# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/242 "2017-07-17T22:17:05Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > On the flip side, Romana temporarily took the guise of a male while trying out looks. Really? Which is the male one? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x9eEk-S6RUc/hqdefault.jpg "Doctor Who - Destiny of the Daleks: Romana") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9eEk-S6RUc) ---
**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, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/243 "2017-07-17T22:33:53Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Summer Glau, anyone? Well to be sure, Summer Glau was the very height of silly Waif Fu. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/244 "2017-07-17T23:33:54Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Well, obviously. I mean, who ever heard of a boy widow? And why does she have to be a black one? THAT’S JUST PANDERING! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/245 "2017-07-18T00:12:51Z")
Here’s Colin Baker’s take on it: > **[I was the Doctor and I’m over the moon that at last we have a female lead |...](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/17/colin-baker-doctor-who-female-lead-doctor-jodie-whittaker-inspire-fans)** > > Former Doctor Colin Baker argues that all the Timelord reincarnations have been different, apart from their gender ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/246 "2017-07-18T00:39:18Z")
> [@abashed](#): > > That the central character is male, a futuristic ‘knight in shining armour’, if you will. …no: you don’t get Doctor Who at all. Craig Ferguson says it best here, in 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Doctor Who is an alien. Who travels through time and space to combat the forces of evil. Doctor Who is a force for good in an otherwise uncertain universe. Its about the triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism. Every Doctor is different. The first doctor was a “teacher.” The second doctor was a “clown.” The third doctor was a “dapper man of action.” The fourth doctor was simply iconic. The fifth doctor was vulnerable, and loved cricket. The sixth doctor was brash, flamboyant, and often not very nice. The seventh doctor was whimsical and manipulative. The eight doctor was enthusiastic and eccentric. The ninth doctor was “from the north”. The tenth doctor was charismatic and charming. The eleventh doctor (my personal favourite) was an old man stuck in a young mans body. The war doctor was not a doctor at all. And the twelfth doctor was a ruthless pragmatist. The doctor is defined by change. Every doctor who actor has taken their responsibility seriously, without exception. So even though every doctor is different, every actor has been able to channel the “spirit” of the doctor. That balance of being compassionate and being able to unleash the perfect storm of chaos. And when Jodie pulled off the hood and I saw that twinkle in her eye, I just thought to myself “that’s the doctor.” She isn’t the doctor we knew. But she will be the doctor we know. Doctor who fans are used to change. We embrace it. We’ve lived through the “Kill the Moon”: we can survive this. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/247 "2017-07-18T00:51:57Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Really? Which is the male one? Off-screen. 🙂 Really, there used to be a bit on the BBC website about Romana trying looks that were never seen. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/248 "2017-07-18T07:32:43Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Three’s Venusian aikido (and one use of that discipline by another of his regenerations with a virtual lollipop for whoever knows which other Doctor) It’s been used by lots of regenerations, if you include the books and audioplays., but I suspect you want Twelve, and recently, here. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/249 "2017-07-18T08:37:49Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …no: you don’t get Doctor Who at all. Craig Ferguson says it best here, in 2 minutes and 47 seconds. > > Doctor Who is an alien. Who travels through time and space to combat the forces of evil. Doctor Who is a force for good in an otherwise uncertain universe. Its about the triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism. He’s also a trickster figure, like Anansi or a more benevolent Loki. Trickster figures in myth are often shapeshifters, with mutable sexuality. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/250 "2017-07-18T08:55:28Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Well to be sure, Summer Glau was the very height of silly Waif Fu. And Buffy, obvs. Right now (if one has an Amazon Prime membership) one can watch 5’3" Ruth Negga beating seven hells out of several large men in _Preacher_ and doing so very credibly. This is not something I expect to see the new Doctor doing, however; the Doctor’s usual move is “point sonic screwdriver at something” followed by something dramatic happening. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/251 "2017-07-18T09:47:00Z")
[13th Doctor Comments Bingo](https://scontent-jnb1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20031868_1619250038098598_8621048819738877304_n.jpg?oh=5770f13a24c30821a155bf75abd90304&oe=5A110620), for those who want to play along… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/252 "2017-07-18T10:44:02Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [13th Doctor Comments Bingo](https://scontent-jnb1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20031868_1619250038098598_8621048819738877304_n.jpg?oh=5770f13a24c30821a155bf75abd90304&oe=5A110620), for those who want to play along… I think we’re a Miss Marple mention short of filling the entire card from this thread alone. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/253 "2017-07-18T12:48:53Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s been used by lots of regenerations, if you include the books and audioplays., but I suspect you want Twelve, and recently, here. Yes. I take the old Star Wars Expanded Universe approach: the shows are “A” canon; the audioplays “B” canon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/254 "2017-07-18T14:58:20Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [13th Doctor Comments Bingo](https://scontent-jnb1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20031868_1619250038098598_8621048819738877304_n.jpg?oh=5770f13a24c30821a155bf75abd90304&oe=5A110620), for those who want to play along… To go along with that, here’s a list of all the times Doctor Who was ruined forever: [http://doctorwhogeneral.wikia.com/wiki/Times\_Doctor\_Who\_Was\_Ruined\_Forever](http://doctorwhogeneral.wikia.com/wiki/Times_Doctor_Who_Was_Ruined_Forever) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/255 "2017-07-18T18:57:40Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [13th Doctor Comments Bingo](https://scontent-jnb1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20031868_1619250038098598_8621048819738877304_n.jpg?oh=5770f13a24c30821a155bf75abd90304&oe=5A110620), for those who want to play along… I just want to chime in to say I’ve noticed a curious variation on one of those choices. In all the boards I’ve seen with threads concerning the new, female Doctor, I have yet to see anyone chime in that “I’m a woman and I’m not OK with this.” On the other hand, I’ve seen several posts stating some variation of “While I’m a guy, my wife (or gf) is a fan and says she doesn’t like it…” I’ve yet to see any posts by any of those wives/girlfriends. Just something I’ve noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/256 "2017-07-18T18:59:32Z")
I actually saw it somewhere else, but that woman is also a very frightening far right wing person with a lot of mental issues regarding liberals and ‘social justice warriors’. I also seriously doubt that she had ever watched the show. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/257 "2017-07-18T19:15:19Z")
Thank you for your suggestions, everyone! I do have Amazon Prime and it looks like it starts with Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor in 2005, so that’s where _I_ will start. It was very helpful to know that each Doctor is a different era of the show and that maybe I wouldn’t be completely lost if I started watching by picking one from when they started. I remember watching a few episodes in the eighties and thinking they were ridiculous so I didn’t have a good impression, but the last few years I’ve been thinking I _really_ need to try again. The genre is certainly my taste. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/258 "2017-07-18T19:21:52Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Thank you for your suggestions, everyone! I do have Amazon Prime and it looks like it starts with Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor in 2005, so that’s where _I_ will start. 2005 is the perfect place to start since it’s Season 1 of the “new” Doctor Who. Before that, the show was off the air since 1989. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/259 "2017-07-18T20:26:59Z")
I used to watch a tiny bit of _DW_ when I was a wee lad in the late 70s. I basically liked the intro theme music, but never really got into it. I was interested enough watch the reboot in 2005, but couldn’t even get through the first episode because the acting and effects were so terrible. (Sorry, don’t mean to threadshit, just my opinion). But with a new female doctor, it seems like they’re shaking things up, so I’ll give it another try. It helps that I loved _Broadchurch_, so that bodes well for the new season, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/260 "2017-07-18T20:32:51Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Thank you for your suggestions, everyone! I do have Amazon Prime and it looks like it starts with Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor in 2005, so that’s where _I_ will start. It was very helpful to know that each Doctor is a different era of the show and that maybe I wouldn’t be completely lost if I started watching by picking one from when they started. > > I remember watching a few episodes in the eighties and thinking they were ridiculous so I didn’t have a good impression, but the last few years I’ve been thinking I _really_ need to try again. The genre is certainly my taste. Warning: The first two or three episodes have some bad CGI, and are a bit clunky. It finds its rhythm fairly quickly, but do allow for a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/261 "2017-07-18T20:33:08Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I used to watch a tiny bit of _DW_ when I was a wee lad in the late 70s. I basically liked the intro theme music, but never really got into it. I was interested enough watch the reboot in 2005, but couldn’t even get through the first episode because the acting and effects were so terrible. (Sorry, don’t mean to threadshit, just my opinion). > > But with a new female doctor, it seems like they’re shaking things up, so I’ll give it another try. It helps that I loved _Broadchurch_, so that bodes well for the new season, IMO. The special effects improved by a fair amount once the series took off. Unless it has gone back down again, I’d say that it’s reasonable for TV, but not good enough for a non-comedic show. I think Matt Smith worked well as the Doctor because his style worked well for the quality level of the production. More serious actors (e.g., Eccleston) have a harder job trying to jibe with the visuals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557.md?page=14)