Doctor Who: Why I want the Fourteenth Doctor to be female
When the time comes for Jodie Whittaker to leave Doctor Who, should the next incarnation of the Doctor be female? Definitely, and here’s why.
It has been officially confirmed that Jodie Whittaker will reprise her role as the Thirteenth Doctor for Series 13. For Doctor Who obsessives like myself I, of course, find it cool that this is the first time that a Doctor’s incarnation has matched the series number since the very first series in 1963. But, there is a more important matter to be pondering about than geeky Doctor Who trivia – the future of the main character.
Whilst speculative, I’m confident that if Whittaker doesn’t leave by the end of Series 13, she still won’t have long left in the role. It just seems to be the New Who way – star in three series and a few specials and off you regenerate. So, naturally, my mind has begun to shift into a future timeline. One inhabited by the fourteenth incarnation of our favourite Time Lord. More specifically, why I really hope it’s a woman.
You might be asking ‘why?’.
The sad truth of the matter is this, I haven’t been hugely enamoured with Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. I don’t hate her mind you, let’s make that clear. But, I just haven’t connected with her version of the character. It’s partly due to the writing and as Series 12 has concluded, I have now realised it’s also partly due to the delivery. I wrote this before Series 12 aired:
"I’m hoping Series 12 rectifies this by taking what’s already there and developing it – injecting Thirteen with more individuality, nuance, leadership and assertiveness. All of these factors were inhibited by Series 11 – for example, the writers couldn’t adequately balance our large TARDIS team, resulting in the Doctor often feeling like a side-character in her own show."
We’ve seen a lot from Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor over the past two series. But is it enough to make her a great Doctor?
Photo Credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/BBC America
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The problem with Thirteen
In my opinion, they largely didn’t do this. A lot of that is down to structural issues with the writing. On the delivery aspect, for example, I’ve found many comedic or zany lines/sequences incredibly cringy, whilst acknowledging in the back of my head Matt Smith would have pulled it off.
This is my main problem – I want to adore a female incarnation of my favourite fictional hero, I want a female incarnation to be successful. I also don’t want misjudged delivery/creative direction to be what brings down the concept of changing the Doctor’s gender. It would give ammunition to sexists and hate-mongers that deplore any form of diversity or difference in art.
Furthermore, wouldn’t it just look like a weird blip if we instantly revert to a male incarnation? It would look strange and would come across like an admission of failure. Hell, I wouldn’t mind if the next few Doctors were all female. It would offer an interesting counterbalance to the previously male-dominated character.
If you love Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, all power to you. I’m certainly not saying you’re wrong to do so. We all have our tastes. However, I’ve felt disconnected from her characterisation. But, I don’t want to go back to the status quo just yet. Let’s have a new, brilliant female Doctor when Fourteen, post-regeneration, looks at us in astonishment in the next few years.
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Do you think the Doctor should remain female for the foreseeable future? Or should we go back to having another male incarnation? Let us know in the comments below.