–Doctor Who started its 12th season by mocking the reaction of fans to a female doctor. After a year hiatus, Doctor Who returns with Jodie Whittaker to the helm of the TARDIS for its second season. While the 2017 announcement that Jodie Whittaker was chosen to become the 13th Doctor has been hailed for the most part, there have been anti-female Doctor Who fans who have been bowled over by the cast. The premiere of the “Skyfall” season contains a joke that addresses and mocks this controversy.
Whittaker is the very first female doctor in the long series, but not the first Time Lord woman. This honor fell on the Master, who became Missy (Michelle Gomez) in season 8. Anyway, it seems that the notion of woman Time Lord still raises some eyebrows, and “Spyfall” made a point to make fun of the backlash Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall received for the casting.
“Spyfall” is the first of a double, and its cliffhanger episode introduces the next Doctor Who Master. During the entire episode, the Doctor and his companions work with MI6 to fight a new alien enemy that seemed to come from an alternative dimension. The initial reaction of an MI6 agent meeting Whittaker’s Doctor Who echoes the feelings of those who complained that a woman was thrown into the role.
As the Doctor and his companions arrive at MI6, Agent C greets them. Played by Stephen Fry, he takes a step forward and addresses Graham (Bradley Walsh) with a joyful “Finally we meet! You really exist“Graham is confused, and it is up to an assistant to gently report the error.”Don’t be ridiculous“, Said C in response.”I have read the files. The doctor is a man.“It’s at this point that Whittaker goes ahead and just says”I had an update“This is an amusing joke, all the more striking since C immediately addressed the only other white man in the room, ignoring Ryan, Yaz and of course, the Doctor herself.
The Doctor’s gender issue arises again later in the episode, when Graham speaks with Agent O. Graham asks what he knows about the Doctor, and he replies “Not much. Our paths crossed once, very briefly, when she was a man.“Graham is stunned, then tells O that he thought she was joking when she said she was a man.
After spending an entire season for fans getting used to the idea of a female doctor, Chibnall is now ready to make jokes about reactions to the cast of Whittaker. While many welcomed the cast, which went strongly against white male actors who played the incumbent doctor in the past, there were fans of the series who opposed it. However, while the doctor had never been a woman before in the long-running series, it is well known that Time Lords can change genders, as seen with Missy.
Whittaker’s doctor was, for the most part, well received by critics. She is brighter, easier to live with and happier than Peter Capaldi’s version, and change was badly needed. Because she is not so cluttered with luggage, she is able to show a more carefree and fun side to the Doctor while fighting extraterrestrial enemies. Following the events of the Doctor Who premiere of season 12, it will be interesting to see how the Doctor faces a far more serious threat to those who interest him.
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