The last episode of Doctor Who to be directed by a woman was “Amy’s Choice,” in 2010, and it remains the only lady-directed episode in the entirety of Steven Moffat‘s tenure as showrunner. Not that lady-directed episodes were so exactly abundant before he took over, but they will now be joined by two more episodes when the show returns for Series 8.
And that new director is… long-time television director Rachel Talalay, who also sat the director’s chair for Lori Petty‘s cult favorite Tank Girl. From Doctor Who TV:
Talalay told Film UFC she is sworn to secrecy on everything to do with the storyline “until it leaks out.” But she admits to being huge fan of the show and taking “crappy selfies in the TARDIS!”
As the show has come under increasing criticism for the limited or clichéd picture it draws with its female characters, eyes have turned to the fact that there are very few women behind the cameras.
The staff writer situation is even worse than directors, with 2008’s “The Sontaran Stratagem” and “Poison Sky” as the last two episodes of Doctor Who to be written by a woman, and no end to that streak in sight. It’s great to hear Talalay is on board for Series 8, which may turn out to take the show in something of a new direction, thought we’ll have to wait and see.
Anybody got a time machine we could use to find out how it goes?
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