Doctor Who star Sylvester McCoy says he's a 'feminist' but a ONLY a man can play Time Lord - Polidicks

[quote]Doctor Who star Sylvester McCoy says the Time Lord should never regenerate as a woman. The actor, 71, has dismissed suggestions the time traveller could be played by a female. He said: “I’m a feminist and recognise there are still glass ceilings in place for many women, but where would we draw the line? A Mr Marple instead of Miss Marple? A Tarzanette?” Sylvester, the seventh doctor between 1987 and 1989, added: “I’m sorry, but no – Doctor Who is a male character, just like James Bond. If they changed it to be politically correct then it would ruin the dynamics between the doctor and the assistant, which is a popular part of the show. “I support feminism, but I’m not convinced by the cultural need of a female Doctor Who.” The show’s writer Steven Moffat ignited the debate last year when he said the doctor could be a woman. He added: “We’ve been laying in the possibility for an awfully long time, but you don’t cast that way. I know I’m going to get in trouble for saying that – you cast a person, you don’t cast the gender.”"[/quote] Source: [url]http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/doctor-who-legend-sylvester-mccoy-6119330[/url] To be honest, I have to agree with McCoy, Peter Davison (Who is the 5th) as well. If James Bond became Jasmine Bond, a lot of people wouldn't like that. Or what if your favorite Character is suddenly the opposite sex? It would just be out of place. You shouldn't have a female character just because of Politics, or just to have a female character. You should have a female character because the character is female. It's like having characters be Gay, Trans or Bi-sexual just because Politics, or just to please some people, and it's common too. They should not be X sexuality just to appeal to some people, they should be X Sexuality because they ARE X Sexuality. Here is another example, what if Sherlock Holmes, was suddenly turned Female? Or Robin Hood? Interesting twist but there isn't a reason. Or what if Gordon Freeman just suddenly became Female in HL2EP3/HL3? Completely and totally out of place. I am all for Women to be a main character, no doubt about that, but changing the character to be a female for no reason isn't right. It's just using it as a device, an object, just to get people to watch something.

Yeah a female Doctor just sounds ridiculous, the female co-leads like they have been doing is fine. Female doctor? Now that's just pandering.

hes a Time Lord not a Time Lady

If they want a female time lord, why don't they bring back The Rani?

There's a huge different between a Time Lord, who can regenerate as just about anybody, no matter the gender, and an established character such as Robin Hood or James Bond. Hell, there [B]are[/B] female Gallifreyans present in the universe. I wouldn't mind a female Doctor at all, as long as they play the role well.

I generally think the creator of said characters get's the choice. And if said creator is not around, it stays as is. But if people really want to change things, there's always parodies, fan fiction, and bootleg knock offs.

Tumblr is going to have a fit. How will they reconcile a Doctor Who actor and (to them) blatant discrimination?

gender specific darleks when?

Wasn't the doctor a woman in one of the regenerations that didn't get shown?

[QUOTE=Crimor;48274479]Wasn't the doctor a woman in one of the regenerations that didn't get shown?[/QUOTE] In the charity spoof, 'Curse of the Recurring Death' (or whatever its called) it happened as an end joke and a nod to near constant rumor that the next Doctor would be played by Joanna Lumley and I remember hearing about something like that happening in one of the non-canon audio-books that go nowhere.

[QUOTE=Crimor;48274479]Wasn't the doctor a woman in one of the regenerations that didn't get shown?[/QUOTE] He regenerates into a woman in a Comic Relief episode. Other than that, no. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do-wDPoC6GM[/media]

[QUOTE=Teddybeer;48274473]James Bond and the like its sort of retelling the story allowing different actors, Doctor Who doesn't have that problem and regeneration to female or different races or fill in what you want is possible. Meanwhile everyone awkwardly shuffles around the doctor having reached its max amount of regeneration's (or still has to, stopped after Series 7).[/QUOTE] I also added it because of how beloved James Bond is in the UK, a lot of people seeing a Female James Bond got end up having a fit because the Established character has been a Male since 1953 (Novel). [QUOTE=Grandzeit;48274447]There's a huge different between a Time Lord, who can regenerate as just about anybody, no matter the gender, and an established character such as Robin Hood or James Bond. Hell, there [B]are[/B] female Gallifreyans present in the universe. I wouldn't mind a female Doctor at all, as long as they play the role well.[/QUOTE] I wasn't saying there aren't Female Gallifreyans, also The Doctor IS an Established Character, why do you think it's been going for 55 years and counting? Both James Bond and The Doctor are major characters in the UK, and major Shows/Movies. [editline]23rd July 2015[/editline] It's the longest running Sci-Fi show as well. [editline]23rd July 2015[/editline] Also I know what you mean by how the Doctor changes actors every once and a while, but so does James Bond, so does Robin Hood.

Skin colour is one thing, but sex is maybe a bit of a stretch.

Isn't The Master currently female? If The Doctor's archnemesis can be female, why not The Doctor himself?

[QUOTE=The Stills;48274611]Isn't The Master currently female? If the doctor's archnemesis can be female, why not The Doctor himself?[/QUOTE] The Master isn't a major Main Character, the Master rarely appears and when s/he does, it's just for an episode or two. I'd say its fine for a Major minor character (Like The Master), but if it's the Main character you see in EVERY episode, with ANY companion, then yeah I'd say it's a bit of a problem. [editline]23rd July 2015[/editline] I am fine with the Master being a female, but The Doctor, I'd say it's a no go.

[QUOTE=The Stills;48274611]Isn't The Master currently female? If the doctor's archnemesis can be female, why not The Doctor himself?[/QUOTE] Yeah and that's BS too.

[QUOTE=Xonax;48274576]-[/QUOTE] "The Doctor" isn't as much a character as it's a title. Anybody of the alien race could have it. There are no limitations. While on the other hand, James Bond and Robin Hood are characters set in stone, one being a handsome british spy, as depicted by the original author, and the other being a male thief with good intentions, as is written in the oldest of mythos. A females James Bond simply wouldn't be [I]James Bond[/I], while there's nothing against a female Gallifreyan claiming the title of The Doctor anywhere.

Still irks be a bit.

[QUOTE=Xonax;48274622] I am fine with the Master being a female, but The Doctor, I'd say it's a no go.[/QUOTE] But why though? I wouldn't say The Doctor being male is an intrinsic part of the character, unlike the other example of James Bond, who's character is built upon being a suave womaniser. It's been shown in the canon that Time Lords can change gender through regeneration, so why can't The Doctor?

[QUOTE=Grandzeit;48274628]"[B]The Doctor" isn't as much a character as it's a title. Anybody of the alien race could have it. There are no limitations. [/B] While on the other hand, James Bond and Robin Hood are characters set in stone, one being a handsome british spy, as depicted by the original author, and the other being a male thief with good intentions, as is written in the oldest of mythos. A females James Bond simply wouldn't be [I]James Bond[/I], while there's nothing against a female Gallifreyan claiming the title of The Doctor anywhere.[/QUOTE] Uh actually yes, there is a limitation. The Doctor isn't many different people, it's the same one person as the day he was born, it's a title yes as it's not his Real Name, but The Doctor, IS The Doctor, he is the same person he was when he was born. The Doctor is too set in stone, in fact he has Children and has Married multiple times, if that isn't set in stone then what is set in stone? He has a backstory which has been explained. Also a Female claiming the title of The Doctor, who ISN'T The Doctor. That would have the biggest fucking Backlash to it. [editline]23rd July 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=The Stills;48274634]But why though? I wouldn't say The Doctor being male is an intrinsic part of the character, unlike the other example of James Bond, who's character is built upon being a suave womaniser. It's been shown in the canon that Time Lords can change gender through regeneration, so why can't The Doctor?[/QUOTE] It's only been Canon since the finale of Season 8 which was last year. Or if you really wanna be specific, The Night of the Doctor when he is given a choice. Also as for The Doctor being Female, it would be extremely out of Place. Let me give you another Example, what is a popular show you watch?

It isn't really a title, it's his name - ableit chosen by him but his name none the less. Just like the The Master chose his/her name to be The Master.

[QUOTE=Chrisordie;48274519]In the charity spoof, 'Curse of the Recurring Death' (or whatever its called) it happened as an end joke and a nod to near constant rumor that the next Doctor would be played by Joanna Lumley and I remember hearing about something like that happening in one of the non-canon audio-books that go nowhere.[/QUOTE] I don't care for doctor who, but a joanna lumley doctor would have me become a tumblr-esque fan

[QUOTE=Xonax;48274640] Let me give you another Example, what is a popular show you watch?[/QUOTE] If you're gonna ask me if it were weird if the protagonist of a show I like was a different gender than usual, then know that I really wouldn't give a shit no matter which show. Hell I mean two of my favourite shows are the Avatar shows, and I'd liken the transition from Aang to Korra to what it'd be like if The Doctor changed gender. Sure you can argue that Aang and Korra are completely separate characters, but I would also make the same argument for The Doctor - both characters (The Avatar and The Doctor) are built from having a shared lineage through different characters, Matt Smith's Doctor - while sharing history with - is not the same character as David Tennant's, Christopher Eccelston's or even Tom Baker's. Just the same, while Aang and Korra share their lineage as Avatars, they are not the same character.

I don't really see gender as some massive polarising difference between people that would completely change the show. If it's canon for time lords to change gender sometimes when they regenerate then just do it, and don't let dated preconceptions about gender differences get in the way of it. It's not like if the doctor was suddenly a woman, she'd go around time washing dishes, it would be the exact same show. I don't get why people make such a big deal about gender. But come to think of it, a lot of the leading female characters have all been really weak and one dimensional with the new writers so I dunno how much I trust them on it. Clara just had no character at all. Maybe that's changed in the new series, I haven't watched it for a while.

why can't the doc be a female? he isn't human from what I understand, and if he became a female, how would that change anything besides gender? it makes as much sense as the whole regen thing being used as an excuse for switching actors. so what is the problem here? [editline]23rd July 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Xonax;48274640]Let me give you another Example, what is a popular show you watch?[/QUOTE] this would be a terrible example because most shows don't have an extraterrestial time-travelling being changing their appearance more often than underwear as a main character...

Honestly, I wouldn't mind the Doctor becoming a female, as long as they keep in character and don't start doing "girly stuff" all the time, do Doctor stuff, not girly stuff.

How about... I don't know... put some effort in it and create an interesting female character from ground up ? Suddenly turning male characters into women is just plain lazy and counter productive imo.

[QUOTE=AntonioR;48274864]How about... I don't know... put some effort in it and create an interesting female character from ground up ? Suddenly turning male characters into women is just plain lazy and counter productive imo.[/QUOTE] This always comes up whenever the idea of changing a characters gender/ethnicity/sexuality or whatever is brought up, and most of the time I think the argument has little ground to fight from, but especially here in the context of Doctor Who, it makes no sense whatsoever. Adding a new female character and making the show revolve around her would make far less sense than just straight up changing The Doctor's gender.

Honestly if all the show has to go by is the tired rehashed forced relationship between the Dr. And the assistant(s) then its time to cancel it because good shows should have relationships but also depth to the plots [editline]23rd July 2015[/editline] Also the OP needs to take some xanex and calm down, the fact of the matter is that they've stated multiple times that timelords regenerate into whatever the hell they want [editline]23rd July 2015[/editline] Also chell is the female Gordon freeman

[QUOTE=Sableye;48274889]Honestly if all the show has to go by is the tired rehashed forced relationship between the Dr. And the assistant(s) then its time to cancel it because good shows should have relationships but also depth to the plots [/QUOTE] There are relationships, and they are depth to plots in the show. Also I am calm, I am just trying to make my point understandable, it's really hard to make a good example. I just personally don't think the Doctor being female would be good considering the Doctor was written to be a male, a fatherly figure if I am correct.