I get why many fans (at least around here) aren't terribly thrilled by the Jodie Whittaker era, but it's been especially disheartening to see that feeling rise to full effect in the past week with the news of her impending departure. I also get that most of that criticism is out of disappointment about not reaching and/or exceeding perceived potential. And I know a lot of people (even those who are less critical of the era) don't like the Timeless Child business. Hell, I'm still chewing on that one and I don't think I'll able to resolve how I actually feel about it until I see how Whittaker's final season plays out.
That said, I want move past all of that and celebrate the Whittaker era. I'm not saying people can't be critical in this discussion but I want to focus on the positives because it's been rather dire this past week.
I've loved the cheerful, upbeat nature of her performance as The Thirteenth Doctor and especially when she gawks in awe at some scientific achievement (like in "The Tsuranga Conundrum") without even a hint of belittlement. Her high energy and curiosity for everything reminds me a lot of Matt Smitth's performance as The Eleventh Doctor, which is a big plus in my book since he's my favorite modern Doctor. I've often seen people criticize how The Thirteenth Doctor occasionally takes the back seat to her companions, but I don't mind that because she's not the first Doctor to have that particular relationship with her companions (First and Fifth come to mind) and that only highlights how much The Doctor relies on her companions, an important, continuous theme of the show.
Regarding the companions, Yaz has been by far favorite companion of the two series, although I think that was more because of how much I loved Mandip Gill's performance than how she was written. I do wish she had more to work with and I continue to lament that she isn't the only companion next series. Graham had by far the best storyline of the three companions and I loved how the show took a serious and continuous look at someone living with grief, and doing so alongside with someone he didn't have a strong relationship with initially. I've never shared the animosity (or just plain indifference) most people seem to have towards Ryan, but I always enjoyed his relationships with his grandfather and Yaz, and how he would occasionally keep The Doctor honest (particularly in "Revolution of the Daleks").
I think I'm also in the minority on this count but I've absolutely loved Sacha Dhawan's performances as The Master, regardless of the storyline he had to work with (loved "Spyfall," still chewing on the two-part finale). He brought the right manic energy to the character while going toe to toe with Whittaker's Doctor. The only thing I never liked was how we never got a real sense of what he was so angry about regarding the Time Lords' deceit about their history, but that's more of a criticism of the writing than Dhawan's performance of the material. I know some people think his Master is regressive of Missy, but I'm less bothered by that because he was still following his core nature (although I do wish The Doctor had at least addressed the change from Missy).
I know the show's music wasn't often talked about (except for the occasional person who missed Murray Gold's work), but I have to give a special shout out to Segun Akinola's scores. I loved how very different his music varied from Gold's compositions (which I ranged from loving to hating with little middle ground) and how alienit often sounded. More importantly, I never found it overly intrusive or trying to dictate how the viewer should feel, but instead enhanced the experience as the best scores do for any show or film.
The complications of the Timeless Child aside, I've largely enjoyed both series with only one episode standing out as not all that great ("Orphan 55" and even it had its Farscape-esque pluses).
Among my favorite episodes (roughly in order):
I'm sorry this became such a long read, but that does show much I've largely enjoyed the Jodie Whittaker era so far. On that note, I'd love to read how people enjoyed her era.
That said, I want move past all of that and celebrate the Whittaker era. I'm not saying people can't be critical in this discussion but I want to focus on the positives because it's been rather dire this past week.
I've loved the cheerful, upbeat nature of her performance as The Thirteenth Doctor and especially when she gawks in awe at some scientific achievement (like in "The Tsuranga Conundrum") without even a hint of belittlement. Her high energy and curiosity for everything reminds me a lot of Matt Smitth's performance as The Eleventh Doctor, which is a big plus in my book since he's my favorite modern Doctor. I've often seen people criticize how The Thirteenth Doctor occasionally takes the back seat to her companions, but I don't mind that because she's not the first Doctor to have that particular relationship with her companions (First and Fifth come to mind) and that only highlights how much The Doctor relies on her companions, an important, continuous theme of the show.
Regarding the companions, Yaz has been by far favorite companion of the two series, although I think that was more because of how much I loved Mandip Gill's performance than how she was written. I do wish she had more to work with and I continue to lament that she isn't the only companion next series. Graham had by far the best storyline of the three companions and I loved how the show took a serious and continuous look at someone living with grief, and doing so alongside with someone he didn't have a strong relationship with initially. I've never shared the animosity (or just plain indifference) most people seem to have towards Ryan, but I always enjoyed his relationships with his grandfather and Yaz, and how he would occasionally keep The Doctor honest (particularly in "Revolution of the Daleks").
I think I'm also in the minority on this count but I've absolutely loved Sacha Dhawan's performances as The Master, regardless of the storyline he had to work with (loved "Spyfall," still chewing on the two-part finale). He brought the right manic energy to the character while going toe to toe with Whittaker's Doctor. The only thing I never liked was how we never got a real sense of what he was so angry about regarding the Time Lords' deceit about their history, but that's more of a criticism of the writing than Dhawan's performance of the material. I know some people think his Master is regressive of Missy, but I'm less bothered by that because he was still following his core nature (although I do wish The Doctor had at least addressed the change from Missy).
I know the show's music wasn't often talked about (except for the occasional person who missed Murray Gold's work), but I have to give a special shout out to Segun Akinola's scores. I loved how very different his music varied from Gold's compositions (which I ranged from loving to hating with little middle ground) and how alienit often sounded. More importantly, I never found it overly intrusive or trying to dictate how the viewer should feel, but instead enhanced the experience as the best scores do for any show or film.
The complications of the Timeless Child aside, I've largely enjoyed both series with only one episode standing out as not all that great ("Orphan 55" and even it had its Farscape-esque pluses).
Among my favorite episodes (roughly in order):
It Takes You Away
The Haunting of Villa Diodati
Fugitive of the Judoon
Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror
Demons on the Punjab
The Tsuranga Conundrum (I know I'm in the minority on this one in particular)
The Witchfinders (until the final minutes when it became just another alien story)
Spyfall (more so part one than part two)
Can You Hear Me?
Praxeus
Kerblam!
The Ghost Monument
The Haunting of Villa Diodati
Fugitive of the Judoon
Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror
Demons on the Punjab
The Tsuranga Conundrum (I know I'm in the minority on this one in particular)
The Witchfinders (until the final minutes when it became just another alien story)
Spyfall (more so part one than part two)
Can You Hear Me?
Praxeus
Kerblam!
The Ghost Monument
