#The13thDoctor: Why So Much Complaining?

Lucky Doctor #13 is no Time Lord…she’s a Time Lady.

I’ll let that sink in.

Chances are, if you spent any time around social media on Sunday, you likely heard the internet-breaking news the nerd/geek community has been waiting to hear…the revealing of the 13th Doctor.

A new season of Game of Thrones also began last night, but since I’m not into that, I’ll focus on the other internet-shattering tidbit of the weekend.

The revealing of the 13th Doctor was done in a short promo yesterday.

Just in case you missed that promo…

That’s right, the new doctor…

Screenshot (1004)

Is a female.

*Gasp*

Now, maybe it is my new Whovian way of not understanding this, but why is the introduction of a woman as the new doctor such a controversial concept?

Maybe it’s just me.  Maybe it is the woman in me (I am female, after all). Why can’t a woman navigate the TARDIS?  Why shouldn’t a woman be more than the companion?  The internet has basically been broken because a bunch of people fearing such change/progress (mostly men) are upset about the idea of a female doctor.

Why?

Why is this so terrible?

I really hate to say this to the naysaying “fans” who think this is the worst thing to happen to fandom: Get over it.  And while you’re getting over it, get over yourselves. Stop it.  Stop needing something to complain about.  Considering the state of affairs of the world, is this really the worst thing that can possibly happen?  Have you noticed there is a push to get girls interested in the sciences and sports to encourage them to live up to their utmost potential?

By heralding in a woman as the new Doctor, the show’s creators and BBC are heralding in progress.  A show that has been around for 52 years suddenly veers toward being more than a show starring various white men.  That’s not so you can get your panties in a bunch, critics, it is so that women can continue to make progress.

 

I love how we have become a society that takes something as small as who is being cast in the next season of a television show and blow it all out of proportion in a negative way.  Why has life become all about how we can be pissy and bitter over small things.  Is this how it starts?  Is this how we become pissy and bitter over bigger things?  You know, things that actually matter about life, by starting off with these smaller supposed issues?  I just don’t know what the big deal is.  Call me naive (I’ve only been watching Doctor Who for two months) or just too busy to care, but I don’t understand why so many people are so unhinged about the whole thing.

I understand that change is scary and uncertain, but what it all boils down to is this: this is not life.  This is a TV show.  That’s right – a TV show.  Something we watch to escape from life for a little while.  Something we enjoy, have healthy discussions about, and whose return we eagerly anticipate the following week.  I repeat: it is a TV show, and not life.  Earth’s rotation, high and low tides, and the rising and setting of the sun and moon is not reflected in the outcome of announcing a new Doctor.

You know what I say to all of you critics?  You all reacted when Christopher Eccelston became David Tennant, when David Tennant became Matt Smith, and when Matt Smith became Peter Capaldi.  And if you’re an old school Whovian, you reacted to all the doctors before Eccelston.  You found your favorites, and you found the ones you didn’t like so much.  But you never stopped watching, did you?

No, you didn’t.  Why?  Because you are a true fan?

Yes, yes you are!  By supporting the show no matter what, you’re a fan.  You can nitpick and say things about certain aspects you don’t like, but getting your panties in a total bunch (seriously, this is what I’ve seen so far) is not being a fan.  It’s being a pain in the butt, and that is what makes the fans who say nothing or support the show no matter what annoyed.

Stop it!  Is it worth it to you?!

Here’s an idea:

Try this, if you will: give it a chance.  You didn’t like the other times the Doctor regenerated, but you (eventually) got over it.  You’ll (eventually) get over this too.

Until the next time the Doctor regenerates.

 

5 comments

  1. So, let’s think about this as well…. in terms of “recasting” popular characters… mainly I’m referring to Starbuck on BSG (Battlestar Galactica). I cocked my head a bit when I heard it announced that Starbuck was going to be a female in the reboot of BSG. The same head cock I gave yesterday. While I am always a bit reluctant to change (Ben Browder who?? lol), I always give the benefit of the doubt and watch to see what happens. Did Katie Sackhoff ruin the character of Starbuck… hell no, I LOVED her in that roll! Oh, and that same head cock I gave when CE turned into DT turned into MS (my fave btw) turned into PC. (I must look like a dog trying to understand what humans are saying!!) 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  2. my favorite Doctor’s, in order, 4, 10, 9, 11, 12…. The Doctor has always been male….except that he once mentioned that he had been female once before…. Anyway, I like to keep an open mind. I always look at cast or role changes as the opening of grand new possibilities to continue a great program. I think The Doctor’s 13th incarnation being female is a perfectly splendid idea.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well said, Sue!!!! That is EXACTLY what I’m looking forward to – positive change. This is a big deal. Those who complain really must not have a whole lot to worry about. Wish I had #FirstWorldProblems. This is typical of fandom, and it is those who act like this that ruin the enjoyment of something for the rest of us. That all said, I’m going to be power watching to get to this point, because I really want to see the new episodes along with everyone else. Breakneck pace, here I come! 🙂

      Like

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