Also Cybermen can run on just skeletons?

You know, I just realised, Cybermen don't run on anything. They're like elephants that way.

I just read my first internet comment having a meltdown about the Master's gender reassignment. Apparently it "cheapened the complete history of all of the Time Lord characters, and in so doing have damaged the whole concept of DW... It is anathema, abomination." I approve. I like my misogynistic rants to be hilariously histrionic. (For what it's worth, I regard the idea of changing the Doctor's gender to make far less difference to his incarnations' shared essentials than making him Scottish did.)

So that rant essentially says "Euw! Girl cooties on Gallifrey! Euw!"

So that rant essentially says "Euw! Girl cooties on Gallifrey! Euw!"

Yes, apparently this latest ep was a cross between Gloria Steinem and The Satan Pit.

(For what it's worth, I regard the idea of changing the Doctor's gender to make far less difference to his incarnations' shared essentials than making him Scottish did.)

I don't know that Scottish actors trip my "Objection, your honor!" instinct so long as they can do a good British accent, but an American or Australian actor definitely would (whereas a woman or person of color wouldn't so long as she or he is from the UK).

My hope is that Joanna Lumley has never appeared on the show proper because TPTB are still holding her in reserve to be cast as the first female Doctor.

One of my favourite review comments: "Michelle Gomez is evidently having a smashing time, prancing about like an unhinged Mary Poppins who’s just stumbled into The Rocky Horror Show."

On that note, it's interesting having this Master as a foil to Peter Capaldi's Doctor. John Simm's Master was a nice reflection of Tennant's Doctor, matching him on manic energy. (Likewise, Delgado's Master made an excellent foil for Pertwee's Doctor, they both looked like they'd stepped out of a Bond movie.) I think Michelle Gomez works nicely alongside Capaldi. Not a direct copy, but similar energy, a bit more gravitas to both parts.

I don't know that Scottish actors trip my "Objection, your honor!" instinct so long as they can do a good British accent, but an American or Australian actor definitely would (whereas a woman or person of color wouldn't so long as she or he is from the UK).

Capaldi is of course the third Scot to play the Doctor, but the first one to be permitted to use his own accent. But yes, I think his Britishness is far more central to the role than his gender (or skin colour, for that matter).

Now I'm wondering if they could get away with an Irish Doctor.

My hope is that Joanna Lumley has never appeared on the show proper because TPTB are still holding her in reserve to be cast as the first female Doctor.

Lumley could've been excellent in the role (and was pretty funny in The Curse of Fatal Death), but she's pushing 70 now. I think she might not be up for the challenges of the role anymore. Twelve does less running up and down corridors than did Eleven or Ten, but new Who is still more action-oriented than the classic series.

Hmmm. Helen Mirren's about the same age and has no qualms about being an action heroine. Shame she's shot down the idea of gunning for the role herself.

Hmmm. Helen Mirren's about the same age and has no qualms about being an action heroine. Shame she's shot down the idea of gunning for the role herself.

That is true, and she would be awesome in the role.

Meanwhile, a tweet concerning the Master reveal:

BUT THE MASTER AND DOCTOR KISSED WHY COULDN'T THIS HAPPEN BACK WHEN IT WAS JOHN SIMM AND DAVID TENNANT WHY WHY W H Y

Opinions, this person has them.

Yet another opinion about Missy Master - feel the force of his compelling logic:

The Master being a woman is idiotic. The Doctor and The Master are men. The Rani and Romana are women. End of. What next - K9 turning into a cat?

The more I think about it, the more hilarious K9 as a cat becomes.

Meanwhile, this is a compelling argument against... something. Half-measures maybe. [link]

(My first thought was "I bet Roger Delgado could pull off that look.")