#she was trish webber in fear her

[atalana]

special skill: identifying any british actor by the character they played for one entire episode in the doctor who extended universe

[intuitive-revelations]

DOCTOR WHO EPISODES WHICH FAIL THE REVERSE-BECHDEL TEST

A.K.A: Post-revival episodes which lack a 3+ line conversation specifically between 2 named men about something other than a woman, including small groups containing such. This is based on @doctorwhobechdeltest’s criteria for the normal test. Feel free to send me an ask if you have an amendment or addition to make, as I may easily have missed something or been too generous/strict with an episode while working on this.

Image descriptions and analysis below:

The definition of men and women in this case includes ‘coded characters’, referring to entities that may not necessarily actually have a gender (eg. Sontarans, Weeping Angels) but will be largely seen as such by the viewer. Interfaces and robots are not included.

Below are image descriptions of each GIF above, with notes on some of the conversations I disqualified based on the criteria for the test. I’ve tried my best to lay out my reasoning in the more debatable cases.

Series 1, Episode 1 - Rose by Russell T Davies

[Image: Rose and Jackie discuss Rose’s lost job.]

Exclusions:

Auton!Mickey and the Doctor talk at the restaurant. Their dialogue, however, makes references to Rose.

The Doctor parlays with the Nestene Consciousness. While the Nestene’s line of dialogue (most of the conversation being non-verbal) is voiced by Nicholas Briggs, it is only referred to as ‘it’. In the expanded universe, it’s generally treated as a genderless eldritch abomination and is, in fact at one point referred to as the ‘Mother Consciousness’. For these reasons, it has been excluded from being a ‘male-coded character’.

Series 1, Episode 2 - The End of the World by Russell T Davies

[Image: Cassandra O'Brien.Δ17 and Rose speak about being ‘the last human’.]

Exclusions:

The Doctor goes to greet the Moxx of Balhoon. The Moxx seems to be speaking to both the Doctor and Rose (esp. as he then spits on her face as his greeting gift).

The Steward is unnamed. Another member of his species in a similar position (Raffalo) is named, showing he isn’t unnamed for a plot/character reason.

Series 2, Episode 11 - Fear Her by Matthew Graham

[Image: Chloe and Trish Webber singing Kookaburra together to fend off Chloe’s fear of her abusive father, brought to life by the Isolus within her.]

Exclusions:

The people in the neighbourhood get in to an argument, ignoring the Doctor’s attempts to speak with them. Only one of the men (Kel) is named.

Series 3, Episode 10 - Blink by Steven Moffat

[Image: Sally Sparrow and Kathy Nightingale discuss splitting up.]

Exclusions:

The Doctor greets Billy Shipton after he is sent back in time by a Weeping Angel. Billy asks where he is and the Doctor answers. This was excluded as Billy, in a daze, seems to be speaking to both Martha and the Doctor (actually looking at Martha as he asks the question). The greater conversation, which includes Martha, is about the Angels themselves, who are female-coded entities.

Series 5, Episode 2 - The Beast Below by Steven Moffat

[Image: Liz 10 watches her ‘forget’ video message with Amy Pond and Mandy Tanner in the background.]

Exclusions:

The Doctor and Hawthorne discuss the children who weren’t eaten by the Star Whale (including girls) and the fact that the Doctor and Amy were not eaten.

The Doctor speaks over the phone with Churchill. The Doctor says ‘we’ (meaning himself and Amy) are on the way.

Series 7, Episode 1 - Asylum of the Daleks by Steven Moffat

[Image: Cassandra (an unknowing Dalek puppet) tells Amy she looks pale.]

Exclusions:

The Dalek PM was a borderline case as I couldn’t decide whether or not his lack of a name was justified under the criteria by being a Dalek outside of the Cult of Skaro. Ultimately I chose not.

When Rory and the Doctor do speak to each other for more than two lines the subject either includes Amy or Oswin.

Harvey and the Doctor speak about the Alaska’s crew, presumably including Oswin and potentially other female members.

Series 7, Episode 5 - The Angels Take Manhatten by Steven Moffat

[Image: Amy comforts River after she storms away from the Doctor.]

Exclusions:

Julius Grayle and Sam Garner speak about the Weeping Angels,

An older version of Garner tries to warn his younger self about the Angels.

Each of the Doctor and Rory’s conversations are about Amy, River and/or the Angels.

Series 7, Episode 8 - The Rings of Akhaten by Neil Cross

[Image: Clara Oswald and Merry Gejelh discuss Merry’s fear of getting the Long Song wrong.]

Exclusions:

Clara’s dad, Dave Oswald and the Doctor talk about a young Clara after she kicks a ball into the Doctor’s face.

The Doctor and Rezh Baphix speak to each other, but only for two lines. The line before is Rezh continuing to sing to the Old God. The line after is the Doctor repeating Rezh’s words to Clara and Merry after he has already teleported away.

Series 8, Episode 7 - Kill the Moon by Peter Harness

[Image: Clara, Courtney Woods and Lundvik discuss the choice they have to make without the Doctor.]

Exclusions:

The Doctor and Duke speak, but it’s about the team led by Lundvik and their response to Minera Luna San Pedro’s disappearance. 

Series 9, Episode 7 - The Zygon Invasion by Peter Harness

[Image: Kate Stewart tells Bonnie (disguised as Clara) and Jac to keep in touch as she prepares to leave for Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.]

Exclusions: 

Hitchley and the Doctor are the only named speaking men in the episode. They don’t converse with each other.

Series 9, Episode 8 - The Zygon Inversion by Peter Harness and Steven Moffat

[Image: Kate Stewart and Petronella Osgood watch as Bonnie refuses to surrender.]

Exclusions:

Etoine speaking with the Doctor is excluded as he’s also talking to Osgood. Osgood and Bonnie are also both part of the subject matter.

Series 9, Episode 11 - Heaven Sent by Steven Moffat

[Image: The Doctor is encouraged by the vision of Clara in his storm room.]

Exclusions:

The Gallifreyan boy at the end of episode doesn’t speak and isn’t named.