(HOW) HAVE LGBTQ FILM & LITERATURE SHAPED YOU?
Dr Who’s Madame Vastra Hit Differently After I Came Out
How the series speaks to me and for me
The year is 2014. Matt Smith has handed over the TARDIS key to Peter Capaldi. At the time, many young fans vowed they wouldn’t watch an “old and ugly” Doctor since the departure of Matt Smith at the end of his final episode, The Time of The Doctor, broadcast on Christmas Day 2013.
It was with the “old and ugly” comments ringing in our ears that we all sat down to watch Peter Capaldi’s first episode… Deep Breath. Two scenes address the change. The first is Vastra’s frank explanation about veils to Clara (the subject of this article). The second is at the end where Capaldi’s Doctor says to Clara, “you don’t see me, do you? I’m right here.”
Doctor Who fans are used to this change even though it often needs repeating that change is good and a core part of Doctor Who. The concept of making regeneration a core part of his biology is the reason the series is now 60 years old and forever attracting new audiences.
We have always gone through the process of sadness over the current Doctor leaving, a cautious optimism about the next one, and a determination that the next couldn’t possibly be as a good. It’s almost a rite…
