The New Doctor Is Female...Get Over It!
The show, which began its run on November 23, 1963 ran until 1989 (26 seasons) and was followed by a 1996 television movie and a full-time revival in 2005. The show is still on the air and is in the Guiness Book of World Records as the longest -running science fiction show.
The series was originally conceptualized as an educational children's show with episodes set in the past to teach history and in the future to teach science. It follows the adventures of a humanoid alien known only as the Doctor as he travels through time and space in a 1950s Police Public Call box called the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space.)
When the actor cast as the Doctor, William Hartnell became ill and his performance started to suffer the writers and producers were faced with a major dilemma: recast the role or cancel the popular show? The show was given new life when the idea of regeneration came to be. When a Time Lord (that's what species the Doctor is) is mortally wounded he can repair his body but at a cost: he changes his face and personality. Each Time Lord is given 12 regenerations.
The current Doctor (12), Peter Capaldi will be leaving the series after 3 seasons in this year's Christmas special, entitled, "Twice Upon a Christmas." The special also stars David Bradley portraying the First Doctor (Harntell sadly passed away on April 23, 1975.)
As soon as Capaldi had announced his departure on the show fans began to speculate which actor would next inhabit the TARDIS. English actor Chris Marshall was at the most popular choice amongst the fans.
On July 16, the new Doctor was announced. Jodie Whittaker would portray the thirteenth incarnation of the imfamous Time Lord. The fans went wild.
I had expected outrage from the male demographic of fans, but was surprised to see so much hate from women. People accused the show of going too far, of pandering too much to the PC crowd. Several fans even vowed to stop watching the show until the Doctor was male again.
While most of the past Doctors have given Whittacker their blessing -- including Tenth Doctor, David Tennant and John Barrowman, who portrayed companion Captain Jack Harkness on the show and its popular spin off, "Torchwood," -- one in particular took a slight issue.
Appearing at San Diego Comic Con July 23-25th Peter Davison, who portrayed the Doctor from 1981 -1984 said that although he thought that Whittacker was a "terrific actress," he expressed his doubts that she was right for the role. He added that it might be because he was, "a dinosaur," but that he preferred the Doctor being, "a boy." He went on to say, "If I feel any doubts, it’s the loss of a role model for boys who I think Doctor Who is vitally important for. So I feel a bit sad about that, but I understand the argument that you need to open it up."
Conversely, Colin Baker, Davison's successor in the role referred to his thoughts on the matter as "absolute rubbish," claiming, "Well you don’t have to be of a gender of someone to be a role model," he added. "Can’t you be a role model as people?” Baker went on to say that he felt that the show would "gain many more fans" with the casting and that "They’ve had 50 years of having a role mod So sorry Peter, you’re talking rubbish there – absolute rubbish."
Radio Times did a poll soon after the announcement which showed that only 15% of the participants did not want a female to protect the Doctor.
Personally, I think the idea of a female Doctor is brilliant, because it's never been done before. The show has lasted for 36 seasons on the same formula, but it can't last forever on that. Isn't it time for a change? As long as they're doing it to be innovative and not just to be politically correct, what's the harm? The show itself is based on change! On average, the Doctor regenerates once every two years, the companion changes about the same. Change is good, it's what has kept the show interesting after all these years. Embrace the change.
I have not seen any of Jodie Whittaker's work so I can't comment on her talent, but I think as fans we should at least give her a chance. We owe her and the show that much. Is she everyone's favorite choice for the role? No. Personally, I wanted Helena Bonham Carter to be the Doctor.
if you're going to stop watching the show over the casting, then you obviously don't get the message of the show. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.
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