Hubs and I are big Doctor Who fans. We've already decided that whether our first child is a boy or a girl, the nursery will be Doctor Who themed. I dressed as the 11th Doctor for Halloween this past year:
We've been very excited the past week as the 12th Doctor was set to be announced on Sunday. My hopes were for a non-white or non-male Doctor. It's 2013, it about time. I also would be fine with an older Doctor to diversify the character. My main hope was not having a Doctor who I knew from any other show. I like the Doctor to ONLY be the Doctor in my head.
The 12th Doctor was announced as Peter Capaldi:
I am disappointed. He's white. He's male. I know him from his role in The Thick of It. One item in my hope list was fulfilled, he is older. While I find this slight bit of diversity to be refreshing, many others are appalled by the fact that the 12th Doctor will be older than Doctors past:
I knew there would be backlash and racism/sexism if the 12th Doctor were of color, or a woman, but I hadn't anticipated people being so upset about his age.
What do you think about the choice for the 12th Doctor?
It's because when they relaunched the show it was aimed at the teenage and teeny bopper market,too young to know or even care about the classic series, now that Moffat is trying to bring substance to Doctor Who and take the Doctor back to his grumpy old man roots, it goes against the romantic young hip sexy image that was built with the 9th, 10th and 11th doctors, Peter Capaldi is within the same age bracket as William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and John Pertwee when they took on the role, those that are aware of the characters roots are well aware of this fact, those that care for the looks of the character rather than the talent have no idea it's a classic show trying to survive in a world of crappy reality tv and trashy celebrities it's really no surprise the amount of ageism with the emphasis in culture towards vanity and looks rather than intelligence which is the opposite to what the original character of the doctor was he was a scientist and intellectual, new doctor who has stryed so far from that concept it's not funny.
ReplyDeleteI admit, I was a bit dissapointed because of the age thing, the whole thing about today's Doctor was RUN! Not sure if that will happen as much now. I also would have wanted him to be ginger (since that's what he seems to want). I didn't like Matt and David either when they first came on board, so by now I should be used to it. I do love the show and I'm hoping I can get used to this new Doctor faster than I did Smith (it took me a while with him). So the only thing I can do is wait and see what new adventures are coming with this new guy.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to what he has to offer. Since this is the direction Moffat is taking with his casting choice, it makes me even more excited to see what he does in the 50th & in the Christmas Special. What happens to the Doctor in his final days as 11 that would bring about such a drastic physical change from his former self? What will that mean for his personality? Ooh, and his wardrobe!!! Moffat is a genius and I trust him to help us transition into loving the new Doctor... so he can crush our souls later.
ReplyDeleteI, too, would be interested in a different race portraying him. A very posh, black man in his mid to late 30's? That would be intriguing. As for a female Doctor, I wasn't on board with that just because I like the formula so far. He needs a strong companion & I like that he shows his companions that they're stronger, smarter, and more important than they think they are. I think that's more easily illustrated with female companions. That's part of what I love about him. He makes people realize their own worth in a world that is constantly dragging us down. He encourages us to be the best versions of ourselves we can, and sometimes the fate of the world rests on it (no pressure).
Regardless, I'm anxious to see what adventures await us now that the Doctor has a new face.
I'm also looking forward to seeing the wardrobe!
DeleteI was hoping for a Doctor of color myself, but I do think it's interesting that they went with an older Doctor, even if he's white. I can't help but wonder if it's in part a response to the fact that the show has become "mainstream" popular in the Matt Smith years. Matt Smith has become sort of a nerdy sex symbol, with teen girls (& adult ones!) becoming fans just because the Doctor makes them swoony. I wondered if maybe they cast an older Doctor in part to weed out these new fair-weather fans from real ones, to see if people stick around when the Doctor isn't quirky & hot. Obviously, many will, because the show has been on for years & years & has a solid fan base - but I bet this will tone down some of the sudden swoon-induced surge of popularity.
ReplyDeleteThat was how I justified this, until I read this piece, which annoyed me: http://www.3news.co.nz/Women-dont-want-female-Doctor---Moffat/tabid/418/articleID/307879/Default.aspx Way to underestimate & stereotype, Moffat.
Wow! Well, clearly Moffat didn't ask me if I wanted a woman lol
Delete"EX-STER-MIN-NATE, EX-STER-MIN-NATE!" Lol All I remember from Dr. Who growing up was that line. And those walking/"talking" TV heads with white-noise screens.
ReplyDeleteYou really like your Halloween costume. It could easily be an every day look. CUTE!