Older fandom, newcomers and Who changing

We are halfway through Doctor Who? Only another 54 years to go folks!

"Suddenly." We've had hints dropped since 2011!

Don't be ignorant, you know fine what he meant.

What do you mean? Doctor Who hasn't suddenly changed the lead character halfway through the series at all. This has been hinted at for a long time, given time to develop & the lead character, unlike those in Orphan Black, has at their core the ability to regenerate into another person. Please make more coherent arguments rather than insulting people. It would appear you are the ignorant one.

Petty! You accuse someone of being ignorant then don't like it when they challenge your opinion. Hahaha!

(Apologies for dropping in and out of this conversation)

This forum is the most involved in fandom I've ever been in my life (and I've written articles about tv shows and books that I love). I've avoided it mostly because while the faces of fans may change, their utterances and behaviour remain the same. And it bugs me that some people refuse to accept any kind of change to things that they love. It bugs me triply that people hate change in Doctor Who, a show that changes its setting every few episodes, its supporting cast every couple of seasons and its lead actor every few years. So, while it might "feel different this time," the "moment has been prepared for." I believe the show will continue to bring in new fans as it has always slumped at times before but usually managed to recover, even if it has taken time.

And as I said above, this change is something that has been hinted at for six years - almost 10% of the life of the show. And while I get that there is a lot of hostility directed at any actor that takes on the role - I'm old enough to remember people complaining that Peter Davison was too young for the part and remember feeling weird about Tom Baker taking over from Jon Pertwee - there's a fair lashing of sexism directed at the change. That angers me and I do look suspiciously at people who complain about the character being a woman because it is different from an actor being too young/ old/ left-handed/ tattooed/ Scottish since we have seen a lot of ugliness directed at women lately. My aplogies to those who are offended by that stance but it is borne out of my previous experience and it will take a lot before it changes.

And on that change, something else to consider: this whole business about 'agenda' informing Chibnall's ecision feels at odds with his behaviour: wouldn't someone trying to push a progressive narrative be standing on a soapbox, asking for public praise and deification? Wouldn't he be on chat shows, bemoaning issues of women's representation (not belittling our female members, just throwing out an observation)?

What's Chibnall actually doing? Ignoring the internet, social justice very much included, and not courting media attention ala Feig and GB 2016, or certain members of Marvel's comic staff.

Well, I hope we do still matter if we're still watching, regardless of our demographic - but I find this very hard to argue with. Some of those youngsters in the videos were a game-changer for me. It was heartwarming to see kids that I wouldn't think had even heard of The Doctor at that age, so excited about the news - I'd no idea it even mattered to them. It does make a difference to me that it makes a difference to them. Also, somehow the very fact that they're going against 50+ years of proven formula just to give it a try, should maybe balance out some of any worry that if it succeeds, female Doctors might become formula. I'm actully more concerned that kids might not get to keep their female Doctor than I am that Capaldi will be the last male to own the TARDIS.

In the event that a person just can't get used to the idea, there's still 50+ years of heroic male inspiration to treasure, and we are already incredibly fortunate that the New Series isn't a reboot, but still part of the very same vast epic story. Meanwhile, what if lives might be changed for the better in a way that might not have happened if they'd just stuck to the male Doctor formula?

I hope occasionally feeling protective about the show doesn't turn out to be a way of 'owning' it, as I do think of the series as something rather rare and precious. (It is just not easy to get me interested in TV shows these days, which I think speaks volumes about the quality and novelty of the series). I do like when the New Series manages to match the original series in tone and spirit well enough that it gives a sense of continuity and feels like the same series.

I also like when the NS nods to the original series - not so much that if someone doesn't mention K-9 once an episode it isn't Doctor Who, but I very much like the thought of occasional name-dropping of the original series piquing the curiosity of newer viewers. I hope it inspires the amazing discovery that there are more of these Doctors and a whole universe full of stories about them, and if intrigued viewers do end up exploring the series' past, that it will still be enough like Who as they know it to connect with, or for them to connect with their families over it.

"'Who's K-9?' Well aren't you the lucky one, I'm so glad you asked, would you like to see him in his own series first, or the classic series? Probably best to start at the beginning, eh?" :-)

Other than that, I'm sure I must be too old to be arguing about a "kid's show," or thinking I own the thing - for quite some time now, probably :-)

Something else that was a similar head-turner for me was over the shades - I thought the idea was probably as preposterous as sacrilegious ("Oh, no - you wouldn't want anything sonic near your eyes, have you seen what he does to doors with that screwdriver?"), until someone pointed out that kids can dress up like The Doctor, with just a gray hoodie and an old pair of sunglasses. That is marvelously inclusive, and just delightful in the very same way as all that Tom Baker has done to personally ensure that scarves, no matter how oversize they may be, are thought of as welcome Christmas gifts. I think only Old Man Winter himself has done more to make me glad to get a nice long scarf as a gift. :-)

First thing is not to take fans for granted, especially the older ones.

I'm often amazed at fans reactions to something they disagree with.
Many fans have called others who didn't want a woman DW, sexist, misogynists and chauvinists. Yet, I don't remember fans being called that when the Master became a woman! Fans simply agreed to disagree, and there were no name calling. I didn't want a female Master, and I said I didn't want a female Master, and no one called me a chauvinist. Yet, because I'm not happy with a female DW, I get abuse, and complained about, banned and blocked on Twitter, FB, Cultbox, Den of Geek, etc.
Perhaps, the ones complaining should take a long hard look at themselves?