Doctor Who Star On Receiving ‘Woke’ Comments From Critics

One Doctor Who Season 15 star shared new details about the upcoming season. They revealed that they referenced the woke comments on the show.

Doctor Who is the longest-running science fiction series in Britain. It has been around for six decades already. However, its longevity has also subjected it to numerous criticisms. For instance, the show received intense backlash when it cast its first female Doctor Who, Jodie Whittaker, as the Thirteenth Doctor. Some fans felt that the change in gender was unnecessary and politically motivated. Some also expressed disappointment for its overt political messaging in some episodes, like “Arachnids in the UK,” which some viewed as an anti-Trump metaphor. Aside from the aforementioned, others criticized the show for casting people of color in key roles, including Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor, and representing LGBTQ+ characters like Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), who has feelings for the Thirteenth Doctor. One of the actors addressed these criticisms.

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Varada Sethu is one of the new faces in Doctor Who Season 15. She portrays Belinda Chandra, a new companion of Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. She is a nurse who becomes a significant character in the Doctor’s adventure through time and space. She recently sat down with Radio Times and spoke about the show. She acknowledged the woke comments and shared that the show made some references to it. She also took the criticisms as a sign that Doctor Who was “doing the right thing.” She told Radio Times:

Sethu found the “woke” comments a compliment because, for her, it represents the show and what it stands for. “Woke just means inclusive, progressive, and that you care about people. And, as far as I know, the core of Doctor Who is kindness, love and doing the right thing,” she explained. Sethu and Gatwa’s partnership is the first for people of color to work together in the Whoniverse. According to her, Gatwa told her their tandem would “p*** off so many people.” However, Sethu isn’t bothered and just laughed it off. The warm welcome she received from fans after joining the show seemed encouraging enough for her.

Doctor Who has been losing fans over the decades. There have been rumors in the past months that it would be canceled. And many fans have also expressed dissatisfaction with the series. Doctor Who stars are aware of the criticisms, including Matt Smith, who played the Eleventh Doctor. However, he didn’t agree with the critics and was confused about the hate the show received. Smith said those who criticized Doctor Who only put the show in a place where it wasn’t meant to be. Smith was happy to be part of the franchise, describing it as a series about a “cool” alien who travels in space and time. For him, everything about it is lovable.

Doctor Who should acknowledge the “woke” criticism while staying true to its identity. Sethu is right — they should not be bothered by it at all if it aligns with the show’s standards. Also, the “woke” comments could indeed mean inclusivity and progression. The show hasn’t even pushed things further. Director Waris Hussein, who helmed Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 1, “An Unearthly Child,” was wondering if the current Doctor is queer. Gatwa publicly identified himself as queer. Although this doesn’t mean the Fifteenth Doctor is also queer, Hussein wants it to be clear to the audience. “If he’s gay, let’s see it. But don’t lose the mystery,” he said.

Doctor Who Season 15 will premiere on April 12, 2025.

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Source: RadioTimes