Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Greg]

I'm one of the (numerous) people who aren't best pleased with the decision to bring back Donna Noble as the companion in season 4. Hence this thread - a brief opportunity for you to make a different choice, were you the Executive Producer.

The restrictions are:

1. The character must have appeared at some point during series 1-3 of the current production of Doctor Who,

2. The character must not already have been a companion (that is, not Rose, Mickey, Adam, Jack, Sarah, K9 or Martha), and

3. If the character died, explain how you'd overcome this hurdle!

It would be good if you could explain why you think they'd make a good companion.

There are a whole bunch of characters in the first three series to choose from, so which one would you have chosen?

(I'll reveal my choice and reasons in a week - interested in seeing who others would choose.)

And later I'll start a thread for people to suggest an actor/actress who hasn't appeared in the series who would make a good companion.

[obsecration]

I would've gone for Carey Mulligan aka Sally Sparrow. She comes across as having the most credibility for a companion, it was often mentioned on other forums after the showing of Blink that she was a prime choice candidate for TARDIS traveler by the fans.

I actually like the idea of having Donna Noble back for series four, she comes across as a more believable character than either Rose or Martha could be. i.e. She questions the Doctor.

[meglos]

I will stick with Donna.

[Sulp Niar]

I'll go with Carey too. She's a wonderful woman, in every single way. And as much as I like conflict between Doctor and companion - such as the 1st and Barbara, the 6th and Peri - I'd prefer a happier relationship than the screaming and warbling of IrriTate.

[kangamac]

The Dalek from "Dalek".

Not an obvious choice, but I feel there is real potential for exploration here. This would be a first class opportunity to explore the backstory of the Time War developed by RTD - from both sides. It would also provide the chance to delve deeper into Dalek society and culture - the daily routine and minutiae - not just the obvious facets we have already seen.

This could provide a real edge to life on board the TARDIS. How would these two former foes interact? Could the Dalek come to terms with its infection from Rose Tyler? Could the Doctor move on beyond his own loss? Could they develop a working relationship for their mutual benefit? A third companion - an arbitrator - would be essential to help this work. A character to in whom both he Doctor and the Dalek could confide if necessary.

I realize this would make it more difficult to set a story on past or present Earth - but all the better. The Doctor can travel throughout time AND space - so it's about time he demonstrated this a little more. Besides, the Dalek need not stay for long. Adam appeared in two stories, Jack and Mickey for three in their initial stints as companions.

As for how to bring the Dalek back - to be perfectly honest, there is no concrete evidence that it actually died in the first place. It was sick and dying at the time - but we do not know exactly how long this process could take - or if the Doctor could do something to help...

[Greg]

Forgot I had to come back to this thread...

OK, my choice is Frank (played by Andrew Garfield) who appeared in Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Cybermen.

The why is... when I was a kid, the first story I recall watching is Tomb of the Daleks. The Doctor had two companions, Jamie and Victoria. Than Victoria left, and the Doctor and Jamie picked up Zoe. When the Doctor regenerated and Jamie and Zoe left, the new Doctor had two new main supporting characters (I hesitate to use the term companions...), Liz and the Brigadier. Then Liz left, and Jo became a regular but the Brigadier continued.

So, to my earliest impressions of how the show works, the Doctor generally had a male friend who was more of a constant than the changing array of female friends. (No, this is not meant to say anything about the Doctor's sexuality.)

That's why a male companion - so why Frank? One of the advantages of having a character who is from an earlier time is that it gives things from modern-day Earth (where the show seems to spend a large chunk of every season) a fresh perspective. Things we take for granted may warrant a second look.

Aside from that, Frank demonstrated himself to be brave and loyal, handy in a fight and willing to take the lead if circumstances require. He'd be a good right-hand man for the Doctor, providing for the brain and brawn combination that has previously worked well when Jamie and Leela were companions - or Jack, for that matter.

Frank's preferable to some of the other guys - Elton is a bit to flighty, for example, and Tommy The Idiot's Lantern is too much a thinker for the role I had in mind. Possibly Danny from The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit might work, but we'd miss out on the narvels of modern technology as Danny would be looking backwards.

I'd also envisage a female companion as well. Not picking anyone in particular, but as much as I feel an ongoing male companion would be good, the show would be the same if there was no female companion.

[meglos]

Maybe Lynda with a Y

[montypython]

As much as I hate her, it'd be interesting to see how Reinette would handle life on the TARDIS. She'd probably do all right confronting the monsters, but she'd have to find some more practical clothes.

I'd really like the Doctor to take on someone that wasn't from modern day London, just for a bit of variety like they used to do.

[nzfiona]

Gwynneth, from The Unquiet Earth?

What a PERFECT excuse to have Eve back without creating a third character for her within the franchise! And for those of us who can't be bothered waiting up for Torchwood (grrrr....) and forget to record it, it'd be great to see her on the DW screen again.

Fiona

[old_and_nu]

Sally Sparrow (played by Carey Mulligan) from Season 3 is my first pick - great character, intelligent, resourceful and very easy on the eye. If I wasn't already a fan, I'd watch just for her - would be good for ratings. It would be very easy to write their future meeting into the script as, after Blink, much was left up in the air. An interesting point: Sally reminded me a lot of Jo Grant from Jon Pertwee's time.

Second pick would be Madame de Pompadour/Reinette (played by Sophia Myles) from Season 2. Similar reasons to Sally - she would have had to adjust to many new situations in the French court and she showed resourcefulness and confidence. She kissed the Doctor and they got on well, so there's plenty of scope for plot complications to follow. Perhaps a more interesting character than Sally Sparrow. A bit harder to write her into the show, but it could be done as the space ship had various time windows open and she died (i.e. disappeared from her own timeline). Here's a suggestion for plot: The ship (rather than the clockwork creatures) was still programmed to obtain her and, knowing the time and place of death, snatched her from the coffin via a time window/teleport, revived her (thus restoring her youth and health with future whiz-bang technology) but can't do anymore than that due to the lack of clockwork creatures. Marooned, Reinette explores a bit and presses a few buttons. She teleports herself somewhere (New New York maybe?) where she hangs out for a while until her path crosses with the Doctor once more.

[Davros]

[old_and_nu]

On the subject of companions (and not having anywhere else to put this - I read about not creating new threads, but not sure how far that extends) ....

I came across this YouTube item. Most stuff on YouTube is pretty lame, but this one I liked, and it seems well produced. It's a Tribute to Jo Grant (Katy Manning):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGjkrJ3R2W8

Hope you enjoy it.