Another TV character who was a role model to me.

I have already mentioned that Dana Scully was my Icon growing up, but I also had another TV Icon when I was growing up who I kinda wanted to be.

Dr Amanda Bentley from 'Diagnosis murder'. I LOVED that show growing up and I loved Amanda. She was a well rounded character who was smart and brave and strong but she was also flawed (she could be moody, spoilt, stubborn) but she got to help solve all these mysteries and she didn't let the fact she was putting her self in danger stop her from solving the truth.

Amanda married, became a mother, divorced and adopted a child during the shows run, but she juggled being a doctor with being a single mother, and she did it effortlessly.

I also thought (and still do think) that Victoria Rowell is really pretty. I wanted to look like her when I was growing up. Obviously not exactly like her (I'm white) but I wanted to be lady like and classy like Amanda was. She had a 'grace' about her and I liked that.

When I was growing up I had a few style icons: Pamela Anderson and Heather Locklear and Emily Symons and the twins off neighbours and Kylie Minogue. I thought they all were really pretty and I liked them all in shows I watched.

I also loved Samantha Carter from 'Stargate SG1'too. My 3rd Icon.

I dont think my childhood icons are too bad. Considering young girls now have z list no bodies to look up to, my icons at least had talent.

Changing character's gender.

Starting this off by saying that I love 'Elementary' and they changed characters genders. I love the story they've created to do that and I admit that Joan Watson is my favourite character. She has her own journey on the show and I really care about her character.

I honestly dont care that much for 'Sherlock' s' Watson. The  male Watson. I do find Martin Freeman, who plays him, a bit (can I say this?) over rated. I think he plays the same character in everything. Lucy Liu who plays Joan is a better actress and thats why I like her character. Nothing to do with her gender, just the character and acting is better with the female version than the male version.

The whole female doctor who debate has got me thinking. I've already said that I approve of the casting and it can happen because time lords are gender less and can change gender so the doctor can be female.

The thing is I've read some feminists that are saying that they are happy about this because it means that little girls can have another role model now. I am a feminist, but not a hard core one, and I dont think every character should be changed to a woman just so little girls can pretend to be that character.

We women already have some awesome role models in tv:

Buffy
Xena
Dana Scully
Samantha Carter
Sydney  (Alias)
Max (Dark Angel)
Cathy Gale
Emma Peel
Purdy
Tara King
The Halliwell Sisters

Thats just off the top of my head. And there's loads more that I will be able to think of when I get more time.

The point I am trying to make is that a character shouldn't have their gender changed just because people demand it. You can actually use people from the oppisite gender as role models /for inspiration too.

The new doctor who.

The 13th doctor has been announced today and I am really happy about it.

Jodie Whittikar is the 13th doctor. She was brilliant in 'Broadchurch' as greiving mother Beth Lattimer, and I know that she will be a good doctor.

The doctor is a shape shifting alien who regenerates into different people so I am OK with the announcement.

Honestly I didn't care if it was a male or female doctor. Kris Marshall and Richard Ayaode were favourites and I like them both so I would watch the show if they were the doctor. I just wanted someone who is a good actor, who could make the show fun again and someone I liked.

I didn't like Matt Smith and stopped watching when he took over. I just found his doctor annoying. And I couldnt warm to Peter Capaldi as the doctor either. And the writing continued to be terrible.

When I saw the trailer, and when Jodie was revealed as doctor number 13, I was really happy. She's a brilliant actress, it will be fun watching the doctor be different (Instead of just another male regeneration), I hope we have a good story to explain why, this time, the doctor is female (maybe the Master/Missy plot has a connection) but most of all, I was happy because I like the actress and I will watch again as I want to see Jodie take on the cybermen and the daleks and I know she will make the first female regeneration of the doctor one of the best.

Male or female, either way, if you are good at your job then your gender doesn't matter and I think Jodie is one of the best. I think she will be better at the role than a lot of men who were tipped to take the role could ever be. At the end of the day thats the important thing.

'Casualty' Ethan (SPOILERS)

I know that his brother was murdered by a thug but I am finding it hard to sympathize with Ethan at the moment.

I think the reason is that Instead of murderer Scott, Ethan has gone after Scott's decent brother, Mickey.

Ethan threatened to let Mickey die the other week (but changed his mind and saved him) and now he is threatening to out gay Mickey (who is still closeted) to his homophobic, racist family. Mickey is dating mixed-raced bisexual paramedic, Jez.

I am sorry Ethan, I know Cal died and you are hurting, but its not your right to tell Mickey's family about his relationship, and especially not for revenge.

I feel the whole character of Ethan is in danger of being ruined forever if they carry on writing him this way. Cal was the selfish, arrogant, manipulative brother and Ethan was the sweet, kind, caring one. Please, writers of casualty, stop ruining Ethan.

First it was his affair with Alicia when she was dating Cal, and now this. Enough already.

Gillian Anderson has a point. 'X Files'.

I was reading earlier that Gillian Anderson has criticized Chris Carter for not hiring any female writers on 'X Files' and I have to say that I agree with her.

Gillian is the only media "feminist Icon" that I not only like, but admire. I think that she is brilliant. And from I've heard/read, I think she's had a tough time on the show ( Apparently the network didn't want to hire her, then they wanted her replaced when she was pregnant, and she had to fight for equal pay, which she deserved) and I think we are really lucky to have the show back on tv.

Why doesn't the show have any female writers? Its got a team of writers so why not any women?  Why cant the character of Dana Scully be written for by a woman?  The show has a female fanbase so why are we not represented on the show?

Thats why I think Gillian has a point, the show is as much Scully as it is Mulder, and I think that the writing staff should reflect that. There has been Scully-centric episodes that would have had a different feel to them if a woman had written them. Yes, a male creator may know his character inside out, but, emotionally, men and women are different and some times it has to be someone of the same gender who writes the emotional stuff for it to be effective.

So for that reason I say that the show needs to employ female writers. I think both Gillian and Scully deserve more representation.

Formula 1.

I do like F1. I dont like how predictable it has become. Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel are the winners. Usually.

At least Azerbaijan was exciting and Daniel Riccardo won.

I like Daniel Riccardo. He's my favourite driver. He really seems to love what he does and it matters to him to do well. But he doesn't seem to have that ego that a few other drivers have.

I have one question about F1 though. What is the point of the race when some cars are better than others? Its not a shock when the worst car in the race has to pull out in lap 3.

Would it not be fairer (and more exciting) if all the cars were at the same standard? Then we could actually see who the good drivers are and not just who the luckiest drivers are.

I'm still team Miranda.

I am talking about Miranda Lambert, a country singer who is one of my favourites.

Miranda used to be married to Blake Shelton, another country singer, but they divorced a couple of years back. Ever since then, whenever I read about Miranda, all the comments section is filled with are comments about how she is a cheat and "trailer trash". Apparently.

No body comments on how Blake started dating Gwen Stefani (who was on 'The Voice US' with him, who's own marriage ended at around the same time) quickly after the separation. Theres rumours that he cheated too, but as long as every one blames Miranda then its all fine.

I just think that Its unfair that no body knows, except them, what happened to cause their marriage break down, and yet "fans" blame one over the other. Even songs/ comments made could be misconstrued so the blame game is pointless.

That said, some "Country fans" sent Dixie chicks singer, Natalie Maines, death threats because she made comments about George W Bush and his illegal war, so I wont hold my breath that people will stop commenting on Miranda and Blake 's divorce.

For the record, Blake is ok. I like some of his stuff. I like Gwen Stefani but I love Miranda' s music. She makes songs that I connect with and I will always be a fan.