The final day of New York Comic Con 2018 came quickly. This year’s convention took place Thursday, October 3 through Sunday, October 7, and before we knew it, it was already Sunday.
But not to worry, our time at NYCC 2018 was going to end on a high note: with the Doctor Who panel. And it wasn’t just a panel. Oh no, first we were going to watch the World Premiere simulcast of the debut episode of the 13th Doctor, the first female Doctor in the history of the show, in a room filled with thousands of other Whovians! How exciting is that??
Sunday was a very Doctor Who day for us, as we started things off over at the Javits Convention Center with a photo op with Matt Smith, Alex Kingston, and David Tennant! We only got a few seconds with the actors, as they push people through these photo ops so quickly. But it was a few seconds that I’ll remember forever! I had tried to think of a cool or funny pose to do, but never ended up coming up with anything, so just went with what they wanted to do — which turned out great!
It was about noon when we finished up with the photo op, and we rushed over to Madison Square Garden, where the Doctor Who panel was scheduled to begin at 1:45pm with the screening of the episode. Madison Square Garden does not clear the room between panels, so we figured it was a good idea to get over there as quickly as possible to make sure that we made it in.
We ended up getting there around 12:15pm, plenty of time to get comfortable for the panel that came before the Doctor Who panel, which was How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World. Stay tuned for our recap and photos of that panel!
A few minutes prior to the 1:45pm scheduled simulcast start time, the President of BBC America, Sarah Barnett, along with the new Showrunner Chris Chibnall, Executive Producer Matt Strevens, and the 13th Doctor herself, Jodie Whittaker, came out to make a few introductory remarks. Of course they were greeted with a standing ovation!
Then promptly at 1:45pm ET, we watched “The Woman Who Fell To Earth” live along with the rest of the world! It was such a great experience watching that entire episode with a room full of fans. The only downside is that sometimes there were parts when the cheers or laughter was too loud and I missed something that was said! But that’s okay, I don’t mind re-watching it, as it was a great episode! Jodie Whittaker seems like she is going to be an amazing Doctor, and she has great chemistry with her companions. I can’t wait to see where this season takes us!
After the episode, Jodie Whittaker, Chris Chibnall, and Matt Strevens returned to the stage, along with moderator Maude Garrett. Whittaker said that she felt very emotional about it and that she was going to cry, while Chibnall commented that he’d like to watch the episodes with an audience every week!
Chibnall addressed the criticism of having so many characters in the show this season, as the Doctor now has three companions, and joked, “Have you seen This is Us?” He went on to point out that the format of the Doctor Who pilot is three people travelling in time and space with the Doctor and now they are connecting how that looks in 2018 back to the 1960s when the show was originally created.
Whittaker recalled the first time she met her co-stars. Tosin Cole, who plays Ryan, had come back in for his audition and was reading with Whittaker, thinking she was just some random person reading lines. He didn’t realize until later that she was the Doctor! As for Mandip Gill, who plays Yasmin, the first time they met she made Whittaker laugh so much that as soon as Gill walked out of the room, Whittaker declared, “That is my new best friend!” She also brought up how Tosin calls Bradley Walsh, who plays Graham, “Showbiz” because he’s very well known in the UK, and Whittaker gushed about how they get to “steal” him for 9 months. Whittaker told us that the chemistry you see between them is real and that they get along very well.
As Doctor Who is known for its social commentary, Chibnall agreed that inclusivity and diversity were goals for the show this season, which will “go to places that the show hasn’t gone to before,” as well as from new perspectives. Strevens added that it was important that the Doctor’s “friends” (companions) this season represent everyone who is watching.
One reveal we saw this episode was when the Doctor built her new sonic screwdriver from scratch. Whittaker commented how amazing it was to see all the sonic screwdrivers light up during that scene (mine included!). “I did my own welding,” Whittaker added.
The other big reveal was the Doctor’s outfit, at which there had been a loud cheer when she stepped out of that dressing room. (Which, I must admit gave me goosebumps, considering I was wearing the same outfit!) The moderator commented on how practical the outfit was, and audience members shouted approvingly about the pockets. Whittaker replied, “Of course it’s got pockets! A doctor can’t not have a pocket!” She talked about collaborating with the costume designer Ray Holman and having a say in what her costume would be. She had sent him a black and white picture which ultimately inspired the final costume. Whittaker talked about how she loves the colors of the jacket, as the interior blue is like the sky she is falling through, while the exterior is like a “dawn sky” — plus it has pockets. She went on to tease that every stitch has a meaning, but that she didn’t want to spoil it for us, so she would wait until it’s over to tell us.
Switching gears to talk about the stunts, the moderator brought up the crane jump. Whittaker revealed that this was done on Day 2, and she was given the option to either do it herself or have a stunt person do it. It was very high, but Whittaker wanted to look brave in front of everyone, so she did the stunt herself! She admitted that there were times throughout the season that there were stunts she wasn’t properly trained for that she couldn’t do, but that in this case it was safe. Plus, she felt like it needed her “clumsiness” to have the authenticity that it should for a new Doctor in a new body.
Audience members were also given the chance to ask questions.
One young woman asked for words of advice for women given the state of things these days. Whittaker confidently replied, “We have a voice, and we are entitled to be listened to. It’s scary sometimes, and we sometimes have to unite to have the bravery to use it, but let’s use it.” She also added the fact that we are all flawed, and emphasized that “perfection is not the aim.”
Another audience member asked about the possibility of bringing back the Doctor’s Wife, but Chibnall said that he didn’t know the answer.
As for influences Whittaker had growing up, this included Jennifer Connelly in Labyrinth, Mikey in The Goonies, as well as Atreyu and Falco. She also wanted to be in Flight of the Navigator and be Elliott and Gertie in E.T. Basically, Whittaker was inspired by the heroics of children rather than adults.
When asked what kind of impact she would like to have her appearance as the first female Doctor to have, Whittaker responded that she would prefer it to be quickly forgotten because it becomes the norm. Chibnall said he would like it to bring unity, and for people to realize that heroes can come in all shapes, sizes, genders, sexualities, and ethnicities. Chibnall also teased, “I hope you enjoy Episode 3 if you’ve been studying Rosa Parks.” The moderator confirmed that this information was an exclusive! Chibnall pointed out that we had just seen Vinette Robinson in the trailer, presumably referring to the fact that she will be playing the role of Rosa Parks.
As for the writing process, and how they go about that given the intricate timelines, Chibnall brought up a quote from David Lynch that he thought summed up the writing this season: “You plan rigorously and allow for happy accidents.”
Regarding whether she used the traits of any previous Doctors in her performance as the Doctor, Whittaker admitted she was a new Whovian, and thanked all the Whovians for welcoming her. For her performance, she just went with the energy she felt with her three co-stars, but conceded that there might inevitably be some overlap.
When an aspiring costume designer cosplaying as the 13th Doctor asked Whittaker how it felt to try on her costume for the first time, Whittaker turned the question around on the inquirer, asking how she liked wearing it. For Whittaker, it’s about feeling “at once at home, and also free for the possibility of anything and everything.” She went on to say that she hated that she wasn’t wearing it right now, because she loves putting it on — it only takes her about 2 seconds!
In response to another fan question, Chibnall spoke of his love and passion for Doctor Who, and brought up how Whittaker’s Doctor has shown positivity to go forward into life, and meet whatever challenges are coming. Whittaker commented that one thing the Doctor has taught her was that “Her love and hope transcends time and space.” She hopes that as she gets older, she doesn’t lose that.
Addressing the negative comments that the show has gotten due to its transition to a female Doctor, Whittaker pointed out that sometimes the angry voices can seem louder than the others. However, she doesn’t let it get her down, as she was working with people who brought joy and inclusivity to her life. Strevens chimed in, saying that the day after Whittaker revealed herself as the new Doctor, he was called into a meeting with the BBC, and the worldwide response on social media was actually 83% positive.
The final question was from a woman who also has Dyspraxia, the disorder that Ryan has in the show. Chibnall revealed that his nephew has Dyspraxia, and that they worked with the Dyspraxia Foundation in the UK for the show. He said that although Ryan’s Dyspraxia is not an episodic story, it is a part of him, but there are many other defining parts to Ryan as well. Chibnall added, “When we talk about how heroes come in all shapes and sizes, that’s what we mean. It’s people like you.”
The panel wrapped up with an exclusive announcement that Mattel was releasing a Doctor Who Barbie, which would be available from Hot Topic starting at midnight that very night!
It was about 3:30pm when the panel ended, and we had to hurry up and get to the airport to catch our flight home. Thankfully, we had just enough time to stay at NYCC for this panel and still make it to the airport on time! We had a great time at NYCC 2018, and this was definitely a highlight. I’m so glad it all worked out with the timing.
You can view more of our photos from the Doctor Who panel at New York Comic Con 2018 below.
