There ’s a spate unprecedented aboutDoctor Who ’s latest re-formation , where forthcoming Time Lord Jodie Whittaker , the series ’ first distaff Doctor , transmute into fall starDavid Tennant ’s 14th Doctor . But one particular tweak was done because … well , frankly some people suck .
Every re-formation we ’ve seen on Doctor Who up to this item has reason out with the new expression of the Doctor still wandering around in the costume of their harbinger for a snatch — it ’s a traditional aspect of the handover , a reminder of the era that come up before as a raw one begins . “ The Power of the Doctor , ” however , did something very unlike forits unprecedented regenerationmarking the return of David Tennant as an entirely young incarnation of the Doctor , rather than a return of his identity as the 10th Dr. . As Jodie Whittaker ’s Time Lord burned with transformative push , so did her getup , replace it with the costume to be worn by Tennant in next year ’s triad of 60th day of remembrance specials .
On the one bridge player , this potentially do across as dismissive of Whittaker ’s incumbency , so promptly score out that even this visual tradition could n’t be break to her time as the Doctor for the rice beer of the shock and awe of one of the most popular actors to hold the use returning . But , speaking in the late issuing of Doctor Who Magazine , returning showrunner Russell T Davies oppose the decision as not just protective of Whittaker herself , but the fact that Doctor Who is made on anisland of misfortunate peoplewho have not on the button been friendly to theidea of gender identityand drag public presentation lately .
Screenshot: BBC
“ I was very sure that I did n’t want David to appear in Jodie ’s costume . I think the notion of man dressing in ‘ women ’s clothes ’ , the notion of drag , is very fragile . I ’m a vast lover of that culture and the self-worth of that , it ’s sincerely a valuable matter , but it has to be done with immense thought and regard , ” Davies — an openly and unabashedly queer man — told DWM . “ With regard to Jodie and her Doctor , I cogitate it can reckon like mockery when a straight human being wears her apparel . To put a smashing heavy six - foot Scotsman into them looks like we ’re take the mickey . ”
Sir Humphrey Davy was in particularly mindful of the reaction from the British press , which is notedly dominate by bigoted , transphobic rhetoric — but it ’s also fair to say the decision was likely also made in part with Doctor Who ’s develop international audience as it blow up to Disney+ next year , especially in markets like the U.S. , whereright - wing bigotshave made retarding force performers a mark inanti - LGBTQ culture warfare movementsthis twelvemonth . “ If [ the press ] can wreak with grammatical gender in a sarcastic or critical way , they will , ” Humphrey Davy preserve . “ We could have the Doctor dressed as a knight , or line up as God , or trim as William Hartnell , and the only photo they ’d mark would be of David in what they conceive to be women ’s dress . ”
It ’s a shame that such narrow-minded - minded harshness has overcharge Doctor Who of this traditional handover , but at least Davies is unforced to harbor devotee who could ’ve been targeted or triggered by seeing the show muck up in bigoted “ controversy ” if they ’d gone through with it .
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