Whittaker is a decent actor. When you give her shite scripting and poor direction, make the companions equal billing to the Doctor, it doesn't help a great deal.
Maybe the new guy will get more young viewers in, but if he's given turgid soap storylines as RTD was wont to do, the revival will be canned.
One experienced producer on taking over the show in Tom Baker's era called it actor proof. Dunno if it still is. The Doctor has been played by many actors but the core personality and traits are the same, helping the oppressed, fighting evil, leading by example.
Whittaker has exhibited none of this, a passive Doctor outshone by her companions, who let's face it have been dull as ditchwater cyphers, who acts out of character and has provided fuck all sexual tension.
A strange comment?? Perhaps, but I would refer you to 1982's Kinda, a Buddhist parable with a big rubber snake threatening paradise! The gentle whimsical Peter Davison's Doctor and his relationship with scientist Todd, played by Nerys Hughes was contrasted with a more parasitic relationship between Janet Fielding's Mara-possessed Tegan and terrified local Aris, played by That's Life's very own Adrian Mills!!! The point is this subtext added to the story, made the characters slightly more believe. Preferable to the current vogue of all companions idolising the Doctor and/or wanting to snog his/her face off. For me very much a missed opportunity.
