, disbelief, and the strong urge to say “they really let this go out live?” From laddish banter to awkward moments everyone pretends were ironic, we revisit the chaos with fresh eyes and a healthy sense of humour.Was it shocking? Yes. Ground-breaking? Sometimes. Comfortable viewing in 2026? Absolutely not. Join us as we laugh, cringe, and gently interrogate one of 90s TV’s most infamous Friday nights — because nothing says “youth culture” like a format that feels like a social experiment gone slightly wrong.Click here to watch the episode of 'The Word' discussed in this podcast.

Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments and discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week.

Dirty Dancing (1987) is remembered as a feminist awakening, a sexual coming-of-age story, and one of the most beloved romances in pop culture history—but how does it hold up when we really look at it? In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we revisit the summer of ’63 through an ’87 lens, unpacking age gaps, power dynamics, class politics, reproductive rights, and the film’s complicated ideas about masculinity and desire. Is Dirty Dancing quietly radical, deeply troubling, or somehow both at once? Nobody puts this rewatch in a corner.