Doctor Who’s new set of values
After 55 years and a dozen men, the series had a woman lead
After 55 years and 12 men, a new season of Doctor Who has just closed out with Jodie Whittaker as the first woman in the titular role, and it’s even managed to increase its viewership as compared to the previous season. Hopefully, it will also begin a trend to give a new generation of sci-fi and fantasy lovers some gender agnostic role models. With a new showrunner and a female lead, this season of one of the world’s longest running TV shows was always going to be under close scrutiny.
It has held up well. The character of The
Doctor has always been a somewhat whimsical one, and his season has been no different. With a pack of misfits for companions, and under Chris Chibnall as showrunner, Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor is still the swashbuckling hero who is always the smartest person in the room.
But a woman being the smartest person in the room is enough departure from popular culture norms to invite comment on its own. Traditionally, science fiction and fantasy stories tend to cast women only in subordinate or supporting roles, led to greatness by a man. But this season’s Doctor Who brings out the problems of being a very smart woman. As the season puts The Doctor in the middle of an actual witch hunt in 17th century England or in pre-partition Punjab in 1947, or in Rosa Parks’ bus in 1955 USA, the difficulties of being a woman in a leadership role are brought out subtly, but forcefully. Not even The Doctor’s psychic paper can overcome the inherent sexism of 17th century England! And yet the slightly mad, somewhat panicky, always ready to run headlong into the unknown character of The Doctor is still intact.
This is an important milestone in popular culture, because the season has proved that adventure and swashbuckling fun is possible with women adventurers. It shatters a glass ceiling that has held little girls captive in princess fantasies and boys in those of battles. This season has managed to underline some uniquely Doctor Who values as Whittaker’s Doctor refuses to use weapons, encourages her companions to reject the need for revenge, and tries to make friends with even the most dangerous aliens. Armed with nothing but a sonic screwdriver and her wits, the Doctor’s adventures in space and time were always meant to fire the imagination of its viewers. Now as a woman hurtles around the known and unknown universe in the TARDIS, perhaps it will inspire more girls and women to go exploring and adventuring as well.