preview

Doctor Who Research Paper

Better Essays

The Companions of Doctor Who: Who Doctors Who? Science fiction has been a part of human culture since before the 17th century, spanning across the far reaches of the Earth and fascinating the human race (Sterling). A perfect example of this culture shaping genre is Doctor Who; one of Britain’s most adored television series. As the longest running science fiction show in history, Doctor Who has filled fans with wonder through television, radio series, comics, and many other forms of media for more than five decades (Burke and Smith? 5). The show has touched on politics, religion, race, and always, at the core of it all; Doctor Who asks us what it means to be human (Britton). Despite the raging pop culture success, there is one matter that …show more content…

There is no evidence that this is not possible. As author Alec Charles points out, “Peter Capaldi’s Doctor went so far as to acknowledge the possibility of his own gender reassignment when he suggested that he might one day become king or queen of his home planet Gallifrey” (Charles 31). Additionally, Charlie Coile writes that “women accounted for only 33% of all characters in the top 100 domestic grossing films in 2011 and only 14% of characters in a position of leadership” (Colie). While I agree that this is a sad statistic, I do not agree with the clamoring for a female Doctor. I believe the companions bring a strength to the show that could not be accomplished with a role reversal. This is emphasized in an article for Science Fiction Film and Television by Dee Amy-Chin when she states, “Rose does not have to demonstrate the same qualities as the Doctor to be his equal, but instead can demonstrate equality through those qualities held to be particularly (if not exclusively) female” …show more content…

When she first meets the Doctor, she is a 19 year old girl who is dissatisfied with her life and unsure of where she is headed. The Doctor is equally as adrift, traumatized from his own history and lacking in compassion. As they travel, Rose and the Doctor begin to fix one another’s emotional damage (Burke and Smith? 185). Throughout her travels with the Doctor, Rose discovers that the Doctor is missing an essential emotional component that is shared by most of humanity, which of course, is because the Doctor is not human. She often finds herself in a position to show him how to be compassionate (Britton). It is this empathy that makes Rose such a strong character, and makes it easy to see why the Doctor would love her. In “The Parting of Ways” Rose becomes almost godlike in order to save the Doctor, before he can sacrifice himself for her (Burke and Smith? 186). In “The Satan Pit” while the Doctor is having his every believe challenged, he claims, “I’ve seen a lot of this universe. I’ve seen fake gods and bad gods and demi-gods and would-be gods, and out of all that, out of that whole pantheon, if I believe in one thing, just one thing, I believe in her” (Scott and Wright

Get Access