Never mind the Weeping Angels, blink and you miss Christmas. That's it, done and dusted. On to 2025!! So happy new year to you all and have a Jodie Whittaker appreciation blog to bring in 2025. I am also using this as an excuse to show off some of the art that was drawn for my recent Doctor Who FanFic story from Staypee and Jim's Wee Sketches.
It wasn't all that long ago that we would still be waiting for our 'festive' Doctor Who treat - the Thirteenth Doctor's era saw Christmas specials regenerate into New Year specials. With that in mind I thought it only right to pay homage to Jodie.
Let's not beat around the bush here - Jodie's era had a lot of critics, however right or wrong you think those critics were is up to you - but there is no denying that this was a transformative chapter in the history of Doctor Who. It was also an era full of bold changes.
Lets start with the obvious one shall we? Jodie was the first woman to take on the iconic Time Lord role, and despite a huge amount of shit being hurled at her (a lot of it before an episode even aired) she carried the mantle with humour, charm and some all round good old vibes!
I personally really struggled with series 11, it just wasn't my cup of tea, but despite my wobbles during this time I stuck it out and was ultimately rewarded by a much stronger series 12 and the brilliant Flux. I will repeat - this is only my opinion!!
I felt more of the noise about the Doctor being female was more off screen than on it, which I thought was a shame. Yes I get that a woman can play the same role as a man so why bring attention to it, but come on, this is Doctor Who. People comment about the Doctor's looks a lot. I don't think this would of been a bad thing, the Doctor could of been more challenged early doors, potentially shown the struggles women have in the real world more, generally it was just the odd comment here and there that got a lot of the viewers rolling their eyes. My point is - Jodie could of handled some bigger shit on her gender going down.
Jodie herself though must have thought a while about taking on the role of the Doctor, it must have been a brave as fuck decision to take it - she would of know what she was getting herself in for. I admire that greatly. The fact she took the job already proved she was up to the task of being the Doctor. It says more about us than her that she wasn't widely accepted.
I love the interactions between Jodie and Thirteen's biggest fans, I watch them unfold on social media and it warms my heart. Being a guy I might not get it, but you can see the hope and joy she gives people, and what more can you do than that?
Let me talk about Thasmin for a while as I'm here. Whilst I never really warmed to Graham, Ryan or Dan that much, I did to Yaz. I think a large part of this is down to Jodie and Mandip's friendship blossoming as they worked together and then this shining on our TV screens in the show.
Thasmin COULD have been a relationship for the ages - it could of blown the world of Doctor Who apart. One snog and the whole of the Whoniverse would of been changed forever - and in a good way. It never happened though, and I don't think we will ever know why. Chris Chibnall was given a gift by Jodie, Mandip and Thasmin shippers - and I think he kind of dropped the ball on it. Honestly, one kiss, it would of been legendary. He gave a half arsed reason in that it might of happened off screen, but it always felt like he never wrote that, and Jodie and Mandip just made it sparkle.
I know women have been in relationships before in Doctor Who, but to have the two lead characters to be in one would of been epic. Ice cream on the TARDIS, over Earth, a look, some tears, a few words confirming the feelings very much mutual and a snog, boom!! Move over Ten and Rose, Thasmin is here to stay!!!
Anyway, enough of the missed opportunities, lets talk some high points. The show moved to a more inclusive cast, crew and this showed in some of the stories during Thirteen's era. Rosa tackled systemic racism, Demons of the Punjab tackled issues about the British being total arseholes.
I also don't think this era gets enough credit for being quite horrific in parts. I mean scaring the shit out of us horrific. It is always painted as some woke experiment gone wrong - The Haunting of Villa Diodati and Village of the Angels are some of the scariest and best episode I have seen in the whole of my time watching Doctor Who.
We had some wonderful reveals during Jodie's time - the Master in Spyfall, the Guardians of the Edge in Power of the Doctor and the Fugitive Doctor in Fugitive of the Judoon being the highlights.
The show was experimental, it cut the episode count down whilst slightly increasing their run times. It looked amazing, some scenes in this era are truly gorgeous. This era was not afraid to take some risks - as the Timeless Children arc proved. Did you like it or hate it? Me, personally, I don't care, a writer/showrunner has the right to take the episode/show in whatever direction they like, there is no harm in some new lore being thrown at us, I was invested anyway!
At the heart of the Thirteenth Doctor is a message of hope. A message that anyone can be the Doctor and anyone can be brilliant. I think over time Jodie will be looked upon even more fondly than she is today, she broke down barriers, and she did it by being herself.
Thank you Jodie for being brilliant!
Did those brilliant pieces of art whet your appetite for a Thasmin adventure with Elsa, Anna and Olaf? If it did then click HERE to read.
Does anyone have any memories about their time with the Thirteenth Doctor? Let me know in the comments below.
Yay for Jodie! Thirteen is my (close) second favorite Doctor ever. Several of her episodes -- Eve of the Daleks, Demons of the Punjab, Can You Hear Me?, The Haunting of Villa Diodati -- are some of my favorites overall. And, of course, I absolutely loved Flux!