I think you’re right in that it’s better to be subtle.

The thing about audiences is that they span the gamut, so a little bit of in-your-face is likely seen as warranted for that spectrum of the audience, and a little bit of subtle for observant viewers casts a wider net.

Although I find Doctor Who to be among the least subtle in whatever it tries to do in the genre so, anything over the top kind of feels like it fits in the show as long as they intersperse the season with less obvious commentary as well. My partner only complained that everyone was running around and screaming the whole time 😂

Let’s just hope nobody interprets using proper pronouns as leading to a nuclear apocalypse 🫣