Doctor Who did Jodie Whittaker dirty

[TMC]

https://decider.com/2022/10/23/docto...served-better/

Doctor Who did Jodie Whittaker dirty.

There are probably less colloquial ways of saying that, or more elaborate ones. But it’s the simplest way of getting the point across, which is that Jodie Whittaker — who wrapped up her four year run as The Doctor on Doctor Who today with the episode, “The Power of the Doctor” — deserved better than what she was given by the series. And no episode drove that point home better than her finale; which had its high points, but spent most of the near-90 minute running time sidelining the main character.

On July 16, 2017, Whittaker was announced as taking over the role of The Doctor, a historic first for the franchise. In the show’s 50+ year history, there had never been a woman in the lead of the show, which focuses on a near-immortal Time Lord who “regenerates” — aka, gets recast as a new actor, albeit with a continuity that holds over from the previous actor (versus, say, how James Bond essentially resets with every new face). The news was resoundingly celebrated, though with the usual trolls grousing about how the “woke BBC” was ruining their favorite show.

Still, Whittaker tackled the role with aplomb, and seemed perfectly suited for both the hyperactive nature of The Doctor fans knew and loved, and the darker tone and continuity new showrunner Chris Chibnall was looking to tackle. Whittaker never lost that energy, through the multiple episodes and series where she portrayed The Doctor. Where she was betrayed was the structure, and the writing.

There were high points to the run, mind you. A New Year’s Special, “Eve Of The Daleks” found a fresh twist not just on the titular, classic Doctor Who villains, but a time loop episode as well, thanks to a diminishing New Year’s-style countdown. And “Fugitive of the Judoon” made the incredible decision to reveal a second, surprise Doctor with Jo Martin; making Whittaker technically the second female Doctor, and Martin the first Black Doctor. History is cemented through repetition, and prejudices are broken down through the same… Adding Martin only helped secure Whittaker’s legacy, as well as pave the way for the upcoming Fourteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa.

But those highlights were few and far between. Often Whittaker’s Doctor Who run was characterized by convoluted plots that found The Doctor as confused as her Companions, unable to suss out situations that were ultimately pale reflections of adventures that had come before. And worse yet, Whittaker’s Doctor was written as dismissive and mean, snapping at her friends in a way that didn’t make sense for the character, or the actor. Whittaker excelled in those classic Doctor moments where she struck on a moment of genius, or gave a classic, inspiring Doctor speech. Whenever she was telling Companions Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Bishop) to get lost, it wasn’t just uncomfortable, it was confusing.