MovieChat Forums > Doctor Who (2006) Discussion > Jodie Whittaker is the problem

Jodie Whittaker is the problem


The first episode of Season 11 is OK, but only because of an excellent supporting cast and strong villain. Jodie Whittaker is the weak link. Bad acting and atrocious dialogue made it hard to sit through her scenes. Considering she's the lead, 'The Doctor", and the supposed star of the show, that is a big problem. Hopefully she improves.

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No, the "atrocious dialogue" is the problem.

As Peter Capaldi proved, not even the best actor can save bad scripts.

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The supporting cast read from the same script and all came across well. Bradley Walsh in particular was excellent. Jodie Whittaker is the problem, not a female doctor, just a bad actress.

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That's the problem. I liked Peter Capaldi, so much that I'm rehearing her lines in his voice.

And I wonder if that means they're writing for him now, with her. She needs to find her own.

And if every other incarnation of a new doctor has found a place in this realm, she will... but I'm still not feeling her yet. Every other new doctor has had their quirks we hate, but in time, come to admire. So far, she's the last doctor, with a vagina.

and if that's all they do with it, it will stink. and I don't mean the vagina... oO


"come to daddy... I mean, mommy"... they gotta do more than that to make it work.

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I don't know if capaldi is a good actor but he sure sucked as the doctor.

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I adored him! Subtle and over-the-top, hilarious and tragic, vulnerable and powerful, haggard and oddly photogenic, generally awesome.

I don't insist that you admire him, although I do pity you if you don't appreciate his brilliance. I just want you to know that not everyone shares your opinion.

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Guess you'll have to pity me because I saw no brilliance.

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I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. One of my all-time favorite doctors. He looked the part and pulled it off brilliantly.

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He's tied with Tennant and Tom Baker for my favorite Doctor of all time!

I just wish he'd had the writers that were working during Ten's era.

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Yes! ^This.

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The problem was the cinematographer and the editor who lingered on all his crappy shots.

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For me it wad the opposite. The story was a bland terminator meets predator ripp off. Having a big team also meant we spent more time getting to know everyone but the most important person, the doctor. Luckily the new doctor worked

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First episode I wasn't sold on Whittaker either.

Again, no I hate female rant. I went in with an open mind, but somehow I just didn't feel her. The bit where she confronted the villain in the end fell flat. The first episode in a new Doctor's run usually involve him finally getting himself together in time to confront and banish the episode villain. When Matt Smith did that, it was brilliant. And David Tennant's sword-fight bit was memorable. Somehow, I didn't feel it with Jodie. I don't know whether it was the script, or a lack of gravitas in that sort of scene. But it felt out of place. Her going; "You're a cheat", didn't feel like she was insulting him. It sounded like a child complaining that they'd lost a game of Snakes & Ladders. Even the bit where she jumped between structures played on the screen like it was some big defining moment. But I was just sat there; "Oh look. She jumped." I didn't feel The Doctor was in any danger, and thusly wasn't particularly blown away by it.

I'm not necessarily blaming that all on Jodie. Maybe it was something about the script. When The Doctor came out of the charity shop, and she was in her own custome, it was the first time I felt; "There's The Doctor." Combine that with the fact she got rave reviews, I decided to reserve total judgement until I'd seen two or three episodes and was more used to her.

Second episode, I enjoyed more. Wasn't the most action packed of episodes. But on complaining that I didn't like her confrontations the previous episode, maybe that wasn't a bad thing. The three companions suddenly seemed like a good idea. Jodie pulled them together more. The scene with Ryan running out with the gun, then running back, you felt it was a confrontation that The Doctor "won", without it being the same way previous Doctor's would've dealt with the problem. Also later encouraging him to get up the ladder, despite his condition was done well. She seemed more of a team leader in this episode.

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Jodie Whittaker was the best thing in the first episode - story was kind of lame - but she was great - reminded me a lot of David Tennants Version.

Maybe he gave her a few tips ;)

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We can see the kind of personality she is bringing to the character and it makes it fun. I kind of hope it will help improve the series rather than regurgitate the patterns of past actors or seasons.

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Agree as the way she waves her sonic around reminds me too much of Smith and Tennant and feels so over the top. She needs time to develop her own tics.

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The viewers are deserting at the rate of a million a week.

There won't be any left by the Christmas special.

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This show is dead

Get "Woke", Go Broke

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Nah, it won't be dead. We'll just get an unexpected regeneration sometime, and be back to some random bloke we don't know about, but sans all the social justice bollocks.

Or another woman, I don't even care, as long as they do it right and not simply to push this current agenda.

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If the Rosa Parks and Montgomery Alabama story is what you call "social justice bollocks" then that make it sound like you are just a little bollock.

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They have their place, but why not throw it in our faces just because, you pillock.

Why not tear down some statues while you're at it...

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Can the doctor regenerate as a chimpanzee? They are very close genetically (and Sam Beckett was able to leap into one once), so it should be possible. If Time Lords evolved to look identical to humans, it stands to reason that on their home planet, they had chimpanzee-type creatures evolve as well. Chimpanzee's have been underrepresented in film since the start, and they definitely have not been financially compensated when compared to their human counterparts in film. Why, I've heard that respected chimp thespians like The Bear and Bonzo were paid for their services in bananas and grubs!

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Yes.. why not?? Doctor Link, Tardis traveling savior of the universe at night, respected chimp at APE headquarters by day.

Everybody sing!!

Doctor Link, Secret Chimp!
He stands for justice. He has no fear.
He's the Doctor to call when trouble is near.
Doctor Link, ya gotta come through.
Everybody at APE is countin' on you!

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I actually didn't like the supporting cast. They weren't actually funny and they didn't click with the Doctor. Looking back I can't believe I hated Clara as much as I did. As for the first episode there were no actual problems, it was just slow. The second episode was more interesting and the third was so cringe. They're not racist in the UK. What are the trying to prove? Ugh it's like this now. This show really jumped the shark. The last decent doctor was Matt Smith. The last good sidekick was Rory and Amy. It's so fixated on being pc and social justice it forgot how to have fun.

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"The second episode was more interesting and the third was so cringe. They're not racist in the UK. What are the trying to prove? Ugh it's like this now."

There are no Cybermen, Daleks or Zygons etc either.

This easily jumps to the top of the chart of stupid comments regarding the show.

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i think the writing was the problem, not her acting. They can't seem to get away from a "David Tennant type Doctor" no matter what actor is playing the part now, and Jodie is just performing the role the way it was written. The Doctor being "zany" and "hip" has really gotten tiresome now.

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The old series Doctors were more geekish, introverted personalities with a definite individuality as opposed to fitting into the group outlook or culture. If you think about it, the old series doctors did pay homage to the time their particular series was filmed in: Hartnell's Doctor appeared to be modelled on the concept of a late nineteenth century gentleman of academia; Troughton's persona was meant to be a classic English boffin with a 1960s pop culture reference to the Beatles and "zany/carefree" attitude; Pertwee's character responded to the "alternative culture" scene of the early 1970s with flamboyant fashion; Tom Baker was a more relaxed version of Pertwee's character but cared less about formalities and enjoyed being comfortable and lackadaisical yet still keenly engaged mentally - he was the "Man of Mystery"; Davidson's Doctor was more reticient but enjoyed gentlemanly pursuits (such as cricket) which was in line with the social ideology of "don't rock the boat" and quietly respond to the prevailing business success ethos which respected corporate values; Colin Baker's Doctor ultimately responded to the 1980s business influenced glamour showiness culture - power suits or power dressing, being noticed by everybody, etc. (- even though the creative idea behind his costume was not officially inspired by such a possibility); and McCoy's portrayal was in a way a part of a broader social/pop culture desire to relive the 1960s towards the year 1990, hence in a certain way his Doctor is a throwback to Troughton's portrayal, though not necessarily that convincingly or charmingly.

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