Doctor Who Season 15 Is Continuing A Tiresome Companion Trend That RTD Really Needs To Change
Since its 2005 revival, Doctor Who has seen many human companions pass through the TARDIS doors, but there’s a lack of variety that needs to change.
Doctor Who has seen many companions pass through the TARDIS doors over the years, but one change needs to happen when Russell T. Davies returns as showrunner. Since its start in 1963, the Doctor has traveled across time and space with over fifty companions, who often prove valuable in solving puzzles and saving the day. In the classic run of Doctor Who, before the series’ cancelation in 1989, the Doctor regularly traveled with companions of extra-terrestrial origin, and even humans from other time periods in Earth’s history.
Coronation Street’s Millie Gibson has been announced as Doctor Who’s newest companion, Ruby Sunday, who will travel alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor when he debuts in his first full season in 2024. Gibson’s introduction into the world of Doctor Who continues a trend that started with the revival of the series in 2005, succeeding some iconic companions such as Rose Tyler, Donna Noble, Amy Pond, and Yazmin Khan. The 2005 revival saw Russell T. Davies breathe new life into Doctor Who, and he now has the opportunity to do the same again when he returns for 2023’s 60th anniversary specials.
Why Does The Doctor Only Travel With Present-Day, Human Companions?
Since the 2005 revival, the majority of the Doctor’s companions have been modern-day humans characters in a change from the classic run of the series, which featured several alien characters and humans from other time periods as the Doctor’s companions. Except for the likes of Captain Jack Harkness, River Song, and Nardole, the more recent seasons of Doctor Who have involved only present-day, human companions. These characters act as a substitute for Doctor Who’s modern-day audience, forming some relatable characters and allowing viewers to imagine themselves traveling with the Doctor.
Another problem with otherworldly companions arose back in William Hartnell’s era as the First Doctor, during which the Doctor Who writers quickly realized that introducing companions from different eras of Earth’s history would create unique and difficult challenges. Most notably, Adrienne Hill debuted as Katarina in 1965 as a woman from Ancient Troy who joined the TARDIS team, but was written out after only five episodes as it became difficult to write such an unworldly character in futuristic adventures. The inclusion of these characters became less and less regular over the years, with no past human companions being featured since Doctor Who’s 2005 revival.
Doctor Who Needs A Better Variety Of Companions
Utilizing only modern-day companions certainly allows the audience to have eyes and ears inside the TARDIS, and allows the Doctor to only explain as much as what will help the audience to understand. With human companions from other time periods, even more information would have to be explained that would become boring for the audience. However, this has the adverse effect of feeling quite repetitive, especially since Doctor Who has now been on modern television for almost two decades – and the lack of variety in companions will start to become tedious, so something needs to change.
Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson have been shown to have fantastic chemistry, even before performing opposite each other as the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday. Even though the Doctor having only one companion again will be a refreshing change after Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor traveled with a full team, Davies can bring about more changes in the Doctor’s companions that can make the new seasons even more exciting. Introducing companions from different time periods and different worlds might open viewers’ eyes to new ways of life, and bring fresh dynamics to the TARDIS.
Will The Fifteenth Doctor Only Have One Companion?
Currently, only Millie Gibson has been confirmed to be appearing alongside Gatwa’s Doctor, set to debut in the 2024 season of Doctor Who. This follows Davies’ theme of stripping back the series to its basics. Introducing a fresh new Doctor with a singular companion who he’ll whisk away in a brand-new TARDIS feels very similar to the first season of Doctor Who after its revival, which saw Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler, portrayed by Billie Piper, bring the show back to life. Even though only Gibson has been announced, there’s still a chance that the Fifteenth Doctor could travel with more than one companion, just like his predecessors.
While Eccleston and David Tennant only traveled with one companion at a time during their Doctor Who careers, except for the odd team-up adventure, subsequent Doctor’s acquired larger TARDIS teams. As the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi traveled with multiple companions at one time or another, and Whittaker only ever traveled with more than one companion. This means that it might be the best choice for the Fifteenth Doctor to only have one companion, but with Ruby Sunday being yet another young, modern-day companion, Doctor Who needs to add some variety into the mix, and keep things fresh and exciting.
