Doctor Who Season 11: 10 Reasons To Be Excited
9. A Doctor For Our TImes
From anti-imperialist citizen of the universe to introspective and self-aware cynic, the Doctors have always reflected the needs and aspirations of the audience. The last few years of the show have tapped into the modern trend for nostalgic recreations of an idealised past. Capaldi’s Doctor was something of a throwback to the 20th century Doctors, delighting those fans who could tell you, in broadcast order, the names of every episode.
Stranger Things aside, there are definite signs that the audience is growing weary of the remake culture, and are looking for programmes that more meaningfully reflect the spirit of the times. Doctor Who can no longer get away with being old-fashioned and deferential to its history.
Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor will be a modern hero, one who reflects our anxieties about how relationships and friendships are being reduced in the virtual world - how we are often left feeling like passing ships in the night, brushed aside by instant and superficial replies.
The key watch-word of Jodie’s Doctor is relatability. A hero who will be our friend, who will hold our hand and takes us on the trip of a lifetime. There was some of that in the ninth Doctor’s relationship with Rose of course, but now it feels especially pertinent. Coupled with a return to the more politicised stories of Russell T Davies, the Doctor looks set to gain a new relevance as an icon of British aspirations and values.