Ncuti Gatwa announced as the new Doctor Who

[Denver]

1523263950661775360?t=zvOo7sW2Kf7iq49Yp5qCrQ&s=19

He is best known for his leading role in Sex Education

[Lewismacfarlane]

Am I right in thinking first black doctor

[Crimson Dynamo]

:facepalm:

[Denver]

Am I right in thinking first black doctor

No, Jo Martin holds that role but he is the first black actor in the main role as Jo played a former Doctor

[Liam-]

As someone who’s only seen the first season of sex education, this seems a bit of a... random choice, but he’s a pretty decent actor from what I’ve seen.

GBnews are gonna be frantic, first a woman, now a black man? Their viewers are gonna have kittens

[Crimson Dynamo]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Classic_Doctor_Who_Ratings_Graph.png

[Jordan.]

Love this, I will be tuning in!

[arista]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Classic_Doctor_Who_Ratings_Graph.png


Yes it is not quality it was
when London was Bombed on an Episode "World War Three"
with Christopher Eccleston
a Great Actor.

[Greg!]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Classic_Doctor_Who_Ratings_Graph.png

This graph is from the original series which began in 1963. So your point is..?

[user104658]

I actually think he'll be good, he has the right energy to go back to the Tennant/Smith days. SURELY people can't kick off about him being black... I know they will... but there's zero justification.

In terms of sexuality, so long as they remember that The Doctor is quite clearly established (going back as far as Eccleson) as being bi or "pan" and they don't suddenly make the character gay (which would make no sense, because of Rose + River Song) there's not problem with his persona either which is, admittedly, quite camp in Sex Ed.

That said, I wouldn't exactly call Tennant or Smith "butch" :joker:.


My ONLY concern would be whether or not he'll be able to capture the character's angry/dark side, and that duality is important.

[GoldHeart]

I actually think he'll be good, he has the right energy to go back to the Tennant/Smith days. SURELY people can't kick off about him being black... I know they will... but there's zero justification.

In terms of sexuality, so long as they remember that The Doctor is quite clearly established (going back as far as Eccleson) as being bi or "pan" and they don't suddenly make the character gay (which would make no sense, because of Rose + River Song) there's not problem with his persona either which is, admittedly, quite camp in Sex Ed.

That said, I wouldn't exactly call Tennant or Smith "butch" :joker:.


My ONLY concern would be whether or not he'll be able to capture the character's angry/dark side, and that duality is important.


Have I missed something ? .. when was the doctor ever bi or pans ?? :conf: . Granted I haven't watched it for a good few seasons though.

Anyway It's cool & interesting that it's finally a black actor, but I have a feeling they'll change the character too much ,to the point where it doesn't feel like the doctor anymore.

Tennant and Smith were just eccentric / flamboyant. Tennant will always be my favourite doctor. They both reminded me of energetic scientists. But I always thought Matt Smith's doctor acted alot more sillier .

[Oliver_W]

Not heard of him, never seen Sex Education, am I right in thinking it's comedic? That could be advantageous.



In terms of sexuality, so long as they remember that The Doctor is quite clearly established (going back as far as Eccleson) as being bi or "pan" and they don't suddenly make the character gay (which would make no sense, because of Rose + River Song) there's not problem with his persona either which is, admittedly, quite camp in Sex Ed.

Is the actor gay then? Stuff like that shouldn't inform how a character is written, unless they're unmistakably flaming.
That said, isn't RTD one of those, who keeps karping on about how only gay people should get to play gay characters? Maybe he's bringing back that "gay agenda"' some people used to go on about :joker:

[Livia]

Well, that's that.

I tried to watch it with a woman doctor and it sucked. SOOOOOOO hard.

Now we have a black man. Give me strength. They might as well just cancel it now. The BBC is just trying too hard.

I watched a little bit of Dodger. There was a black Bow Street Runner and a black magistrate. If I were black, I'd be furious to think that the BBC is giving such a horribly skewed picture of history in order to be PC. Black people were servants... none were in society, and to try to expunge that is disingenuous.

[Liam-]

As expected

[Livia]

As someone who’s only seen the first season of sex education, this seems a bit of a... random choice, but he’s a pretty decent actor from what I’ve seen.

GBnews are gonna be frantic, first a woman, now a black man? Their viewers are gonna have kittens

No they won't they will tune out. Like they did when Jodie Whittaker became the Doctor. Then you and half a dozen others will be able to tune in all on your own. Till it's cancelled, of course.

[Denver]

Well, that's that.

I tried to watch it with a woman doctor and it sucked. SOOOOOOO hard.

Now we have a black man. Give me strength. They might as well just cancel it now. The BBC is just trying too hard.

I watched a little bit of Dodger. There was a black Bow Street Runner and a black magistrate. If I were black, I'd be furious to think that the BBC is giving such a horribly skewed picture of history in order to be PC. Black people were servants... none were in society, and to try to expunge that is disingenuous.

Don't you think its racist to stop watching something because they have cast a black person?

[Livia]

As expected

And your posts also.... as expected.

Core fans are overlooked in the interests of wokerism.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

And I've never seen GB news in my LIFE.

[Livia]

Don't you think its racist to stop watching something because they have cast a black person?


Ask me that the day they choose Tom Hardy as Shaka Zulu.... or Ryan Reynolds as Shaft.

[GoldHeart]

As expected

I've never actually seen sex education is it any good?.

I always assumed it was another skins for the next generation, I use to watch skins but it had some bad writing in it.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Im fuming its not a black trans woman tbh

[LukeB]

As expected

What I thought when I popped on to tibb and knew I would see racism.

[Denver]

Ask me that the day they choose Tom Hardy as Shaka Zulu.... or Ryan Reynolds as Shaft.

Those people were always meant to be black, the character of Doctor Who has always been able to generate into any type of life form not just a pasty white old man so I dont really see the point your making

[rusticgal]

Im fuming its not a black trans woman tbh


:hehe:


...he is good looking though.

[LukeB]

Those people were always meant to be black, the character of Doctor Who has always been able to generate into any type of life form not just a pasty white old man so I dont really see the point your making

People just don't like seeing progress people just want white people to have every single role. It's not really that deep but the gammons have to fume about something.

[Greg!]

No they won't they will tune out. Like they did when Jodie Whittaker became the Doctor. Then you and half a dozen others will be able to tune in all on your own. Till it's cancelled, of course.

Jodie's first episodes had some of the highest ratings in the show's history. People tuned out because the writing was crap, not because she's a woman.

Hopefully with RTD back at the helm as showrunner it can be restored back to the glory days

[Livia]

Those people were always meant to be black, the character of Doctor Who has always been able to generate into any type of life form not just a pasty white old man so I dont really see the point your making

Firstly, your use of the word "pasty white man" makes me laugh.

Secondly... the only reason the BBC have chosen a black man is to appease the woke.

How about the black woman who played Ann Boleyn, and who said "no part is beyond her". Is that okay? It is also okay if we blind cast Judi Dench as Rosa Parks?

Miscasting is causing more problems than it's solving. But is is a good excuse for shallow people to accuse others of racism for having a say on the subject.

[GoldHeart]

What I thought when I popped on to tibb and knew I would see racism.

Which is funny considering the Doctor is an ALIEN from another planet , they can literally be any race & gender & can look old or young. They're not human therefore it shouldn't be an issue.

I'll admit I was sceptical when the Doctor changed gender ,but I haven't actually watched any of Whittaker's episodes to.judge them. Also it's down to the writing aswell. I heard Whittaker got some bad scripts/ plots.

[Livia]

Jodie's first episodes had some of the highest ratings in the show's history. People tuned out because the writing was crap, not because she's a woman.

Hopefully with RTD back at the helm as showrunner it can be restored back to the glory days

You have NO WAY of knowing that. No way at all.

NO way is a black doctor taking anything back to the glory days.

[Denver]

Firstly, your use of the word "pasty white man" makes me laugh.

Secondly... the only reason the BBC have chosen a black man is to appease the woke.

How about the black woman who played Ann Boleyn, and who said "no part is beyond her". Is that okay? It is also okay if we blind cast Judi Dench as Rosa Parks?

Miscasting is causing more problems than it's solving. But is is a good excuse for shallow people to accuse others of racism for having a say on the subject.
If you actually knew anything about the casting you would know he was casted but he smashed he audition out of the park and did better then anyone else, why would you want the better actor to be dropped in favour of a white man who didn't impress in his audition?

[Mystic Mock]

:facepalm:

Tbf it's best to give him a chance.

I agree that the casting looks like another political move from the Show, but if he delivers a good performance, and this time the writers actually come up with interesting plots (and I don't mean talking about BLM 24/7) where he has big adventures on other planets with interesting antagonists, then I don't see why anyone would have an issue here.

Because in fairness all Jodie needed was for Chignall to come up with fun concepts.

[Daniel.]

Fantastic news to see this, a woman then a black man? I can imagine most people are very happy.

[Cal.]

Great choice imo. From what I have seen of him he is a great actor.

[Livia]

If you actually knew anything about the casting you would know he was casted but he smashed he audition out of the park and did better then anyone else, why would you want the better actor to be dropped in favour of a white man who didn't impress in his audition?

What do YOU know about casting? I'm guessing nothing.

Let#ds hope Judi Dench smashes the audition to play Rosa Parks.

[Livia]

Great choice imo. From what I have seen of him he is a great actor.

But the half dozen of you that think this a good idea will be able to carry the show? Right?

[Daniel.]

But the half dozen of you that think this a good idea will be able to carry the show? Right?

Anyone who watches the show because they enjoy it won't care what skin colour the doctor is. It will all depend on the writing.

[Denver]

What do YOU know about casting? I'm guessing nothing.

Let#ds hope Judi Dench smashes the audition to play Rosa Parks.

RTD has already spoke about the casting process the first time they had auditioned since Matt Smith as both Peter and Jodie were personally chosen without auditioning for the role

[bots]

ive watched sex education in the background, but i don't remember him so I couldn't say if he would be good bad or indifferent. I don't have an issue with him being a black Dr Who, im more concerned that they do a good job on the writing. If its aimed at kids again, i wont be watching

[Cal.]

But the half dozen of you that think this a good idea will be able to carry the show? Right?

Oh I don’t watch the show anymore I just used to be a big fan back in the day so follow news on it. I don’t think ratings can be blamed on Jodie or this fella though, TV ratings are down everywhere year on year. No one watches telly anymore besides event shows like sports/Line Of Duty etc. Doctor Who which has been running for like 60 years on and off is hardly event Tv anymore. I’m sure even I’m A Celeb, a notoriously high rated show, did very poorly in the ratings last year. It’s all online streaming sites now I guess.

[Denver]

What do YOU know about casting? I'm guessing nothing.

Let#ds hope Judi Dench smashes the audition to play Rosa Parks.

You tell me where in history it says the doctor has to be a white man? Just because the early years nobidy liked anyone but white men on TV doesn't mean it has to stay that way, if you don't like black people or gay people why don't you move to Russia? You would fit in well there

[Beso]

Should have been a little Indian fella if he really is a doctor.

[Beso]

You tell me where in history it says the doctor has to be a white man? Just because the early years nobidy liked anyone but white men on TV doesn't mean it has to stay that way, if you don't like black people or gay people why don't you move to Russia? You would fit in well there

Oh look at the gays...

Always comparing themselves to something.

[Liam-]

I've never actually seen sex education is it any good?.

I always assumed it was another skins for the next generation, I use to watch skins but it had some bad writing in it.

The first series is really good, haven’t seen the second one though, nor have I ever watched skins so I wouldn’t be able to compare the two, would definitely recommend Sex Ed though

[Denver]

Also I dont know why your taking a major issue over this has they have had a woman, a black woman and an Asian man as a time lord over the years so why is this any different?

[Oliver_W]

Jodie [was] personally chosen without auditioning for the role
https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/45828808/ya-dont-say.jpg

[Crimson Dynamo]

https://www.herocollector.com/uploads/media/Supreme-Dalek-Remembrance.jpg

Oh no, they have gone too far now

[Liam-]

It always makes me laugh when people are adamant that a couple thousand year old, time travelling alien, that moves through space and multiple dimensions, who can regenerate whenever they die, just can’t possibly be black or a woman, because that is the thing pushing the limits of reality :joker:

[Cal.]

David Tennant/Rose/Martha/Donna was the best era.

[Liam-]

I hope they put him in a dress at least once just to melt the bigots brains

[Denver]

David Tennant/Rose/Martha/Donna was the best era.

Im glad he wasn't asked back like it was rumoured as it would have ruined it for me, his era should be left untouched without him coming back

[Daniel.]

This thread is depressing.

[Crimson Dynamo]

This thread is depressing.

try watching the show

then you will really know about feeling bad

[arista]

This thread is depressing.


Cheer up


https://twitter.com/BAFTA/status/1523296716404887553

[Liam-]

David Tennant/Rose/Martha/Donna was the best era.

Donna is easily the best companion there’s ever been and I will happily fight anybody that disagrees

[Denver]

Just to make them cry even more its heavily rumoured that Lydia West and T'Nia Miller made the final 3 auditions

[Liam-]

This thread is depressing.

This entire forum is depressing atm

[Swan]

Not that i watch Dr Who, never really have, but if he's the best man for the job then i don't see an issue.

[Jordan.]

People who don't even watch the show acting the most outraged, sounds about white.

[Denver]

Donna is easily the best companion there’s ever been and I will happily fight anybody that disagrees

Its a shame they had to basically kill the character off as Catherine has said she would happily go back but its pretty impossible unless the characters don't ever come in contact

[Daniel.]

This entire forum is depressing atm

The bigots reigning supreme with their Meghan Markle obsession is why everyone else has been driven away.

[GoldHeart]

It always makes me laugh when people are adamant that a couple thousand year old, time travelling alien, that moves through space and multiple dimensions, who can regenerate whenever they die, just can’t possibly be black or a woman, because that is the thing pushing the limits of reality :joker:

Ikr The Doctor ISN'T even human :facepalm: , they can generate into anything & anyone .

[Crimson Dynamo]

This was the heyday of DW

not the bollocks now :joker:

https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ad_117106795_1556789972.jpg?quality=90&strip=all

[Daniel.]

This was the heyday of DW

not the bollocks now :joker:

https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ad_117106795_1556789972.jpg?quality=90&strip=all

Poor and only loved through a nostalgia lens.

[Liam-]

Its a shame they had to basically kill the character off as Catherine has said she would happily go back but its pretty impossible unless the characters don't ever come in contact

Eh, they’ve had more confusing plot holes in the past, they could definitely work something out and bring her back if they wanted to, I would have loved to see her with Matt

[arista]

https://twitter.com/BAFTA/status/1523274232406364160

[Crimson Dynamo]

and of course the Brigadier

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzT3rR8Yw6Q/VhDc1Aqy5fI/AAAAAAAANik/6PDYlOvZA4I/s640/brigadier%2B1.jpg

proper villains in The Master

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/6f/e7/8e/6fe78ec25be94701a855e3e7f5c491e8.jpg

[Denver]

Just in a bit of a side note, the news was meant to be announced during tonight's Baftas bit someone leaked it to the media which left to the BBC wanting to announce it before the media did

[Crimson Dynamo]

Top drawer Companions

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/48/9b/75/489b7553c9db9cd53c7dd84a507b9514.jpg

[Denver]

Im very curious who is companion will be as its common knowledge that the 2 now will leave when Jolie does, I hope its a black binary character to make the gammon cry more

[Oliver_W]

Just in a bit of a side note, the news was meant to be announced during tonight's Baftas bit someone leaked it to the media which left to the BBC wanting to announce it before the media did

That makes sense, it was a bit odd how low-key the announcement was.

[Swan]

You tell me where in history it says the doctor has to be a white man? Just because the early years nobidy liked anyone but white men on TV doesn't mean it has to stay that way, if you don't like black people or gay people why don't you move to Russia? You would fit in well there

Yeah, or most middle east and Asian countries. Not just the whities who are racist, hey a lot of them middle eastern countries kill people for being gay.

[Denver]

Yeah, or most middle east and Asian countries. Not just the whities who are racist, hey a lot of them middle eastern countries kill people for being gay.

Racists wont move to the middle east

[rusticgal]

The bigots reigning supreme with their Meghan Markle obsession is why everyone else has been driven away.


So anyone who disikes Meghan is a Bigot????....pathetic.

Maybe they left because they could no longer defend her...:laugh:



Personally the fact that Dr Who is a fictional character its irrelevant whether they are black, white male or female. But a black female portraying Anne Boleyn was poor casting. You wont find Tom Hardy playing Mohammad Ali or Martin Luther King right :shrug:....because if he did there would be uproar.

[Swan]

Racists wont move to the middle east

Why not?

[Denver]

Why not?

Because its full of non white Muslims

[Mystic Mock]

try watching the show

then you will really know about feeling bad

Tbf that's not wrong.:laugh:

[Swan]

Because its full of non white Muslims

Maybe not great for whitey in that sense then, but excellent for people who hate women and gay people.

[Ashley.]

What I thought when I popped on to tibb and knew I would see racism.

Same here!

[Gusto Brunt]

He doesn't look like a Doctor to me. He's far too young.

If he'd been 40 or 50, then okay. But why so young??? He looks more like the teenage assistant than the Doctor.

[Denver]

He doesn't look like a Doctor to me. He's far too young.

If he'd been 40 or 50, then okay. But why so young??? He looks more like the teenage assistant than the Doctor.

He is a similar age to David Tennant and Matt Smith when they took over

[Gusto Brunt]

He is a similar age to David Tennant and Matt Smith when they took over

The picture I saw of him must be very old then because he looked about 16 in that.

[Liam-]

He’s older than Smith when he started

[Cherie]

Is Discord down for the day :fist:

Only joking guys how lovely to see you all

[Cherie]

Never watched Dr Who

[Gusto Brunt]

He’s older than Smith when he started

He's 30 this year. Just found out and in the picture, I saw of him just now, he does look older than 16.
https://assets.popbuzz.com/2019/02/how-tall-is-ncuti-gatwa-1547420116-view-0.jpg

[Crimson Dynamo]

Is Discord down for the day :fist:



Looks like its working well...

:joker:

[Oliver_W]

He's 30 this year. Just found out and in the picture, I saw of him just now, he does look older than 16.
Well yeah, publicity headshots are of course airbrushed to heck, in candid photos he looks more his age :joker: judging an actor/ess by his or her headshot is like judging a book by its cover.

Well, that's that.

I tried to watch it with a woman doctor and it sucked. SOOOOOOO hard.

Now we have a black man. Give me strength. They might as well just cancel it now. The BBC is just trying too hard
Meh. It's the BBC in "The Current Year", it was never gonna be a white man. Either roll with it or go without.

Anyway, waaaay back when the Second Doctor was being forced by the Time Lords to regenerate, they initially gave him an array of photos as to what he'd look like. One or two of them were obviously non-white. The Doctor's skin colour isn't important.

[rusticgal]

Is Discord down for the day :fist:

Only joking guys how lovely to see you all



:joker:

[user104658]

I can honestly see absolutely no justification for having a problem with the doctor being non-white other than ... well ... racism, sorry. I'd say it's FAIRLY obvious that, say Chris Eccleston and David Tennant have different genetic histories, they're not similar-looking men, so in terms of the core concepts of the show there's no reason he'd constantly be a white man.

I have more sympathy for the notion that The Doctor shouldn't have been made female, simply because it makes more sense (in terms of genetics) that Time Lords would have a biological sex and each regeneration sould still be the same sex. That said - it's high-concept sci fi so :shrug: if it's established lore, it's established lore. I also have to give Doctor Who in general props for always establishing precedent; we saw a time lord swap genders at regeneration with Missy. We've also seen time lords regenerate with a race change before.

So long as they don't fundamentally change the character there's no issue. Or there shouldn't be. Which is why I'd find it hard to swallow if The Doctor suddenly became exclusively gay. The race "issue" should not be an issue.

[GoldHeart]

He is a similar age to David Tennant and Matt Smith when they took over

Matt Smith was even younger when he started, he was like 27 .

[Crimson Dynamo]

iv just found out he is Scottish :amazed:

Im all for him tbh, a refreshing change and looks like the jaded series in on the up!

[user104658]

Also it's down to the writing aswell. I heard Whittaker got some bad scripts/ plots.

The issue with the Whittaker era wasn't Whittaker at all. I think it took her slightly longer to "find" the character than Tennant or Smith - but I'd say the same about Capaldi. When she did she was a good doctor.

The writing however is 80% trash. A decision was made at some point to dumb-down the sci fi and make it all more kid-friendly when it had been becoming more and more clearly aimed at an older audience throughout the latter half of the Tennant era, the whole Smith era, and definitely the Capaldi era... it was a terrible move. Whittaker did her best with it. There are one or two great episodes where she shines, it's a pity the consistency is so low.

I strongly suspect the latter half of the Smith seasons will always be the show's peak for me personally but still willing to give it a chance ... just go back to it being a little darker.

[bots]

people talking with nostalgia about the early series seem to have forgotten the dreadful acting and the cardboard sets :laugh:

[GoldHeart]

I can honestly see absolutely no justification for having a problem with the doctor being non-white other than ... well ... racism, sorry. I'd say it's FAIRLY obvious that, say Chris Eccleston and David Tennant have different genetic histories, they're not similar-looking men, so in terms of the core concepts of the show there's no reason he'd constantly be a white man.

I have more sympathy for the notion that The Doctor shouldn't have been made female, simply because it makes more sense (in terms of genetics) that Time Lords would have a biological sex and each regeneration sould still be the same sex. That said - it's high-concept sci fi so :shrug: if it's established lore, it's established lore. I also have to give Doctor Who in general props for always establishing precedent; we saw a time lord swap genders at regeneration with Missy. We've also seen time lords regenerate with a race change before.

So long as they don't fundamentally change the character there's no issue. Or there shouldn't be. Which is why I'd find it hard to swallow if The Doctor suddenly became exclusively gay. The race "issue" should not be an issue.

Yeah the master became a woman and didn't they become Asian aswell at some point? . So yeah it's not the first time a time lord has changed race .

[Oliver_W]

The issue with the Whittaker era wasn't Whittaker at all. I think it took her slightly longer to "find" the character than Tennant or Smith - but I'd say the same about Capaldi. When she did she was a good doctor.



To be fair the first season of Capaldi was his Doctor pondering if he's "a good man", and worthy of the reputation the Doctor carries. The payoff was that he didn't need to specifically be a good man or bad man - he was just an idiot with a box! What did he need with an army of Cybermen from the Master?!

[Greg!]

You have NO WAY of knowing that. No way at all.

NO way is a black doctor taking anything back to the glory days.

I mean, no one has any way of knowing anything really if you want to get deep about it. It’s my opinion. A widely held opinion among fans of Doctor Who though, and evidenced by the originally high ratings which I mentioned. :)

[Denver]

The people on here who are actually attacking a man for for being black need to realise it is a hate crime to be racist, but I bet you a tenner they are all 2 faced when in public as they can only he their true selves when hidden behind a keyboard, thank god they will never be anyones role model

[Swan]

The people on here who are actually attacking a man for for being black need to realise it is a hate crime to be racist, but I bet you a tenner they are all 2 faced when in public as they can only he their true selves when hidden behind a keyboard, thank god they will never be anyones role model

Who is attacking a black man for being black, just wondered?

What about these middle eastern Arabs who are notorious for treating black Africans like dogs, murder gay people, and don't allow women any basic human rights?

[Denver]

Who is attacking a black man for being black, just wondered?

What about these middle eastern Arabs who are notorious for treating black Africans like dogs, murder gay people, and don't allow women any basic human rights?

You only have to look back up the thread where one poster had the nerve to saw a black actor is incapable of being a good doctor because of no reason other then the colour of his skin

[Beso]

You only have to look back up the thread where one poster had the nerve to saw a black actor is incapable of being a good doctor because of no reason other then the colour of his skin

Why did you say "the people"

[user104658]

To be fair the first season of Capaldi was his Doctor pondering if he's "a good man", and worthy of the reputation the Doctor carries. The payoff was that he didn't need to specifically be a good man or bad man - he was just an idiot with a box! What did he need with an army of Cybermen from the Master?!

The Eccleston to Smith to Capaldi progression is honestly just a masterclass in plot development IMO. Eccleston is a bit weird and "alien like", meets Rose who slowsly starts to "humanise" him into the Tennant era, Tennant's ego slowly increases and he becomes over-confident, an element of rage starts creeping in that continues into the Smith era... by the end Smith is honestly a bit of a monster at times... starting to think of himself as a God. The reason he's my favourite doctor is because he could switch the character from whimsical to really quite dark and intimidating like flipping a switch. All comes to a head at Trenzalore and you end up with Capaldi - still arrogant, but now bitter, easily frustrated and unsure of who he is... something that he resolves throughout that era (and ultimately it's catalysed by the death of Clara/removal of her from his memory - sort of like an "anti-Rose").

Capaldi Part 2 has some good standalone episodes but lacks direction and the whole Whittaker era didn't seem to know what it was doing. In hindsight, I think that's because a massive character arc spanning an entire decade had concluded... "where next" is a tough question. I saw what they were going for - that Capaldi doctor having resolved all of those issues would be reborn as someone more youthful, enthusiastic and gentle, but it's a tough sell after all that drama.

[Crimson Dynamo]

The people on here who are actually attacking a man for for being black

:joker:


We love Fan Fiction

[Glenn.]

Well this thread was a delight to read.

[Mystic Mock]

Is Discord down for the day :fist:

Only joking guys how lovely to see you all

I agree that it's nice to see old faces return to the Forum.

[Mystic Mock]

The people on here who are actually attacking a man for for being black need to realise it is a hate crime to be racist, but I bet you a tenner they are all 2 faced when in public as they can only he their true selves when hidden behind a keyboard, thank god they will never be anyones role model

Hopefully he'll get given good material so it'll be hard to criticize his performance.

[arista]

https://livecenterimagesnorth.azureedge.net/lc-images-2021/lcimg-45f37cf8-c9da-43ca-858c-c3ab12ac0a3c.jpg?bypass-service-worker&/

[Ashley.]

Is Discord down for the day :fist:

Only joking guys how lovely to see you all

I'm not on Discord, but if that's where everyone is gathering these days then I'd love an invite!

[Mystic Mock]

I'm not on Discord, but if that's where everyone is gathering these days then I'd love an invite!

I know that Daniel posts on there nowadays.

With the exception of today, and hopefully many more days to come on this Forum.

[Oliver_W]

https://livecenterimagesnorth.azureedge.net/lc-images-2021/lcimg-45f37cf8-c9da-43ca-858c-c3ab12ac0a3c.jpg?bypass-service-worker&/
Wtf is he wearing :joker: that "jacket" is hideous and it better not relate to his Doctor costume. Hopefully he ditches the blond, the Guinness look doesn't really work for him.


Anyway, waaaay back when the Second Doctor was being forced by the Time Lords to regenerate, they initially gave him an array of photos as to what he'd look like. One or two of them were obviously non-white.
Oh not only that but the character of the Second Doctor came pretty close to being non-white (https://knowledgenuts.com/doctor-who-was-nearly-played-in-blackface/) as well.

[thesheriff443]

The question is, has he been chosen for his suitability for the role and acting ability or the need for the bbc to appear inclusive whenever comes to people of colour.

Not watched doctor who for a good while but it has gone down hill and that’s partly to do with poor choices of doctors.

[arista]

The Online Paper

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FSSCOkTWYAE1evH?format=jpg&name=900x900

[user104658]

The question is, has he been chosen for his suitability for the role and acting ability or the need for the bbc to appear inclusive whenever comes to people of colour.

Not watched doctor who for a good while but it has gone down hill and that’s partly to do with poor choices of doctors.

In all honestly I think it may well be a bit of both - I think they clearly did want a non-white Doctor next, however the fact that they apparently auditioned for the part rather than hand-picking an actor suggests that they did consider who is best for the role as well. Not something that can really be judged until seeing him on screen. Like I said above, for me he needs to be able to capture the energy and irreverence of the character (from his character in Sex Education I think he'll do this part fine) but also has to be able to switch to that serious, darker character capable of being cold and intimidating when the plotline needs that (this part is a bit of an unknown). To be fair I think thus far only Tennant and Smith have nailed both sides of the character for me - with Smith being marginally better at walking that line than Tennant (his anger is more controlled and thus more intimidating). Capaldi was great at being the Scary Doctor. He got a bit "stage school" when it came to the lighter side. Whittaker couldn't really pull off a dark side at the end of the day.

Ultimately though I think he should be given a chance.

It's really not important or new that they had a trait that they wanted before picking the actor - they clearly wanted "younger" actors for Tennant/Smith and made a very clear choice to cast an older actor with Capaldi... that doesn't mean they "only picked Capaldi because he's old" - but being older is one of the reasons he was in the running and no one had any issue with that :shrug:.

As always I'm more concerned with it being plausible (for what it is... anyway...) and lore-accurate. e.g. like I said, The Doctor can't suddenly be gay because we know The Doctor is not gay (and in fact, as regenerations can gender-swap, the very notion is somewhat meaningless). For whoever asked above as to when that was suggested with Eccleston - it was the first Captain Jack episodes when he talks to Rose about how Jack isn't gay or straight per se he's just from so far in the future that he's not fussy at all (women, men, aliens, whatever). There's a clear implication that the same applies to Time Lords/he's perfectly comfortable with Jack kissing him, etc.

Secord point that I'm interested to see how they handle though, is historical storylines. They can't have a black Doctor going back to certain times/places and it not being commented on or completely affecting how he's treated by characters from that time period... it would be historically not accurate and frankly IMO offensive to black people to not acknowledge how it would have been. I'd rather it isn't hammered home constantly though -- they can get around that by having only one or two episodes set in eras where there would be race issues (and they probably should do at least one), but other than that it's easily enough solved by having most episodes be modern day/future or non-Earth. In all honesty I pretty much always prefer those to the "historical" episodes anyway.

[user104658]

As an additional thought - they could actually do a historical story line and just have him explain that the TARDIS is applying a perception filter (as with "psychic paper", and why companions can understand and speak alien languages) that makes people see him as white. Might be a bit controversial but it's within the established abilities of the TARDIS so... ... it is possible... :umm2: ...

[GoldHeart]

As an additional thought - they could actually do a historical story line and just have him explain that the TARDIS is applying a perception filter (as with "psychic paper", and why companions can understand and speak alien languages) that makes people see him as white. Might be a bit controversial but it's within the established abilities of the TARDIS so... ... it is possible... :umm2: ...


Oh you mean in case he encounters racism in different time periods he travels to ?. Well Rosita managed fine in that Christmas special ( I know she was from Victorian time anyway) , but when the cyber queen gave her a hard time she just punched her lights out.

Also Martha seemed fine in Shakespearean time , Shakespear even fancied her. But yeah She experienced racism in the family of blood episodes though. I guess they'll always be some ignorant moments to reflect the time era they're in .

[GoldHeart]

As an additional thought - they could actually do a historical story line and just have him explain that the TARDIS is applying a perception filter (as with "psychic paper", and why companions can understand and speak alien languages) that makes people see him as white. Might be a bit controversial but it's within the established abilities of the TARDIS so... ... it is possible... :umm2: ...


And reading what you said earlier , It's realistic to address the discrimination when he goes back in time. Also not everyone he meets in the past will be out and out racist . They'll probably be some surprised looks when he walks past them or something. If he's travelled to anywhere pre 1970 or further back of course.

As for the doctor's preference, it also seemed obvious to me that he was more interested in women especially in the Rose days . But I don't know what they did when Whittaker took over ?. I think he just sometimes let other kisses happen but I wouldn't say it was romantic.

[bots]

they have had black assistants for ages and thats never been an issue. Why would there be a problem with a black doctor. I just don't get it. You either enjoy the show or you don't, and that is predominantly driven by the writing

[Oliver_W]

they have had black assistants for ages and thats never been an issue. Why would there be a problem with a black doctor. I just don't get it. You either enjoy the show or you don't, and that is predominantly driven by the writing

I think the issue is more that people don't trust the motives behind the casting, rather than the casting itself.

Most people probably wouldn't have cared if the Doctor had been cast as a woman and/or non-white back in like 2010, but the way the entertainment industry has "progressed" means people's surface level traits are more important than anything else.

Doesn't mean Gatwa can't be a fantastic Doctor, I trust RTD.

[rusticgal]

people talking with nostalgia about the early series seem to have forgotten the dreadful acting and the cardboard sets :laugh:


But we didn't care at the time....:shrug:

[user104658]

OK now I'm pretty sure RTD is trollin' :joker:.

[Glenn.]

A king :love:

[Oliver_W]

I doubt they're gonna be a long term companion, they're probably just in for the 60th

[user104658]

I doubt they're gonna be a long term companion, they're probably just in for the 60th


I don’t necessarily mean the casting itself - I mean making her Rose (or a version of Rose, or maybe just someone else called Rose?). There’s just no way RTD isn’t deliberately poking.

[Oliver_W]

I don’t necessarily mean the casting itself - I mean making her Rose (or a version of Rose, or maybe just someone else called Rose?). There’s just no way RTD isn’t deliberately poking.

True :joker:

Some people think they may be the child of Donna and Mr Donna, because they're mixed race and Donna is white while her husband is black. She called her child Rose because despite the mind block, that name means something to her...

[user104658]

True :joker:

Some people think they may be the child of Donna and Mr Donna, because they're mixed race and Donna is white while her husband is black. She called her child Rose because despite the mind block, that name means something to her...

That theory would rely on the trans actress playing a cis female which seems somewhat unlikely... if the character is trans then it doesn't make sense that Donna came up with the name Rose. Though I guess they could do the same thing but with Donna suggesting the name Rose, a sort of "it just jumped into my head... I have no idea why..." scene.

[Oliver_W]

That theory would rely on the trans actress playing a cis female which seems somewhat unlikely... if the character is trans then it doesn't make sense that Donna came up with the name Rose. Though I guess they could do the same thing but with Donna suggesting the name Rose, a sort of "it just jumped into my head... I have no idea why..." scene.

Hmm fair point ...

Maybe Donna goes crazy, and is like Mother Bates, and forces her son to dress up like a girl and calls him Rose?