Joun_Lord wrote:I like Capaldi as the Doc I just don't think he was given much to work with.
I partially agree with this. Capaldi's a fine actor, but the writing hasn't always been good.
Between him being made a guest star on his own damn show
I hear this sort of thing a lot, but I don't see it.
and the horribly horrible writing, I agree with Bats in that Capaldi's run was probably the worst of reboot-Who.
Season seven was pretty shitty too. For that matter, I think the show may have taken a nose dive after season five that its never fully recovered from (aside from a brief moment of glory called Day of the Doctor).
Which is one of the reasons I am opposed to a female Doctor, mostly because I am opposed to any Doctor right now as the writing is so fucking tired and just plain bad. A female Doctor in the hands of the current crop would probably wind up being a joke, focusing more on the face he has a vagina now then on the character and his adventures.
That's overly simplistic, I think, but their are a lot of writers who would probably write the Doctor being female very badly. They could use it to promote an agenda in a heavy-handed way, be generally sexist, use it for cheap jokes, or try to make the Doctor focussed on sex appeal for male viewers. Their are a lot of ways to fuck this up.
And if they did fuck it up, it could be seen as validating the complaints of sexist fans and fans who just hate change, and might cause the show to be cancelled.
I like the idea of a female Doctor, but they need someone who's actually competent to handle it.
I'm not opposed to a female Doctor in general though. I'd maybe not prefer it but done well it wouldn't bother. Changing a character sucks but with the Doctor who character is all about change.
Characters changing is realistic and part of what keeps things interesting. Rehashing the same material a lot is bad.
Now, usually you can't change a character's race or gender without it being a gigantic continuity problem (short of a reboot or adaptation). But Doctor Who is blessed in this area because of regeneration.
Each Doctor is a unique character, has some traits from previous versions but overall does their own things, has different characterizations, has different interests and looks. You wouldn't have to change the show too much to make the Doctor a title and each Doctor a different character with the Doctor title rather then the same person.
I don't really like this concept.
And if there is one constant in the show, its the Doctor's adventures.
Its one thing to change the details. Its another to change the premise.
Sure, you could have a similar series with a different protagonist, but if you changed the protagonist but had the new one doing the same thing, what's the point? To get rid of old baggage? To some extent you can do that with each regeneration.
My main things is pretty much how I feel about at black Batman. If they are going to do it, DO SOMETHING WITH IT.Try something different, they are already going to be upsetting fanboys so may as well try something new.
Like what?
I think I'd prefer it if they don't make a big deal out of how the Doctor's a woman and act like that makes everything different. It'll still be the Doctor in their, with the same memories (more or less), the same soul, just like any other regeneration.
Sure, you could and should allude to it in situations where it would be relevant because of how it would effect others' reactions to the Doctor (like how historical racism towards black people was occasionally alluded to when Martha was in the past). But the character should not be defined by their gender.
And don't make a female Doctor just because you want a female Doctor, make it because a female is the best qualified for the role. Hailey Atwell is an excellent actress and would make a great Doc. But she shouldn't get the role because she has a vagina but because she is such a great actress, she should be considered for the role of the Doctor itself not just a female Doctor. Same if they considered Ildris Elba for the role, he should be considered because he is a fantastic actor, not because his skin color. He should be the Doctor who happens to black, not the "black Doctor".
Agreed.
However, their are many women who could play the role, and many who want to play the role, and since their is no reason other than tradition and sexism why they can't, they should be allowed to audition and given an equal shot at the part.
I still say they just leave the Doctor some crusty old white dude and bring back Jenny, maybe retire the Doctor and have her take up his title. No upset fanboys, give a character who has been sadly forgotten some freaking screentime, and lets them do something new with the show without literally thousands of years of backstory weighing it down.
I do think that if the Doctor ever permanently died or was not carrying on his adventures for some other reason, Jenny would be a logical successor. She is definitely her father's daughter, and in her case, you could say she actually is the Doctor, at least in part, by virtue of being created using his genetic material.
