First Thoughts on Whittaker’s Doctor

Jodi Whittaker is the new doctor. The first woman doctor. These are my first thoughts on Whittaker’s Doctor Who.

I love LOVE, the thirteenth Doctor. I figured I get that out of the way first.

Our daughter is only 8 months, so she doesn’t understand anything she is seeing, but I find her smiling and laughing when we watch.  And it’s always when the Doctor is onscreen.

We never saw Classic Who, but I don’t really find her like any other Doctor.  There is the accent that echoes the 9th, but that’s about it.  There is a positivity to Jodie Whittaker’s performance that is new and refreshing.  The Doctor finally seems free from the events of the War Doctor.  Of course, she is just remembering who she is and that can change.

Also, her Doctor has a confidence that doesn’t fall into arrogance.  She engineers the problem in a way that is new and exciting.

Also, I’m really like the companions.  Mandip Gill brings an empathy to her character that instantly connects her with the viewer and the other people in the episode.  Bradley Walsh’s Graham serves as the audience in the first two episodes. This is a great tool for the show, especially for new viewers.  The 12th doctor didn’t have this type of character until his last season and it really hurt the season. Mr. Walsh’s character is our window into the Doctor’s world. 

However, it’s Tosin Cole’s Ryan Sinclair that has quickly become the emotional center of the show.  Losing his grandmother and rejecting Graham as a father figure, gives him a complexity that almost makes him as interesting as the Doctor. Also, his coordination problem makes for an interesting disability in the Doctor’s universe.

Also, the Stenza appear to be a great villain species.  “Tim Shaw” was scary in his space suit, and downright terrifying when we get to see his face with his collection of teeth from his trophy hunts.  The fact that they were the phantom menace behind the planet’s demise in episode two, lets us know that we will continue to see this race.

The only thing I was slightly disappointed on was the interior look of the Tardis, but this happens to me with every Doctor.  I know the Tardis needs to update with each doctor but it would be nice to have one thing be constant. Of course, this is the smallest thing to have an issue with the show.

I really am looking forward to seeing where all of these characters go.

In other words, my first thoughts on Whittaker’s Doctor is that she is fantastic.