Doctor Who, in his various generations, has been fortunate to travel with some very foxy companions. No denying it. Can you imagine Doctor Who without a companion? It'd be a little boring don't you think?
In the old series, I often wished a little romance would blossom, but the writers kept the relationship strictly one of friendship. There was always a warmth between the Doctor and his female companions but never any romance. The 6th Doctor played by Colin Baker went further and showed a superior and condescending Doctor often cursing himself for having anything to do with humanity. About as far from romance as you can get!
A lasting romance between our hero and his companions was taboo.
The new series of Doctor Who shows that when it comes to emotions, Gallifreyans are not that different to us. Things have heated up a bit on the romance front and it is nice to see. A romance blossoms between the Doctor and Rose. But it cannot be permanent. Were the Doctor to find a permanent peace and contentment of the heart, the story would be over. Do you agree?
The closest we come to seeing this is when Rose and the duplicate Doctor from Journey's End spend the rest of their lives together in a parallel universe, with the second Doctor made human - aging and unable to regenerate. But our hero as universe defender ends up alone. The loneliness of the Doctor is necessary to the storyline and fulfillment of his loneliness can only ever be temporary, or the story ends.
A separate discussion but referenced here just to fill out this conversation - note that not only is the Doctor lonely for company, but spends most of his time in the new series, believing he is the only member of his species left in existence after the war with the Daleks. An immense loneliness that pleads for compassion from us and adds a new layer of sadness to the Doctor's character. It also adds a dimension of respect and wonder that he can drum up enough fighting spirit to continue to defend us.
So we settle it seems for the brief interactions between the hero and his sidekicks, and he has had some beauties. Here are a few of my favorites. Feel free to comment and even to disagree - productively.
1) Leela the Savage
* Actual: Louise Jameson
* (1977-1978)
* Primitive
* Savage
* Warrior Anti-princess :)
* Massive sex appeal
* Attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and spent 2 years with the Royal Shakespeare company performing in Romeo and Juliet
2) Fellow Gallifreyan Romana: Romanadvoratrelundar
* Actual: Lalla Ward
* (1978-1979)
* Time Lord
* Pretty
* Was actually married to Tom Baker for 16 months while on set together.
* One of my favorites
* The Doctor's first on-screen kiss!
3) Rose Tyler
* Actual: Billie Piper
* (2005-2006)
* Began her career as a pop singer
* Was on Broadcast Magazine's top 100 influential UK on-screen performers, as # 6
* Has a phone that works anywhere in the Universe - ET Phone Home!!
* The Doctor's first on-screen romance!
4) Martha Jones
* Actual: Freema Agyeman
* (2007-2008)
* Was teleported to the moon together with the entire hospital she was interned at
* Cross-series appearences in Torchwood
* In love with the Doctor but the Doctor is still hung up on Rose and cannot get over what happened to her and what happens a lot to his companions - so cannot commit to Martha and loses her in consequence
Who is your favourite Sidekick?
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