This simple question spins off the last New Who View about Regeneration and has a simple answer:
Question: Could the Doctor regenerate into a woman?
Answer: Yes.
Apologies to traditionalists who view this as an abomination, (Hi, Mom!) but in the revived show, it’s cannon.
The Doctor mentions the Corsair, a Time Lord that has had both male and female regenerations, in “The Doctor’s Wife” - “Oh, she was a bad girl!’
Also, The Eleventh Doctor’s FIRST reaction to having long hair was not:
“I need a trim,”
Or
“Hope the sonic screwdriver works as a comb.”
It was:
“Blimey! I’m a girl!”
In story, on screen, in the new Doctor Who: it has been established as possible that a Time Lord can change sex during regeneration.
It isn’t the norm. The Doctor, the Master, Rassilon, the Castelan, Borusa, and K’ampo/Cho Je have been male in all their seen incarnations, just as Romana, River, Thalia and Flavia have all been female.
That it doesn’t happen regularly may come down to having some control over the regeneration (as proposed last week) and the individual becoming used to being male or female. For the Doctor, possibly all the time he spends with adoring female companions plays a hand in it. (Makes one wonder what would have happened if Captain Jack hung around more.)
Therefore, the important question isn’t “Can the Doctor regenerate into a woman?”
But
“Should the Doctor regenerate into a woman?”
It’s definitely not a new suggestion. The first rumor I remember involved supposedly wanting to give the show a big change after Tom Baker’s unprecedented (and still unequalled) seven year continuous run. The idea was to make the next incarnation radically different to limit direct comparisons to the highly successful Fourth Doctor’s time.
In the much more diverse and enlightened series as it airs today, “Should the Doctor regenerate into a woman?” still has an insane amount of baggage tied to it.
In order to make that large a change and not destroy a nearly half century old main character, there are many key concepts and aspects which must be maintained, or even amplified to prevent the transformation from fatally disrupting the franchise.
This is my list; your lists may vary but are likely as long:
The Doctor’s means of transportation must remain an odd and somewhat out of place, but still ordinary, object which shows signs of sentience, with the ability to travel to any and all wondrous places.
The aspect of “It’s bigger on the inside” must remain, continue to contain all manner of needed items and wardrobes, and also continue to amaze and perplex others when they first see it.
The Doctor must be able to break through the thinking of those who are pompous, overly focused and regimented with confidence, bluster, and cleverness.
The Doctor’s young companions must be made “better” by their adventures.
The companions’ families must be, at least initially, highly suspicious and concerned about the dangerous adventures their relations are going on with a seemingly unstable lunatic, although they will often warm up over time as they learn about the important things in life from the Doctor and his companions.
The Doctor and his companions will always help the down trodden, especially against powerful, controlling and bullying organizations.
Any romantic relationship must remain more implied or hinted at than overt. (Holding to the classic show tradition, more than the new one, to cushion such a large change.)
Companions will eventually leave, and the Doctor will cover up emotional reactions as much as possible no matter how much loss is felt. Inevitably, the Doctor will be alone, with the T.A.R.D.I.S. as the only “permanent companion”.
The Doctor Lies.
The Doctor is often cross, impatient, and can be insulting to humans when they are not being the best they can be.
The sonic screwdriver must maintain its magical seeming omni gadget properties.
The Doctor is frequently vain, cheeky and a show off.
The Doctor must meet people on Earth and other worlds that have been met before and are aware of the Time Lord’s inherent amazingness and longevity.
The Doctor can rouse a veritable army in times of need, bringing out the best even in seeming rabble in order to help out with the task at hand.
The Doctor can be contacted via the psychic paper when strong emotions are in play.
The Doctor speaks EVERY language.
Through intelligently applied confusion, others can be convinced that the Doctor’s plan was, in fact, theirs to begin with.
To borrow from Craig Ferguson, the Doctor must personify, and be the champion of “The triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism.”
The Doctor must have a short and memorable catch phrase that sounds good with a British accent.
ASIDE: That last one is a requirement of the Doctor that I view as completely immutable. More important than race, age or even gender, the Doctor must appear British. (Minor influences from elsewhere in the British Isles are as far as I'll allow on this one.) Changing the Time Lord’s “nationality” would mess with the soul of the show. The closest thing to a non-British Doctor, I think, is Gene Wilder’s role as Willy Wonka. Yet for all his greatness, it still wouldn’t quite cut it as the Doctor. There’s something inherent about the British accent, mannerisms and culture that make it all work out properly. This is especially true for (He said, ending a long winded diversion):
The Doctor uses technobabble that sounds incomprehensible, but usually makes sense in context, if the audience applies a little thought and pays attention.
Back to THE QUESTION:
Should the Doctor regenerate into a woman?
Honestly, this has been a very sneaky exercise on my part, because we’ve already seen EXACTLY what that would be like. Not only didn’t the world come to an end, but the result was arguably more popular with fans, critics and the academy than Doctor Who has been for its entire run.
And no, I’m not referring to Joanna Lumley’s excellent performance in Steven Moffat’s first turn at writing Doctor Who: the 1999 Red Nose Day hysterical spoof
“Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death.”
Think about what would be needed.
In order to find a woman (who possessed the proper British accent, mannerisms and culture) to play the Doctor, she’d have to be someone who is able to meet all criteria I listed, plus the criteria of hordes of other fans.
Even if those were achieved she’d also have to overcome an immense pile of irrational fanboy/fangirl mentality that would be determined to hate the show with a female Doctor - no matter who it was, how spectacular a performance she gave, or how high quality the series reached.
Why, in order to accomplish all that, the first female Doctor would have to be beyond excellent…
Beyond fantastic…
Beyond brilliant.
She’d have to be practically perfect in every way.
Yes, I’m sorry traditionalists, but a female regeneration has already been seen.
Mary Poppins is, in fact, the Doctor.
OBSERVE
The Doctor’s means of transportation must remain an odd and somewhat out of place, but still ordinary, object which shows signs of sentience, with the ability to travel to any and all wondrous places.
Mary Poppins odd looking umbrella carries her through the sky, atop the clouds and to a Jolly Holiday in a chalk drawing.
The aspect of “It’s bigger on the inside” must remain, continue to contain all manner of needed items and wardrobes, and also continue to amaze and perplex others when they first see it.
Mary Poppins pulls all manner of impossibly large objects from her carpet bag to the amazement of the perplexed Banks children.
The Doctor must be able to break through the thinking of those who are pompous, overly focused and regimented with confidence, bluster, and cleverness.
“First of all I would like to make one thing quite clear… I never explain anything.”
Or
Winning the horse race through, “Oh, riders, would you be so kind as to let me pass?”
The Doctor’s young companions must be made “better” by their adventures.
The Banks children are more optimistic, braver, and more compassionate by the end of the tale.
The companions’ families must be, at least initially, highly suspicious and concerned about the dangerous adventures their relations are going on with a seemingly unstable lunatic, although they will often warm up over time as they learn about the important things in life from the Doctor and his companions.
Mr. Banks anger and confusion give way to his epiphany at the bank and an embracing of everything his children and Mary Poppins tried to tell him
The Doctor and his companions will always help the down trodden, especially against powerful, controlling and bullying organizations.
A fox is rescued from hunters at seemingly insurmountable odds.
And
The servants are the first adults to warm up to Mary Poppins.
Any romantic relationship must remain more implied or hinted at than overt.
The relationship between Mary Poppins and Bert is just that.
Companions will eventually leave, and the Doctor will cover up emotional reactions as much as possible no matter how much loss is felt. Inevitably, the Doctor will be alone, with the T.A.R.D.I.S. as the only “permanent companion”.
Mary Poppins- “And what would happen to me, may I ask, if I loved all the children I said goodbye to?”
Shot down in her final scene by her umbrella (The T.A.R.D.I.S., in combination with the carpetbag)
Mary Poppins- “Practically perfect people never permit sentiment to muddle their thinking.”
Umbrella- “Is that so? Well, I'll tell you one thing, Mary Poppins, you don't fool me a bit.”
The Doctor Lies.
“A respectable person like me in a horse race? How dare you suggest such a thing?”
The Doctor is often cross, impatient, and can be insulting to humans when they are not being the best they can be.
“Close your mouth please, Michael. We are not a codfish.”
And
This attitude is VERY visible in the scene at Uncle Albert’s.
Actually, she’s cross pretty frequently, despite telling Mr. Banks during her (really his) interview, “I am never cross.” See directly above.
The sonic screwdriver must maintain its magical seeming omni gadget properties.
Playing “Tidy up the nursery” to “A Spoon Full of Sugar” has objects moving about as if the sonic screwdriver manipulated them. (And she’s improved it to have a setting for wood.) If the T.A.R.D.I.S. doors can open with a snap of the fingers, why can’t the sonic screwdriver…sonic?
The Doctor is frequently vain, cheeky and a show off.
Mary Poppins unpacking her mirrors.
And
Refusing to enter the chalk drawing until Bert claims it’s easy, and messes it up.
And
The little “watch this” smirk before spinning on the rooftop, or any fantastic feat, really.
The Doctor must meet people on Earth and other worlds that have been met before and are aware of the Time Lord’s inherent amazingness and longevity.
Bert-“Wind's in the east, mist comin' in. Like something is brewin' about to begin. Can't put me finger on what lies in store. But I feel what's to happen, all happened before.”
Not to mention all the denizens of the “Jolly Holiday” cartoon world knew Mary Poppins well, as did the rag tag band of Chimney Sweeps.
The Doctor can rouse a veritable army in times of need, bringing out the best even in seeming rabble in order to help out with the task at hand.
“Step in Time!”
The Doctor can be contacted via the psychic paper when strong emotions are in play.
Including when an original letter is shredded and tossed in a fireplace.
The Doctor speaks EVERY language.
Mary Poppins converses with Andrew (a dog) and a robin.
Through intelligently applied confusion, others can be convinced that the Doctor’s plan was, in fact, theirs to begin with.
“Stay Awake”
And
“Tomorrow Jane and Michael will be at your side.”
Really, most every other conversation with Mr. Banks as well.
To borrow from Craig Ferguson, the Doctor must personify, and be the champion of “The triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism.”
“Feed the Birds”
And
“Let’s go Fly a Kite”
The Doctor must have a short and memorable catch phrase that sounds good with a British accent.
“Spit Spot.”
The Doctor uses technobabble that sounds incomprehensible, but usually makes sense in context, if the audience applies a little thought and pays attention.
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!”
And remember
2 comments:
Gonna take a lot more than a spoonful of sugar for me to swallow that one.
No exploration of "The Doctor Donna" head fake?
Nah, that was a biological metacrisis, not a normal regeneration...like there ever is one of those.
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