I have this theory about Doctor Who and companions and why I don't like Martha and Mickey as much as any of the other companions. Basically, every other companion (with a few exceptions, which are explained) has proved themselves to the Doctor by their second episode as companion, except for those two. This is why they just don't sit right with me. I also argue that the way the main companion proves themselves in the second episode shows that they are what the Doctor needs at that particular time.
Main Companions
Season 1, Episode 2, "The End of the World". At the end of the episode, Cassandra, the last human, is teleported back onto Platform One where, due to her lowering the platform's defenses, the temperature has risen. As Cassandra pleads to be moisturised and the Doctor looks on impassively, Rose pleads "help her." Rose shows mercy and compassion, proving herself worthy of travelling with the Doctor. This is also what the Doctor needs most right now. Nine is war-torn and battle-weary, hard-hearted, and he needs to relearn these emotions from someone.
Season 4, Episode 2, "The Fires of Pompeii". This is technically Donna's third episode, but only her second as full-on companion, so it's the one I'm going by. Donna proves herself the moment she puts her hand on the lever with the Doctor. She shares the responsibility with him, and she lets him know that she is not alone. As he told her in the previous episode, he just wants a mate. Donna shows that that's what she can be. A friend, a supporter, someone to help him through the rough times.
Season 5, Episode 2, "The Beast Below". In Amy's second episode as companion, she realizes that the star whale came to help the British, and that if they stop torturing it, it will continue to help them of its own accord. This allows her to save both the humans aboard Starship UK and the whale itself, something even the Doctor didn't think was possible. Amy's way of providing what the Doctor needs is not quite as obvious as it was with Rose and Donna, but I will argue that she does. What the Doctor needs most right now is an identity, and a reassurance. Ten really did not want to go. He said so. Several times. When Nine regenerated into Ten, he seemed almost happy to go, and he had Rose to anchor him, and he basically became everything she needed him to be. When Ten became Eleven, he did not want to go, and everything changed. His love had to return to an alternate universe (again), his best friend had to have her mind wiped of any memory of him, and he regained his home planet only to have to destroy it. Again. And he lost the Master - again - and whoever that gray-haired lady was. When he regenerated into Eleven, he was truly starting over completely. Amy helps him find his identity. He is very old, and very kind, and the last of his kind. He comes to help when children cry. I would also argue that he needed a reassurance that all this was worth it. That losing Gallifrey to save Earth was the right decision, that sacrificing himself for Wilf was really necessary, that humans are worthy of being saved. The events of "The Beast Below" almost tipped the scales in the opposite direction, but Amy Pond reminded and reassured him that humans are worthwhile, after all.
Minor Companions:
Season 1, Episode 10, "The Doctor Dances". Jack, in his second episode, takes that bomb and flies it away in order to save everyone else. Even though his ship calculates that there is a one hundred per cent possibility that he will die. He does it. Jack really seems to love life (even when he's a billion years old, you never hear him complain that everyone he knows is either dead or doesn't even realize who he actually is), so he's really making a sacrifice here. You can tell how rattled he is in that final scene in his ship, but he does it anyway, and that's when he proves himself worthy.
Season 4, Episode 8, "Silence in the Library". River Song, in her second episode, is also willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for her Doctor, as well as all those people saved in the library. Unlike Jack, she has to go through with it - although she does get saved, to an extent. But still, like the others, she proves herself worthy.
Exceptions:
Season 1, Episode 7, "The Long Game". Technically I guess this is only Adam's first episode as companion, since he wasn't really a companion in "Dalek," but still, it only takes him two episodes on the show to disprove himself as being worthy of a companion.
Season 6, Episode 6, "The Vampires of Venice". Depending on how you count "The Eleventh Hour", you could argue about whether this or "Amy's Choice" is his second episode as a true companion, and there are probably arguments to be made about him proving himself in both of those episodes, but nothing as concrete as any of the other examples I gave. I would argue that Rory is a special case, though. All of the other companions wanted to go with the Doctor, they wanted to fly off in the TARDIS and have grand adventures. Rory just wants his fiancée not to kiss other men. The fact that he didn't ask for any of this means that he doesn't have to do anything special to prove himself. He proves it just by being there.
Season 2, Episode 6, "The Age of Steel". This is the episode where I felt like Mickey finally proved himself, and no matter how you count it, it's definitely more than his second episode as companion. In every episode before this I couldn't imagine what Rose possibly saw in him and tried to forget he even existed. Even after he proved himself here, I never really could warm up to him - he had already spent too long making a bad impression to win me over.
Season 3, Episode 2, "The Shakespeare Code". This was Martha's second episode. In it she proves that... she's read Harry Potter. Oh good. Good job Martha. What a hero.
Season 3, Episode 13, "The Last of the Time Lords". Martha finally proves herself! ...in the season finale. Her journey across the earth is bigger and more impressive than anything the other companions did to prove themselves, but it just comes too late. Like Mickey, that bad impression she had already given just couldn't be undone. I was so annoyed with her when she came back in season 4 - pushing her way into precious Donna time! It was just so unnecessary of her.
No comments:
Post a Comment