Fun fact: the episode’s writer Ed Hime was arrested for protesting with Extinction Rebellion in 2019, either while writing this episode or during its production. So he practises what he preaches.
I think the Hyph3n costume is meant to be understood more as the character’s choice to live as a furry than as something “naturalistic”, i.e. depicting an actual creature to be judged against the Cat Nuns of New Earth (in which case it fails miserably). Part of this is there’s also a funny kink joke in the script —
DOCTOR: Hyph3n with a 3. I just pulled this out of a friend of mine.
HYPH3N: Well, we do not make any judgments on our guests and fully support any way you choose to enjoy yourself here at Tranquillity Spa.
Fun fact: the episode’s writer Ed Hime was arrested for protesting with Extinction Rebellion in 2019, either while writing this episode or during its production. So he practises what he preaches.
I think the Hyph3n costume is meant to be understood more as the character’s choice to live as a furry than as something “naturalistic”, i.e. depicting an actual creature to be judged against the Cat Nuns of New Earth (in which case it fails miserably). Part of this is there’s also a funny kink joke in the script —
DOCTOR: Hyph3n with a 3. I just pulled this out of a friend of mine.
HYPH3N: Well, we do not make any judgments on our guests and fully support any way you choose to enjoy yourself here at Tranquillity Spa.
DOCTOR: It wasn't recreational!