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So, the BBC announced today that Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall are leaving Doctor Who in 2022. This is after they finish a 6-episode story for the next season and three specials. The final special will coincide with the BBC's centenary celebrations.
Personally, I'll be glad to see the back of Whittaker and Chibnall. I think Chibnall has damaged the franchise with his poor, preachy writing. And everyone says Jodie Whittaker is this amazing actress, but that certainly isn't apparent in her portrayal of the Doctor. Her Doctor is basically a bad caricature of David Tennant's Doctor. Besides her gender, she has brought nothing new to the character.
My concern is what will happen after these two leave. Will we even get another season of Doctor Who? The show has suffered a huge loss in viewership over the last two series, going from 11 million views to a little over 3 million. The BBC might choose to pull the plug and spend that money somewhere else.
And then there is the concern that they do authorize another series, but that they continue in Chibnall's footsteps, with preachy, boring stories. The BBC does have an Inclusivity and Diversity Mandate in place for all of their programs, not just behind the scenes, but in front of it as well. Diversity and inclusivity are fine, but not at the expense of quality.
That said, I''m fine with the idea of another female Doctor. I just would like this one to be their own character and not a poor emulation of a previous Doctor.
And whoever they get as showrunner should actually like the show and be familiar and respectful of its history. I don't think that's really too much to ask.
Personally, I'll be glad to see the back of Whittaker and Chibnall. I think Chibnall has damaged the franchise with his poor, preachy writing. And everyone says Jodie Whittaker is this amazing actress, but that certainly isn't apparent in her portrayal of the Doctor. Her Doctor is basically a bad caricature of David Tennant's Doctor. Besides her gender, she has brought nothing new to the character.
My concern is what will happen after these two leave. Will we even get another season of Doctor Who? The show has suffered a huge loss in viewership over the last two series, going from 11 million views to a little over 3 million. The BBC might choose to pull the plug and spend that money somewhere else.
And then there is the concern that they do authorize another series, but that they continue in Chibnall's footsteps, with preachy, boring stories. The BBC does have an Inclusivity and Diversity Mandate in place for all of their programs, not just behind the scenes, but in front of it as well. Diversity and inclusivity are fine, but not at the expense of quality.
That said, I''m fine with the idea of another female Doctor. I just would like this one to be their own character and not a poor emulation of a previous Doctor.
And whoever they get as showrunner should actually like the show and be familiar and respectful of its history. I don't think that's really too much to ask.
