The 13th Doctor: S/he ain't here yet.

[elle]

13 hours ago, TwirlyGirly1 said:

Or Martha in the Shakespeare episode (although IIRC, Shakespeare DID mention Martha's attire, but nobody else from that episode seemed to notice).

You've brought up something my daughter and I were discussing yesterday; a man in a suit can pretty much "pass" in any era/at any event (although there might be murmurs of 'eccentricity'), but women's dress has always been dictated by era/culture/current fashion/specific event - a woman who doesn't "fit in" IS noticed and talked about much more so than a man would be. So I wonder if #13 will break the mold and instead of having a specific outfit/look associated with them, will instead have an entire wardrobe from which to choose, based on the era/culture/event in which they'll be involved in a particular episode/storyline.

Interesting to ponder!

Interesting fact, what we consider a suit, specifically the full trousers, in the western world date from the early 19th century, thanks to Beau Brummell.  One would think that the Doctor would stand out any other time period., but as noted, he is not.  No one commented on Ten's attire in the Pompeii episode, but Donna quickly changed into a more time appropriate dress.  (though that is was purple always bothered me considering that the color was extremely expensive and usually reserved for emperors)

The question of the Doctor's attire being anachronistic will be probably, hopefully, hand-waved away as it has been all these years.  

[Bruinsfan]

I think they need to have King Yrcanos make a guest appearance in a story next season. If BRIAN BLESSED treats the new Doctor with respect, what detractor could possibly be manly enough to gainsay him?

[hnygrl]

I'll say this once and forget about it till I have to think about it again.

I fear that thie whole female doctor thing was strictly political and her whole run is going to suck. Oh man...

I've thought about it. I would've been just fine with Capaldi being a girl or even Smith being a girl.

But in 2017? With all the girl power and gender fluidity and you can be any sex any gender, any THING (you identify as a may fly? Who am I to judge) you want to be even if you're 5 years old?
 

Having a girl doctor just smacks of political correctness gone horribly wrong. 
 

Mr. Chibnall if you fuck this up?

We will NEVER forgive you. It's not just about you and your writing/show runner style, this is bigger than you. This is an institution and you have a DUTY NOT TO FUCK IT UP!!!!

Okay. I'm done.

Sorry about the f-bombs.

[Lokiberry]

32 minutes ago, hnygrl said:

I'll say this once and forget about it till I have to think about it again.

I fear that thie whole female doctor thing was strictly political and her whole run is going to suck. Oh man...

I've thought about it. I would've been just fine with Capaldi being a girl or even Smith being a girl.

But in 2017? With all the girl power and gender fluidity and you can be any sex any gender, any THING (you identify as a may fly? Who am I to judge) you want to be even if you're 5 years old?
 

Having a girl doctor just smacks of political correctness gone horribly wrong. 
 

Mr. Chibnall if you fuck this up?

We will NEVER forgive you. It's not just about you and your writing/show runner style, this is bigger than you. This is an institution and you have a DUTY NOT TO FUCK IT UP!!!!

Okay. I'm done.

Sorry about the f-bombs.

Should I repost the Doctor Who Helpline from the previous page?

[hnygrl]

Nah. I'm good. Just needed to get that off my chest somewhere that I wouldn't get crucified for it.

Man, Tried that on FB? Weee! Good thing I have a large vocabulary and thick skin...It was kinda fun to slay the slayers...but just that one time.

[magdalene]

I saw somewhere that had Capaldi not wanted to play the Doctor we would have already had a female Doctor.  All things and prior hints considered I find that very believable.

JW is a good actor and I hope the writing will give her a good run as the Doctor. I'll be watching.

[Lantern7]

It's a pity that the show isn't totally embraced by American audiences. Saturday Night Live could have rewritten their "Leslie Jones Seeks To Replace Alec Baldwin Playing The President" sketch. Or they could've used Kate McKinnon. Kate and Leslie know full well about the hazards of taking roles where (some) audiences are used to men.

Chibnall has a five year plan? That's weird, because I think only two Doctors have reach that peak: Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

[Joe]

27 minutes ago, Lantern7 said:

Chibnall has a five year plan? That's weird, because I think only two Doctors have reach that peak: Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

You could argue McCoy and McGann, because they were technically in the role for years before they were replaced. And then every living Doctor from Tom Baker to McGann have gotten long runs in the audios...

In other news, I watched an interview with Whittaker on YT. Her voice is a little higher than I expected, but I'll live with it. Hey, she may end up doing an accent. My vote is comedy Oirish.

Edited July 19, 2017 by Joe

[Wulfsige]

When I was a wee lass I wanted to be a gunslinger when I grew up.

There’s something irking me about this. They were hoping for shocking, refreshing, provocative, daring, but I’m getting something else entirely. I would have hoped that by now females of whatever age would have understood that if they can be, or at least strive to be, whatever they want to be without having to wait for validation from the male establishment. I’m getting that Chiball wants a pat on the back for this daring bit of casting, but it’s coming across like dad granting permission for his twenty-five old daughter to be out past ten o’clock. Something about it feels too late, I think. 

DW, to my mind, is an iconic figure, who perhaps doesn’t need to be ’modernized’ or ’up-dated’ for the sake of novelty. Some characters, fictional or not, are fine the way they are. His psyche was that of an older man—sometimes cantankerous, too sure of himself, know-it-all, callous. I wonder how it’s going to play out with fans when a female doctor gets taken down a notch by a (probably) male companion. Or will they change her personality to make her feminine and empathic and nicey-nice? 

Aside from that, I’ve only seen JW in Broadchurch, Beth was hardly a charismatic character that viewers would likely fall in love with, but I’m sure she’s a competent actress. It’s the writing that’s giving me the heebie-jeebies.

I didn’t grew up to be a gunslinger but according to Chinball I’m a ‘crying manbaby’, or whatever it was. He’s given me a gender switch, heh.

[SnideAsides]

I mean, I fully support this casting choice and the BBC's commitment to "increased diversity", buuuuuuuuuut the last time they trotted out that line we ended up with a season of Martha Will Never Live Up To Rose, followed by bringing her back the following season for a few episodes of Martha Will Never Live Up To Donna Either, so. I'm not confident this is going to work out well, is what I'm saying. Especially with Chibnall in charge.

[benteen]

4 hours ago, SnideAsides said:

I mean, I fully support this casting choice and the BBC's commitment to "increased diversity", buuuuuuuuuut the last time they trotted out that line we ended up with a season of Martha Will Never Live Up To Rose, followed by bringing her back the following season for a few episodes of Martha Will Never Live Up To Donna Either, so. I'm not confident this is going to work out well, is what I'm saying. Especially with Chibnall in charge.

I know Broadchurch was a big ratings hit in England but the storyline itself was average at best and stupid at worst.  That worries me more than anything.

[cardigirl]

16 hours ago, hnygrl said:

I'll say this once and forget about it till I have to think about it again.

I fear that thie whole female doctor thing was strictly political and her whole run is going to suck. Oh man...

I've thought about it. I would've been just fine with Capaldi being a girl or even Smith being a girl.

But in 2017? With all the girl power and gender fluidity and you can be any sex any gender, any THING (you identify as a may fly? Who am I to judge) you want to be even if you're 5 years old?
 

Having a girl doctor just smacks of political correctness gone horribly wrong. 
 

Mr. Chibnall if you fuck this up?

We will NEVER forgive you. It's not just about you and your writing/show runner style, this is bigger than you. This is an institution and you have a DUTY NOT TO FUCK IT UP!!!!

Okay. I'm done.

Sorry about the f-bombs.

Amen.  And again I say, AAAAAmen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KirkB]

I'm not quite sure I understand how making the Doctor a woman is politically correct.

According to Merriam-Webster, politically correct is defined as conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated. In what way is changing the gender of a fictional alien being (with the decades old established ability to alter its shape) on a television show avoiding offense to political sensibilities? How is the Doctor being male or female even political anyway?

If you are bothered by the casting, fine. If you are somehow personally offended that the people who have every right to alter their character on their show in any way they see fit did so without consulting you, or in a way you do not approve of, that's your business. If you want to stop watching the show because of it, go right ahead. But just because something changes does not mean there is a grand conspiracy at work.

Maybe Jodie Whittaker will be great. Maybe she'll be terrible. I for one can't judge her based on her lack of screen time.

[starri]

Speaking of Merriam-Webster...

The M-W Twitter is the hero we need.

[ElleryAnne]

Quote

 In what way is changing the gender of a fictional alien being (with the decades old established ability to alter its shape) on a television show avoiding offense to political sensibilities? 

Well, there HAVE been people who whined in advance about how horrible it would be if the show had cast yet another white male in the role.  (Some admit they planned to argue about it.)   So clearly at least some people were motivated by something other than whether a man selected as 13 could even have been a good choice, as if such a choice WOULD offend their political sensibilities in some way.  Does that meet MW's definition of political correctness?  Bit of a quibble.  But for some people, the casting of a woman feels like caving to those who think it's omg!enlightened to cast a woman, while the showrunners would have been seen as socially backward misogynistic Neanderthals if they cast another man, and when one kind of response is acceptable but another kind of response can get you branded, there's some degree of PC there.  If they'd stunt-cast a nine-year-old to play the Doctor, people would be allowed to disagree with the choice and not be labeled as having socially unacceptable feelings.  And a few years from now, hopefully casting a woman wouldn't be a PC move, and people who disagree with the choice wouldn't be regarded negatively just for daring to disagree with the idea.  Because for many who disagree, it's not out of misogyny or fear of change or anything that they should be demeaned for.  It's just personal taste.  

As for me, I wanted 13 to be a man.  It's just how I like my Doctor.  No better reason than that.  I'm going to give JW a chance, and I think there's a good chance that she'll do a decent job with the role.  In fact, she looks like she could be a kinda cool 13.  But would she have been my first choice? No.  

[benteen]

I think the articles from SJWs about the casting are what annoy me at the moment.  These are probably people who have never watched the show in their lives.

Although I do believe that The Doctor should have stayed a man (to me he is a man like Wonder Woman is a woman), I am definitely going to give JW a chance too.  New Doctor, new showrunner (which was badly needed) means new opportunities.  I think Series 10 was good but I still think the show needs a creative kick

[clack]

This decision has train-wreck potential.

Chibnall's genre work -- Camelot, his scripts for DW and Torchwood -- has ranged from mediocre to atrocious.  If his DW showrunning follows form and the show disappoints, the casting of Whittaker will be taking a lot of the blame.

[ganesh]

Political correctness isn't really a thing. 

The concept of the Doctor being female was kicked around by the show near the end of the classic era. 

The fact is, whether Nine was a woman to kick off the new era, or if Seventeen was the first woman Doctor, this was going to happen regardless. If the show is good, no one is going to care. 

[Mabinogia]

6 minutes ago, ganesh said:

If the show is good, no one is going to care. 

The sad thing is, this could be the best season of the show ever and people will still be pissed that the Doctor is a woman. It's just the way people are.

[jhlipton]

29 minutes ago, Mabinogia said:

The sad thing is, this could be the best season of the show ever and people will still be pissed that the Doctor is a woman. It's just the way people are.

Love your alias!
And if this show fails, Whittaker (or the casting of a woman!!!!) will be blamed, but not Chibnall.

[Mabinogia]

13 minutes ago, jhlipton said:

And if this show fails, Whittaker (or the casting of a woman!!!!) will be blamed, but not Chibnall.

Ain't that the sad truth! Hmm, if he was devious enough he could have chosen her for that very reason. haha.

I am hoping that the combination of a female Doctor and new show runner will breath some new life into the show. I did love last season to death! But the show has been stuck in a rut for some time. I'm hoping that Jodie's Doctor brings something new. Maybe something less frantic, more collected. Of course, this change will be blamed on her being a woman. But whatever.

[ganesh]

There's going to be tons of scrutiny either way. If enough people like the show, they won't care. If the show is legitimately good I think that will drown out the people who intend to complain no matter what. 

[gonzosgirrl]

On 7/16/2017 at 7:45 PM, tessaray said:

I hope they let JW continue the professorial thing that has worked so well for Capaldi this last season. 

Wasn't the reason for The Doctor being ensconced as a professor so that he could stay in one place and guard 'the vault'? Since that isn't a factor any more, no reason for her to be tied to one place. I'm really hoping for more off-world stand-alones in the new season.

 

On 7/17/2017 at 0:53 PM, Good Queen Jane said:

I always thought that the Doctor had kind of a psychic field around him/her that made people see him/her wearing period acceptable clothing. Kind of like the paper that shows whatever credentials the Doctor needs to show. I would think a long coat that could be pulled across the front to form a dress would suffice.. Or the show will just avoid those eras of Earth history wear the Doctor needs to wear elaborate dress. More off-world adventures!

My thought also. I hope they keep the tradition of one outfit, and I hope it's pants. :)

I wonder if Chibnall will bring back Vastra and Strax. I would love to see their reaction to the new Doctor.

[theschnauzers]

Given Chris Chibnall's past association with the Whoverse through Torchwood, I'm hoping for a return for Captain Jack Harkness. (And since John Barrowman apparently has finished with the five year role of Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrowverse, he's likely available.)

[Florinaldo]

Very intriguing casting news. I have seen some of the actress' work in various TV productions and she certainly has great potential; I haven't seen her in Broadchurch since I cannot stand DT (I could tolerate him in DW, but not in much else). Of course, dubious story and arc choices made by the show runner can hamper even the most talented actor, as has been demonstrated with the outgoing Doctor.

People should not be that surprised about a sex-change for the Doctor, since it will be the fourth Time Lord to undergo such a transformation, if one counts Romana's brief appearance in male form as she "tries out" new bodies following her regeneration, although that was mostly a throw-away joke; more recently though, the death-regeneration of the military leader last season and of course the Master's should have been taken as broad hints that this was a looming possibility.

I wonder if her gender will be an issue in some stories; as a female, the doctor might find it more difficult to assert her authority and status as the depository of superior knowledge when she visits certain eras or cultures (terrestrial or alien), as compared to her male predecessors.

[festivus]

4 hours ago, jhlipton said:

And if this show fails, Whittaker (or the casting of a woman!!!!) will be blamed, but not Chibnall.

I'll blame him! I just want that on record here. I do have my reservations about him but I'll give him a chance. That being said, "Cyberwoman" was one of the worst things I've ever seen. I hope he's learned something since then. 

[MissLucas]

Moving on (as if!) - the rumor mill for her companion has started. British tabloids hand the part to Kris Marshall (emphasis on tabloids - so the DM was right with the Doctor prediction).

[Lokiberry]

2 hours ago, Florinaldo said:

People should not be that surprised about a sex-change for the Doctor, since it will be the fourth Time Lord to undergo such a transformation, if one counts Romana's brief appearance in male form as she "tries out" new bodies following her regeneration,

 

I've read this from several people about Romana's regeneration, but it didn't happen. All of the forms she tried on were female.

24 minutes ago, MissLucas said:

Moving on (as if!) - the rumor mill for her companion has started. British tabloids hand the part to Kris Marshall (emphasis on tabloids - so the DM was right with the Doctor prediction).

I'd think Kris Marshall would be way to expensive what with him coming off the successful Death in Paradise. Plus, he'd probably have no trouble getting the lead role in something else. With the exception of Catherine Tate, companions have traditionally been up and coming actors, and I expect that's who'll they be looking for this time as well.

[DJG1122]

51 minutes ago, MissLucas said:

Moving on (as if!) - the rumor mill for her companion has started. British tabloids hand the part to Kris Marshall 

22 minutes ago, Lokiberry said:

I'd think Kris Marshall would be way to expensive what with him coming off the successful Death in Paradise. Plus, he'd probably have no trouble getting the lead role in something else.  

 

Yes, but what if...? He is better known than Jodie Whitaker. Maybe this is a marketing ploy. For all those folks who wanted a white male Doctor, we would have Companion KRIS MARSHALL.  For all the folks who wanted a woman Doctor, we have JODIE WHITAKER. Wouldn't this please pretty much everybody? 

[tessaray]

6 hours ago, gonzosgirrl said:

Wasn't the reason for The Doctor being ensconced as a professor so that he could stay in one place and guard 'the vault'? Since that isn't a factor any more, no reason for her to be tied to one place. I'm really hoping for more off-world stand-alones in the new season.

I wasn't thinking place so much as the vibe he had with Bill.  7 had it with Ace too. It was just reinforced by the university location. But I imagine now it will come down to the new companion(s) as much as anything.  The professor/student relationship is just something I like. Traveling companions is good too. 

And I would also vote for more non-earth adventures. 

[starri]

Yeah. Whatever gender the new companion has, can we have someone who isn't from the 21st century?

Especially one that doesn't basically have a civilian life and then goes off with the Doctor on weekends?

[eXiled]

1 hour ago, tessaray said:

I wasn't thinking place so much as the vibe he had with Bill.  7 had it with Ace too. It was just reinforced by the university location. But I imagine now it will come down to the new companion(s) as much as anything.  The professor/student relationship is just something I like. Traveling companions is good too. 

And I would also vote for more non-earth adventures. 

I loved Seven and Ace! :-)

[whoknowswho]

9 hours ago, gonzosgirrl said:

Wasn't the reason for The Doctor being ensconced as a professor so that he could stay in one place and guard 'the vault'? Since that isn't a factor any more, no reason for her to be tied to one place. I'm really hoping for more off-world stand-alones in the new season.

 

My thought also. I hope they keep the tradition of one outfit, and I hope it's pants. :)

I wonder if Chibnall will bring back Vastra and Strax. I would love to see their reaction to the new Doctor.

Strax wouldn't notice the difference, he never gets gender correctly! :)  He's my favorite Mr. Potato Head.  "Boy, I say, prepare to meet a glorious death!" or words to that effect. :)

OOps-- I meant to do multiquotes, it didn't work, now I have to go back and make a cogent thought.  I had more of them...

[Lantern7]

The Onion briefly touches upon Sunday's news. The sad thing is that the comments aren't that far off from real haters.

[jhlipton]

10 hours ago, theschnauzers said:

Given Chris Chibnall's past association with the Whoverse through Torchwood, I'm hoping for a return for Captain Jack Harkness. 

Ugh.  Just no.  Then it will be the Captain Jack Harkness Show with a guest appearances by Dr Who and companion (I know a lot of people wouldn't have a problem with this...)

6 hours ago, DJG1122 said:

Wouldn't this please pretty much everybody? 

Nope.  You can never please everybody.

[Last Time Lord]

2 hours ago, starri said:

Yeah. Whatever gender the new companion has, can we have someone who isn't from the 21st century?

Especially one that doesn't basically have a civilian life and then goes off with the Doctor on weekends?

This has been my biggest issue with the past few seasons of the show. I miss when they were actual travelers.

Even something like Five just trying to get Tegan back to her correct time would be preferred.

[benteen]

7 hours ago, Last Time Lord said:

This has been my biggest issue with the past few seasons of the show. I miss when they were actual travelers.

Even something like Five just trying to get Tegan back to her correct time would be preferred.

Yeah, I'd definitely like the next companion to be from somewhere other than present day.  The last year of the Second Doctor's stint, you had Jaime from the 1750s highland and you had Zoe from the future.

[starri]

And Victoria.

I think somebody from the recent past, say the 80s, seeing life in the 10s, might be kind of interesting, although...spoilers.

I'd also be interested in a companion who wasn't British, like Peri, although they'd need to hire an actual American or at least someone who could do a better American accent than Nicola Bryant.

Edited July 20, 2017 by starri

[Daisy]

On 7/17/2017 at 11:29 AM, azshadowwalker said:

You won't even give her a chance, huh? Your choice, I guess. I at least gave shitty Moffat and the horrors of the Pond drama and River stupidity a shot before I stopped watching. I will be watching this to see if it is an improvement over Moffat Hell. 

that's what I am going to do.  I'm going to try to go into it with an open mind and give it a go. (I was doing this knowing mofatt was going to go). Even though I don't like the idea fundamentally - I want to in a year go - SOOOOooooo happy I was wrong. 

[cardigirl]

Is there a thread for the actress, Jodie Whittaker? I'll move this there, if so.  Until then:

 

I've been watching the third season of Broadchurch on BBCAmerica, and the writing is pretty bad, but now I'm having trouble watching it because I know that Jodie will be the next Doctor, and I'm not finding a lot to admire about the character she plays in this show.  It's not her fault, probably, it's the storyline they gave her. And knowing what her next role is, takes me right out of the story.  Here's hoping she will be given great material to work with as the Doctor.

[supposebly]

I think there can be a huge difference between being a showrunner and a writer. Moffat had penned some of the most beloved episodes in NuWho but I think as a showrunner, he was terrible. Overall, it seems he just wrote and rewrote episodes/season arcs with aspects of Blink, The Empty Child and Silence in the Library in variations. Granted, I haven't seen season 9 and 10 but mostly from what I hear, not much has changed.

Timey wimeyness, creepy repeating catch phrases from dead people through some device or other (are you my mommy, etc.) and "everybody lives".  Overall, events had no consequences and emotional impacts were null. I'm still not over the fact of Melody being ripped out of Amy's arms and her being left alone with the knowledge that her kid was somewhere out there for weeks being relegated to a bloody webisode. 

So, just because Chibnail's episodes weren't all that brilliant, maybe he is better as showrunner. Case in point, Jeremy Carver who wrote some of my favorite Supernatural episodes was an absolute disaster as showrunner and made me quit my all-time TV obsession.

So, good writers (and I'm not sure Moffat actually fits in that category) do not necessarily make good showrunners. And maybe not so good writers might make better showrunners.

I'm happy to see a female Doctor because it might shake things up a bit. My bigger worry is, as always, with the writing.

Edited July 20, 2017 by supposebly

[starri]

1 hour ago, supposebly said:

Moffat had penned some of the most beloved episodes in NuWho but I think as a showrunner

This.  "Blink" and "Silence in the Library" were two of my favorites of the RTD era, and I honestly though we were in great hands when the torched passed.

I know there's no real excuse for "Cyberwoman," which may be the worst episode of anything, ever, but I remember really liking most of Chibnall's Who episodes, and about half of his Torchwood ones.  So, I think we're in "Trust, but verify" mode here.

Although I was really hoping they'd give the gig to Toby Whithouse.

[Daisy]

1 hour ago, supposebly said:

I think there can be a huge difference between being a showrunner and a writer. Moffat had penned some of the most beloved episodes in NuWho but I think as a showrunner, he was terrible. Overall, it seems he just wrote and rewrote episodes/season arcs with aspects of Blink, The Empty Child and Silence in the Library in variations. Granted, I haven't seen season 9 and 10 but mostly from what I hear, not much has changed.

Timey wimeyness, creepy repeating catch phrases from dead people through some device or other (are you my mommy, etc.) and "everybody lives".  Overall, events had no consequences and emotional impacts were null. I'm still not over the fact of Melody being ripped out of Amy's arms and her being left alone with the knowledge that her kid was somewhere out there for weeks being relegated to a bloody webisode. 

So, just because Chibnail's episodes weren't all that brilliant, maybe he is better as showrunner. Case in point, Jeremy Carver who wrote some of my favorite Supernatural episodes was an absolute disaster as showrunner and made me quit my all-time TV obsession.

So, good writers (and I'm not sure Moffat actually fits in that category) do not necessarily make good showrunners. And maybe not so good writers might make better showrunners.

I'm happy to see a female Doctor because it might shake things up a bit. My bigger worry is, as always, with the writing.

 

 

I agree with this especially your ending point (in bold). I really hope the staff Chris Chibnail picks out is really good and can really capture what who is 

[Lugal]

16 hours ago, starri said:

Especially one that doesn't basically have a civilian life and then goes off with the Doctor on weekends?

I don't mind seeing snippets of their life, like Donna's family (in small doses), but yeah I want someone who's all in, as opposed to: "I'll travel through all of space and time with you, but I want to be back in time to go to my job teaching middle-schoolers."  -- said no one, ever

[whoknowswho]

On 7/19/2017 at 1:20 PM, jhlipton said:

Love your alias!
And if this show fails, Whittaker (or the casting of a woman!!!!) will be blamed, but not Chibnall.

And there's the rub.

Capaldi got blamed for not being a good Doctor--when it was a lot of the writing and casting decisions which weren't good.  What Moff and Matt Smith pulled off, IMO--was the goofy puppy, bumbling funny, brilliant and sometimes incredibly angry 11.  It didn't work with Capaldi--he tried to be cool, it didn't work. He was cranky, officious, rarely happy, morose, and infinitely OLD, terribly old, and I think terribly tired. Where 10 wanted to stay so badly, and 11 was not ready either to regenerate, or die--I think 12 is--he just wants to end. 

Now we will have a young woman play and even older Doctor. Will she be angry? Funny? Brilliant? Infinitely old, pained by the losses of so many people and worlds? If she can do at least some of those things, great. But if it doesn't work--it won't be blamed on the writing crew--it will come squarely down upon her head. 

And 13 is unlucky, it's said--so she has to pass that test as well. 

[Lantern7]

I don't think there can be a bad Doctor. If the story sucks, the writers are to blame. I think Colin Baker has that monogrammed in Latin somewhere. Like I said, I like grumpy doctors, I thought that Capaldi was undone mostly by Clara (not Jenna, mind you), and I think it's a bit of a shame that he and Alex Kingston only had the one special together. Once again: Matt Smith was a good Doctor, but anytime I saw him with River, I kept imagining him ordering from the kids' menu.

Damn . . . ages ago, Warren Ellis had a thing on his forum asking posters to come up with their versions of what the Thirteenth Doctor would look like. I'll try and find a link later. I know there were some female takes on the character.

[benteen]

RTD wasn't necessarily the best writer during the Eccleston and Tennant years but he was a great showrunner, better than Moffat who was a better script writer during those years.  I'll take a great showrunner instead of a script writer if he brings in a great writing staff.  I'm hoping he retains Jamie Mathieson and Sarah Dollard, who have been strong writers during the Capaldi years.

I admit that Capaldi never caught on with me like the previous NuWho Doctors.  He had some terrific acting moments, particularly these past two years.  But Moffat's writing let him down.  Moffat's storytelling let down Matt Smith too but Matt Smith was immensely likeable as The Doctor, something that Capaldi wasn't.  Add to that the ill-advised decision to bring Clara back for another season to continue the toxic relationship between her and The Doctor.  It's sad too because I read the Titan Comics 12th Doctor comic and both 12 and Clara are written as very fun and have a much better dynamic than they did on the show.  I wish the Bill character had been introduced last season as this Doctor deserved to have a companion of his own after the first season.

12 hours ago, starri said:

And Victoria.

I think somebody from the recent past, say the 80s, seeing life in the 10s, might be kind of interesting, although...spoilers.

I'd also be interested in a companion who wasn't British, like Peri, although they'd need to hire an actual American or at least someone who could do a better American accent than Nicola Bryant.

And Victoria.  I forgot about her.  So throughout most of The Second Doctor's run, you had a Tardis crew that wasn't from present-day Earth.  Moffat even mentions this in The Second Doctor Revisited yet when he had a chance to do this with 11 and Victorian Clara, him and the writing staff were too lazy to put in the work to write a companion who came from the past.

I still think if you are going to make The Doctor a woman, then the companion should be a man.  Or at least a man and a woman.

Edited July 21, 2017 by benteen

[starri]

20 minutes ago, benteen said:

Moffat even mentions this in The Second Doctor Revisited yet when he had a chance to do this with 11 and Victorian Clara, him and the writing staff were too lazy to put in the work to write a companion who came from the past.

If they had used Victorian Clara instead of her contemporary incarnation, I'd have been a lot more positive on the character.

[Llywela]

3 hours ago, benteen said:

I still think if you are going to make The Doctor a woman, then the companion should be a man.  Or at least a man and a woman.
 

I vote for both - I'd love to see a proper ensemble cast, that's been the best thing about having Nardole around this season: having that more varied team dynamic, rather than simply a partnership. I vote for two companions, preferably from different times and places so that as well as getting to know the Doctor they are also getting to know one another, forming a relationship of their own. And not necessarily two people who instantly choose to drop everything to travel with the Doctor, either - ever since New Who started, I've wanted to see the TARDIS break again, if only for a while, so that whoever has dashed into the TARDIS with the Doctor to escape danger in the moment of it breaking finds themselves stuck with him, like it or not - a very classic set-up, but something totally fresh for New Who, which has always focused on willing and eager travellers. Let's have an unwilling traveller now, and watch their journey - forget plot arcs grafted on from the outside, you'd get a whole built-in story arc then about this person having to come to terms with their situation, coming to terms with possibly never being able to go home, learning to love their travels, having to face big choices when the TARDIS was repaired again, etc.

[Locutus]

Time for another Randomizer installed.