Gender in Doctor Who

I think we need to talk about Doctor Who. Specifically, I’ve got some thoughts I need to share about the recent seasons. There has been a lot of talk about the past two seasons, the introduction of a female Doctor, and the general quality of the show. To be completely honest, I’m getting extremely tired and frustrated of the articles and blogs about how the problem with the show IS the Doctor being female. I personally believe this is not the reason for any issues the show has had. Have the recent seasons been perfect? No, of course not. And if you’ll allow me, I’ll tell you why I think that really is.

It’s very easy to pawn off the quality of the show on the biggest change since William Hartnell turned into Patrick Troughton. But in reality, the Doctor’s gender has surprisingly little do to with their characterization. Every aspect of the 13th Doctor is as likely to be present if the Doctor was a man. She is still as lively and indeed vicious as previous incarnations have been. She freely admits she would absolutely have touched the lines in the air like Ryan did, and then less than an hour later has put tiny bombs into Tim Shaw’s body to kill him. Is she a bit less in your face and demanding than some Doctors? Yes, although I don’t think you could call them cautious or timid.

In fact, I think the main reason that their gender is an issue, apart from some obvious misogyny, is that she is different than what we’re used to. In the original Who each Doctor was genuinely different than the one before. The clownish second Doctor regenerated into an almost James Bond Doctor. Who in turn regenerated into the wildness that is Tom Baker. In contrast, the Doctors in New Who are much more like each other. They are men of action, wit, and passion. They are deeply troubled by their past, and yet trying to always reach out to the universe with exuberance. They want to protect their companions and often rely on them too much. They are in awe of humanity’s endless possibilities but are equally infuriated by humans themselves. Matt Smith and David Tennant in particular, playing back-to-back Doctors, both exude a hyperactive energy that pops off the screen and makes your heart race. As likely to crack a joke as they are to drop a bomb on an unsuspecting adversary. The character, while having different faces and nuances, has a tempo in New Who that is slower with Jodie Whittaker. But this is not a detriment, it’s just a difference. However, given the appeal of the familiar, it’s easy to be put off by the change.

Speaking of Whittaker’s Doctor, who sometimes seems confused in themselves or who they want to be. It would be again very easy to put these down to their gender change, and the fact the Doctor has NEVER understood women. This overlooks the much more obvious reasons for such confusion. The 12th Doctor finally, fully, dealt with the trauma they’d experienced, faced themselves in a way that was occasionally poetic. They came full circle, even becoming a good husband to River for a time. This was shown clearly when they didn’t want to regenerate, a fact many tend to miss. They had to be talked into it, for an entire Christmas Special. The 13th Doctor we have now is someone who not long before regeneration did not want to go on, they’d had enough. But now they have, and they’re trying to live up to the promises made by their last self. The Doctor has always walked the line of sacrifice. Seemingly willing to die for a cause or a friend. But also desperate to live, and keep running. This Doctor is very much starting over, fresh life, fresh face, the reset button has truly been hit.

Apart from the character, there is also criticism of the show overall. I will agree, freely, that the last two seasons have not been as satisfactory as I’d have liked. There often seems to be something off. I’ve put this down to two main reasons, too many companions, and the writing not being as good as it could be. Let’s start with the companions.

I adore Graham and Ryan, I mean really, but three is too many companions. At least in the Tardis at this point. It was easier in the 1970s and 80s when the monster of the week was the focus and not everyone’s character arcs. There just isn’t time to give everyone their due in a twelve-episode season, especially when everyone is new, including the Doctor. They would have been better focusing on just Yaz, who has a much deeper character and longer possible arc. Mandip Gill has proved time and again she can do much with an expression or an inflection despite not often being given much to work with. Watching her a Jodie Whittaker twist together and play off each other on a journey of self-discovery is a joy we seem to have been robbed of.

The other reason I have had issues with the recent seasons is some of the writing has just been not up to the standard Doctor Who has usually set. Jodie Whittaker is a phenomenal actress, and she like Gill does a lot with a little, but none of the writers seem to have realized it. The beauty of bringing the Master back, with another excellent actor, is like always it allows the Doctor to let loose. It could be a lack of communication with the writers, but they almost can’t seem to decide what story they want to be telling, or who they want to focus on.

At the end of the day, no show is perfect. To be frank, we’ve been spoiled with Doctor Who for years. If you do not like the Doctor or the writing, then you’re absolutely welcome to your opinion. You are also welcome to stop watching the show if it annoys you so much, rather than blast continuously online about how you think it’s been ruined. The show, and the character, are made to change. New writers and ideas come with risks. But to boil all, or most, of it down to gender is a mistake.