I am sick of "special companions"

[Starkers]

They can only do that for a time however, eventually they either have to become desensitised to most things or else you have to wonder why the hell they're travelling with the Doctor? (you can't pull the old "I can't get you home" trick ala Ian/Barbara or Tegan these days given the greater control the Doctor seems to have over the Tardis.)

Amy was definitely scared shitless in the early days on occasion (particularly where Weeping Angels were concerned.)

 

[Ithekro]

They can't go back to the screamers like Victoria. That just doesn't work anymore.

 

[Starkers]

Well they could scream at the start (I probably would!) but they have to grow as a character beyond that.

 

[Christopher]

They can only do that for a time however, eventually they either have to become desensitised to most things or else you have to wonder why the hell they're travelling with the Doctor? (you can't pull the old "I can't get you home" trick ala Ian/Barbara or Tegan these days given the greater control the Doctor seems to have over the Tardis.)

Good point. The old stumbling-into-the-TARDIS routine doesn't cut it anymore. He can get anyone home quite easily, so he has more choice over who he brings along with him. And he only picks the best.

You know, when Capaldi's first line was "Do you happen to know how to fly this thing?", I was hoping we'd get a reset where the Doctor had forgotten how to pilot the TARDIS and we were back to the old days of aimlessly wandering the universe with no way home. That would've been a nice change from Clara's commuterish approach to TARDIS travel.

 

[Starkers]

Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong, I think if most people could go wandering off adventuring with the Doctor and still get home in time for tea that'd be their preferred option, and from a story point of view the Doctor having fine control is very useful, but sometimes I miss the old "This isn't Heathrow Airport!" days!

 

[Christopher]

Yeah, I don't like the idea that you can go off on adventures in time and space and still always get home in time for tea or work or a date or whatever. It domesticates TARDIS travel too much. Adventure stories and portal fantasies should be more immersive and all-consuming -- you're totally swept away and cut off from the familiar and the comfortable. John Carter didn't know if he'd ever get back to Earth. The Pevensies spent decades in Narnia, even though hardly any time had passed on Earth when they finally returned. Arthur Dent didn't have an Earth to go home to.

Granted, "quest for home" narratives can get annoying, since the goal of the quest can never be achieved or the series ends. But that's not as big a problem in Doctor Who, where companions always come and go, and where the focus of the story inevitably ends up being more about where they've arrived this time than where they wanted to ge instead.

 

[Richard Baker]

IMO the Companion serves as both a surrogate for the view and to act at times to provide the pivotal moment of observation which allows the Doctor to resolve the situation. They are also exceptional people- he has to choose them carefully as they will be facing things which most minds would have a problem dealing with.
I don't care about the Companions being super important, as mentioned above they are mostly normal people who become important in the context of the story arc.

By biggest problem with the NuDW was the way the show became the 'Amy and Rory show' with the Doctor reduced to providing reason/motivation for them to do something. Yes they had an epic love, but the show became mostly about them and their relationship IMO.

I would like to see at least one episode where the Doctor, perhaps between Companions, journeys back and picks up Sally Sparrow for an adventure. Tell the story from her point of view again- that was an interesting shift I found refreshing. Sally is a great character, resourceful and intelligent- it would be fun to see her travel with Capaldi just one time.

 

[Starkers]

Sadly I doubt international movie star Carey Mulligan has the time!

 

[Captaindemotion]

Dunno if it's true or not but I heard that they asked Mulligan to return full-time (I can't remember when) and she declined.

 

[Starkers]

I'm sure if it is it'll be in RTD's book (which I still haven't read damn it!)

 

[Mr Awe]

Yes, all of Moffat's plots revolve around the Doctor, to people's reactions to him and their pursuit of him, but that's not the same thing as making him the viewpoint character. He's more the Macguffin, the thing that motivates everyone's actions and choices even when he's not around -- as last night's episode made very clear. (And yes, I know that a Macguffin is something that obsesses the characters but is of no importance to the audience, so it's not a perfect analogy, but I couldn't think of a word that conveys the former without the latter.)

The Doctor is the catalyst? I think that's very true in the new series.

When the old series started, I'd say he was more a plot device that allowed the regular characters to get into trouble/danger and situations they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. But, he's evolved to be more of a catalyst for change in the companions in the new series.

Mr Awe

 

[Mr Awe]

Yeah, I don't like the idea that you can go off on adventures in time and space and still always get home in time for tea or work or a date or whatever. It domesticates TARDIS travel too much. Adventure stories and portal fantasies should be more immersive and all-consuming -- you're totally swept away and cut off from the familiar and the comfortable.

Agreed on all points. While I can certainly understand the real world nature of wanting to return home for tea in between adventures in order to regroup and recharge, it certainly does domesticate the show too much. It's not the worst thing. I got used to it with Rose returning home often.

I think it was made worse with Clara because she'd return home to Danny Pink--who I could not stand! He'd make a good character on a different show. But, his whining, complaining, stick in the mud character doesn't work as a regular on Doctor Who. Particularly when Clara would always return home for him. Again, too domesticated.

I'd rather have a companion who just wanted to adventure and experience the awe and splendor (along with the terror) that the universe has to offer.

Mr Awe

 

[Richard Baker]

Agreed- Clara's return to her 'normal' life with Danny and her job reduced the Companion to more of a 'drinking buddy' type of role. When Rose contacted home it was more like a visit from afar instead of being mostly grounded in the conventional life.

When you sign on to be a Companion you are travelling from one adventure to another, living life to the fullest in the TARDIS. I got the impression Clara treated the TARDIS as a fun distraction from her 'real' life, not a commitment.

 

[Marsden]

I think was made worse with Clara because she'd return home to Danny Pink--who I could not stand! He'd make a good character on a different show. But, his whining, complaining, stick in the mud character doesn't work as a regular on Doctor Who. Particularly when Clara would always return home for him. Again, to domesticated.

I'd rather have a companion who just wanted to adventure and experience the awe and splendor (along with the terror) that the universe has to offer.

Mr Awe

I agree, the whole Danny Pink part of the series really seemed like a big downer and really dragged down the series. I hope he stays dead for good. Or at least gone for good.

 

[Tarek71]

A wee vent......

I'm so over all these "special companions" that are unique to the universe in some bizarre way. Like Amy's cracks.... And then in the last christmas special the Time Lords were able to use a crack that looked just like Amy's crack in her bedroom to give him an extra dose of regenerations.. How convoluted was that?

I assume that just as the Tardis takes him where he needs to go instead where he planned on going, that it takes him to the people he needs to meet. Bad Wolf, the Doctor Donna, Amy's cracks, etc. In Clara's case she always finds him.

But I loved all that. Good story arcs. I greatly prefer it to bozos like Danny Pink (Jar Jar Pink). Relentlessly dull, bland characters who have nothing special about them. Although Pink loved Clara so that made him immune to cyber programming. Because, you know, the millions of other people who became Cybermen didn't love anyone. LOL. Whatevs.

Anyhoo. I think its made for good story's and arcs.

 

[Sindatur]

A wee vent......

I'm so over all these "special companions" that are unique to the universe in some bizarre way. Like Amy's cracks.... And then in the last christmas special the Time Lords were able to use a crack that looked just like Amy's crack in her bedroom to give him an extra dose of regenerations.. How convoluted was that?

I assume that just as the Tardis takes him where he needs to go instead where he planned on going, that it takes him to the people he needs to meet. Bad Wolf, the Doctor Donna, Amy's cracks, etc. In Clara's case she always finds him.

But I loved all that. Good story arcs. I greatly prefer it to bozos like Danny Pink (Jar Jar Pink). Relentlessly dull, bland characters who have nothing special about them. Although Pink loved Clara so that made him immune to cyber programming. Because, you know, the millions of other people who became Cybermen didn't love anyone. LOL. Whatevs.

Anyhoo. I think its made for good story's and arcs.

Craig beat Cyber-conversion with love, too

 

[Captrek]

A wee vent......

I'm so over all these "special companions" that are unique to the universe in some bizarre way. Like Amy's cracks.... And then in the last christmas special the Time Lords were able to use a crack that looked just like Amy's crack in her bedroom to give him an extra dose of regenerations.. How convoluted was that?

I assume that just as the Tardis takes him where he needs to go instead where he planned on going, that it takes him to the people he needs to meet. Bad Wolf, the Doctor Donna, Amy's cracks, etc. In Clara's case she always finds him.

But I loved all that. Good story arcs. I greatly prefer it to bozos like Danny Pink (Jar Jar Pink). Relentlessly dull, bland characters who have nothing special about them. Although Pink loved Clara so that made him immune to cyber programming. Because, you know, the millions of other people who became Cybermen didn't love anyone. LOL. Whatevs.

Anyhoo. I think its made for good story's and arcs.

Craig beat Cyber-conversion with love, too

No, that's impossible. And also grossly sentimental and over simplistic. He beat it because of the deeply ingrained hereditary human trait to protect one's own genes, which in turn triggered a... Yeah. Love. He did it with love.

 

[Tarek71]

Oh I know! Lol. Like Kirk talking evil machines into self destructing. Weak sauce! But at least it gave boring, bland, creepy Jar Jar Pink a heroic death.

 

[Starkers]

Don't forget Yvonne Hartman who also overrode cyber programming via love (love of duty, love of country)

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Don't forget Yvonne Hartman who also overrode cyber programming via love (love of duty, love of country)

Yeah she was pretty cool... And cool eve before she was cyberized.