Question of the Day, October 12, 2010

[Woodsey]

I love how the answers in the poll jump straight into assuming misogyny ("No, the Doctor is always male, and for good reason") on the part of the voter instead of just a, "no, I don't think it'd really work" answer.

And since he's a time LORD, then surely he's a male.

 

[Dora]

I always thought this was kind of a silly idea. The Doctor is male because the character is male, just as the character of Rose Tyler (or Donna, or Martha) are women. It's their gender. There are female Time Lords, I'm sure, so unless people are clamouring for gender transforming all around, I don't get the complaint.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Could he? Yes
Should he? Depends if they can find an actress that can do it well.

While the show was experiencing some bumps

Pffftttt...fnarr fnarr.

 

[A Raging Emo]

I don't think that the Doctor should. The Doctor was initially male, so he should continue being male, and vice versa if the Doctor was initially female.

 

[Plinglebob]

If the BBC decided to do a spin-off or somehow introduce a new Time Lady I'd be for it, but changing an established character like that for the sake of it would really put me off watching. One of the reasons Doctor Who is popular with so many people is that he's a bloke which helps get a lot of people watching it. Young boys (as well as sme older guys) watch it because he's a male role model they want to be like, the dads watch it for the companion and the mums (and no doubt some of the older female fans) watch it because of the Doctor.

Also, if the Doctor was female, it would screw up some (ok, a lot) of the time travelling. Like it or not because the Doctor is male, he can easily go into the past and take command of a situation where as a woman would more likely be ignored.

Finally if The Time Lords switch genders, what must romances of Gallifrey be like?

 

[8bitmaster]

I think it would be an interesting change.

 

[Seventh Actuality]

Why would you make this the question of the day? It's just a carte blanche for people to indulge their misogyny in a few pseudo-intellectual ways.

And no, I don't think it would be a good idea. Partly because Doctor Who's strength is that the character at its core stays constant even through all the different actors, and partly because...seriously, the guys running the new series can't make a decent episode with the current canon, a radical change like this would just make them drop the ball completely and doom the whole show for another decade or two.

 

[Samwise137]

There's a certain, know-it-all, borderline rude, aspect to the doctor, primarily established by Tom Baker, that I just don't see a female pulling off. If you want a female doctor, watch The Sarah Jane Adventures. It's the closest I think they'll ever come to it.

 

[C95J]

never watched Doctor Who, so I guess I can't choose anything but the last option.

 

[EnigmaHarper]

I think what everyone is forgetting is he was female for a brief period of time. At least part of him was when there was the Doctor-Donna. He was female and ginger.

I don't think they have an issue with female empowerment. Yes, The Doctor has always been male and, for the most part, had female companions, but his female companions have always been forward-thinking and very liberated. Sometimes they even save the world without The Doctor's help.

Besides the show is really about the companion. She is our link into this fantastical world. She is who we relate to because she is human. We can't relate to a Time Lord because we are not Time Lords.

 

[Dana22]

Wait...what's the 'good reason' the Doctor is always male? I'd love if someone could explain that one to me.

Tradition. To me, it'd be like having the next Bond be female. Jane Bond or something.

It's just...no.

Kate Archer ? Yes please.

 

[Lordpils]

Honestly I don't care if the Doctor became a female so long as he/she is the interesting character he/she has always been. As long as they keep the stories, places and characters interesting I'm a happy camper.

 

[theownerer]

I guess I would keep watching but I'd prefer him staying male as it just seems much more fitting.

Finally if The Time Lords switch genders, what must romances of Gallifrey be like?

Also this lol.

 

[ElegantSwordsman]

Well, they already had Doctor Donna in that temporary story arc so it would hardly be revolutionary. Having said that, I'd hate to see political correctness and marketing thugs break a long standing tradition. Plus it would make any potential reunion with Rose really awkward and confusing...

 

[supermariner]

I've seen hardly any Doctor Who, and aren't a fan...but whyyyyyy? He's perfectly fine as a male. If this is a 'female empowerment' thing, then no. If this is a 'running out of ideas' thing, then "Oh dear". They have all the possibilities of space, AND all the possibilities of time... and they're running out of ideas. Oh dear.

i don't think it's either of those things
i think it was to keep it fresh
as it stands it won't happen anyway

 

[Fensfield]

Only if they feel like dumping the potency of female Timelords from the canon

 

[dogenzakaminion]

snipety

Very true I didn't think of this. I guess you're right, he could be a woman. Although I will say that it would be strange.

 

[Flying-Emu]

It would be Time Lady, wouldn't it? Not Time Mistress?

I dunno.

Time Mistress just sounds like a bad porno from the 80's.

 

[Albino Boo]

This suggestion was made in 1987 and is nothing to to do with the current run. It would have been an interesting idea then, the show had been running since 1969 and the idea could have freshened it up. However the writers were to busy being left wing and trying to bring down the Thatcher government with camp badly written polemics to pay any attention.

It would be Time Lady, wouldn't it? Not Time Mistress?

I dunno.

Time Mistress just sounds like a bad porno from the 80's.

I think I have seen that one. The tag was "It get bigger on the inside".

 

[lukey94]

Nurse Who doesn't sound right though! :O