The 13th Doctor...

[Jan]

...is Jodie Whittaker.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40608669

Naturally, we don't see much but I like the expression as she sees/hears the TARDIS for the first time.

My favorite response to the freaking-out-over-a-woman-doctor:

(paraphrasing)"The character's not even human and you're worried about what the gender is? Why do you people watch Sci-Fi??"

[sense8ional]

I haven't watched any Doctor Who (I know, I know..) but I know her from Attack the Block and Black Mirror. She's good.

[Ubik]

Not a Dr.Who fan myself, but I am having a lot of fun watching man-baby fanboys lose their shit over this. Great move by the show to shake things up a bit, and lovely to see girls get a cool hero / rolemodel that isn't a 'sidekick'.

[Jan]

Not a Dr.Who fan myself, but I am having a lot of fun watching man-baby fanboys lose their shit over this. Great move by the show to shake things up a bit, and lovely to see girls get a cool hero / rolemodel that isn't a 'sidekick'.

I've seen some reaction videos of young girls seeing the female doctor and it's kind of heartwarming. I realize I'm a little old to just be getting it, but I'm starting to understand a little better as time goes on that seing characters you can relate to is pretty important.

[babylonlurker]

I've seen some reaction videos of young girls seeing the female doctor and it's kind of heartwarming. I realize I'm a little old to just be getting it, but I'm starting to understand a little better as time goes on that seing characters you can relate to is pretty important.

Those reaction videos remind me a bit of the story about Whoopi Goldberg seeing Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek. I like it.

[Looney]

The only negative reaction I have to this news is that it is WAY too obvious a marketing ploy. Say what you will about Capaldi, choosing him as the Doctor was interesting and thought provoking. It was a move that made you think they were more interested in the quality of the show than marketing it to certain demographics. The only thing I find off about this move is that it was clearly done for marketing purposes. Maybe they saw a slip in devotion with Capaldi as the Doctor, so they chose a woman to be provocative and return to targeting certain demographics. I would have no problem with this choice if it just wasn't such an in-your-face grab for attention.

Moving past the marketing aspect I certainly hope this move works. I've tried to watch Doctor Who, but I've had a lot of difficulty. Very entertaining and imaginative, at times, but the further I've gotten into it the more I lose interest. It really started to go downhill for me when I realized I was missing big chunks of story because the entire series wasn't on Netflix or Hulu in order. I realized I was missing The Specials because they aren't with the series and you have to go find them some where else. Then you need to find a diagram of when you should watch what. Too much effort for a show that was slowly losing me over time anyway. I still plan to get to it again, but I don't feel rushed. I left off where Capaldi took over so I am hopeful that by the time I get through him being the Doctor I'll have heard how great the new Doctor is and really want to watch her work.

[Jan]

The only thing I find off about this move is that it was clearly done for marketing purposes. Maybe they saw a slip in devotion with Capaldi as the Doctor, so they chose a woman to be provocative and return to targeting certain demographics. I would have no problem with this choice if it just wasn't such an in-your-face grab for attention.

Funny how when it's a woman chosen it's 'clearly done for marketing purposes' (or insert agenda of your choice) rather than it just being about damned time. You'd almost think that having a huge announcement in a special timeslot when Capaldi was announced had nothing to do with marketing, right? I mean, it couldn't possibly, could it?

[nottenst]

I can't see that it was purely for marketing. In the initial press release, Chris Chibnall said "I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice."

It seems that they really have been leading up to this over at least the past three seasons.

Whether the ratings will be helped or hurt by this change is anyone's guess. You really never can tell. There may be a bump in the premiere, followed by a big drop. I believe that they are targeting an autumn start for Series 11. Just by airing it then instead of during longer days of daylight saving time will probably mean better ratings.

[Jan]

For those interested, here's video of Alex Kingston finding out the new Doctor's identity.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-who/news/a833272/alex-kingston-jodie-whittaker-first-female-doctor-new-doctor/

[Triple F]

The only negative reaction I have to this news is that it is WAY too obvious a marketing ploy. Say what you will about Capaldi, choosing him as the Doctor was interesting and thought provoking.

Your not the only person who views it much the same way. Have no issues with a female Dr Who, hope the actress can pull it off and she gets some half decent material to play with. But the reasons for turning a character that’s always been male for the past 50 years into a female is a bit more questionable. I’m looking forward to Julie Bond, and Brenda Rodgers in the 25th Century next.

I also don't get this, it's about time he became a she. If you want a powerful female role model as a Time Lord. Here's an idea, how about writing one rather than nicking a male one that already exists. . . .

[Jan]

I also don't get this, it's about time he became a she. If you want a powerful female role model as a Time Lord. Here's an idea, how about writing one rather than nicking a male one that already exists. . . .

Well, I keep asking this and nobody every answers: What, exactly, is so 'male' about the Doctor? I mean, given that the character's not even human and isn't constructed like one (two hearts, anybody?)...what beside outward appearance makes that character male? If regeneration is a given, why haven't we seen that person as female before?

[Jan]

Our very own Jason Davis sent me a cool item in rebuttal to those who think the change is (as seen elsewhere) 'PC SJW crap'.






He sent me screenshots of the parts of a letter written by Sydney Newman (major creator of the character, I gather) from Oct. 6, 1986 where he suggested that the Doctor become female:

This was part of a documentary called "The Last Chance Saloon" by Ed Stradling that's on a DVD that has the first four Sylvester McCoy episodes on it.

1986 - 30 years and it's *finally* happening.

[Looney]

Funny how when it's a woman chosen it's 'clearly done for marketing purposes' (or insert agenda of your choice) rather than it just being about damned time. You'd almost think that having a huge announcement in a special timeslot when Capaldi was announced had nothing to do with marketing, right? I mean, it couldn't possibly, could it?

Ummmm.... Who were they trying to market to with Capaldi?

And who are they marketing to with Jodi Whittaker?

I mean there was a marketing ploy to announce Capaldi as the new Doctor just as there would be to announce any such thing, but I don't know how you could say the actual choice of Capaldi was a marketing ploy. How many folks in key demographics who spend money on Doctor Who went, "What?!" and were not happy to see a 50+ year old man replacing the young handsome Doctor?! I have no problem with them choosing a woman. I have a problem with the obvious reason they chose this woman. Now if they had chosen a woman like, oh say, Helen Mirren you wouldn't have heard a peep out of me. . . and that isn't just because I believe she might be the great love of my life. She would have been a woman that announced the show was trying to achieve quality, but she wouldn't have been a woman that necessarily would have gotten younger demographics excited. Yeah it is a show and I know it is all about making money, but at this stage of the money making juggernaut that Doctor Who has become it is nice to dream they are concerned about quality when they are already making all of the money. The choice of Capaldi fed into that dream. It fed into the idea that, "Hey we have a super-successful show. We are going to choose this great actor to be our next Doctor because he is talented and we want to see what he can do with the character, not because he can get more teenage girls to watch the show." I'm not saying this woman won't be absolutely wonderful, but choosing her is a marketing ploy. It is a ploy designed to keep the fangirls and fanboys satisfied with not having to watch the fifty year old dude anymore. And when I say "fangirls" and "fanboys" I mean the bandwagon jumpers not the real intelligent fans of the show. I mean the people who watch the show and buy the merchandise, but probably can't really tell you if an episode is actually good or bad. They are just devoted to it because it is popular and accepted in popular culture, which leads into my point that this choice is just an attempt to make this show even more mainstream.

Okay so I am going to jump off the soap box because I actually don't care about this issue. I really have no problem with this woman or the choice to make The Doctor a woman. I will also say that I am thrilled that this woman does appear to look like an actual adult and not a teen or twenty something. If they had gone with a teen or twenty something everyone on this board would see what I am trying to point out. Instead you'll have to wait to find out what beautiful companions she has and what suitors she'll have and blah, blah, blah. (I guess Looney is in a foul mood today.)

P.S. I would have even been thrilled if they had somehow made the choice Alex Kingston. I don't know how it would have worked, but it wouldn't have bothered me if they had kept it in the family, so to speak.

[Ubik]

Ummmm.... Who were they trying to market to with Capaldi?

And who are they marketing to with Jodi Whittaker?

I mean there was a marketing ploy to announce Capaldi as the new Doctor just as there would be to announce any such thing, but I don't know how you could say the actual choice of Capaldi was a marketing ploy. How many folks in key demographics who spend money on Doctor Who went, "What?!" and were not happy to see a 50+ year old man replacing the young handsome Doctor?! I have no problem with them choosing a woman. I have a problem with the obvious reason they chose this woman. Now if they had chosen a woman like, oh say, Helen Mirren you wouldn't have heard a peep out of me. . . and that isn't just because I believe she might be the great love of my life. She would have been a woman that announced the show was trying to achieve quality, but she wouldn't have been a woman that necessarily would have gotten younger demographics excited. Yeah it is a show and I know it is all about making money, but at this stage of the money making juggernaut that Doctor Who has become it is nice to dream they are concerned about quality when they are already making all of the money. The choice of Capaldi fed into that dream. It fed into the idea that, "Hey we have a super-successful show. We are going to choose this great actor to be our next Doctor because he is talented and we want to see what he can do with the character, not because he can get more teenage girls to watch the show." I'm not saying this woman won't be absolutely wonderful, but choosing her is a marketing ploy. It is a ploy designed to keep the fangirls and fanboys satisfied with not having to watch the fifty year old dude anymore. And when I say "fangirls" and "fanboys" I mean the bandwagon jumpers not the real intelligent fans of the show. I mean the people who watch the show and buy the merchandise, but probably can't really tell you if an episode is actually good or bad. They are just devoted to it because it is popular and accepted in popular culture, which leads into my point that this choice is just an attempt to make this show even more mainstream.

Okay so I am going to jump off the soap box because I actually don't care about this issue. I really have no problem with this woman or the choice to make The Doctor a woman. I will also say that I am thrilled that this woman does appear to look like an actual adult and not a teen or twenty something. If they had gone with a teen or twenty something everyone on this board would see what I am trying to point out. Instead you'll have to wait to find out what beautiful companions she has and what suitors she'll have and blah, blah, blah. (I guess Looney is in a foul mood today.)

P.S. I would have even been thrilled if they had somehow made the choice Alex Kingston. I don't know how it would have worked, but it wouldn't have bothered me if they had kept it in the family, so to speak.

I've got a good answer to this --- 'Matt Smith', he was clearly aimed at the 'tween' demographic and was very popular with teenage girls. I think I see where you're coming from with your argument. I am detecting that you have more of an issue with the show pandering to teen viewers than you do with any gender politics around the choice. Then again, the show IS for kids and young adults... sooo... I don't see a problem either way. There's always going to be considerations as to how successful it will be, but even Capaldi was an interesting choice as he really doesn't cater to that teen market like Smith did. I'm glad girls are getting to have their own hero for once. It's really refreshing, and I think it was seeded by Moffat some time ago in the lore to allow the regeneration as a woman. (I'm not too well versed, don't watch the show).

[sarthaz]

1) I have zero problem with a female Doctor. It is indeed about damned time.
2) It's totally a marketing gimmick. Had they done this when the reboot wasn't at the end of an epic multi-year ratings disaster, I'd say "good on ya", but they're only willing to do it now because the ratings are in the shitter; and really, they should be embarrassed that it took this long.
3) Civil rights took massive leaps forward because Jackie Robinson could play baseball really well, so it's not lost on me that great advances in social equality often take place because of less-than-noble motivations.

In short, I hope it works out and they go somewhere interesting with the new Doctor, but I'm far more willing to praise people like Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams, who have been casting women in starring kick-ass roles for decades because it just makes sense to them over a failing franchise piggybacking on the vision of others and the recent success of female-led Star Wars films and a little blockbuster called Wonder Woman. I'm with Looney that it all seems a little opportunistic and transparent. But hey, at least it's happening, and I wish them all the best.