To be clear -- what I meant was that other characters in Doctor Who can provide positive female role models. I know the media in general has a problem. I also know that hasn't really happened under Moffat, I know, and River is the definition of a missed opportunity in that sense. That's what I meant. There are other places we can do it in Who other than with the Doctor himself. I think Martha and Donna in particular are both magnificent, it has to be said.
I do agree with Moffat in one sense, in that he said the problem right now is people are saying "The Doctor should be a woman," not, "this particular actor is perfect for The Doctor." They shouldn't cast a gender, they should cast an actor, if the day comes. They cast Capaldi without even seeing anybody else, because they knew he was the right man for the job at the right time in their eyes. They got criticised for not casting a woman, but they didn't cast a woman because they had their actor from square one.
Regarding the Doctor's gender, it's just how I see the character, really. It's the same reason I'd never want a black James Bond. I was pissed off that Daniel Craig's hair was too light! It's how I see it. Stubborn, perhaps, but it is what it is.
We know so little about Time Lord physiology, really, and Gaiman said the way he views that line is that some regenerations are more controlled than others, and just like a human can go out and have their gender reassigned, if a Time Lord wanted they could siphon that energy into a specific gender if they wanted. He cited Romana 'trying on' different looks as an example of a controlled regeneration, as well. I think that's a great way to look at it. The question is if it'd be in the Doctor's character to do so, or indeed if he'll ever have a regeneration that is more controlled and not a horrible, violent trauma.
I do agree with Moffat in one sense, in that he said the problem right now is people are saying "The Doctor should be a woman," not, "this particular actor is perfect for The Doctor." They shouldn't cast a gender, they should cast an actor, if the day comes. They cast Capaldi without even seeing anybody else, because they knew he was the right man for the job at the right time in their eyes. They got criticised for not casting a woman, but they didn't cast a woman because they had their actor from square one.
Regarding the Doctor's gender, it's just how I see the character, really. It's the same reason I'd never want a black James Bond. I was pissed off that Daniel Craig's hair was too light! It's how I see it. Stubborn, perhaps, but it is what it is.
We know so little about Time Lord physiology, really, and Gaiman said the way he views that line is that some regenerations are more controlled than others, and just like a human can go out and have their gender reassigned, if a Time Lord wanted they could siphon that energy into a specific gender if they wanted. He cited Romana 'trying on' different looks as an example of a controlled regeneration, as well. I think that's a great way to look at it. The question is if it'd be in the Doctor's character to do so, or indeed if he'll ever have a regeneration that is more controlled and not a horrible, violent trauma.