13th Doctor Who Just Announced!

[obamanut2012]

And, finally, it's a woman! And, for the eyerollers: there is canon that Time Lords change genders when regenerating.


*************************************

Jodie Whittaker has been announced as Doctor Who's 13th Time Lord - the first woman to be given the role.

The new Doctor's identity was revealed in a trailer broadcast at the end of the Wimbledon men's singles final.

The Broadchurch star succeeds Peter Capaldi, who took over the role in 2013 and leaves in the forthcoming Christmas special.

Whittaker, 35, said it was "overwhelming, as a feminist" to become the next Doctor.

She will make her debut on the sci-fi show when the Doctor regenerates in the Christmas Day special.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40624288

[Demonaut]

1. I grew up in the UK during the sixties and seventies, was never a fan...ever

but I might watch now.

[obamanut2012]

5. Whittaker was really good in Broadchurch

[anneboleyn]

42. She's great, with Shakespearean training. I loved Matt Smith as the doctor but the David Tennant

fan girls are still crying over him and apparently hated Smith and Capaldi mainly because they weren't Tennant (who hasn't been on the show in years). Hopefully Jodie gives the show a much needed boost.

[anneboleyn]

41. I was born in the 70s. What I would give to have grown up with Bowie & glam rock & Roxy Music

in the glory days of early 70s U.K. (I know the economy wasn't so great though). And Marc Bolan...sigh. Instead I grew up thousands of miles away in California, and in the late 70s - early 80s. Love early 80s English new wave!

[Skidmore]

2. I love sci-fi but I've never been able to get into the time travelling end of it

or Dr. Who.

[hurple]

3. Been a fan

of this show since discovering it on cable TV, on WWOR NY, in the late '70's. Been watching religiously ever since, and I mean religiously. Every week since. Even moved to within range of the last PBS station still airing it in America to keep watching it through the dry years.

Bought EVERY "missing episode" audio CD put out by the BBC, and EVERY Big Finish audio, and EVERY novel.

But, with this... they finally lost me.

Hurl all the insults you want.

And, as for that canon... it was just introduced last season... and even then it was questionable. I mean, that character claimed to be the Master, but acted more like the Rani, and both are liars and masters of impersonation.

Prior to that, it was established canon for MORE THAN 50 years that Time Lords do NOT change gender.

[demmiblue]

6. .

[obamanut2012]

9. IKR

[obamanut2012]

7. Am sorry being gender progressive hurts your fee fees

I don't give a damn if it is or isn't canon.

Your loss. I hope you examine why you feel this way, really why you do, and educate yourself and grow.

[Baconator]

10. Quit that bullshit...

Hurple wasn't mean or sexist or vulgar. He (she?) made a valid point that this is a new addition to the canon.

I can see now that this is going to be the trend. Anyone who doesn't love Jodie Whittaker or goes away this season can expect to be mocked about their 'fee fees' and attacked as a sexist.

Grow the fuck up...

PS. I watched religiously until Capaldi came along. Does that make me an ageist?

[Crunchy Frog]

26. Only the people who reject her before they even see her in a single episode.

I've rejected Doctors before; Six and Ten, but at least I gave them both a fair shake first.

I would never reject any Doctor out of hand before even seeing them in the role. And if you did that with Capaldi, then yes, you are ageist.

[Baconator]

29. You don't need to see or experience everything to know it isn't for you...

I know that I don't enjoy horror movies or anything with Matthew McConaughey or Melissa McCarthy.

I don't need to sit through anything new they put out to know I won't enjoy it. Folks aren't gender 'regressives' if they choose not to go along with every change that a writer/director throws at them.

[anneboleyn]

43. Exactly. I loved Matt Smith and disliked fangirl fave Tennant but I still watched. The butt hurt

over Jodie is not really something I expected to see here...I can see all of that I want on YouTube, etc.

In the "old days" shows (which I've watched in the modern era -- I was too young then!) I loved Tom Baker, THE doctor for many, and I also liked Peter Davison, who never got much love for his turn as the doctor.

[hurple]

37. Maybe

You should look in a mirror and reflect, yourself.

All these responses and not one has asked what the exact problem is with this casting, just assuming it's *only* because it's female. Well, that is the issue, but it's not the complete issue. The issue is with *why* it's a female, and what female it is.

Perhaps you should ask why the male Doctor can be an old craggy, scruffy-looking guy... but the female Doctor has to be young and gorgeous.

And then ask if there's any real progress been made?

20 years ago I would have applauded Joanne Lumley being cast.

But, this is just stunt-casting to pop a reaction.

[anneboleyn]

44. Recent male doctors have definitely been young & attractive (except Capaldi). Tennant, Smith, and

Eccleston all qualify as eye candy. It also seems a bit odd to reject Jodie outright because she is an attractive woman...is that really any better than just rejecting her because she's a woman? When they began hinting, very strongly, that the new doctor would be a woman, I was personally rooting for the fantastic Olivia Colman (The Night Manager and many other great roles) to get the role but Jodie has serious acting chops, and I have great respect for her work.

She really isn't there as just eye candy -- she is a serious actress with a great, intelligent, tough on-screen persona. Her intelligence will allow her to fit in with the "whacky genius" aspect of the beloved Time Lord very well indeed. There are many other actresses that would have fit the eye candy designation better.

[Sgent]

13. Its been much longer than that

Jenny (from The Doctor's Daughter) was the Doctor's genetic clone and was female.

[phleshdef]

15. The notion that Doctor Who has consistent canon is laughable.

Stop pretending like they haven't tinkered with the way things work since the beginning. They have. Hell the notion of regeneration wasn't part of the show when it first started. They dreamed that up because of Hartnell's age.

[Dr. Strange]

33. Rule number one: The Doctor Lies.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

17. Why did they "lose" you?

And what does that mean?

[Crunchy Frog]

20. First of all,

Now that I've got that out of the way, it was not just introduced to canon last season. It was implied in the regeneration scene that introduced Matt Smith. Time Lord gender changes became canon in the Season 6 episode, The Doctor's Wife, with the discussion about the Corsair. The female incarnation of the Master was introduced in Season 8, (last season was Season 9). Last season showed an actual on air gender changing Time Lord regeneration.

It has never in the history of Doctor Who been established canon that Time Lords can't change gender. It just wasn't established canon that they could, and even back then, the idea was seriously considered and often teased.

So, it was always going to happen sooner or later, and it's been canon since 2011, and implied earlier than that.

I'm just extremely grateful that both Moffat and Chibnall are more progressive in their vision than many of the dudebro fans.

[DonCoquixote]

27. and to the canon purists

Master already did, and both she/he and the Dr. have regenerated past the set number of regenerations, which means that right now, anything goes. The one who found that out was the Valeyard (and gee, isn't it time for that person to show?)

[ismnotwasm]

21. They do now.

[VermontKevin]

25. Take a breath. If Starbuck can be a girl, so can a Time Lord.

[demmiblue]

38. Here is a helpline for you to call:

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

4. I am looking forward to a female Doctor

[obamanut2012]

8. I would have killed for Helen Mirren

But know that isn't possible.

But Mirren as the Doctor...

[Gothmog]

12. That would have been great

[Crunchy Frog]

22. I always wanted Joanna Lumley.

Ever since watching her in Fatal Death.

[romana]

40. Yes!

I would've been totally on board with Joanna Lumley after Curse of Fatal Death.

I've been talking about (and getting flamed) for this for decades and I am beside myself with joy that the day is finally here!

[ProudLib72]

11. I immediately liked Eccleston

Didn't like Tennant. Was lukewarm for Matt Smith. Took a year to finally enjoy some of Capaldi.


Of course, I grew up with Baker being THE doctor. Pertwee was good, but never as good as Baker.

I guess I just have to accept that we can't clone Baker and keep using him. Can Whittaker wear a long scarf and offer everyone jelly babies?

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

46. Tennant is my favorite doctor so far. n/t

[duncang]

14. Pretty much stopped watching it.

Didn't care much for the latest doctors. But will be watching it again. I think it could really be interesting with the change. Maybe they will think about other options for the next doctor.

[phleshdef]

16. I'm all for it. If she can pull off being the Doctor, thats all thats important.

There have been more than a few actors that weren't all that great in the role. I thought Peter Davison was downright yawn worthy, for example.

[Starry Messenger]

18. I might actually start watching it now

[X_Digger]

19. If the actress can pull off the role, then why not.

I'm not one for checkbox'ing just for diversity sake, though. I don't believe in this 'turn' crap, either.

Now, if River happens to make an appearance.. that could be interesting!

[hunter]

23. Rose Tyler saved this franchise...

Bad Wolf.

[blogslut]

24. Awesome.

I am a little sad because my hope involved the continued casting of Michelle Gomez because I just lover her so much.

Cheers to Jodie Whittaker!

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. Have you seen Green Wing?

If not, then get hold of it. Her character in it wasn't a million miles away from how she played Missy, except she was a hospital administrator. She tended to steal the scenes she was in.

It was a surreal sitcom, chock full of great actors (more than one of whom has been suggested as a Doctor).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Wing

[blogslut]

34. Yes!

It is why I knew she would be amazing as Missy. I love love love her!

[greytdemocrat]

28. Well just damn!!!

First they make Star Buck a chic in the
recent remake of BattleStar Galactica and
now The Doctor??? It's too much to bear!!!!

[Not Ruth]

31. I would like to see Ariana Grande in the role

She has the acting chops. Might as well bring in Sam and Cat for the inevitable US reboot.

[Worktodo]

32. For me personally

The whole show is about the joy of adventure with some time travel, humor, and creepy monsters. Bonus if we get some social commentary thrown in.

Casting a woman in the title role? That's an opportunity if it's done properly.

I do think Moffat sometimes went too far over the top, but this last season with Capaldi was quite enjoyable.

The Christmas episodes are usually great and a fun thing to look forward to at the end of the day. I'm hoping they knock it out of the park.

[Blindingly apparent]

35. I had just about given up on Doctor Who with Peter Capaldi as the doctor

It wasn't him so much as the terrible storylines. I didn't like Jenna Coleman as his companion but this season with Bill and Nardo, it was much better. I look forward to a woman regeneration

[Codeine]

36. I stopped watching because Jenna Coleman was dire

Her acting and her character stank on ice. The recent trend toward making the Companions more important than The Doctor needs to be burned with fire.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

39. Damnit! It is totally unrealistic to have the 900 yr. old, two hearted "immortal", alien fighting,

time traveler be a lady.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

45. This is great... next time they should try casting someone who isn't white. n/t