Breja: I was talking about things other than appearance. I spoke about it in some other thread already, but long story short I think there are characters who should not be "race swapped" because it would actually change something important (for example Batman - he's supposed to come from old money, the Waynes are supposed to have been a leading family in Gotham since it's founding and that obviously wouldn't work if they were african american) and characters where it realy doesn't matter (Perry White is now being played by Laurence Fishburn and I'm perfectly all right with that, he's a good casting choice and I can't think of any reason Perry's race would matter).

When I speak of things that remaind consistant I don't just mean that the Doctor was refered to with male pronouns, or the impact gender has on character (which I think it definately does, but it's not the only or most important thing that does) but also the Doctors relationships. He is Susan's grandfather, River Song's husband, the man Rose fell in love with. It's easier for me to think of his new incarnation as the same guy, when I can still say none of that has changed, even if it never comes into play. And that doesn't mean to say that as a grandmother he wouldn't love Susan just as much or anything like that, but it's a different relationship.

You know, one of my favourite books ever is The Left Hand of Darkness. which is all about a race that is "ambisexual", with no fixed sex. It's a brilliant, beautiful, phenomal book. But obviously, it's characters are written with that ambisexuality in mind from the start, as is their culture. Doctor Who was written for 50 as male, nothing else. There was never even any suggestion of Time Lords' sex not being fixed untill very recently, and even then those were rather transparent ways of telling the audience "he can regenerate into a woman and it's canon so shut it!" than laying any decent groundwork for it.

Breja: I know. I just like it when, if they have to have different ethnicity, instead of being white, black and asian aliens are blue and green like Andorians or something like that. Like I said, it's not a real issue for me, just something I nitpick at. Like lizardwomen having boobs in Divinity: Dragon Commander.

SirPrimalform: I completely understand your point re: Batman, although backstories are retconned all the time in comic books. If you were making Bruce Wayne African American there's no reason his entire backstory would be fixed.

SirPrimalform: I still don't quite follow your point about the Doctor's relationships though, husband for example is just a gendered term for a partner in a marriage, now she's River Song's wife. If we accept that it's canon that Time Lords can change sex when regenerating, I can't see how it poses any problems in terms of relationships. Again, Susan's grandfather - presumably Susan is aware of the possibility that her grandfather might at some point be her grandmother. The man Rose fell in love with? I see no problem there either, Rose never met any Doctor after the Tenth (although I haven't watched the latest series) and if she does meet the Thirteenth then sure, she might not fancy her. I see don't see any problems though.

Tauto: The announcement Jodie Whittaker will play Doctor Who in the next series brings about social commentary regarding strong female role models and leading character roles in the twenty-first century.

Alaric.us: So sex is just a matter of appearance, i.e. doesn't matter.

Alaric.us: Who cares? I mean the Doctor's (apparent) sex doesn't really play any significant role in the narrative. I'm not an expert on the lore of the series, but from what I've seen the biology of that alien species is not really discussed in any substantial detail. So sex is just a matter of appearance, i.e. doesn't matter.

Breja: Yes, in a way I do believe that "masculinity" is one of his defining traits, and yes, becasue it's one of the things that have remained consistant.

Tauto: Welcome back,long time no see.Who cares?Well,I don't think she will last more than one season and let's put it this way,how about a Larry Croft instead of Lara Croft? My opinion (only) is it doesn't work.Now,don't get out the pitchforks just because my opinion is not to your liking.

Siegor: Timelords retain their memories after regeneration but their personalities change so this makes me actually curious about sexual identity.
The male Doctors were atracted to females (straight) so in a gender swap is she a lesbian or by being straight does she become attracted to males?

SamMagel: Well doctor who is a tv show belonging to the "science fiction" genre.

This genre is overwhelmingly watched by males not females.

How many females have you come across in real life that talk about space travel, fighting aliens and doing superhero stuff?

Do women fantasize about being superheroes and stopping bank robberies or massive alien invasions?

Nope

This tv show will die a slow painful death. One rating down at a time.

SirPrimalform: You're the one who started talking about extreme feminist SJW agendas. I'm sorry, but I can't take any arguments you make seriously if you throw those kinds of terms around.

paladin181: They did that. It's called Uncharted.

Alaric.us: Thank you. As you know I don't do the whole torches and pitchforks thing. As to it not working — we'll just have to see. Maybe the actress is talented and can make it work. If not, then you are right and they'll put a stop to it after a season.

htown1980: I think at times they were stern, but I coulnd't imagine describing these guys as masculine, let alone suggesting that their masculinity remained consistent.

SamMagel: Well doctor who is a tv show belonging to the "science fiction" genre.

This genre is overwhelmingly watched by males not females.

How many females have you come across in real life that talk about space travel, fighting aliens and doing superhero stuff?

Do women fantasize about being superheroes and stopping bank robberies or massive alien invasions?

Nope

This tv show will die a slow painful death. One rating down at a time.