Watched on video, the interview was a light hearted one. and Matt reacted like an intelligent professional. The Doctor Who fandom already has so many critics of the large minority which can't discuss anything without getting emotional - leading promptly to being abusive. Matt has always come across as someone who loves the character without being fanatical about it, or over-reacting - the perfect ambassador.
More Importantly, Matt is well aware that he has no actual say on his successor or their gender. He'd have to be a fool to say 'Never!!' when his word (like ours) means nothing. Far better to be charming and diplomatic (and he was both) and let the show-runner make those decisions and take the flack over ruining the show by changing everything OR the continued sexism/racisim. Whichever way it goes, someone will be OUTRAGED and demand that their objections are heard. Matt's been honest about being new to the character when he started, so as I said elsewhere, his opinion of the character is probably influenced by Moffat, anyway.
As for research, what's to research? Yes, the Doctor's always been a male, but he can also completely change his body. In 50 years, swapping between genders has never been discussed one way or the other (afaik) . Apart from 'In The Doctor's Wife' where it was made clear that in 21st century Who it's a possibility. I personally feel that it makes little sense that the Doctor would become a woman. Surely it's usually simpler species who swap to allow for a lack of the opposite gender? Lizards, maybe fish - I'm not aware that it's even been seen in mammals, so I sincerely doubt it'd be seen in such a complicated and advanced species as a Time Lord. Especially as there are no males - for Ms Doctor to reproduce with! However that's me trying to apply the little relevant science I know, as opposed to using marketing/ a desire to make a mark/ thinking it's about time/thinking it would be really cool, which will probably be more key in making the decision.
If that what he really thinks (and I'm not sure it is), then he doesn't really understand the show.]
Matt's not my favourite Doctor and I don't fangirl/fanboy over him whatsoever, but his comments indicate that with his far broader mind and willingness to see the series diversify his approach, he understands the show far better than all the ignorant, prejudiced thickos who think a show about a shape-shifting alien is defined by the title character's penis.
It's not 1890. We can have woman Doctor's and I'm sure they are capable of doing every bit as spiffing a job as the male Doctor's.
In the unlikely hood of it ever happening, then theres only 1 candidate in my book, Amanda Mealing.(swoons) Just saying, now I shall depart for fear of being hung drawn and quatered..:D
... he understands the show far better than all the ignorant, prejudiced thickos who think a show about a shape-shifting alien is defined by the title character's penis.
It's not 1890. We can have woman Doctor's and I'm sure they are capable of doing every bit as spiffing a job as the male Doctor's.
Yeah. And don't even get me started on this stupid blue British police box. There's another bunch of ignorant, prejudiced thickos who think the Doctor and his show are defined by a random form of his spaceship...
It's not 1863 and the William Hartnell era is long gone. Have you EVER seen a blue police box outside of the Doctor Who experience in Cardiff? And don't tell me there's that Earl's Court one - don't you know it was dragged there by a bunch of reactionary Doctor Who fans?
It's high time Moffat did something really creative with the chameleon circuit. Innovate!
And did I mention I've always wanted the Doctor to regenerate into a sexy Slitheen?
Yeah. And don't even get me started on this stupid blue British police box. There's another bunch of ignorant, prejudiced thickos who think the Doctor and his show are defined by a random form of his spaceship...
It's not 1863 and the William Hartnell era is long gone. Have you EVER seen a blue police box outside of the Doctor Who experience in Cardiff? And don't tell me there's that Earl's Court one - don't you know it was dragged there by a bunch of reactionary Doctor Who fans?
It's high time Moffat did something really creative with the chameleon circuit. Innovate!
Absolute crap analogy. The TARDIS exterior is a constant, the Doctor's exterior has always been changeable (well since 1966).
We see the outside of the TARDIS all the time; it is important. We have never seen the Doctor's penis; it is not important.
Absolute crap analogy. The TARDIS exterior is a constant, the Doctor's exterior has always been changeable (well since 1966).
We see the outside of the TARDIS all the time; it is important. We have never seen the Doctor's penis; it is not important.
Changeable within certain parameters. He is always male. To which there is much more than merely having a penis. The arguments of people who think in such simplistic terms are completely opaque to me.
Changeable within certain parameters. He is always male. To which there is much more than merely having a penis. The arguments of people who think in such simplistic terms are completely opaque to me.
This is going to sound like I'm on the wind-up, but I'm genuinely not. What more is there to being male than having a penis?
Ok i get he can regenerate but his chromosones can't change. XY for males XX for females. I know he mentioned the corsair chamging gender in TDW. Plus 11 thought he was female briefly after his regeneration. Joke is getting a bit old now. Dr is a man and should allwaus be a man. Age or skin colour does'nt matter. Only criteria should be who is the best actor for the job.
Don't you think particles of energy are just a little smaller than chromosomes?
If the Doctor's body is transformed into a cloud of energetic particles and then re-formed what makes you think that the new body needs to have the same chromosomal configuration as before?
This does rather assume that a Gallifreyan body is made up from the same genetic building blocks as ours.
If we're not careful we'll end up with a female actor playing the character of the Doctor who's suffering from Gender dysphoria.
Come to think of it Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper from Corrie) will soon be free. She's already used to playing a woman who used to be a bloke...
why are most people assuming he was forced into saying to not upset the apple cart? perhaps like me he does not think gender matters. the name is doctor that applies no gender biased so a female is easy to do that way and why is every one applying human biology to a time lord?
I'm not against the idea but I have yet to hear an actual argument for it -- other than "why not?". It would be a big change and to claim it wouldn't is naive.
My own personal feeling is that so long as there is some actual reason for it I'm fine with it.
I'm not against the idea but I have yet to hear an actual argument for it -- other than "why not?". It would be a big change and to claim it wouldn't is naive.
My own personal feeling is that so long as there is some actual reason for it I'm fine with it.
why does there need to be a good reason? and why would it be a big change? the doctor should not be looked at through a male or female it should be just about being the doctor a mysterious older than they look space traveller gender makes no difference
why does there need to be a good reason? and why would it be a big change? the doctor should not be looked at through a male or female it should be just about being the doctor a mysterious older than they look space traveller gender makes no difference
It makes no difference in Moffats world. It makes no difference as a fiction. It makes a difference in terms of audience perception, however. If you ask most people who the Doctor is, or to describe the doctor, they're more likely to say "man" than "alien". This whole gender swapping is a Moffat creation.
Like I said, I'm fine with it, so long as there is some sort of reason or explanation. Simply saying "Because" doesn't work for me. It doesn't explain why it hasn't happened before or why, given canon, Gallifrey appears to have somewhat "regular" gender identity and roles. This is why there needs to be a reason for it.
As for it not being a big change. I suspect most people would find it a rather large adjustment if they were to wake up tomorrow having magically changed gender. Sure, we're humans and the doctor is an alien. But most people will have some idea of who the doctor is in their head. It's not a brilliant idea to mess with that for no reason.
It makes no difference in Moffats world. It makes no difference as a fiction. It makes a difference in terms of audience perception, however. If you ask most people who the Doctor is, or to describe the doctor, they're more likely to say "man" than "alien". This whole gender swapping is a Moffat creation.
Like I said, I'm fine with it, so long as there is some sort of reason or explanation. Simply saying "Because" doesn't work for me. It doesn't explain why it hasn't happened before or why, given canon, Gallifrey appears to have somewhat "regular" gender identity and roles. This is why there needs to be a reason for it.
As for it not being a big change. I suspect most people would find it a rather large adjustment if they were to wake up tomorrow having magically changed gender. Sure, we're humans and the doctor is an alien. But most people will have some idea of who the doctor is in their head. It's not a brilliant idea to mess with that for no reason.
it is not really moffat alone you know the book shada based off the 4th doctor adventure also mentions gender swapping and the doctors wife was not a moffat episode it was a gaimain episode
i don't think gallifrey really has shown gender roles really as there chosen names are what defines them not there gender
it is not really moffat alone you know the book shada based off the 4th doctor adventure also mentions gender swapping and the doctors wife was not a moffat episode it was a gaimain episode
I haven't read any Who books.
I meant Moffat era more than specifically his writing.
I can see that you would be fine with the Doctor just regenerating in to a woman simply because. I'd like an actual reason. So we're just going to have to differ on that.
Edit:
I'd say "Grandfather" demonstrates an understanding of gender identity and roles.
I meant Moffat era more than specifically his writing.
I can see that you would be fine with the Doctor just regenerating in to a woman simply because. I'd like an actual reason. So we're just going to have to differ on that.
Edit:
I'd say "Grandfather" demonstrates an understanding of gender identity and roles.
doesn't mean they then could not be grandmother as well
and yes as along as this person can pull of the range of emotions required of the doctor i do not care the character for me is not male just the doctor i see no problems accuring with a woman flying the tardis. some people keep going on about sexulaity being a problem why does it need to be? i mean the doctor could easliy be a doctor that finds romantic things weird and stays away from from for every problem people allege there is for a woman doctor there is a solution.
oh and thanks for debating nicely on another fourum for pointing the same points out people got a bit more angry
To be honest I'm starting to warm to the idea myself. Having seem the amount of racism, ageism, homophobia and a million other different prejudices that have been paraded around these forums of late I would want to associate myself with such bigoted, knuckle dragging neanderthals so bring it on I say!
There will be NO female Doctor - and that's it!! I'm not sexist - but the fact is the Doctor is male....he's a grandfather! He is a man - and that's how he'll remain!
If he does become "Nurse Who" , I'll stop watching :D:D:D
doesn't mean they then could not be grandmother as well
and yes as along as this person can pull of the range of emotions required of the doctor i do not care the character for me is not male just the doctor i see no problems accuring with a woman flying the tardis. some people keep going on about sexulaity being a problem why does it need to be? i mean the doctor could easliy be a doctor that finds romantic things weird and stays away from from for every problem people allege there is for a woman doctor there is a solution.
oh and thanks for debating nicely on another fourum for pointing the same points out people got a bit more angry
I suppose they could be a grandmother also. I'm interested in the doctor becoming a women. I'd just like a coherent explanation for it. I would suspect, though of course this is purely opinion, that most people identify the Doctor as male. So in order to accept the change there would need to be some logical explanation -- perhaps something goes wrong with a regeneration for some reason.
I also agree that so long as whomever is cast can play the part well I'm not all that fussed. The same goes for sexuality and skin colour. I'd be fine with a black lesbian so long as the actor, and the writing, can pull it off.
I'd still like a workable explanation for the change within the context of the fiction though. I'm not a fan of "just because", I'm really not, it's akin to "God did it" as far as I'm concerned.
I suppose they could be a grandmother also. I'm interested in the doctor becoming a women. I'd just like a coherent explanation for it. I would suspect, though of course this is purely opinion, that most people identify the Doctor as male. So in order to accept the change there would need to be some logical explanation -- perhaps something goes wrong with a regeneration for some reason.
I also agree that so long as whomever is cast can play the part well I'm not all that fussed. The same goes for sexuality and skin colour. I'd be fine with a black lesbian so long as the actor, and the writing, can pull it off.
I'd still like a workable explanation for the change within the context of the fiction though. I'm not a fan of "just because", I'm really not, it's akin to "God did it" as far as I'm concerned.
i do see your well put point but the problem is with a reason to be female wouldn't they then need another reason to be male again
Comments
More Importantly, Matt is well aware that he has no actual say on his successor or their gender. He'd have to be a fool to say 'Never!!' when his word (like ours) means nothing. Far better to be charming and diplomatic (and he was both) and let the show-runner make those decisions and take the flack over ruining the show by changing everything OR the continued sexism/racisim. Whichever way it goes, someone will be OUTRAGED and demand that their objections are heard. Matt's been honest about being new to the character when he started, so as I said elsewhere, his opinion of the character is probably influenced by Moffat, anyway.
As for research, what's to research? Yes, the Doctor's always been a male, but he can also completely change his body. In 50 years, swapping between genders has never been discussed one way or the other (afaik) . Apart from 'In The Doctor's Wife' where it was made clear that in 21st century Who it's a possibility. I personally feel that it makes little sense that the Doctor would become a woman. Surely it's usually simpler species who swap to allow for a lack of the opposite gender? Lizards, maybe fish - I'm not aware that it's even been seen in mammals, so I sincerely doubt it'd be seen in such a complicated and advanced species as a Time Lord. Especially as there are no males - for Ms Doctor to reproduce with! However that's me trying to apply the little relevant science I know, as opposed to using marketing/ a desire to make a mark/ thinking it's about time/thinking it would be really cool, which will probably be more key in making the decision.
Sorry.
Matt's not my favourite Doctor and I don't fangirl/fanboy over him whatsoever, but his comments indicate that with his far broader mind and willingness to see the series diversify his approach, he understands the show far better than all the ignorant, prejudiced thickos who think a show about a shape-shifting alien is defined by the title character's penis.
It's not 1890. We can have woman Doctor's and I'm sure they are capable of doing every bit as spiffing a job as the male Doctor's.
She could just invite lots of men into her TARDIS and have lots of wild sex with them whilst travelling through the time vortex.
Yeah. And don't even get me started on this stupid blue British police box. There's another bunch of ignorant, prejudiced thickos who think the Doctor and his show are defined by a random form of his spaceship...
It's not 1863 and the William Hartnell era is long gone. Have you EVER seen a blue police box outside of the Doctor Who experience in Cardiff? And don't tell me there's that Earl's Court one - don't you know it was dragged there by a bunch of reactionary Doctor Who fans?
It's high time Moffat did something really creative with the chameleon circuit. Innovate!
And did I mention I've always wanted the Doctor to regenerate into a sexy Slitheen?
The male Doctor's what?
Absolute crap analogy. The TARDIS exterior is a constant, the Doctor's exterior has always been changeable (well since 1966).
We see the outside of the TARDIS all the time; it is important. We have never seen the Doctor's penis; it is not important.
John Wayne was called Marion.:D
Changeable within certain parameters. He is always male. To which there is much more than merely having a penis. The arguments of people who think in such simplistic terms are completely opaque to me.
This is going to sound like I'm on the wind-up, but I'm genuinely not. What more is there to being male than having a penis?
If the Doctor's body is transformed into a cloud of energetic particles and then re-formed what makes you think that the new body needs to have the same chromosomal configuration as before?
This does rather assume that a Gallifreyan body is made up from the same genetic building blocks as ours.
If we're not careful we'll end up with a female actor playing the character of the Doctor who's suffering from Gender dysphoria.
Come to think of it Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper from Corrie) will soon be free. She's already used to playing a woman who used to be a bloke...
My own personal feeling is that so long as there is some actual reason for it I'm fine with it.
why does there need to be a good reason? and why would it be a big change? the doctor should not be looked at through a male or female it should be just about being the doctor a mysterious older than they look space traveller gender makes no difference
It makes no difference in Moffats world. It makes no difference as a fiction. It makes a difference in terms of audience perception, however. If you ask most people who the Doctor is, or to describe the doctor, they're more likely to say "man" than "alien". This whole gender swapping is a Moffat creation.
Like I said, I'm fine with it, so long as there is some sort of reason or explanation. Simply saying "Because" doesn't work for me. It doesn't explain why it hasn't happened before or why, given canon, Gallifrey appears to have somewhat "regular" gender identity and roles. This is why there needs to be a reason for it.
As for it not being a big change. I suspect most people would find it a rather large adjustment if they were to wake up tomorrow having magically changed gender. Sure, we're humans and the doctor is an alien. But most people will have some idea of who the doctor is in their head. It's not a brilliant idea to mess with that for no reason.
i don't think gallifrey really has shown gender roles really as there chosen names are what defines them not there gender
I haven't read any Who books.
I meant Moffat era more than specifically his writing.
I can see that you would be fine with the Doctor just regenerating in to a woman simply because. I'd like an actual reason. So we're just going to have to differ on that.
Edit:
I'd say "Grandfather" demonstrates an understanding of gender identity and roles.
doesn't mean they then could not be grandmother as well
and yes as along as this person can pull of the range of emotions required of the doctor i do not care the character for me is not male just the doctor i see no problems accuring with a woman flying the tardis. some people keep going on about sexulaity being a problem why does it need to be? i mean the doctor could easliy be a doctor that finds romantic things weird and stays away from from for every problem people allege there is for a woman doctor there is a solution.
oh and thanks for debating nicely on another fourum for pointing the same points out people got a bit more angry
If he does become "Nurse Who" , I'll stop watching
I suppose they could be a grandmother also. I'm interested in the doctor becoming a women. I'd just like a coherent explanation for it. I would suspect, though of course this is purely opinion, that most people identify the Doctor as male. So in order to accept the change there would need to be some logical explanation -- perhaps something goes wrong with a regeneration for some reason.
I also agree that so long as whomever is cast can play the part well I'm not all that fussed. The same goes for sexuality and skin colour. I'd be fine with a black lesbian so long as the actor, and the writing, can pull it off.
I'd still like a workable explanation for the change within the context of the fiction though. I'm not a fan of "just because", I'm really not, it's akin to "God did it" as far as I'm concerned.
i do see your well put point but the problem is with a reason to be female wouldn't they then need another reason to be male again