# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/61 "2017-07-16T18:01:34Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > People who object to a female Doctor Who are only showing off their lack of imagination. > > I think it’s a fine choice and allows for new types of stories and adventures. > > Of course, this happens every time a new Doctor is announced: > > 1. When a new Doctor is annouced. “How could the pick that actor/actress? It’ll ruin the show!” > 2. Actually seeing their first episode. “Well, that wasn’t as horrible as I thought.” > 3. At the end of the first season. “He/she is OK.” > 4. At the end of the second season. “He/she is really growing into the role.” > 5. When it’s announced the Doctor will leave. “Oh, no! How could they ever replace him/her?” > 6. When a new Doctor is announced. “Return to #1” Pretty much 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/62 "2017-07-16T18:03:12Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I don’t understand the mentality that choosing anything other than a white male is done for PC reasons. You know nothing about the actress and yet you already decided the only reason she got hired was because she is a woman? Really. A whole regular earth universe of actors who could play The Doctor and only White males have the acting chops for it? Dang wotta shame they went with the gimmick of having a woman play The Master’s most recent form instead of someone with some real acting chops who could actually bring something of value to the character. :rolleyes: Each time I’ve had no idea ahead of time how a new Doctor would work out. Each time though they’ve been fine, more dependent on the writers and the showrunners than anything else. Probably the same here. The time is exactly right. Going directly from The Doctor as the ideal boyfriend to this would have been more jarring, establishing more than once that timelords can and do alter gender helps (with quality acting shown), and it had to be past the River Song saga too. I’ll bet though that one line as she looks at herself the first time is “Ach. Again not a ginger?!” ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/63 "2017-07-16T18:25:26Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > As a time travel show Doctor Who is a little different than other shows. Having a colorblind approach isn’t jarring or even noticeable in modern day segments and aliens can be whatever you write them to be. Going back in time and showing the England of the past as being enlightened and harmonious with regards to race strains the suspension of disbelief with me at times. I haven’t memorized each time it’s happened but recently they had a black soldier integrated into a Victorian (went back and checked I guess Edwardian, set a few years later than I thought but doesn’t change much) unit and showing a picture of his white fiancée who he was hoping to get back to. Yes that felt jarring to me. Each to their own, I guess. Seeing non-white faces in ‘historical’ shows really doesn’t bother me at all, even though I appreciate it may well not be accurate. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/64 "2017-07-16T18:33:25Z")
The funny thing to me about all of these folks moaning because this actor doesn’t have a penis is that we don’t actually know if the Doctor has EVER had a penis. S/he’s an alien species. Gallifreyans/Time Lords could reproduce by budding or fission or exchange of regenerative energies or anything. Remember the Centauri of Babylon 5? No penises. Just tentacles. Aliens. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/65 "2017-07-16T18:40:29Z")
> [@TwoCarrotSnowman](#): > > Each to their own, I guess. Seeing non-white faces in ‘historical’ shows really doesn’t bother me at all, even though I appreciate it may well not be accurate. > > Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk They have been completely inconsistent with it. Either deal with the actual mores of the time or pretend the attitudes were the same as now. Instead they inconsitantly use it as a plot device. In the same episode a characters mild (for his time) sexism was called out but the Cockney soldiers were colorblind. The show Timeless may have missed the mark at times but at least it met the issue of racial attitudes in the past head on. It just feels like they are whitewashing (sorry) British history. The Doctor is the voice of enlightenment. They miss the opportunity to use him/her that way. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/66 "2017-07-16T18:52:30Z")
They are completely inconsistent with pretty much everything, its Doctor Who. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/67 "2017-07-16T19:13:20Z")
> [@TwoCarrotSnowman](#): > > To me, it feels like an idea whose time has come, rather than PC-ness for the sake of it. I was certainly ready for something different. > > Any word or speculation on companions? > > Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk I agree. The last few season under Moffat have felt, at times, somewhat samey. All this past season I watched each ep saying “Oh, that reminds me of…” Casting a woman as the Doctor gives Chibnall and the writers a new direction to explore. I expect some really good eps, and some total “Kill The Moon” -style turds. But I’m very excited about the new Doctor. The next question is, who’s the new companion? Will they cast a man, or will they continue on with a woman? _Doctor Who_ has shown an openness to LGBTQ characters, even before Bill (the two woman in one of the cars in “Gridlock”, who helped 10 find Martha’s car), but I note they’ve never had a gay male character. I take that back, I completely forgot about Captain Jack. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/68 "2017-07-16T19:21:26Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I agree. The last few season under Moffat have felt, at times, somewhat samey. All this past season I watched each ep saying “Oh, that reminds me of…” Casting a woman as the Doctor gives Chibnall and the writers a new direction to explore. I expect some really good eps, and some total “Kill The Moon” > -style turds. But I’m very excited about the new Doctor. > > The next question is, who’s the new companion? Will they cast a man, or will they continue on with a woman? _Doctor Who_ has shown an openness to LGBTQ characters, even before Bill (the two woman in one of the cars in “Gridlock”, who helped 10 find Martha’s car), but I note they’ve never had a gay male character. > > I take that back, I completely forgot about Captain Jack. :smack: Captain Jack transcends gay. He’s the ultimate definition of pansexual. And I hate the whole “the companion must be besotted by the Doctor” thing that NuWho has done since the reboot. My favorite companions were both totally off the Doctor as a romantic interest (Donna and Bill). It seems like every other one (minus Rory, I guess) has been hanging on to the possibility of getting busy with him. Strangely, I love River, but she’s never been a Companion, as such. More like an extended guest. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/69 "2017-07-16T19:32:28Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Captain Jack transcends gay. He’s the ultimate definition of pansexual. > > And I hate the whole “the companion must be besotted by the Doctor” thing that NuWho has done since the reboot. My favorite companions were both totally off the Doctor as a romantic interest (Donna and Bill). It seems like every other one (minus Rory, I guess) has been hanging on to the possibility of getting busy with him. Strangely, I love River, but she’s never been a Companion, as such. More like an extended guest. I guess companions are whoever the show runners decide, but like everything else they are fairly inconsistent with the concept. For example, why does Nardole not count as a companion? he was with the Doctor a lot longer than Bill. What about Vastra Jenny and Strax? all of them should count as companion, but the show has decided companion means the main girl and thats it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/70 "2017-07-16T19:45:31Z")
I am good with it as long as they keep it as Dr Who. The thing I have been apprehensive about the idea of a Chick Doctor is that the writers might start to go afterschool special/social statement instead of having fun. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/71 "2017-07-16T19:55:39Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Myself, I’d be satisfied with a little will they/won’t they Doctress/Nardole tension. And I will be satisfied if nobody officially connected with the show ever uses the word “Doctress.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/72 "2017-07-16T19:57:31Z")
> [@Lips\_Obsession](#): > > Being a long time fan, having a female doctor seems more like something done for PC-ness rather than the show. I don’t know the actress at all so I have no idea if she’s a good fit or not. I can only trust in those who did the casting. Will have to wait and see… I am also a long-time fan (in fact, strictly from a statistical point of view, I’m probably a longer-time fan) and in my view, there’s nothing about regeneration that precludes a male Time Lord’s regen as a female Time Lord, so I’m up for it. (Obviously it’s not a 50/50 chance, or we have been privvy to a sequence unlikely to the tune of 1/2[sup]14[/sup] (or perhaps 2[sup]15[/sup], depending on how we count Ten’s partial.) ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/73 "2017-07-16T20:06:52Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > The funny thing to me about all of these folks moaning because this actor doesn’t have a penis is that we don’t actually know if the Doctor has EVER had a penis. S/he’s an alien species. Gallifreyans/Time Lords could reproduce by budding or fission or exchange of regenerative energies or anything. Remember the Centauri of Babylon 5? No penises. Just tentacles. Aliens. I think it was established in a certain dialog between the Master and Missy in the last episode that Timelords do have one. Or at least one. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/74 "2017-07-16T20:15:55Z")
> [@eburacum45](#): > > I think it was established in a certain dialog between the Master and Missy in the last episode that Timelords do have one. > > Or at least one. Yeah, but who’s to say the females don’t, too? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/75 "2017-07-16T20:27:01Z")
So[Jodie Whittaker](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2092886/). I don’t know her, so I’ll wait and see. Hopefully better than the last 2 Doctors. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/76 "2017-07-16T20:35:29Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > And I will be satisfied if nobody officially connected with the show ever uses the word “Doctress.” :rolleyes: Well, if The Master can become Missy… Personally, I think I’m going with Doctor Whooters. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/77 "2017-07-16T21:10:17Z")
That’s it then. Western civilization has officially fallen. Nevermind, it had a good run. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/78 "2017-07-16T21:18:44Z")
I’m really hoping we keep Nardole and they have the same relationship. I’m also hoping they don’t keep staging reaction scenes. I’d rather that people (on the show) just accept it without comment and move on. Well, except for possibly a visit to Craig\* and Sophie. 🆒 (\* _The Lodger, Closing Time_) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/79 "2017-07-16T21:19:00Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I don’t understand the mentality that choosing anything other than a white male is done for PC reasons. You know nothing about the actress and yet you already decided the only reason she got hired was because she is a woman? We do know specifically that they were planning to hire a female Doctor this time. For people who use the word “PC,” this was indeed done for PC reasons. The issue is that there is nothing wrong with that. They wanted to add diversity to a character who has a long established means to add diversity. They wanted to explore what stories they can tell without a white male main protagonist. Diversity casting is only an issue when they use it as a gimmick, to pretend to be being diverse when they aren’t. It’s tokenism that’s the problem, not diversity. Or, at least, that’s my take on it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557/80 "2017-07-16T21:19:56Z")
I guess they’re determined to lose this show’s audience. Get it cancelled again. Obviously there are men and women on Gallifrey. They have children. The Doctor has mentioned his childhood many times. This has been well established. Galliferians aren’t genderless aliens. The BBC could have introduced a interesting female character from Gallifrey. Maybe even spun it off into a new show like they did Sarah Jane and Jack Harkness. Instead they bow to the PC crowd and make a grand statement that makes no sense. The Doctor is a male character. Certainly a female character can be a hero too. Create one. Hopefully it’ll be cancelled before much longer. This is getting embarrassing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-doctor-who-to-doctor-who/790557.md?page=5)