Whose Who?

A bit sceptical at the moment. I like the actress but I reserve judgement on whether the whole idea will work.
I'm not an avid fan of the Dr. but I do watch it as S likes it.

This gender - does-it-matter-at-all? - question has exercised us - far too much in our household today with much discussion of key roles in literature being redefined by opposite gender.

I recently saw the Bristol Old Vic/National Theatre's version of Jane Eyre where a key male character was portrayed by a woman. I loved every other part of the production, appreciating the bold and imaginative reinterpretation of a treasured classic, but St.John Rivers...played by a woman ... this was a distraction - and seemed pointless to me. Maybe I am just too simple to recognise high culture ... and to celebrate all the pro-feminist challenge of gender tripping. I just kept thinking 'There are plenty of men in the company - what point are they trying to make?' instead of enjoying the storyline.

I know the gender swap chestnut has been chewed on several times. My DH remembered the debate surounding a female Hamlet:
www.thestage.co.uk/news/2016/half-of-brits-dont-want-female-hamlets-claims-research/

DH and I agreed that unlike prescribed roles in literature, Dr Who goes on developing and can easily transcend gender. As one commentator on BBC Breakfast today put it - the development of the programme /character 'reflects the zeitgeist of our time.'

No doubt the producer/s of Jane Eyre were aiming for some of that too ...

I simply hope the new Dr brings the same mix of quirkiness and gravitas to the role as others have.
What would kill it for me is if we move to emphasis - with either gender - on dealing with personal conflicted sexuality questions. Simply not where the programme should / needs to time travel ...

And today, I have also been pondering a female Mr Darcy ... no, no, no, no, noooooooooooooooo!!!!!! .

Isn't the Doctor supposed to be unisex? Don't see what the fuss is about. Perhaps the next one will be a Muslim Person of Colour. We'll have true equality when no remarks are made about faith, sex or skin colour.

I'm not very happy about it. I don't see how it will work. To me, the doctor is a man. He's either been eccentric like Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee, dark and brooding like Christopher Eccleston or sex on legs like David Tennant but in all cases his gender has given him an air of authority. I don't see how a woman can have that without taking on masculine traits.

It always takes a while for a new Doctor to settle in so I'll give it a go and hope my initial reaction was wrong.

'But in all cases his gender has given him an air of authority'. Watch out for flying dingbats, VQ.

For authority, how about Servolan in Blake 7?

Not sure this actress can pull it off, but they must see something in her.

I could see Kriss Marshall in the role. He was the other actor in the running. Not sure about the chosen actress, only ever saw her in Broadchurch. Do hope it works for the show's sake, apparently it has lost viewers recently. Will have to ask my sister what she thinks as she has been an avid viewer since William Hartnell days.

Servolan had to take on masculine traits to maintain her authority.

Yes VQ - authority = a masculine trait? Oh dear, - no ... Cat ... pigeons ...

Nope, sorry - can't resist ... not a brickbat - just genuinely want to know why VQ - and others no doubt - think 'authority' is a masculine trait?

Definition of authority.: the power to give orders or make decisions: the power or right to direct or control someone or something.

Are you saying it is simply not right, or just 'unattractive' for a female to exercise power or control? Either way it suggests submissiveness in women is a more desirable quality.

Sigh.

Just wondering, assuming Whose Who is a play on Who's Who, why?

Whose Who - deliberately MawBroon because it is apparent that people subconsciously / consciously identify themselves with same gender heroic figures - typically boys with male figures, girls with female figures. Two comments I witnessed on BBC Breakfast news today sum this up to my mind - one was posted footage of a young girl reacting to the reveal with the delighted exclamation 'Doctor Who is a GIRL! and the other, the presenter Louise Minchen making an apparent off the cuff remark about failing to speak with the 'voice' of Dr Who (inference - with the gravitas of - )and then said - 'Oh perhaps I do now' ... implying that because she is female she automatically does.

In past series The Doctor has had a wife and a daughter, therefore he is a man. Please don't mess about with an established fact. Well it's too late now of course.
Kriss Marshall would have been ideal.

I only watch occasionally but didn't feel Capaldi was right for the role. I don't have any strong feelings apart from - give the woman a chance and see how it works before panning it. Diehard enthusiasts will have strong feelings though.

I was hoping for Olivia Coleman, who was supposedly in the running. This chosen woman will always be the Broadchurch character to me. Not that I watch Dr Who any more, GCs are older now.

Haven't watched Dr Who since the DDs (now 30's and 40's) were children, so I was surprised at the interest generated by this announcement