The Most Controversial and Influential Doctor Who Episode of Jodie Whittaker's Era Exposed

Summary

Jodie Whittaker's best Doctor Who episode, "Power of the Doctor," is a nostalgic celebration of the show's history but doesn't showcase her abilities as the Thirteenth Doctor.

The preference for traditional stories over modernization efforts by Chris Chibnall and Whittaker is evident in the top-ranked episodes of a Doctor Who Magazine poll. However, episodes such as "Rosa" and "Demons of the Punjab" effectively showcase Whittaker's performance and the fresh perspective on Doctor Who, which raises questions about the ranking of "Power of the Doctor."

Doctor Who fans have voted on Jodie Whittaker's top episode, revealing a significant injustice during the Thirteenth Doctor era. After 54 years of male leads, Jodie Whittaker made history in 2017 as the first female Doctor Who. This understandably upset traditionalists who believed that the Doctor should always be portrayed by a man, despite the character's ability to regenerate their entire body when faced with death. In response, Doctor Who subtly portrayed the gender change without making it a major focus during Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall's era.

Jodie Whittaker's Doctor remained the same character introduced as an old man in a junkyard in 1963. This resulted in a delightful joke involving Ian Chesterton's surprise at a female Doctor in "The Power of the Doctor." This episode served as a joyous and nostalgic celebration of Doctor Who's entire history, coinciding with the British Broadcasting Corporation's centenary and marking the departure of the Thirteenth Doctor. Surprisingly, it has been voted as the best episode from Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who era in a poll conducted by Doctor Who Magazine. This highlights a broader issue where Jodie Whittaker is often overshadowed by the male Doctors.

Jodie Whittaker's "Best" Doctor Who Episode Is A Huge Nostalgia-Fest

The movie "Power of the Doctor" brought back two beloved 1980s companions, Tegan and Ace, and featured appearances from past Doctors and companions. It was an exciting blockbuster that delighted fans with a heartfelt reunion between the Seventh Doctor and Ace, and Tegan finally received justice for Adric. The film also brought together the Master, Daleks, and Cybermen in an unholy alliance to steal the Thirteenth Doctor's body and infinite regenerations.

While the movie was thrilling, it didn't quite showcase Jodie Whittaker's Doctor as much, as she spent a significant amount of time in a barren halfway reality with her past selves. This was understandable, as "The Power of the Doctor" was a celebratory episode commemorating 100 years of the BBC. It also gained popularity on social media, particularly among fans who were openly critical of Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who era. This positive response suggests that the movie's success in the DWM poll can be attributed to its dedication to referencing Classic-era Doctors and companions, which were preferred by some fans over the modern series.

"Power Of The Doctor" Isn't The Thirteenth Doctor's Best Story

Jodie Whittaker delivers one of her most impressive and true-to-character performances in "War of the Sontarans", a standout episode from the Doctor Who: Flux season. Unfortunately, due to the decision made by Doctor Who Magazine to present Flux as one continuous story, this remarkable display of Whittaker's talent is not given the recognition it deserves. Instead, the top three spots are occupied by more traditional Doctor Who episodes that do not necessarily capture the essence of the era.

For instance, "Fugitive of the Judoon" holds the third spot in the list of Jodie Whittaker's best episodes. Although it shares similarities with "Power" in terms of overshadowing the Thirteenth Doctor with another incarnation, at least Jodie Whittaker's Doctor remains the central focus of the episode. She is confronted with earth-shattering revelations that fundamentally alter her perception of herself. Additionally, the episode showcases some impressive face-off moments between the Thirteenth Doctor and the Judoon. These intense encounters with adversaries highlight the strengths of Jodie Whittaker's tenure as the Doctor, an aspect that deserves greater appreciation.

Doctor Who's Whittaker Poll Proves Her Era Is Still Underrated

The top three episodes of Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who reveal a preference for more traditional stories. Although "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" is a great episode, it follows the haunted house theme similar to the classic Tom Baker serial "The Horror of Fang Rock." This preference for traditional Doctor Who stories sometimes prevents people from recognizing the significant progress made in modernizing the show by Chibnall and Whittaker. Episodes like "Rosa" and "Demons of the Punjab" shed light on uncomfortable truths from modern Western history, something that the show had not explored before.

It is evident from the rankings that not everyone appreciated this approach and instead favored the more traditional stories of alien invasions and supernatural occurrences. Despite Doctor Who being an anthology show with endless possibilities, there seems to be a constant desire to revisit the same types of stories. "Power of the Doctor" exemplifies this as it is a nostalgic celebration of a milestone, reminiscent of "The Five Doctors." However, it is strange that the same level of acclaim is not given to Jodie Whittaker's performance in "Power" as it was for Peter Davison in "The Five Doctors."

There are numerous standout episodes in the Jodie Whittaker era, not just limited to "Rosa" or "Demons." Episodes like "The Witchfinders" and even more abstract ones like "It Takes You Away" offer captivating and excellent performances from Jodie Whittaker. These episodes truly showcase the fresh perspective brought to Doctor Who. The Thirteenth Doctor proves herself to be on par with her previous incarnations, making the perception of "Power of the Doctor" somewhat insulting. However, upon retrospectively enjoying the Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall era, it becomes evident how groundbreaking and intriguing it truly was. This will hopefully challenge the existing rankings of "Best Episodes".