10 Things Every Doctor Who Fan Does When A New Doctor Is Announced
7. Seek Out The Bad Takes
After reading the announcement articles several times, poring over fragments of information in interviews, and sketching out their own potential costumes, a Doctor Who fan should now be firmly rooted in their opinion on the casting. So, what to do in the long wait between the casting of the Doctor and the next big announcement?
Of course, you might as well seek out some dissenting voices! This is an odd trait that feels like a particularly 21st century sickness. Back in the pre-internet days, fans often had to strike up conversations with random strangers to see what they thought of Peter Davison replacing Tom Baker. Nowadays, a steady stream of opinion is available to be turned on and off at will, like a waste pipe.
Not content with their own conviction in their opinion, many Doctor Who fans will seek out those who disagree with them. One ludicrous moment of the 14th Doctor's casting was when someone replied to a congratulatory tweet by the singer Alison Moyet about the failings of Doctor Who's writing. Other fans who see themselves as paragons of virtue will drag up some incendiary tweet that criticises the casting to show what a good person they are by disapproving of the contentious view in question.
It might be a long time until 2023, but surely there's a better use of time? Stick a Big Finish on!