Yuuppp. I've been saying that for years. The only non-modern-day human companion we've gotten since the show has returned was Nardole and he was only around for a season...and barely got any character development.
Season 13 starts shooting in a few weeks
- Thread starter StCoop
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Economy of story.
What's the point of an "unenlightened historical character"? To show how humanity has moved on (or not). Easy enough to make them guest of the week and interact with our audience surrogate 21st century human.
What's the point of "future character"? To show how we become more enlightened and not be phased by aliens? That's the Doctor. To show how we might end up if we don't mend our ways? Better to have a 21st Century human see that and realize it.
What's the point of "alien character"? To comment on the ridiculousness of humanity or to see our potential? Again, that's the Doctor.
Characters like Klein or Jack or C'rizz are great, don't get me wrong. But they either work in small doses or are for the hardcore fans. The BBC is TRYING (OK, it's struggling, but it's TRYING) to pull in the wider audience.
If you told the average Sun reader that the next companion would be a Nazi scientist from an alternate timeline who the Doctor was working to reform, you'd have a riot on your hands.
They only got away with Missy reforming because fucking hell Michelle Gomez.
What's the point of an "unenlightened historical character"? To show how humanity has moved on (or not). Easy enough to make them guest of the week and interact with our audience surrogate 21st century human.
What's the point of "future character"? To show how we become more enlightened and not be phased by aliens? That's the Doctor. To show how we might end up if we don't mend our ways? Better to have a 21st Century human see that and realize it.
What's the point of "alien character"? To comment on the ridiculousness of humanity or to see our potential? Again, that's the Doctor.
Characters like Klein or Jack or C'rizz are great, don't get me wrong. But they either work in small doses or are for the hardcore fans. The BBC is TRYING (OK, it's struggling, but it's TRYING) to pull in the wider audience.
If you told the average Sun reader that the next companion would be a Nazi scientist from an alternate timeline who the Doctor was working to reform, you'd have a riot on your hands.
They only got away with Missy reforming because fucking hell Michelle Gomez.
Clara was originally going to be from Victorian times, it was only due to last minute story changes brought on by Moffat's decision to cast Jenna Coleman as Oswin in Asylum of the Daleks that made resulted in Victorian Clara getting killed and the Clara who became the Doctor's companion being from modern times.
I've been a supporter of decisions that fans have rallied against in the modern Who era like modern day companions, companions families being in the supporting cast, even the "part time companion" thing done with Clara where she always returns home after each adventure. But at this point, I don't think it would hurt to bring in a companion from somewhere/somewhen other than modern day Earth. At the very least, it's something different and with ratings plummeting the way they've been in recent years, what do they have to lose by having one companion different than all the others of the modern era?
I don't get the wider audience malarkey. I think it's lazy to assume viewers can only relate to present day British companions. The millions who watch Call the Midwife and Peaky Blinders don't seem to need present day characters, nor do British viewers seem to need British characters given the popularity of US shows, Scandi dramas etc.
I'm not suggesting companions from the 8th Century or the far future, or someone completely alien with three heads, but Christ something different from Dan the plasterer from present day Liverpool. If you're going to give us someone from the present day why not a young woman from France or a middle aged bloke from Delhi?
I'm not suggesting companions from the 8th Century or the far future, or someone completely alien with three heads, but Christ something different from Dan the plasterer from present day Liverpool. If you're going to give us someone from the present day why not a young woman from France or a middle aged bloke from Delhi?
"Plasterer from Liverpool" must be an anagram for "The 14th doctor in disguise" or "The Rani"
I get the argument to a certain extent. Certainly when Doctor Who first came back in 2005 and was being introduced to a whole new generation who had no familiarity with the show, a companion from modern day Britain made the most sense. But that was sixteen years ago, the show has a built-in fanbase now who know what to expect from it, it can loosen up and start mixing it up a little with companions from other places and times.
In addition to all the shows you mentioned set in the past which have a successful following, there's also properties set in the future (or at least futuristic settings) which have generated international popularity with no connections to modern day Earth like Star Trek or Star Wars. Hell, Star Wars is arguably the more popular of those two franchises, and that's set in a completely alien region of space.
Hugely successful historical series, futuristic franchises, and fantasy worlds like Game of Thrones, collectively debunk the need to have a relatable, contemporary companion.
As mentioned by a few others, I can see perhaps wanting to start the 2005 series with a contemporary companion, but we're far beyond the start of the series!
As mentioned by a few others, I can see perhaps wanting to start the 2005 series with a contemporary companion, but we're far beyond the start of the series!
Absolutely. And I get the point that after a while the companion might stop acting like a person from the 18th century and becomes just a regular person but that's ok. You couldn't have Jamie screaming every time he saw a plane or a computer after all but I thought the Troughton/Jamie/Zoe dynamic worked quote well, especially when they were in the present day because they were all a little out of their depth.
Plus I'm really tired of the constant need to pop back to see families etc. Again it was interesting on occasion and not saying you can't do it again, but like you say mix it up a bit. It's sometimes hard to generate a sense of wonder when a companion can call her mum even though she's in the 73rd Century. I really do miss the "I can't get you home" days.
I've been sick of this since Amy and Roy and it's the one black mark of that era for me. I can deal with all of the nonsensical involving River but this returning to home base stuff was absolutely crap and I hate that it has become the norm.
I liked it with Amy and Rory because then it actually was new and different. Now... yeah, played out.
An idea I've had is to do a companion who doesn't want to be there and perhaps even the Doctor doesn't want to be there, but who's stuck because the Doctor can't get them home. But through the journey, they discover that they needed to be there in order to grow as a person.
As much as I'm tired of the 21st-century human companion, I'm also tired of the wide-eyed "I'm going to drop everything and spend my whole life in the TARDIS" companion. I know that I certainly couldn't spend years living like that. If nothing else, the many gruesome deaths they encounter would eventually get me down.
Nardole wasn't meant to get any character development. The character wasn't even intended to be in all of series 10, and plans changed during production.
Even then, I hated it. I love more Amy and Rory and most of those episodes are pretty good, so I just pretend that set-up doesn't happen and they're just traveling with him like normal.
Yeah, I know, but it's still frustrating because I found him fascinating and wished he had gotten some development.
Please refer to Jovanka, Tegan.
I haven't watched enough of the Fifth Doctor era. I think the only stories I've seen are Castrovalva and The Five Doctors.Please refer to Jovanka, Tegan.
Like most of the eras, there's good and bad.
It also depends on whether you actually like Tegan.Like most of the eras, there's good and bad.
Me, I think she's one of the best classic companions.
Many others disagree.
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