|
|
Post by John Darnacan on Jul 16, 2017 17:57:39 GMT
The BBC has just announced that Jodie Whittaker will be the 13th Doctor! Whitaker was brilliant in Broadchurch (along with David Tennant). Broadchurch now had three actors who play the Doctor (Tennant, Whitaker and David Bradley) Chris Chibnall is the producer who finally had the courage to cast a woman. The idea had been talked about (in jest at first) going back to when Tom Baker announced he was stepping down, wishing his successor, whoever "he or she" was, good luck. This leads to many questions, including: - What type of companion the Doctor will have?
- How much will they focus on her gender? This will have interesting implications for stories in the past, when there was significant gender discrimination.
- Will the blue police box turn pink?
 I wonder what Mary Whitehouse would think of this? 
|
|
|
|
Post by Cornelia_Africana on Jul 17, 2017 9:54:45 GMT
In truth, I don't think this is a very good idea. I haven't watched the show in years, so it doesn't really matter to me, but in principle, it's not a good idea. The main reason is just basic biology. It's possible for invertebrates, and some fish, to change sex, but among the higher vertebrates it's virtually unknown. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Doctor's species are mammals! The whole concept of regeneration raises questions about genetics anyway, but if there was a sex-changing regeneration you would have to have the loss of one chromosome and the acquistion of another, a whole lot of internal organs lost, and others grown and a complete change in the body's biochemistry. Must be a strange genetic code that can do that. Unless of course, they are just some completely different kind of life-form!
Incidentally, the reason isn't that I object to women in lead roles or intelligent female characters, it's just for the reasons I've mentioned above.
I also hope they don't make gender a big issue. I think that would work against accepting intelligent female lead roles.
|
|
|
|
Post by John Darnacan on Jul 17, 2017 12:53:35 GMT
Wow, somebody actually checked the board after it being dormant for so long! Thanks.
I agree, changing the Doctor's gender is a risk. Excellent point about the biology of gender changing. But let's be honest, the show has rarely been a bastion of hard science.
Gender changing may also be a sign of desperation. The new series has been going for 12 years now, a long run to be sure.
Good to hear from you.
|
|
|
|
Post by duncan on Jul 17, 2017 12:55:34 GMT
I can't say I'm surprised. The way was paved when Missy was revealed to be the Master and we also saw a Timelord regenerate from a white male into a black Female in Hell Bent (I think it was). However, Jodie is a great choice and she looked fantastic in the reveal sequence. I loved what she was wearing but I doubt that will be her costume.
I assume September 2018 will see her debut and that can't come quick enough now.
It will be Doctor Who as we have never seen it before.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cornelia_Africana on Jul 18, 2017 9:15:45 GMT
Let's be honest, the show has rarely been a bastion of hard science. Gender changing may also be a sign of desperation. The new series has been going for 12 years now, a long run to be sure. Good to hear from you. Thanks. I don't think the show has to be about hard science, but I do think it has to at least seem plausible. You know, the viewer has to be able to suspend disbelief while they're watching it, that sort of thing. The decision probably is a sign of desperation. The viewing figures have been falling for some time, I think, so this is probably just a publicitiy stunt to try and pull in extra viewers. If so, I don't think it'll work. It's the quality of the story that matters, and if past experience is anything to go by, that's not likely to improve. |
|
