For me it's hard to choose as there isn't much room between a lot of them. I think you have to look at it two ways... how well did the actor perform the part written for them, and how was the character written. For instance, I agree with some of what others have said with Martha, the fact she had a crush on the Doctor lessened her character a great deal in my eyes, and that is probably one of the reasons Donna was so popular because she was more of a traditional companion and not all "gooey eyed". If Martha had not had a thing for the Doctor then I'd imagine she would be a lot more popular. I think Freema was a good actress and played the part well. So my list goes Donna Rory Amy River Wilf Rose Jack Martha
Its nice to see that Donna gets so much love! I was under the impression that people didn't like her. But I totally agree that she was the one that changed the most and was probably the most fun. I'm one of those people that actually likes Martha. I agree that she was seriously undermined by the writers having her pine over the Doctor. On the other hand, she was most competent of all of the new companions and the most useful. Hell she went all super spy world traveler in the Master's alternate history. It made sense that she, of all of the companions, would end up working for UNIT and being a consultant to Torchwood.
About Martha... I find it odd that more people can't sympathize with a story about unrequited love. I thought that was a rather common human experience.
Rose Captain Jack (1st season) All the others are kind of equal, except: Amy. God I can't stand the bloody annoying cow.
Yeah, I actually really liked Martha. She was my favorite RTD companion. She saved the world from the Master single-handedly!
Oh it is, it was just the way it was handled. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, Freema isn't a great actress, but beyond that, and probably more importantly, she hasn't the screen presence needed to compete with the likes of Tennant/Barrowman who eat up the screen. Too often she just blended into the background in a way that none of the other nu companions have. Odd really that in many ways she had the best exit of any nu Who companion, in that finally someone walked away from the Doctor rather than having to be torn away from him because she (and he) wanted to travel with him for-evah!!
Of course it is. Whining about it (seemingly) endlessly inspires irritation more than sympathy, though. A more accomplished actress may have been able to make it work, but even so there's only so much anyone can do with Martha's "you love(d) [Rose], why don't you love meeeeeee?" drivel. I found Martha very one-dimensional and irritating, but to each their own.
Donna Amy/Rory Rose Martha Others There was no companion that I really didn't like at all, though I found Martha the least interesting one and probably liked Donna the most because she changed the most.
1) Donna/Martha 2) Rose/Mickey/Jackie 3) Jack 4) Sarah-Jane 5) Wilf 6) Astrid 7) Rory 8) River 9) Amy
ROMANA II Ace Sarah Jane Smith Everybody else, with Amy last. (I don't get the Amy love. She was a pain. A Ginger pain.)
Fine. Forced to pick, I pick Martha, with Rose a close second. I had no use for Donna at all, and Dalek Souffle Girl was cute but doesn't count until she's actually ridden in the TARDIS once. Top of the also-rans is Lady What's her face (played by Michelle Ryan). And Amy is still last, cause she's still a ginger pain.