Companions past and present

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  • #51436
    TheDentistOfDavros @thedentistofdavros

    @winston Yes I do see the appeal of the tenth and Rose’s chemistry but I just can’t get it. Donna was brilliant though and I would have loved to see more of her (such a tragic ending!) and Sarah Jane is just great as for River to be honest I think she worked almost better with Capaldi than she did with Smith!

    Scotland is great but you’d be hard pressed to find a day when it isn’t raining or the whole country isn’t infested with midges! Anyone who doesn’t know what a midge is then count yourself as lucky!

    #51437
    janetteB @janetteb

    @thedentistofdavros  I agree with you re’ the best pairings of Doctor and companion. I also think that the pairing of Capdoc and River worked perfectly. (I have just rewatched “Husbands” and it is the rapport between them that really makes that episode so compelling to watch. The story itself with the giant fighting robot is a bit meh but that was just a sketchy frame on which to hand the real “meat” of the episode, the conclusion of River and Doctor’s story.

    The original team, of Hartnell Doc’ Ian, Barbara and Susan was also excellent though Susan was not one of the strongest companions. Vicky was better as a companion but I did like the concept of the Doctor having a granddaughter. It created a mystery about his past giving an added dimension to the character. The other Doctor/Companion pairing worthy of mention is the Seventh Doctor and Ace. She was an interesting companion and there was an excellent rapport between then.

    I have never encountered midges. Have camped on more than one occasion in Scotland though so must have been lucky. (Any mention of midges reminds me of Sam Gamgee in Midgewater Marsh. More BBC radio version than the Jackson version.)

    Cheers

    Janette

     

    #51438
    winston @winston

    @dentistofdavros    Here in rural Ontario we have mosquitoes and  the dreaded blackfly in the spring followed by the deerfly and horsefly ( they pack a punch) in the summer.But it is not all bitey insects all the time here, in the winter there are no bugs at all……….only snow.

    #51439
    Anonymous @

    I have never encountered midges

    @janetteb I have been reading these wonderful responses subsequent to @thedentistofdavros question (I think it be thee?) about pairings in the Tardis, but my brain did a “jiggle” when I read the “no midges” comment Janette?

    Wow! In Bris and further north they are everywhere. I recall, at 15, moving to Brisbane as my father sought promotion and we stayed at a friend’s apartment (later this land was bought by Jupiter’s Casino at the Gold Coast -a truly awful place) which, when we sunned ourselves outside her pool, caused a midge reaction so nasty that upon returning to our rented home in Brisbane 48 hours before school, I had approximately 200 bites.

    Short of hospitalisation, the Doctor recommended I sit in a bath of baking soda. Then, make a paste of this mixed with calamine. One of the most embarrassing days of teenage life: showing up new at snooty Loreto Girls High with splotches of baking soda in my hair and up my legs (noticed during ‘gym class’).

    Quite gross.

    Then, teaching in country, these blighters would slip thru the window screens, and, attracted to light, I’d find a small pile of dead ones near the tiniest of lights: under and near the: microwave, stove, answering machine and cassette player, so at 6 am out would come the vacuum cleaner. Every week, we had 3/4 kilo of dead midges!  No need for perfume/after shave, as we had Rid and anti-midge spray at 2 bucks a bottle. Gawd, the QLD ‘country’ and people PAY to go to such places for fishing and …..smoking.

    I think I mentioned once before how I snuck upon a man with his car boot open containing fresh marijuana plants and who shot at me with his gun containing ‘pellets’ rather than bullets (a rather painful entry into the world of teaching and living within this obviously lunatic community!)

    You’ve missed nothing staying away from the places midges live ‘and work’ Janette 🙂

    @dentistofdavros @winston  and z’others <<-_->>

    As for the question I should be answering and it’s a good one, I applaud all the choices mentioned above. I remember Sladen being wonderful with all her Doctors and noticed how she re-connected instantly with Tennant and Rose. I thought the same of Donna and Tennant -because I enjoyed Donna’s easy companionship and the complexity of the character. I felt that similarity with Rose too. She worked very well with Eccleston and Tennant. I wonder whether the initial success of Doctor Who is down to Rose as much as Eccleston and the visionary in RTD/team of writers.

    My least fav was Martha with Tennant but that’s down to the “companion in love not reciprocated” deal which wasn’t the fault of the actors. I was aware of this when Capt Jack bomb-shelled back on screen and immediately recognised that Martha was experiencing luurve for the Doctor (a nice scene actually -amidst the loony Humani with their sharpened teeth and other ‘bits’).

    I think Smith, as my favourite Doctor, did very well with Amy actually. I would say that particular pairing could be my favourite and the added tension of Rory, the boy who waited with the girl… who waited provided much needed momentum and a change up (the latter term bouncing around these days). Donna’s grandfather probably doesn’t count as a companion, technically, and probably River does not either? Who knows! But I liked Bernard Cribbins’ sincerity and generosity a lot. I certainly agree with others about River’s strong points: with both PC and Smith.

    Gosh, apols for the sorry story Of The Midges -not exactly riveting but by God, by the time I left that house I was as mad as the Humani, wandering around with Midge spray, brooms, swatters and duct tape (to cover the teeny lights). I swore: never again. I prefer being in the reef where the critters which  bite and eat are bigger and more obvious –and selective 🙂

    Kindest and happy Easter to all

    PuroSolo

    #51440
    TheDentistOfDavros @thedentistofdavros

    @winston @janetteb @puroandson
    Thanks for the responses (and for the story of the midges, I feel your pain!) I can’t believe that I forgot about the seventh and ace they were brilliant as for the original crew I thought it improved when Susan left and Vicki came aboard as well! Steven and Vicki were fun to watch as well if you watch the time meddler that’s really good fun!

    @winston Yes in the winter we do get a break from the midges but then have to put up with gale force winds!

    #51444
    Missy @missy

    We get midges here in WA, but nothing like describved by puroandson solo. They also abound in the UK, especially near water.
    The worse menace however, are mosquitoes when the weather becomes humid. There is a desease one can get from these beauties, called “Ross River (no, not that River) Virus’ if it doesn’t kill you, it can maim you.
    Bring on the midges I say.

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #51445
    Missy @missy

    I forgot whilst getting carried away by River Song, OSGOOD. Remember her?

    Now there would be a perfect companion for ‘his nibs.’ In the Zygon thingy, the Doc invited her to come, but the two of them – by that time – decided to stay on Earth.

    But, as SM hinted in the specials, Osgood was great, and of course there were TWO of her, The genius so and so almost winked – I could slap him sometimes. *big grim*

    So, she might be back.

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #51446
    Kharis @kharis

    Favorite companion duos:

    Sarah Jane Smith and 4th Doctor

    11th and all of them, LOL, but it’s true, his personality seems to bring out the best in everyone.

    12th and River

    10th and Donna

     

     

    #51448
    Anonymous @

    @winston
    “Here in rural Ontario we have mosquitoes and the dreaded blackfly in the spring followed by the deerfly and horsefly ( they pack a punch) in the summer.But it is not all bitey insects all the time here, in the winter there are no bugs at all……….only snow.”

    Ah, but there are also midges, except that we call them sandflies and they tend to be more of an irritation than a plague. Also, in the winter nowadays you can still get bedbugs. Yes, those horseflies in particular, definitely take their pound of flesh–ouch!!! For black flies I’ve always found a good mosquito net does the trick, but those darned mosquitoes can bite through just about anything, even a pair of bluejeans. In any case, getting back on topic, these are definitely not the sorts of companions you want in the TARDIS!

    SJS remains my all time favourite companion.

    My favourite duo would be SJS and Doctor #4.

    #51452
    Arbutus @arbutus

    @thedentistofdavros       I agree with your assessments, although I would put Four and Romana as my favourites. I also agree with those who voted in Four and Sarah Jane! I also thought Rose had a better chemistry with Nine than with Ten, reasonably so as her character was designed for Eccelston’s more subtle, rougher-around-the-edges Doctor. Agree also with those who thought that River was fabulous with Twelve! I found it honestly easier to understand her looking up to this Doctor and loving him. (I was most convinced by her relationship with Eleven in their very last appearance together, when he had frankly aged a bit; it gave him a little extra gravitas that helped with that relationship. Their last goodbye was a heartbreaker!)  @janetteb, Seven and Ace are also a good choice.

    @winston @puroandson     My most vivid insect experience was seeing the shadflies, or mayflies, in northern Ontario. We were on a cross-Canada trip and had just driven from Winnipeg to Kenora, and parked the car to walk through the town and have a coffee. It’s a very watery region, lakes everywhere, and we were crossing a footbridge and realized that it was coated in large dying insects. I had never even heard of these before! It felt  creepy and vaguely apocalyptic, even though they wouldn’t actually hurt us, unlike the vile mosquitoes and black flies, but the sight of them everywhere gave my son the shakes. Eeww.

    #51462
    TheDentistOfDavros @thedentistofdavros

    @arbutus Is it any particular Romana or just the character in general as I always thought they were both very good though I haven’t watched Lalla Ward Romana for a while now

    @kharis The eleventh doctor is brilliant for bringing out the best in people even the guest characters he seems to have chemistry with everyone!

    #51494
    Kharis @kharis

    @thedentistofdavros Matt Smith has that Fred Astaire ability to “bring up the room” and brighten the moment.  Very rare quality, that is so enjoyable to watch.

    @arbutus Romana 2 is one of my favourite companions, I should have included her on my list.  I guess I felt the 4th had less tension with Sarah Jane Smith, but on the other hand, tension can be great for dramatic effect.  If I was adding to my list I would add the 4th and Romana and I hope no one is disappointed, but I would include Adric.  It was enjoyable to watch the Doctor treat Adric, who seemed somewhat autistic in my opinion, with fatherly care and respect.  I don’t know why so many people are down on Adric.  Could be that average people usually have a level of discomfort around spectrum disorder? I see people confused by my brother with Autism and finding his know-it-all assertions annoying, but he is so loyal and loving that I get annoyed with people’s impatient with him.

    @janetteb I forgot about 7 and Ace.  Great compo!

    @missy Osgood would be a fun companion.  I hope they give us lots of companions in the new series and she is one of them.

    @puroandson and @winston Midges sound like hell @stitchintime Your bugs don’t sound so great either.  Never realised how lucky I am as far as bugs are concerned, or weather.  But on the other hand, we have the highest home prices in the world, and the worst smog.  The income gap is terrible here, no one under 45 can afford to buy or rent anything more than 500 square feet (prop 13 is why everyone over 45 has a giant home and everyone under 45 rents rooms, garages and huts) with the exception of the handful of young computer executives.  I would take the Midges over the house prices and plastic people.  Our biggest pest is “affluenza” and superficial SUV driving real estate vampires.

     

     

     

     

    #51495
    ichabod @ichabod

    The more I think about it, the more I want to see the Engineer from the Orient Express as a companion, at least for a while . . . Or someone else who can provide not the spiral of increasingly dangerous energy with Clara, but its opposite  — someone who is calm and steady and can offset-ground-contrast to  the Doctor’s fizz-whiz-bang! aspect, that racing mind.

    What if he had a young stowaway from Gallifrey on board, a version of himself but with a “quest” drive beyond just “wanna go home”?  That might be interesting, and give us a window into Gallifreyan history and society and a way for the Doctor to examine his own growth and changes as a spacetime traveler . . . ?

     

    #51496
    winston @winston

    @ichabod    The engineer would be a good companion and one I would watch and Frank Skinner is a big fan so he would be perfect. I think he would be a calming companion with no agenda except to travel with the Doctor.

    #51499
    Anonymous @

    @kharis
    I don’t know why so many people are down on Adric.

    I don’t know why either; I had no problem with him.

    @kharis
    But on the other hand, we have the highest home prices in the world, and the worst smog. The income gap is terrible here, no one under 45 can afford to buy or rent anything more than 500 square feet (prop 13 is why everyone over 45 has a giant home and everyone under 45 rents rooms, garages and huts) with the exception of the handful of young computer executives. I would take the Midges over the house prices and plastic people. Our biggest pest is “affluenza” and superficial SUV driving real estate vampires.

    We get some of all of that here. Certainly housing affordability is really poor and getting worse. Mind you, it has been that way for decades.

    #51511
    Missy @missy

    I haven’t seen the original series for ages, but I know that I didn’t have a favourite companion – not even Sarah jane, I only had eyes for the Doctor – and the Tardis, oh, and K9 naturally. *grins*
    The new series, is quite different, the companions have made an impression on me, whereas the earlier ones didn’t.

    Missy,

    #51512
    Missy @missy

    @kharis

    Osgood would be a fun companion. I hope they give us lots of companions in the new series and she is one of them.

    Not much chance of that I fear – Osgood I mean.

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #51516
    TheDentistOfDavros @thedentistofdavros

    Hello everyone and thanks for all your answers! Someone mentioned having the engineer as a companion I think it was @ichabod and I thought that’s a great idea as I really liked his character and really like Frank Skinner and I’m pretty sure if Skinner was offered it he’d take it as I heard when he got the call to star in Doctor Who he was in the middle of watching William Hartnell in the Sensorites so I’m pretty sure he’s a fan!

    @stitchintime and @kharis I’m sorry to say that I’m one of those people who don’t like Adric (though I don’t loathe him!) it’s just that as an actor he just didn’t do it for me and I didn’t find him funny or particularly interesting either (sorry!)

    @kharis There’s never a dull moment with Matt or most other Doctors to be honest! but Matt was just brilliant and a great comic actor as well as being good at handling the serious bits

    @arbutus I’m glad to see that Romana is getting the praise she deserves!

    #51536
    Anonymous @

    @thedentistofdavros
    “I’m sorry to say that I’m one of those people who don’t like Adric (though I don’t loathe him!) it’s just that as an actor he just didn’t do it for me and I didn’t find him funny or particularly interesting either (sorry!)”

    Like him, loathe him or somewhere in between we still remember him. 😉

    #51539
    Missy @missy

    I’m ashamed to say that I don’t remember Adric? *blushes*

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #51543
    Kharis @kharis

    Adric was the little boy from a planet of people who specialized in math and numbers, and admittedly he was as likable as Temple Grandin, but in a way I found that endearing, probably because of all the spectrum disorders in my family and in Silicon Valley.  Asperger syndrome is not a minority in Silicon Valley, it’s the norm, so maybe I like Adric because it’s like he came from my planet, LOL!  (;

    #51544
    blenkinsopthebrave @blenkinsopthebrave

    Been lurking for a while, but couldn’t resist coming on to say that my favourite companions have always been Ian and Barbara. There I was, a nerdy little 11 year old, who wasn’t only captivated by an old crotchity Doctor in a time machine (I mean, “wow!”, 11 years old, 1964….maybe you had to be there) but by the two teachers I always wanted as my teachers and who provided the model for the adult I wanted to be. The science teacher and the history teacher who travelled time, fought Daleks, and were often the voice of wisdom in the face of a sometimes erratic Doctor.

    Yeah, they’ll always be my favourite companions.

    #51545
    InsanityKsw @insanityksw

    Hey! i rewatched aliens of london from series 1 (2005), if you remember the doctor & rose thought that they were away only 12 hours when it was really 12 months witch would make the present 2006 right?

    But that wouldn’t make every series a year late for example series 2 in 2007, series 3 2008 especially that in series 3 martha mentions that it is currently 2007.

    And also why would rose say that is was 2005 in the end of time when it should be 2004 if i’m correct.

    Thanks i’m getting a headache just typing this lol #wiblywoblytimeywimey

    #51550
    TheDentistOfDavros @thedentistofdavros

    @stitchintime @kharis Yes I think once you’ve met Adric you won’t forget him in a hurry!

    @blenkinsopthebrave Great choice and fantastic reason as well though I do have one question! Did you by any chance get to watch The Power of the Daleks? And if so what were your thoughts at the time as I imagine it must have been very confusing and possibly scary as well! In fact do you remember any missing episodes in particular?

    #51802
    Mersey @mersey

    I will accept every companion except Courtney Woods.

    Adric is one of my favourite companions. Shame that 5 was in a such bad mood that he refused to save him.

    #51838
    Missy @missy

    There is always Captain Jack? then again, he’s an immortal like Ashildr.

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #51981
    Mersey @mersey

    As we today celebrate the tenth anniversary of  the reunion of 10 and fantastic Sarah Jane Smith I would like to express my hope that one day we will see another reunion as Janet Fielding looks so great.

    #51994
    Missy @missy

    Nice photo, but I don’t remember Janet Fielding.

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #51998
    Mersey @mersey

    @missy

    Janet Fielding played Tegan, a companion of 5th Doctor, one of my favourites. Next to Adric, who was mathematical prodigy and Nyssa who was very smart, Tegan was rather dumb. But she never cared about that. She was like I’m a human and I’m not going to feel ashamed that I know nothing about time and space and mathematics and stuff like that. She didn’t hesitate to challenge the Doctor and sometimes made him really irritaded. I think she was a kind of a character which you love or hate.

    #52000
    Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip

    @missy and @mersey

    Tegan also got a bit of a fan check in The Crimson Horror, when the Doctor reminisces about spending bloody ages (years, in fact) trying to get the TARDIS to land at Heathrow Airport. He then uses the Davison Doctor’s catchphrase to Tegan (Brave heart) to Clara.

    Given later developments, I suspect the TARDIS can be retconned as knowing when Tegan needed to leave, rather than when she wanted to leave (which was almost the second she stepped into the TARDIS) – and so simply refused to land at the right place and time until that point was reached.

    #52010
    Mersey @mersey

    Given later developments, I suspect the TARDIS can be retconned as knowing when Tegan needed to leave, rather than when she wanted to leave (which was almost the second she stepped into the TARDIS) – and so simply refused to land at the right place and time until that point was reached.

    Well said, @bluesqueakpip, I like this interpretation.

    #52018
    Missy @missy

    Yes, so do I. After all, she does have a mind of her own. If she takes the doctor to where he needs to be, what else is she capable of. Remember her refusing to land on Trenzalore?

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #52135
    Anonymous @

    Hello everyone!  This is my first time posting here.  I’ve been having trouble finding any discussion on an idea that I had whilst binge watching season 6 and 7 the other weekend.  So the thought is this:

    Does anyone else consider the TARDIS to be the main character of the show?

    When it really hit me was during the episode when the TARDIS inhabits Idris in “The Doctor’s Wife”.  The way she states that she stole the Doctor by letting him inside and that he belongs to her.  She says that she has always taken him where he needs to go; so much like the way that the Doctor leads others around the universe on adventure, the TARDIS is the one leading the Doctor.

    I could ramble on about this idea for many more words, but I would like to hear other peoples’ thoughts on it, or if there is a better place to discuss this, please let me know! 🙂

    Thanks!

    -A

    #52137
    Missy @missy

    @amagad

    Hello there *waves* welcome to the forum.

    To your question. In my mind of course ‘she’ is. It seems that the Doctor mostly goes where he choses, but if the

    TARDIS feels he’s needed somewhere, she takes him there.

    She is his perfect. loyal and constant companion.

    She is the real STAR of the show. Without her, there’d be no Time Lord – no Doctor Who.

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #52142
    Bluesqueakpip @bluesqueakpip

    @missy and @amagad

    The TARDIS was the first unearthly thing seen in Doctor Who.

    Before the Doctor, before even Susan, the viewers saw a seemingly ordinary Police Box – in a junk yard, emitting a strange electronic hum.

    #52144
    RorySmith @rorysmith

    <p style=”text-align: left;”>I believe we all feel that way about the TARDIS.</p>
    <p style=”text-align: left;”>Im also excited about Pearl coming on but also getting bored of a twenty-something girl all the time. A child or even another Wilfred would be choice. A middle age know it all man would be awesome. Picture Martin Clunes berating the Doctor at every turn………wait, never mind</p>
    <p style=”text-align: left;”></p>

    #52146
    Anonymous @

    @rorysmith

    Now that I think about it, it works keeping the companion that way so that is what they do. They are playing it safe. It would be nice to see a change, but Capaldi himself said that he would prefer not having a young, male companion. Plus, this new companion seems like she has a personality very different from Amy and Clara, and she might even be someone from the past.

    #52147
    Whisht @whisht

    …of course if Bill is from the recent past (eg 80’s or 90’s) then that will sit very well with the possible UK 20-30 age viewers who are currently in that particular retro vibe…

    [oops – takes off London-based focus-group hat]

    {cough}

    as you were.

     

     

    (oh – btw this is not a slur on her, the casting or anything. Maybe a slur on focus-groups. Yes, a slur on them. But not the character, actress or casting process.

    god, I hate to have to type that)

    #52149
    Arbutus @arbutus

    @whisht    Don’t you disrespect focus groups… without focus groups, there would be no new flavours for ice cream or vodka coolers.    🙂

    #52153
    Anonymous @

    @whisht

    I can just imagine you going “I have to type that because ppl will think I’m rood (like that puro person) and I have to type this apologia now” 🙂

    @arbutus

    what focus groups put bloomin’ Trump in the position he’s in?? 🙂

    Anyway, I wasn’t too fussed on the Pearl person but then…..she seems funny enough. The personality seems different? Sort of? Mmm. Not sure.

    #52154
    Arbutus @arbutus

    @puroandson       I think Donald Trump is his own focus group.  🙂

    #52157
    Missy @missy

    @arbutus

    Perhaps he should have been suffocated at birth?

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #52166
    ichabod @ichabod

    @arbutus   I think Donald Trump is his own focus group.

    And his own Companion, too.  Well, nobody else should *every* be stuck with that job, unless they are willing to endure it in order to come out well-fixed for money for life.

    @missy  Perhaps he should have been suffocated at birth?

    Alas, it is too late . . .

    Ichi

    #52183
    Missy @missy

    @ichabod

    Alas, you speak truth!

    Cheers,

    Missy

    #52186
    ichabod @ichabod

    @missy   Ah, well, the life, she rolls along . . .

    #52252
    Anonymous @

    @arbutus
    “I think Donald Trump is his own focus group. :-)”

    His own focus perhaps, not sure about the groups part, not even sure he does groups, maybe groupies more likely? 😉

    #52256
    Missy @missy

    To risk censure from our American members, I think the man is an abomination!

    Ttfn

    Missy

    #52261
    Anonymous @

    Oh well then, perhaps the Yeti will get him.

    Either way, Bridge playing Democrats will no doubt be bidding notrump. 😉

    #52265
    ichabod @ichabod

    @stitchintime  Nah; the yeti deserves better than that strutting gas bag!  Well, truth be told, everybody deserves better.  P.T. Barnum, reincarnated as the quintessential Evil Clown who turns everything around him into a sinister circus of fools.  Yuck.

    #52266
    Anonymous @

    Ah, yes, I suppose he would likely be indigestible at that, 😉 but now you are reminding me of The Jester as well, a fiendish foe of the Fifth Doctor, in Big Finish Productions’, “The Axis of Insanity.”

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