Doctor Who: The Visceral Reaction to Bill

Every character is going to have their detractors. However, one would have hoped that Bill, the new companion on Doctor Who, would have been given more than a one minute introduction before people made up their minds on her merit.

It seems that there is no such thing as a universally beloved character on Doctor Who. Even Wilf, who is seemingly one of the nicest and most entertaining characters to ever appear on the show, somehow has his detractors. At this point, it should come as no surprise when there is a visceral reaction to someone on Doctor Who.

While no one character is going to be appreciated by every fan on the show, one would still expect that they are given a chance to earn adulation or disdain before a judgement is made. Unfortunately, that has not been the case with the new companion, Bill, who has already been receiving a negative reaction on social media following her appearance in a one minute trailer.

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Unless someone is blowing up a city block, one minute is not nearly enough time to judge what type of person they are. Likewise, when it comes to a television show with in depth characters, one minute is not nearly enough time to determine what type of character they may be. An initial first impression is certainly understandable, but to judge a character outright in one minute does not make sense.

So, why does it seem as though Bill has gotten such a negative reaction on social media? Is this an issue with her looks, even if it is not stated outright? Maybe she is not “Hollywood cute” like Clara or Amy, but does that really make such a big difference on a subconscious level?

Or is it her name? Yes, Bill is associated as being a boy’s name, so would she have gotten a better reception if she was named Billie in some sort of homage to Billie Piper? But then how would we be able to make all the ‘Kill Bill’ jokes if/when her time comes?

Or does the problem come from the fact that she questions her surroundings and the Doctor? Let’s face it – if you were in a situation where Daleks were trying to kill you, you would be asking a lot of questions of the being who magically showed up to save you from their quest of extermination. It is also refreshing to see that she will not blindly follow the Doctor’s orders, and that she wants to know the reasons behind these actions.

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It is far too early to be judging what type of a companion Bill will end up becoming. After all, she has yet to appear in her first episode. Let’s give her a chance before having such a negative reaction.