# From Doctor Who to Doctor...Who? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 5, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557 "2017-07-05T19:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/182 "2017-07-17T15:55:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I don’t need assuring of anything. I provided my honest, initial reaction to a news announcement. I’m a emotional guy. Always have been and always will be. > > Other fans have been pestering the BBC about these rumors of a female Doctor. > [A BBC employee went rogue and told fans Doctor Who would not be female](https://www.google.com/amp/metro.co.uk/2017/04/19/a-bbc-complaints-officer-went-rogue-and-told-fans-there-would-not-be-a-female-doctor-who-6585242/amp/) > It may come as a surprise but lots of fans aren’t happy. I may be the lone voice on the SDMB. Go out on social media and you’ll hear much stronger feelings than I ever expressed. Here’s an article you might like: [Grown man outraged at lack of continuity in children’s show about phone-booth driving space detective](http://www.chaser.com.au/entertainment/grown-man-outraged-at-lack-of-continuity-in-childrens-show-about-phone-booth-driving-space-detective/) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/183 "2017-07-17T15:55:46Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > No one complained when The Master came back as a woman Sure they did. Maybe we’re not hanging out in the same places but there was a lot of screaming about it, including people who said it was a trial run for how fans would handle a female Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/184 "2017-07-17T15:56:05Z")
**[Moderating]** > [@DigitalC](#): > > Why the fuck do you need reassuring that there won’t be a female doctor? holy shit how screwed up are you. **DigitalC** , that will be a Warning for personal insults. You know that that’s not allowed outside of the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/185 "2017-07-17T16:07:00Z")
I went back and watched the episode of BLACK MIRROR she was in, and – well, I was convinced she’s got the _acting_ chops to pull it off; she’s awfully good at looking like she’s anticipating what someone is thinking, and at delivering a sensible-sounding remark as the voice of reason who enjoys a good laugh. But I have to admit, it was a bit jarring that she’s a trifle _short_ compared to the folks in scene after scene with her. Yeah, fine, call me shallow if you want; but maybe the first female Doctor Who should’ve been, like, five-nine, so as not to start off with two strikes when striding in to work the Instantly Authoritative schtick? Again, I’m not saying she _can’t_ pull it off; a good actress can overcome that. I’m just saying, it looks like Capaldi and Smith and Tennant and Eccleston were all, what, six feet tall or more? You know, like Tom Baker was, and like Jon Pertwee was? And they even cast guys like Baker and Davison – who were less memorable and had less command presence, but at least had that center-of-attention height going for 'em? Plenty of folks have been raving about Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman; _I’ve_ been raving about Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. But I don’t think I realized until just now that, oh, hey, that’s right: Diana recruits that Scottish sharpshooter and that French mercenary to join her on the battlefield, and they literally look up at her; just like how, in heels, she’s looking Steve Trevor right in the eye. It’s still on her to sell it, but it’s probably a little easier given that she’s a woman with height on her side. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/186 "2017-07-17T16:09:36Z")
Sooo…the new Doc is a good-looking babe who apparently has some serious acting chops. And the writing is going to change. OG knows, it needed to. I might have to start watching again. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/187 "2017-07-17T16:13:44Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > But I have to admit, it was a bit jarring that she’s a trifle _short_ compared to the folks in scene after scene with her. Yeah, fine, call me shallow if you want; but maybe the first female Doctor Who should’ve been, like, five-nine, so as not to start off with two strikes when striding in to work the Instantly Authoritative schtick? Hey Tom Cruise is like 4’8" and he keeps getting jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/188 "2017-07-17T16:17:27Z")
> [@abashed](#): > > I’ve never followed Dr. Who but I hope this new appointment isn’t just based on sexual equality but also on the best person for the job. I always love this statement - ‘the best person for the job’. Particularly for an acting job, where the script and director are at least as important as the actor - how do you determine what ‘best’ means? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/189 "2017-07-17T16:18:59Z")
Along the lines of the Daleks with penises; They’re Cyber **men** , so obviously they should be equipped with large shiny silver penises which shoot streams of white nanobots that cover people and convert them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/190 "2017-07-17T16:22:32Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Hey Tom Cruise is like 4’8" and he keeps getting jobs. My whole point. Cruise, who has three Oscar nominations and is male, is taller than she is. But he still gets jibes like that aimed his way, even though he has the acting chops to show up as the military officer who knows how to handle this. Cruise has one strike against him and has been working to overcome it for more than thirty years. Sexists might well give the new Doctor Who a strike for being a woman; a second strike for height – can be overcome as well, but, again, it takes work. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/191 "2017-07-17T16:22:43Z")
> [@abashed](#): > > I’ve never followed Dr. Who but I hope this new appointment isn’t just based on sexual equality but also on the best person for the job. I have my doubts because the inbuilt feminist bias nowadays built into our society would tend to make it doubtful. It’s not that I have a problem with a woman playing Dr. Who per se, but I resent the ‘box ticking’ exercise that seems to go on all the time. This new approach is going to change the whole ethos of the series, which may or may not be a good thing. We will see. Huh. I wish someone would show me some of that “inbuilt feminist bias nowadays.” Well, maybe the reason I don’t get that is that I am also old, and society doesn’t have an “inbuilt old people bias”. I just never seem to get my timing right. ---
**Author:** ![abashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/192 "2017-07-17T16:26:33Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I always love this statement - ‘the best person for the job’. Particularly for an acting job, where the script and director are at least as important as the actor - how do you determine what ‘best’ means? That’s my point. Just replacing a man for woman for the role won’t necessarily make it as good or better. Gender should not be an issue but I suspect it has become one. They probably thought it was time for a change for its own sake. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/193 "2017-07-17T16:31:51Z")
> [@abashed](#): > > That’s my point. Just replacing a man for woman for the role won’t necessarily make it as good or better. Gender should not be an issue but I suspect it has become one. They probably thought it was time for a change for its own sake. If, as you say, gender should not be an issue then why are you concerned about it? ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/194 "2017-07-17T16:39:51Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > But I have to admit, it was a bit jarring that she’s a trifle _short_ compared to the folks in scene after scene with her. Yeah, fine, call me shallow if you want; but maybe the first female Doctor Who should’ve been, like, five-nine, so as not to start off with two strikes when striding in to work the Instantly Authoritative schtick? I agree, one of the major things the show tries to show is the importance of height and physical aptitude in general - I recall so many speeches from the doctor on how important it is to be physically stronger and more imposing than anyone else. I think it was definitely a horrible mistake casting someone who’s the same height as the seventh doctor, a whopping two inches shorter than the first and second doctors, and a full three inches shorter than the eighth and war doctors, clearly this is some awful casting. I mean, if she wears 3" heels she’d only be the same height as John Hurt, and we all know he had a really hard time showing an impressive presence in his scenes. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/195 "2017-07-17T16:43:38Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > That’s my perspective as an adult male. A rather different - and important - perspective came from a friend’s six-year-old daughter who, upon hearing the news, said: > > > [@](#): > > > > That means I could be Doctor Who! > > Which is a punch right in the feels, right there. 🙂 That made me wonder if The Doctor could be played by a teen or even a younger child. If even for a standalone episode. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/196 "2017-07-17T16:47:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > My earlier posts were based on my initial reaction to the announcement. I was seething and upset. > > Someone posted a video (up thread) of a upset fan. I felt much the same way. The BBC has been reassuring fans for months there were no plans for a female Doctor. Lot of fans felt betrayed. > > Anyway, it’s a fait accompli now. Nothing we can do but hope the show is still enjoyable. I think you should consider that your initial reaction and emotional response might be due to some underlying biases and bigotries, and perhaps you’d like to recognize them so that you can work to eliminate them. ---
**Author:** ![abashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/197 "2017-07-17T16:58:32Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Damn I’m seeing a lot of woman haters out there. There’s really no other reason to oppose the new Doctor being female. No one complained when The Master came back as a woman but when it’s The Docotr all of a sudden it’s a big deal. > > I’m seeing such sexism as “Nurse Who”. I’m not a woman hater but why did they feel it was necessary to change Dr. Who’s gender when it has worked well so far? You see, this is the problem when anyone dares to challenge some role that involves a woman in that you are straight away labelled as ‘sexist’ or ‘misogynist’ and all rational discussion goes out the window. I have no objection to gender if it means improving something or other but I often feel it is just a ‘box ticking’ exercise in an effort to challenge men’s perceived power over women. Dr. Who has been popular for many years so why the need to change its basic premise? I feel it might be politically motivated which is wholly inappropriate in my view and smacks of social manipulation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/198 "2017-07-17T17:06:02Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > I agree, one of the major things the show tries to show is the importance of height and physical aptitude in general - I recall so many speeches from the doctor on how important it is to be physically stronger and more imposing than anyone else. I think it was definitely a horrible mistake casting someone who’s the same height as the seventh doctor, a whopping two inches shorter than the first and second doctors, and a full three inches shorter than the eighth and war doctors, clearly this is some awful casting. I mean, if she wears 3" heels she’d only be the same height as John Hurt, and we all know he had a really hard time showing an impressive presence in his scenes. :rolleyes: Again, clearly it can be overcome; Hurt, an Oscar-caliber actor, radiated presence, much like how I was just saying that Cruise is an Oscar-caliber actor who likewise makes up for it – and much like how I explicitly said, _in the very post you’re replying to,_ that a good actress can overcome it, too. But I’m guessing there’s a _reason_ why Capaldi and Smith and Tennant and Eccleston were cast, and I’m guessing it’s because it’s a bit easier to sell the Doctor’s signature schtick with a little height on their side. Yeah, it’s still brainpower that carries the day; but that often happens _after_ people literally look up at the person who assures folks that it’s going to be okay and I know what to do and you should listen to me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/199 "2017-07-17T17:08:01Z")
> [@abashed](#): > > I’m not a woman hater but why did they feel it was necessary to change Dr. Who’s gender when it has worked well so far? You see, this is the problem when anyone dares to challenge some role that involves a woman in that you are straight away labelled as ‘sexist’ or ‘misogynist’ and all rational discussion goes out the window. I have no objection to gender if it means improving something or other but I often feel it is just a ‘box ticking’ exercise in an effort to challenge men’s perceived power over women. > > Dr. Who has been popular for many years so why the need to change its basic premise? I feel it might be politically motivated which is wholly inappropriate in my view and smacks of social manipulation. I’m not sure you quite understand what the “Basic Premise” of the show is. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/200 "2017-07-17T17:10:30Z")
> [@abashed](#): > > Dr. Who has been popular for many years so why the need to change its basic premise? I feel it might be politically motivated which is wholly inappropriate in my view and smacks of social manipulation. How have they changed its basic premise? My understanding is that the main character will still be doing all of the things that Doctor Who has always done. I would ask you, if the show continues to do the sorts of things that it has always done, why does it matter if the person in the the role of the Doctor is a woman rather than a man? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/201 "2017-07-17T17:11:12Z")
> [@abashed](#): > > Dr. Who has been popular for many years so why the need to change its basic premise? I feel it might be politically motivated which is wholly inappropriate in my view and smacks of social manipulation. It has been abundantly clear, and frequently stated for many years now that Doctor Who is not ‘set in stone’ as a white male. It was only a matter of time before she became female, or black, or Indian or whatever. Anyways, polls are showing @ 85% support for this, so count yourself among the vocal minority who are attempting to find nefarious reasons for what the rest of us have accepted and anticipated for years now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557.md?page=11)