Doctor Who Opinion: The potential issues with a female doctor

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The conversation of a female Doctor has been nonstop. But can the show handle such a change?

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There are so many variables to considering a new actor to play the Doctor. Are they going to attract an audience somehow? What will they bring to the Doctor Who? How will they be different than the current Doctor?

Male or female, these are the questions that are going to be asked of an actor. But with where Doctor Who is currently standing, is it time to make such a drastic change to a 54-year-old show? The idea of a female Doctor polarizes the fandom. Some people want it, some people don’t care, and some are vehemently against it.

Personally, I’m in the middle. I think a female Doctor would be interesting, but I’m not one for change. I’ve advocated for certain female actors to be considered, but now looking at where the show stands in the TV world, maybe it’s not time yet.

Can Doctor Who survive a change that would jostle the status quo so much? If the ratings were stronger, if Capaldi had a stronger tenure, if everything was coming up Doctor Who, I would say go for it. Make the change.

With Wonder Woman changing the scene for badass females, we’re definitely approaching the right climate. The only issue is: Can the show stand to lose any more fans? Unfortunately, many New Era Doctor Who fans were left because they didn’t have the handsome young actor anymore. Many people fought the idea of Capaldi because he was “too old”…personally, I would point those fans to the Classic Era.

As for a woman? There’s no precedent for this. We didn’t even know that this could really happen until Missy came along, and Heaven Sent happened. It’s unknown territory we’re getting into here, and is the show strong enough to overcome whatever backlash might follow?

Let’s get something straight…

I’m not against a female Doctor. I want one. And, maybe with a new showrunner coming in, it’s the right time to make the change. Moffat and female characters didn’t have the best repertoire, but Chibnall might. He may be able to make it work.

The only reason that, despite the fact that I continue to see Waller-Bridge deny her role, I can’t shake the possibility. If there were going to be a change, now would be a good time. But even with one regeneration of a female, she could turn back into a man the next time round. Would people consider that to be a step back? Would fans look at it as a problem?

There’s much more to consider to female Time Lady than “it’s always been a man”. There’s issues of not only how it’ll be perceived, but how it will affect the show in the long run? Would this lead to a few regenerations of a woman? Or would it be a try-one-on kind of deal?

Long story short.

IF Doctor Who was on better terms with the public (ie: ratings). IF it didn’t seem to polarize the fandom as much as it seems too, and IF the right woman was chosen, it’d be perfect.

Next: Opinion: Why I love River Song

But right now, even with the right woman that somehow everyone could get behind, the show is too unstable for a female Doctor. It’s not sexism, it’s not just an opinion I have, it’s the truth. We’re just not ready yet, I don’t think. Let Chibnall get his grips, then let’s see the radical changes.

A female Doctor will happen. This time round? Perhaps, but doubtful.

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