The TV series Doctor Who features a large number of secondary and tertiary characters that could potentially inhabit multiple planets. These characters rarely reappear after their first episode, but striking visuals can lead to repeat appearances. Among the early post-reboot episodes, few images are as memorable as a skin flap with eyes and lips stretched over a metal frame – quite an unsettling sight. This creature claims to be the last pure human born on Earth, but that’s just one of Lady Cassandra‘s many bold statements.
Reflecting on the debut season of the revived version of “Doctor Who” now, it feels remarkably different after all the subsequent seasons. The Tennant and Smith eras left such an indelible mark on the public mindset that criticisms about Jodie Whittaker’s stint have kept some aspects of those seasons alive in popular culture. The show initially attempted to recapture the magic of Tennant before venturing into uncharted waters, but there’s no indication it’s trying to revisit Eccleston’s glory days. The Ninth Doctor introduced a unique blend of experimentation and bitter magic to the series that could benefit from a revival.
Who is Cassandra O’Brien.Δ17 in Doctor Who?
| Full Name | Lady Cassandra O’Brien.Δ17 |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Kitty Gillespie, Cassandra Hoots |
| First Appearance | Series 1, Episode 2, “The End of the World” |
| Portrayed By | Zoë Wanamaker |
In their own words, Lady Cassandra claims to be the last naturally born human on Earth. The Doctor and Rose Tyler encountered Lady Cassandra onboard Platform One, a lavish spacecraft catering to wealthy travelers who watched Earth’s demise from close quarters. By this point, Cassandra was nothing more than a wafer-thin, nearly transparent layer of skin supported by a steel structure, with the majority of her body lost following over 700 plastic surgeries aimed at extending her life at the expense of most of her physical self. Now resembling little more than a tarpaulin with eyes and a mouth, Cassandra sought funding for further medical procedures to artificially lengthen her existence. Her devious plan involved sneaking metal spiders onto Platform One, taking both herself and fellow passengers hostage for ransom, and collecting the funds secretly. A verbal spat between Cassandra and Rose Tyler resulted in Cassandra knocking out the Doctor’s companion, thereby attracting the Doctor’s attention. The Doctor thwarted her scheme, reversed her escape plan, and seemingly ended her life by increasing the ship’s temperature, causing her to explode.
In the opening episode of the second season, titled “New Earth,” Cassandra reemerged a year later. Despite her physical form bursting upon first introduction, her consciousness lived on in a jar beneath a metallic structure, ensuring her bizarrely prolonged existence. Currently, she resides in the hospital’s basement under the care of her devoted attendant, Chip. Cassandra is fixated on revisiting her past glories, particularly a party where she received the last compliment about her appearance. The Doctor and Rose accidentally encounter Cassandra again while responding to a distress call at the hospital. Upon investigation, they discover that the hospital conducts cruel experiments on a race of partially human clones, leading them to challenge the facility’s administrators.
Initially appearing as an antagonist, Cassandra seeks to regain mobility and exact revenge by taking control of Rose’s body. However, her scheme unravels when her actions are thwarted by the Doctor’s indomitable mind. Desperate for an escape route, Cassandra possesses a freed clone, forcing her to confront the harsh treatment these beings have endured. She undergoes a transformation, assists the Doctor in saving the clones, and ultimately accepts her fate. Before leaving, the Doctor shows compassion by transporting Cassandra, in Chip’s body, to the party that had been Cassandra’s obsession, revealing that the last person to compliment her looks was her future self.
Who is Lady Cassandra in the Doctor Who extended universe?
In her brief television appearances, Cassandra’s past is only casually referenced, but it is delved into more deeply in books such as Russel T. Davies’ “Lives of the Rich and Thin.” Unlike her elaborate titles, Lady Cassandra’s origins were largely unknown, including her birth as Brian Edward Cobbs on Earth during the unspecified year 4.99/4763/A/15. Many of her tales about her ancestry seemed to be falsehoods. It is rumored that she transitioned into a woman while working in security at Klime Enterprises, a powerful corporation, and later married its aristocratic owner, Harry Klime, who may have met an untimely end due to her. In the following years, she was implicated in another murder on a planet resembling the Wild West, where she ran a brothel. For many years, Cassandra adopted various aliases and lived as a film actress or high-society figure. She married five times, though each spouse met an enigmatic demise. The immense fortune she acquired from her troubled marriages allowed her to fund numerous surgeries that prolonged her lifespan.
Is Lady Cassandra transgender?
Lady Cassandra, introduced in her debut episode, is established as a transgender woman who grew up identifying as a boy before undergoing surgeries. She was the first transgender character on the Doctor Who TV series, though her representation faced criticism from some trans critics. Cassandra’s characteristics, including her focus on physical beauty, fascination with surgery, and willingness to kill, have been seen as perpetuating harmful stereotypes commonly found in trans characters. However, some viewers felt a deeper resonance with her quest for self-validation and acceptance in her second appearance.
Years after Cassandra’s 2005 debut, Rose, Donna Noble’s daughter, became the first regular transgender character on the series in 2023. Despite facing controversy, she marks a significant improvement by being portrayed by a trans actress, making her an important milestone for representation.
As a fan, I find Cassandra to be an unusual and intriguing character within this series, surrounded by a cast of equally peculiar personalities. While “Doctor Who” often pushes boundaries, it’s disappointing that its first transgender character is portrayed as a skin-tarp figure who resorts to violent acts like murder and kidnapping for the sake of further surgeries. Her debut was quite grim, but her story takes a heartbreaking turn that reveals layers of depth beyond what her semi-transparent appearance might suggest at first glance.
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2025-03-29 20:55