5 Reasons to Get Excited Over Doctor Who’s Newest Doctor

It’s been a whirlwind of news since the BBC announced that Doctor Who’s title role would be headed by a woman for the first time in the show’s history. Replacing current Doctor Peter Capaldi will be Jodie Whittaker, who joins the show alongside new showrunner Chris Chibnall to take up inside the TARDIS for a whole new set of adventures.

So what are we most excited about now that details are starting to emerge about this mysterious new Doctor? Let’s find out!

5. All the Classic New Doctor Fun

New Doctor, new showrunner, new everything.

When Steven Moffat took over Doctor Who in season 5, everything about the show changed. Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor got a new TARDIS, screwdriver, and a new companion.

With the changing of the guard from Moffat to Chris Chibnall, what new things await Thirteen? What will her new, signature style be? What screwdriver will she rock — will she keep Twelve’s TARDIS-esque one, or have the old girl make her a new one?

And, most pressingly: will we get to keep Pearl Mackie? Bill has been a wonderful addition to the show, and I know I’m dying to see her reaction to the Doctor regenerating. I get the feeling she’ll roll with the Doctor’s new look, but that classic companion look of absolute shock is a must-see for sure.

4. Who Will She Be?

Every Doctor has their defining trait.

Nine was sassy, a bit cross, and burdened. Ten was a goofy Icarus who loved unreservedly and felt things to their full extent. Eleven was an old man in a young man’s body, haunted and yet incredibly enthusiastic. Twelve was grumpy and snappish but learned to open himself up and stay in one place.

What will Thirteen be like? Will she be at peace with the death of River, like Twelve? Will she be patient, or will she be itching to run? What is she looking for in a companion?

The best part of meeting a new Doctor is finding out what they do when backed up against a wall with no way out. That is where the Doctor truly shines, and I can’t wait to see what Thirteen will be like.

I do hope she keeps the terrible jokes, though.

3. Could She Be LGBT+?

The Doctor’s sexuality has been a hotly debated topic across the internet for years. Though the Doctor’s on-screen love interests have (mostly) been female, implications have long been made in the era of new Who that the Doctor is open to more than what we’ve seen. After all, Nine was perfectly fine with being kissed by Jack Harkness, and Eleven happily laid one on a surprised Rory.

Many companions have been proudly LGBT+, including Bill (of course!), Jack, Clara, and River, to name a few. But what about the Doctor?

Recently, Michelle Gomez, who plays the Master’s female regeneration, Missy, made an off-the-cuff comment about the Thirteenth Doctor that nevertheless makes me wonder:

Now we have a got a female Doctor, so there is going to be girl on girl.

Whether this actually happens remains to be seen, but I can’t help but hope for some sort of on-screen confirmation that the Doctor’s sexuality is more fluid than what we’ve seen so far.

2. She’s Played By a Feminist

Jodie Whittaker: It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you’re told you can and can’t be.

Jodie Whittaker’s statement following the announcement of her casting includes strong, proud, feminist language that firmly took a stance.

While some actors choose to beat around the bush about labelling themselves as feminists or not, Jodie has no problem letting the world know just what kind of actor she is — and who her Doctor will be, too.

1. She’s a Woman

This is obvious, and almost ridiculous to make first, but it’s too powerful not to. Pop culture has been largely male-dominated for years, and the slow progress women have made has been met with large-scale backlash (take the rebooted all-female Ghostbusters, for example).

Where male dominated TV and films are allowed to fail repeatedly, it only takes one female failure to halt progress (think about the long dry spell between Catwoman and Wonder Woman, for example). It’s always one step forward, two steps back for women in pop culture.

A new generation of girls will now grow up knowing that they can be superheroes, Jedi, action heroes, ghostbusters, and Doctors. Those of us who didn’t have that as kids can champion the progress of women and throw our weight behind supporting seeing our stories on screen.

Doctor Who still has room for improvement, however.

There is the inescapable truth that Jodie Whittaker is white. Inclusion shouldn’t be white women first, then everyone else. We as a society have a long way to go towards understanding that the glass ceiling can only be smashed by everyone working together equally, not hoisting certain women above others and telling people of color to wait their turn.

We can celebrate, but let’s remember: the universe is awfully big, and it’s diverse, too. The media we consume should reflect that.

What about the Thirteenth Doctor are you most excited for? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Doctor Who returns Christmas Day on BBC America.

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