"Doctor Who" triumphs by embracing the new

My limited experience with Doctor Who includes foggy memories of a large layer of CGI speaking skin and some scary extraterrestrials, as well as the deep, yet context-free, second-hand emotions generated by the making of a Tumblr in the early 2010s, where gifs of the farewell scene of Ten and Rose and the doctor "were inevitable, but Whittaker's early days are like history in the making, and although hardcore fans who oppose his appointment to the role give up the position of my amateur fan, the Doctor herself seems to be kissing the news, late in "The woman who fell on the Earth", which turned out to be a moving opening thanks to the deliberate vision of the new actress of the series and screenwriter Chris Chibnall, she states the following:

"We are all capable of the most incredible change. We can evolve while remaining faithful to who we are. We can honor who we have been and who we want to be. Now, your luck, how about you? "

The feeling here is triple. On the surface, the thirteenth doctor, who has already established himself as a brilliant incarnation of the atmosphere of the Time Lord, speaks with the villain of this episode, a Buffy against the vampires holdover (that meant as a compliment in an episode that feels Buffy-tish in the best way) that trophy hunts humans and wears their teeth as props. This shallow layer alone is charming, for Whittaker has a strong claim to the goodness of his physician. Someone who sincerely believes that the bad guy could give up his diabolical plan if he was presented with a little tenderness, and who convinces us in a way or other to accept his optimism along way.

Of course, Treize's words go further than that. She has been regenerating herself since the beginning of the episode, describing the exhilarating and painful ways her body transforms into her new companions with the breathless clubbing of Bill Nye, the scientific guy. His speech here describes the long-awaited reincarnation of the doctor in a woman's body as a marvel, a pure evolution that deserves to be celebrated. It's a recognition of the silly controversy surrounding Whittaker's casting, and rather than the spicy effort that so-called misogynistic fans probably deserve, she sums up the meta-moment of the episode to the philosophical heart of the series, cultivating a moment of authentic teaching. Change is good and natural and does not mean forgetting the past, says the Doctor, reassuring both fans and skeptics.

Of course, she also speaks to viewers. Dr. Whittaker, until she's babbling and hilarious, seems to be up to now a mix between an excited Leslie Knope who is preparing a good game plan and an alien, Ms. Frizzle , ready to guide everyone that she meets in her own way. adventure. All this gives his culminating affirmation an invitation from people who like the show – or even those who do not like it – to continue to grow with it. Even people who have initially hesitated to kiss a female doctor may change their tone because "we are all capable of incredible change." In an ongoing cultural conversation often weighed down by our collective desire to judge ourselves and to distance ourselves from each other on the basis of perceived faults, the idea that we can all become someone good in the blink of an eye. eye if we just try is radical.

In the past, the Doctor was funny, angry, strange and sad, but I have the feeling that no doctor has ever been as inclusive as Whittaker will be. It should not be forgotten that this time it appears in the city of Sheffield, where resolutely ordinary people are afraid of finishing school, getting to work on time, overcoming their physical limitations and being proud. , as well as their families. She immediately recognizes this group of workers – a nurse, a retired bus driver, a warehouse worker dreaming of becoming a mechanic and a novice policeman stuck in the parking lot – like heroes, and her immediate and unconditional warmth is also inspiring. she proudly declares that her new Sonic multifunctional tool is "now with added Sheffield steel!" She is a doctor for the people, and once she has finally finished her restart, she knows it too. "I know exactly who I am," she says in a clear, confident voice. "I'm the Doctor, setting fair play all over the world."

For the millions of women who watched Doctor Who break her story and write a new story this week, she has already helped her.