Doctor Who/Characters/Companions and Supporting Cast/Classic Series Companions: Difference between revisions

=== Susan "Foreman" (First Doctor) ===

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The Doctor's granddaughter. When the series began, she attended Coal Hill School in London as a student for a few months in 1963, posing as a human.

=== Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton (First Doctor) ===

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Two teachers at Susan's school (history and science, respectively); together with Susan, the first three companions.

=== Vicki (First Doctor) ===

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Survivor of a spaceship crash on the planet Dido (so she did go down with the ship...), she was a teenage girl who then traveled with the Doctor. She decided to stay in ancient Troy and married Trolius, becoming Cressida (yep, the one from [[Greek Mythology]]).

=== Steven Taylor (First Doctor) ===

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A marooned pilot from Earth's future, he eventually leaves the TARDIS to mediate between two opposing factions of humans (or [[Human Aliens]]).

=== Katarina (First Doctor) ===

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Came from ancient Troy and thought the Doctor was a god. Her character was considered too limiting and she only appeared in two stories.

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Outside of the [[Expanded Universe]], she appared in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S3 E4 The Daleks Master Plan|only one, twelve episode long, story, for seven of its episodes]]. She was intentionally written to serve in a companion role (taking over from Katarina) but was never intended to be a permanent character. Sara broke the normal companion mold (then and now) and worked as an agent for a sinister solar system-wide governmental security agency run by the human [[Big Bad]]. Once she realized her error, she joined the crew of the TARDIS.

=== Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet (First Doctor) ===

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Rather a forgotten companion, she waltzed off in "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S3 E10 The War Machines|The War Machines]]" and left a note saying she was staying on her native Earth.

=== Ben Jackson and Polly (First and Second Doctors) ===

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'''Polly''': Then you ''did'' change. }}

 

 

From 1966. The pair - he was a sailor, she was a secretary - helped the Doctor through his first regeneration. They joined and left the TARDIS crew at the same time as each other.

=== Jamie McCrimmon (Second Doctor) ===

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The longest running male companion. Or the longest running of all if you count by episode instead of by years active. A piper of the Clan McLaren, who came from 18th century Scotland.

=== Victoria Waterfield (Second Doctor) ===

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'''Second Doctor:''' A bit short? Oh, I shouldn't worry about that. Look at Jamie's. }}

 

 

A well-brought-up young lady from 1866. Taken in by the Second Doctor after the Daleks blew up her home and exterminated her father.

=== Brigadier Sir Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Doctors) ===

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Some people consider him a companion, others don't. All acknowledge his significance as a character. The head of UNIT in the 70s ''([[Continuity Snarl|or was it the 80s?]])'', the Brig worked alongside the Doctor and many of his companions in that era and beyond - often defending the Earth from various threats. Retired from UNIT in 1976, though still met up with the Doctor and Sarah Jane (in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'') on occasion.

* [[Porn Stache]]: Interestingly, his fascist [[Mirror Universe]] counterpart is clean-shaven.

* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: In ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'', he gives modern day UNIT one after a Bane disguised as a UNIT major has the cheek to insinuate that his era had it ''easier''.

* [[Retired Badass]]: In SJA, just because he retired doesn't mean he won't remind you of just ''why'' he is the Brig.

* [[Running Gag]]: In both ''Doctor Who'' and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'', the Brig has a disturbing tendency to be "stranded in Peru" when all the important, UNIT-related alien stuff is going on.

=== Zoe Heriot (Second Doctor) ===

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A teenaged astrophysicist from the 21st century ([[Zeerust|as seen from 1968]]). Stowed away on board the TARDIS.

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One of two recurring characters during the UNIT years who were subordinate to the Brigadier, Benton was down-to-Earth and often had common sense that others around him seemed to lack. Apparently [[Doctor Who/Recap/S13 E4 The Android Invasion|killed in action]] by an android duplicate, it turns out that he retired from UNIT in 1979 and has since become a used car salesman.

=== Dr. Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw (Third Doctor) ===

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The Third Doctor's first assistant when he was exiled to Earth. Scientific advisor to UNIT, before the Doctor showed up and casually took her job. Eventually got her own debatably canon direct-to-video spinoff, ''P.R.O.B.E.'', in 1994.

=== Jo Grant{{spoiler|-Jones}} (Third Doctor) ===

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'''Jo:''' I didn't say I passed. }}

 

 

Assistant to the Third Doctor during his exile on Earth. Ostensibly a scientist, but it's later revealed that a high-placed uncle got her the job.

* [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]]: In "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S8 E2 The Mind of Evil|The Mind of Evil]]" most prominently.

* [[Cute Clumsy Girl]]

* [[The Ditz]]

* [[Escape Artist]]: She's a trained escapologist, and can often wriggle her way out of trouble. Thus, while she was hardly immune to being captured, this rarely did the bad guy any good.

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A recurring character during the UNIT years, Mike Yates was one of several subordinates to the Brigadier over the years. He left UNIT in shame, however, after being brainwashed and forced to assist with the destruction of the modern era with [[Doctor Who/Recap/S11 E2 Invasion of the Dinosaurs|dinosaurs]] of all things. Yates returned once more for [[Doctor Who/Recap/S11 E5 Planet of the Spiders|the final Third Doctor tale]], but it is currently unknown if he rejoined UNIT after or simply faded into obscurity.

=== Sarah Jane <ref>Frequently called Sarah in the classic series, but insists on "Sarah Jane" by ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' series 2</ref> Smith (Third, Fourth and Tenth Doctors <ref>After a guest appearance in series 2, she briefly returns as a companion for the series 4 finale. Also technically a companion of the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''</ref>) ===

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'''Sarah Jane:''' ''Our'' plan? It's your plan! }}

 

 

A journalist from South Croydon, who met the Doctor while posing as her virologist aunt Lavinia. Perhaps the most archetypal companion (many older fans grew up with her as their companion), and the longest-serving if you count by number of serials. So popular that she got ''two'' spinoffs: the didn't-go-anywhere ''[[K-9 and Company]]'' (1981), and the much more successful ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' (2007-2011).

=== Harry Sullivan (Fourth Doctor) ===

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A brief companion of the Fourth Doctor, the character was brought in just in case the Doctor cast was an elderly Doctor rather than… well… [[Tom Baker]]. As such, Harry was fairly redundant in some ways, but the bumbling naval officer is still fondly remembered for his chemistry with Tom Baker and Lis Sladen, making up one of the most memorable TARDIS teams.

=== Leela of the Sevateem (Fourth Doctor) ===

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A human [[Noble Savage]], descendant of an ill-fated colonization expedition. Primarily remembered for her [[Fan Service]] leotard and trying to kill anything that looked hostile - however, though she was (initially) quite ignorant, she was ''not'' stupid and made up for her inferior intellect with her own insights and [[Simpleminded Wisdom]].

=== K-9 (Fourth and Tenth Doctors) ===

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The first robot-buddy of the franchise, hailing from the 51st century. Shared a [[K-9 and Company|spinoff]] with Sarah Jane Smith and is a recurring character on ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'', being a regular for series 3. Also got his own Australian-made [[Spin-Off|spinoff]], ''[[K 9]]''.

* [[Think Nothing of It]]

* [[Zeerust]]: Lampshaded in "School Reunion".

'''Tenth Doctor:''' ''Oi! In the year 5000 this was cutting-edge!'' }}

 

=== Romana (1978-81, 1983, 1993) (Fourth Doctor) ===

'''Romana I:''' Yes, we've got him exactly where he wants us. }}

 

==== Romana I ====

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'''The Doctor:''' ''Exactly!'' }}

 

 

A tall, leggy, dark-haired woman; the initial concept of her was a "[[Grace Kelly]]" sort of character. Could be called "the skirt Romana", preferring these.

==== Romana II ====

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'''Romana II:''' Suppose I am. I've never really thought about it. }}

 

 

Shorter, with strawberry blonde hair. Preference for trousers rather than skirts.

=== Adric (Fourth and Fifth Doctors) ===

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A snotty teenage maths geek from E-Space, annoying in the way that snotty teenage geek-boys usually are, but a well-meaning kid all the same. He is most notable for being the longest serving companion to be killed off.

=== Nyssa of Traken (Fourth and Fifth Doctors) ===

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Daughter of Tremas, who got his body possessed by the Master at the end of Fourth Doctor serial ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S18 E6 The Keeper of Traken|The Keeper of Traken]]''. Famous for the skirt removal bit in ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S20 E4 Terminus|Terminus]]'', which the actor herself has described as "[[Fan Service|a gift to the fans]]". One of the more accomplished TARDIS pilots among the companions; she was even able to fly it solo (with assists from Tegan in ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S19 E1 Castrovalva|Castrovalva]]'' and Adric in ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S19 E4 The Visitation|The Visitation]]'').

=== Tegan Jovanka (Fourth and Fifth Doctors) ===

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'''Fifth Doctor:''' Almost your old self, then! }}

 

 

A brash [[Australia (continent)|Australian]], inadvertently kidnapped from 1981 just as she was about to start a new job as a flight attendant. Created to help sell the show to Australia. Once described herself as "just a mouth on legs". One of a very few companions seen to pilot the TARDIS, albeit not very well. Longest-serving companion if you count by consecutive years active.

=== Vislor Turlough (Fifth Doctor) ===

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An alien noble exiled to Earth after a revolution on his planet, Turlough is posing as an English schoolboy when the Doctor meets him. While the Doctor and Turlough have had their differences, Turlough eventually grew to consider the Doctor his closest friend. Just don't expect him to admit it.

=== Kamelion (Fifth Doctor) ===

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A shape-changing robot that the Master acquired as a sort of souvenir from the planet [[Doctor Who/Recap/S19 E7 Time-Flight|Xeriphas]], this character quite literally vanished into the TARDIS rather than becoming a Companion, and is almost always forgotten. This, in itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. Showed up in "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S20 E6 The Kings Demons|The King's Demons]]" as a ''villain'' and puppet of the Master, got cut from an appearance in "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S21 E2 The Awakening|The Awakening]]" and [[Dropped a Bridge on Him|made a final appearance]] in "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S21 E5 Planet of Fire|Planet of Fire]]".

=== Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown (Fifth and Sixth Doctors) ===

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'''Peri:''' So what? I'm Perpugilliam Brown, and I can shout just as loud as you can! }}

 

 

The series' only regular American companion ([[Fake American|supposedly]]), Peri was a botany student who stumbled into the TARDIS while she was on holiday. Has developed a lot of attention from male fans due to her tendency to wear [[Form-Fitting Wardrobe|tight clothes]].

=== Melanie "Mel" Bush (Sixth and Seventh Doctors) ===

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A computer programmer from Brighton, Mel was well known both for having a particularly piercing scream and being obsessive about her health (and the Doctor's, for that matter).

=== Dorothy, aka "Ace" (Seventh Doctor) ===

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A "typical" [[The Eighties|late-eighties]] teenager rescued from an ice planet where she was working as a waitress (long story). Notable as one of the relatively few classic series girls who actively attempted to beat up the monsters rather than scream at them. She also liked to deploy her favourite weapon, a homemade explosive she called Nitro-9. Always called the Doctor "Professor", even after he asked her not to. This started out as an example of her anti-authority bent, then turned into an affectionate nickname between them.

* [[Gosh Dang It to Heck]]: Much of the [[Totally Radical]] comes from the writers' attempts to have her insult people or express emotion without swearing.

* [[Mad Bomber]]: She's very quick to whip out those homemade explosives of hers. The Doctor is more than aware of this.

* [[Meaningful Name]]: Her name's Dorothy, and she ends up in the future by a "time storm". Does this [[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz|remind you of anything]]?

** Taken further via [[Word of God]]: her middle name is "Gale".

=== Dr. Grace Holloway (Eighth Doctor) ===

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Only on-screen companion of the Eighth Doctor, Grace also has the dubious distinction of having ''killed'' the Doctor. She's a cardiologist from 1999 with a fondness for opera.

 

* [[All Love Is Unrequited]]

* [[At the Opera Tonight]]: She's attending the opera when she's called to operate on the Doctor.

* [[Brainwashed and Crazy]]: Due to being hit by the Master's poison/acidic saliva.