Comments | vindaloo_vixen: More on the Eleventh Doctor

vindaloo_vixen

More on the Eleventh Doctor

Jan 06, 2009 13:29

http://io9.com/5122806/why-this-doctor-disappoints

The above article at io9 is not alone in their reasons for disappointment in Matt Smith being cast as the Doctor for Doctor Who 2010. Amongst the usual 'he's great' or 'he sucks' there are a lot of responses actively ( Read more... )

gender, doctor who, race, television, equity

Comments 7

finback January 6 2009, 02:42:55 UTC

I think I'd have trouble swallowing the gender-swapped Doctor premise more than any "race" change.

vindaloo_vixen January 6 2009, 03:07:28 UTC

We regard issues of race and those of gender differently (I mean, 'we', humankind, not you and I from each other). Even once all the 'traditional' roles, bodies and stations and whatever else are stripped away, there's still 'something' that marks a difference between male and female and anything else, which seems to be hard to deny or define.

finback January 6 2009, 03:43:30 UTC

well, I also think it'd be easier to "rewrite" an organism's skin/height/weight etc. than the entire reproductive system, associated hormonal systems, etc ;)

twotone January 6 2009, 03:59:54 UTC

My husband and I came up with the idea of a female Master masquerading as the Doctor's mysterious young lady companion, Mary Sue!

ide_cyan January 6 2009, 04:39:46 UTC

Wenger says they saw "a dozen or so people, some of them black" -- that's a very small sample.

Besides, it's hardly fair to take issue with the BBC/Moffatt/CastingBot 3000 for disliking Joseph based on the colour of his skin, then turn around and dislike Smith for the colour of his.

The dynamics of those reactions? They are not the same.

Why is it always the Doctor everyone wants to mess with the gender of? No-one ever starts a rumour that the Rani's going to come back played by Philip Glenister.

Because the show's star has a more significant status.

brokenchopstick January 6 2009, 13:28:51 UTC

I'm glad they went with a relative unknown rather than a face such as Nesbitt. I think it's important that The Doctor (and thus the actor) have as few prior associations as possible, giving us fewer expectations and the character a little more mystery.

What I find disappointing is the initial similarities between Smith and Tennant (judging only on the few clips of Smith in other shows). It does seem like they've taken the safe route, opting for more of the same rather than give us something fresh. Regardless of skin colour, I guess we'll have to wait on how his performance develops to judge this properly.

FRIED GOLD! bunniquette January 8 2009, 06:14:38 UTC

Oh my GOD I so want to see Philip Glenister playing the Rani! Someone phone Moffat immediately!
-L.