New companion for Doctor Who announced

[GuanoLad]

It is official that somebody named Jenna-Louise Coleman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenna-Louise_Coleman) has been announced as the new Doctor Who companion, to take over after the Ponds exit, which will be partway through the coming series.

Apparently she was in the Captain America movie.

[Bakhesh]

I know nothing about her, but judging by this pic (http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTUwODM0NDg1MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTcwMTk2Mw@@._V1._SX640_SY956_.jpg), she'll be great

[glee]

I know nothing about her, but judging by this pic (http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTUwODM0NDg1MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTcwMTk2Mw@@._V1._SX640_SY956_.jpg), she'll be great

Your link didn't work for me, so here's another:

Jenna (http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman&w=107&h=160&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman%23focal%3Db8de9e4cfef1fce9e6767 211b052cd24%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fia.media-imdb.com%252fimages%252fM%252fMV5BMTYwNjA4OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTgwMTk2Mw%2540%2540._V1._SX640_SY 956_.jpg&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman%23focal%3Db8de9e4cf ef1fce9e6767211b052cd24%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fia.media-imdb.com%252fimages%252fM%252fMV5BMTYwNjA4OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTgwMTk2Mw%2540%2540._V1._SX640_SY 956_.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman%23focal%3Db8de9e4cfe f1fce9e6767211b052cd24%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fia.media-imdb.com%252fimages%252fM%252fMV5BMTYwNjA4OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTgwMTk2Mw%2540%2540._V1._SX640_SY 956_.jpg&p=jenna+louise+coleman&type=&no=3&tt=108&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fimages%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D4574475672617767%26id%3Df559ac0ea23 67caec9e794f9c78ec84f%26index%3Dnewexp&tit=Pictures+%26+Photos+of+Jenna-Louise+Coleman+-+IMDb&sigr=16t361q2n&sigi=16mu7o65e&sigb=121vhhgk3&fr=yfp-t-702-s)

[Alessan]

Great - another young chippie who'll fall madly in love with the Doctor within two episodes. I miss Catharine Tate.

[GuanoLad]

I must admit I was hoping for somebody tomboyish, along the likes of Ace.

[amanset]

Great - another young chippie who'll fall madly in love with the Doctor within two episodes. I miss Catharine Tate.

Indeed. *Yawn*

At least *please* let her not be from Earth. Or Earth in a different time period. Or something apart from current era UK.

[Quercus]

Great - another young chippie who'll fall madly in love with the Doctor within two episodes. I miss Catharine Tate.
Yeah. I mean, I don't mind a cutie once in a while, but can we either have some companions who aren't in grade school (or at least make the Doctor ask why he never travels with adults?). Or at least have the young chippie fall madly in love with Donna or River for a change.

[On preview I agree with amanaset. At least can it be someone not from 201x AD England? Heck, even Ireland would be a change..]

[Bridget Burke]

Looking back at Companions Through History (http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=doctor+and+companions#/dyu53b)--most of them have been quite young.

Mostly, the Doctors have been older. I certainly thought Matt Smith was far too young--until about 5 minutes into his first episode....

[bouv]

[On preview I agree with amanaset. At least can it be someone not from 201x AD England? Heck, even Ireland would be a change..]

Well...technically Amy's Scottish, right?

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

I'm getting so tired of "Doctor Who: The Tween Years." She looks even younger than Karen.

[MsWhatsit]

Meh. Count me in with those who would have liked to see someone older, or more tomboyish, or both. (Or male!)

[sciurophobic]

Your link didn't work for me, so here's another:

Jenna (http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman&w=107&h=160&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman%23focal%3Db8de9e4cfef1fce9e6767 211b052cd24%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fia.media-imdb.com%252fimages%252fM%252fMV5BMTYwNjA4OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTgwMTk2Mw%2540%2540._V1._SX640_SY 956_.jpg&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman%23focal%3Db8de9e4cf ef1fce9e6767211b052cd24%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fia.media-imdb.com%252fimages%252fM%252fMV5BMTYwNjA4OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTgwMTk2Mw%2540%2540._V1._SX640_SY 956_.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Djenna%2Blouise%2Bcoleman%23focal%3Db8de9e4cfe f1fce9e6767211b052cd24%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fia.media-imdb.com%252fimages%252fM%252fMV5BMTYwNjA4OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTgwMTk2Mw%2540%2540._V1._SX640_SY 956_.jpg&p=jenna+louise+coleman&type=&no=3&tt=108&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fimages%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D4574475672617767%26id%3Df559ac0ea23 67caec9e794f9c78ec84f%26index%3Dnewexp&tit=Pictures+%26+Photos+of+Jenna-Louise+Coleman+-+IMDb&sigr=16t361q2n&sigi=16mu7o65e&sigb=121vhhgk3&fr=yfp-t-702-s)


She better be careful. River Song has very good aim.

[grude]

Meh. Count me in with those who would have liked to see someone older, or more tomboyish, or both. (Or male!)

I was watching classic Who and the lack of variety among companions nowadays stands out, I think I even mentioned in a thread why does the Doctor no longer have any male friends?

I guess you could fan wank something like an emotionally ruined Doctor fresh off the time wars is just surrounding himself with the young things.

[chrisk]

I was watching classic Who and the lack of variety among companions nowadays stands out, I think I even mentioned in a thread why does the Doctor no longer have any male friends?

I guess you could fan wank something like an emotionally ruined Doctor fresh off the time wars is just surrounding himself with the young things.

Male Companions are less prevalent and long-lasting than the Who girls, but they haven't been absent from NuWho. We've got:
Adam - one episode with Ninth Doctor
Captain Jack - five episodes with Ninth Doctor, three episodes with Tenth Doctor.
Mickey: Three episodes with Tenth Doctor.
Wilfred Mott: One two-part special with Tenth Doctor.
Rory: Twenty episodes with Eleventh Doctor.
Craig: One episode with Eleventh Doctor.

(These counts don't include the 'Companions reunion' in Stolen Earth/Journey's End, where those episodes might apply.)

Arguably, many of these were tagging along to come with a female companion as much as to travel with the Doctor. (Rory, Adam, Mickey - maybe Jack the first time??)

[Kamino Neko]

Looking back at Companions Through History (http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=doctor+and+companions#/dyu53b)--most of them have been quite young.

Young, female, and human. (The second point is overemphasized by that wallpaper. That only shows the primary female Companions.) Also, generally rather attractive, but that ranges into matters of taste, and also gets kind of skewed by being a TV show.

The Doctor Who wiki has a comprehensive list. (http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_companions)

I just did a quick rundown...of the 37 Companions I felt major enough to make the list*, 12 are male, and slightly trend towards being older. Of the 25 females, 19 of them are young (based on either canonical reference or age of the actor, depending whether I could find the former). 'Young' in this case, going up to the mid-20s. If we raise it to 30, all but 4 of the women are young (Romana, Grace, Donna, River), and the males trend toward the young at a similar rate. Most were in their 20s, most of the outliers being teens if female, 30+ (or K9) if male. (And the new series has only one teenager: First season Rose. Mickey, Martha, Amy, and Rory (and post-first-season Rose) are all in their early 20s, Donna in her early 30s and Jack nearing 40 (before his immortalizing and subsequently taking the long road to meet the Doctor again) for their travels with the Doctor. River's confusing, but her main actress was in her 30s, so let's call it that.)

Where the new series does diverge is by having all of the main Companions (save Jack and River) taken from contemporary Earth.

* Only TV companions there for more than 3 or 4 stories were counted. Short timers and non-TV Companions are more diverse, but that counts for the new series as much as the old.

why does the Doctor no longer have any male friends?

He's got more male Companions than he's had since his fifth incarnation...that is to say 'any' - Turlough seems to have soured him on the concept of travelling with dudes for a while. (That's counting only TV...he's got plenty of male Companions in non-TV stories for 6, 7 and 8.)

1-5 give the boys a bit more screen time...but that's offset by the fact that 4/9 of the old series male Companions are UNIT soldiers, and thus Companions not by mutual assent, but by the fact that they're all working for the same organization. (Well...3/9...the Brigadier seems a more normal Companion relationship.) Plus Turlough was a villain who was only travelling with the Doctor in order to kill him, so once Adric split and K9 got busted for the last time, he arguably didn't have a proper male Companion, at all.

[Bridget Burke]

Ah, I should have trusted in the anoraks to have analyzed The Companions.

The same artist has depicted a selection of male Companions (http://mimi-na.deviantart.com/gallery/732874#/dytglc)....

[enalzi]

All I hope is that Moffat avoids any "New/Old companions are jealous of each other" storylines, which I absolutely hated from the Davies era. It's so annoying to hear someone complain that their 900 year old friend once had another friend.

[Quercus]

Well...technically Amy's Scottish, right?But I can understand every single word she says. That's not real Scottish..

(If I was semi-benevolent-but-capricious World OverRuler, I think I'd have Brad Pitt's character from Snatch as the next companion (he is a Traveller, right?). In my head I'm already enjoying the dialogue where another character/companion asks the Doctor "So, the TARDIS has a telepathic translator, which is why I can understand and talk to all these aliens, right? So why can't I understand Traveller-boy?" and the Doctor looks uncomfortable and starts talking about 'wibbly-wobbly dialecty-wialecty things'. )


All I hope is that Moffat avoids any "New/Old companions are jealous of each other" storylines, which I absolutely hated from the Davies era. It's so annoying to hear someone complain that their 900 year old friend once had another friend.Hmm. I kind of like the idea of exploring some of the grown-up issues with the Doctor that earlier series just ignored. For instance when the Doctor ran in to (was it Donna?) recently, who basically said "You took me to the most wonderus exciting spots in the universe for two years, then dumped me back on Earth where nobody even knows those spots exist. And I'm supposed to just get on with my life now?"

I mean, if it's realistic enough for xkcd (http://xkcd.com/693/), Doctor Who should acknowledge it, right?

[chrisk]

(If I was semi-benevolent-but-capricious World OverRuler, I think I'd have Brad Pitt's character from Snatch as the next companion (he is a Traveller, right?). In my head I'm already enjoying the dialogue where another character/companion asks the Doctor "So, the TARDIS has a telepathic translator, which is why I can understand and talk to all these aliens, right? So why can't I understand Traveller-boy?" and the Doctor looks uncomfortable and starts talking about 'wibbly-wobbly dialecty-wialecty things'. )


Hmm... now I'm wondering if it would work the other way, if you could have a companion who couldn't fluently speak English without the TARDIS field, but when they're within the TARDIS field everybody can understand them fine. Bonus points if they overdub the TARDIS translation while the actor is speaking something less intelligble. :)

[Lord Il Palazzo]

Indeed. *Yawn*

At least *please* let her not be from Earth. Or Earth in a different time period. Or something apart from current era UK.I came in just to say this.

I'd love to see another character like the Second Doctor's companion Jamie. He was long running, non-romantic, companion from a historical period other than contemporary England. There are hundreds of times and places to choose from (infinite, really, if you count the show's abilities to make up future eras and distant planets). Please pick a combination besides "now" and "the UK".

Similarly, I'd really like to see the Doctor pick up more companions who didn't know each other previously. It's great to have multiple companionsas they have with Amy and Rory, but I'd like to see people from different backgrounds getting to know each other, not just getting to know the Doctor.

[gaffa]

For instance when the Doctor ran in to (was it Donna?) recently, who basically said "You took me to the most wonderus exciting spots in the universe for two years, then dumped me back on Earth where nobody even knows those spots exist. And I'm supposed to just get on with my life now?"
In School Reunion the Doctor ran into Sarah Jane. He told her "You were getting on with your life." to which she replied, heartrendingly "You were my life!"

[Jeep's Phoenix]

Eh...a little too cute for my tastes. I'm not familiar with her acting work though.

I'm more concerned with the indications that Amy and Rory are going to have a final, unhappy encounter with the Weeping Angels.

[enalzi]

Hmm. I kind of like the idea of exploring some of the grown-up issues with the Doctor that earlier series just ignored. For instance when the Doctor ran in to (was it Donna?) recently, who basically said "You took me to the most wonderus exciting spots in the universe for two years, then dumped me back on Earth where nobody even knows those spots exist. And I'm supposed to just get on with my life now?"

I mean, if it's realistic enough for xkcd (http://xkcd.com/693/), Doctor Who should acknowledge it, right?

I don't mind stuff like that. But when Rose gets jealous of Martha and vice versa, it just makes them all look so petty.

[Broomstick]

Craig: One episode with Eleventh Doctor.
[nitpick] Craig has had two episode with Eleven: "The Lodger" and "Closing Time". I wouldn't mind seeing him as a regular, except Craig being very much a stay-at-home kind a guy was a huge, major-deal plot point in one episode and an important character trait for him.

I hope this turns out the way I felt about Matt Smith: an initial "oh, NO, too much young!" followed by "I don't give a crap about the actor's age, this is good."

It would, however, be refreshing if she wasn't human. Wonder what the odds are there will be latex or blue skin involved?

[Sister Vigilante]

Great - another young chippie who'll fall madly in love with the Doctor within two episodes. I miss Catharine Tate.Yes, she got a raw deal. I want her back. She can teach The Doctor a thing or two.

[chrisk]

[nitpick] Craig has had two episode with Eleven: "The Lodger" and "Closing Time". I wouldn't mind seeing him as a regular, except Craig being very much a stay-at-home kind a guy was a huge, major-deal plot point in one episode and an important character trait for him.


I was going by Wikipedia's count there, which said 'Two episodes, one as Companion.' I could see the argument that in "The Lodger" he's just a guest star in a Companion-lite episode, but when the Doctor came back specifically to see him in 'Closing Time', he's promoted to Companion. :D

[Zsofia]

How about for once in NuWho we have a Doctor who doesn't just get younger and more twee? Say, let's have an Ian McKellan type? How freaking awesome would that be? (IMHO, and nothing against Peter Davison, but they picked the wrong actor from All Creatures Great and Small - imagine a Doctor Siegfried!)

[Zebra]

Wake me when they announce a new Doctor. And/or when Moffet leaves.

[Broomstick]

How about for once in NuWho we have a Doctor who doesn't just get younger and more twee? Say, let's have an Ian McKellan type? How freaking awesome would that be? (IMHO, and nothing against Peter Davison, but they picked the wrong actor from All Creatures Great and Small - imagine a Doctor Siegfried!)
They were planning to hire a guy in his mid-40's or older after Tennant but apparently Smith so blew the others out of the water with his audition they went with him instead. Sure, I'd like to see an older guy in the role again, on the other hand, I can't condone overlooking someone for the role just because he's on the young side.

[Zsofia]

Yeah, but just because somebody does a good David Tennant impression doesn't make him a great Doctor. I haven't seen the most recent season but I have never warmed to Smith.

[Broomstick]

I never got the impression that Smith was simply trying to imitate Tennant. You may not have warmed to Smith, but he does manage interesting "echoes" of prior - by which I mean all the way back to the 1960's era - regenerations from time to time which I like. Of course, it helps that he has access to the BBC archives and by now has undoubtedly seen every still existing Doctor Who episode. He's not just a Tennant knock-off.

[chrisk]

I never got the impression that Smith was simply trying to imitate Tennant. You may not have warmed to Smith, but he does manage interesting "echoes" of prior - by which I mean all the way back to the 1960's era - regenerations from time to time which I like. Of course, it helps that he has access to the BBC archives and by now has undoubtedly seen every still existing Doctor Who episode. He's not just a Tennant knock-off.

I haven't seen the 'prior' Doctors yet, but I agree - Smith's Doctor is great in a very different way than Tennant. David Tennant was the most human of the NuWho Doctors so far, and I'd say that Smith is the most alien - for a young guy, he really does great at conveying the sense of being older than most cathedrals.

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

How about for once in NuWho we have a Doctor who doesn't just get younger and more twee? Say, let's have an Ian McKellan type?

Or a Hugh Laurie type!

[Alessan]

Wake me when they announce a new Doctor. And/or when Moffet leaves.

Even if they go, someone will bring them back using the power of Love.

I haven't seen the 'prior' Doctors yet, but I agree - Smith's Doctor is great in a very different way than Tennant. David Tennant was the most human of the NuWho Doctors so far, and I'd say that Smith is the most alien - for a young guy, he really does great at conveying the sense of being older than most cathedrals.

They way I see it, Smith plays a young man trapped in an old man's body, trapped in a young man's body.

[Alessan]

Or a Hugh Laurie type!

Or Anthony Stewart Head.

(Actually, my favorite choice for the next Doctor is a bit radical: Chiwetel Ejiofor (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252230/). Hey, he's English).

[Banquet Bear]

Or Anthony Stewart Head.

(Actually, my favorite choice for the next Doctor is a bit radical: Chiwetel Ejiofor (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252230/). Hey, he's English).

...wow: Chiwetel would make an awesome Doctor! Of course that will never happen in my private universe, because I don't want Matt Smith's run to end!

[Snowboarder Bo]

Wake me when they announce a new Doctor.

Aye. Matt Smith sucks.

[DianaG]

Matt Smith is made of awesome. So there. :p

[Dublin11]

When Billie Piper was announced, there were cries of disgust. Same for Freema Aygeman
When Christopher Ecclestone said he was leaving and David Tennant was announced, people complained.
When Catherine Tate was announced people went bonkers with WTF????ery and ONOES.
When Matt Smith was announced, same as.
Now there will be more of it with this lady.

What is it about the Dr Who clientele that any sort of change is always met with proclaimations of how doooooooooooooom-laden and all round wrong that the new person will be, I wonder.

Whover they bring in to do whichever role always makes it their own, from what I've seen. So I'm sure this Jenna Louise Coleman will be the same.

I see she's in Julian Fellowes' big new Titanic thing, starting this week on British telly. I'll have to give her the once over in that.

[Bakhesh]

When Billie Piper was announced, there were cries of disgust. Same for Freema Aygeman
When Christopher Ecclestone said he was leaving and David Tennant was announced, people complained.
When Catherine Tate was announced people went bonkers with WTF????ery and ONOES.
When Matt Smith was announced, same as.
Now there will be more of it with this lady.

What is it about the Dr Who clientele that any sort of change is always met with proclaimations of how doooooooooooooom-laden and all round wrong that the new person will be, I wonder.

Whover they bring in to do whichever role always makes it their own, from what I've seen. So I'm sure this Jenna Louise Coleman will be the same.

I see she's in Julian Fellowes' big new Titanic thing, starting this week on British telly. I'll have to give her the once over in that.

You are absolutely right. You'd think people would actually give the writers a bit of credit by now. Come back in a year, and everyone will love her.

[GuanoLad]

I remember seeing Matt Smith on Jonathan Ross two days before the release of his first episode as the Doctor, and I thought he was weird and fidgety and awkward, which didn't sem appropriate at all. I thought he'd be quite horrible.

Then I watched the episode, and in less than five minutes I was sold; he was magnetic.

We all express these doubts about casting Doctor Who, and very rarely have they been justified.

Some people still dislike Donna (not me, I loved her). However I never warmed to Martha. Freema Agyeman is great on Law and Order UK, though, so I guess it was how the character was written.

[MsWhatsit]

I'm sure the new girl would be fine; I'm just saying I would have preferred someone a bit different.

And FWIW, Martha never really grew on me, and Matt Smith sort of really hasn't either.

[Sampiro]

I was hoping for Steve Buscemi. Failing that, a Steve Buscemi type but ginger. Failing that, Roseanne Barr as a 17th century half-Incan nun. And I still think any of them would work better than another cute teengirl, though Amy is my least favorite companion to date (starting with the Eccleston reboot) so I won't miss her so much.

[Snooooopy]

I'm definitely not going to put up a huge fight if they want to cast a looker like her as the next companion. The one thing that could have really screwed it up for me is if she had a really annoying voice or something, like a Fran Drescher thing going on. But I zipped over to YouTube to check out an interview with her about getting the gig, and she sounded more or less acceptable. I hereby grant the show my endorsement.

[aceplace57]

I probably won't watch the next season. I don't want to get dragged into another of Moffats season long, gut wrenching storylines. Its just too exhausting trying to keep up with it. We already know Amy's leaving mid-way and knowing Moffat it won't be a happy departure.

Matt Smith may leave soon too.
http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/72092/Matt-Smith-May-Leave-Doctor-Who-Says-Steven-Moffat

[Broomstick]

Matt Smith may leave soon too.
http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/72092/Matt-Smith-May-Leave-Doctor-Who-Says-Steven-Moffat
Blah, blah, blah... a variation on that article pops up every 6 months or so. It says nothing, it's just useless speculation.

[aceplace57]

The article quotes Show Runner Steven Moffat. He's saying Matt might not return.

This isn't some rumor or unknown insider gossip.

[Broomstick]

No, he's saying Matt isn't on a long-term contract. "Matt might leave at the end of this year's series" has been the case from the very start of Matt's tenure on the show. In other words, it's not news. What will be news is when Matt Smith officially says "I am leaving at X point" but that hasn't happened yet.

[enalzi]

I know it will probably never happen, but there's really only one person I want to see become a companion:
http://warisjagat.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/5.jpg

[MsWhatsit]

I know it will probably never happen, but there's really only one person I want to see become a companion:
http://warisjagat.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/5.jpg

Oh Lord, yes. What a tragedy that she was only ever in the one episode.

[Bridget Burke]

The article quotes Show Runner Steven Moffat. He's saying Matt might not return.

This isn't some rumor or unknown insider gossip.

Oh, no! An actor plays the part of the Doctor for a year or a few years & then moves on. It's absolutely unprecedented!

Or not....

[amanset]

You are absolutely right. You'd think people would actually give the writers a bit of credit by now. Come back in a year, and everyone will love her.

Unfortunately I gave the writers a bit of a chance and then that utterly hideous last series happened.

[Bakhesh]

Unfortunately I gave the writers a bit of a chance and then that utterly hideous last series happened.

Must've missed that one. The last series i saw was pretty decent

[Candyman74]

I probably won't watch the next season. I don't want to get dragged into another of Moffats season long, gut wrenching storylines. Its just too exhausting trying to keep up with it.

The next 14 episodes are all standalones. No two-parters, no long story arc.

[MsWhatsit]

The next 14 episodes are all standalones. No two-parters, no long story arc.

Well, thank Og for that. I don't mind long story arcs as a general thing, but the one from the last series involving River Song and ...a bunch of other stuff, just became totally impenetrable to me.

[amanset]

Must've missed that one. The last series i saw was pretty decent

It is considered to be rather Marmite. We may well be on differing sides.

[3:20:59 or bust]

With all the absolute crap on TV, I can't believe all the whining in this thread about Doctor Who.

It's better than just about everything else on TV! If you don't like the Doctor, turn off the damn set and read a book!

[Bakhesh]

There's an official pic of her here, wearing some fetching knitwear...

http://bbcamerica.tumblr.com/post/19790182877/the-first-official-doctor-who-photo-of

[GuanoLad]

Even though it's an officially released pic, she likely won't be in costume as her character. They just quickly stuck her in front of the TARDIS and snapped a few shots off. They have done this with most other companions and Doctors too.

[Candyman74]

Even though it's an officially released pic, she likely won't be in costume as her character. They just quickly stuck her in front of the TARDIS and snapped a few shots off. They have done this with most other companions and Doctors too.

Yeah, the first Matt Smith pictures had nothing to do with his costume.

[Don Draper]

There's an official pic of her here, wearing some fetching knitwear...

http://bbcamerica.tumblr.com/post/19790182877/the-first-official-doctor-who-photo-of

Good heavens - it's Katie Holmes!! Will they do a Rory number on her husband Tom Cruise and kill him off again & again & again?

:D

[Slow Moving Vehicle]

I'd like to see an American companion (as in, played by an American actor with an American accent, so no, Peri does not count). Or a Canadian. Or an Aussie* or Kiwi or South African or Indian. Basically, an Anglophone character not from the U.K.

Granted, it would be a stretch for as iconicly British a show as Doctor Who , but hey, we had a Cuban character as one of the stars of I Love Lucy.

Still, if we must have a Brit, I also vote for Sally Sparrow, or Lady Catherine de Souza.

*Yes, I know Tegan was Australian. But I don't think Janet Fielding was.

[MrDibble]

Still, if we must have a Brit, I also vote for Sally Sparrow, or Lady Catherine de Souza.
That's Lady Christina, and I for one say "Hell Yes!"

[Small Hen]

What is it about the Dr Who clientele that any sort of change is always met with proclaimations of how doooooooooooooom-laden and all round wrong that the new person will be, I wonder.


It's hardly a phenomenon exclusive to Doctor Who. At every new season of every television show, the anguished cries of fanboys and girls shouting "Ruined FOREVER!" (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuinedFOREVER) are heard across the internet. You think this is bad, you should try being in the Supernatural fandom.

Frankly, though, the writers know what they're doing. I'm not saying Moffat is a genius (I prefer Davies), or that last season was 'teh best EVAR!!!1!1' (it was pretty good, in an uneven way), but thus far, the Smith run has been consistently enjoyable. Give the girl a shot. She may surprise everyone. I didn't much like the idea of Amy when I first saw her, probably as I was still smarting from the loss of Donna, who is my personal all time favorite companion, but she and Rory ended up almost overshadowing the Doctor, they were so good.

BTW, do we actually know anything about the character yet? I can't believe so many people have such strong opinions based only off a photo of a fairly gorgeous woman. Oh, wait, it's fandom. Yes I can.

[Bakhesh]

Yeah, the first Matt Smith pictures had nothing to do with his costume.

Yeah, but bear in mind the new girl is due to come in half way through the next series. Seeing as they will already be shooting it, they must have a pretty good idea of the outfit she will be wearing.

[Slow Moving Vehicle]

That's Lady Christina, and I for one say "Hell Yes!"

By crikey, you're right. I must have gotten her mixed up with Lady Catherine de Bourge from Pride And Predjudice.


And yeah, wouldn't she have made an awesome companion? Intelligent, canny, not intimidated by the Doctor - she could potentially been one of the best companions of NuWho. RTD must not have been able to get the actress, for some reason. Shame.

[chrisk]

By crikey, you're right. I must have gotten her mixed up with Lady Catherine de Bourge from Pride And Predjudice.


And yeah, wouldn't she have made an awesome companion? Intelligent, canny, not intimidated by the Doctor - she could potentially been one of the best companions of NuWho. RTD must not have been able to get the actress, for some reason. Shame.

She was a great companion, even if only for a single special. You don't always have to ride anywhere in the TARDIS to be a companion.

[GuanoLad]

Yeah, but bear in mind the new girl is due to come in half way through the next series. Seeing as they will already be shooting it, they must have a pretty good idea of the outfit she will be wearing.They haven't started shooting her episode yet, though. They're only about three episodes in so far, and she doesn't appear until episode 6 or something.

[Candyman74]

She was a great companion, even if only for a single special. You don't always have to ride anywhere in the TARDIS to be a companion.

Nah, you have to travel in the TARDIS. Otherwise there are a billion "companions".

[Quercus alba]

I'd just like to say that I'd be more than happy to take on the role of the Twelfth Doctor if Jenna Louise Coleman and Carey Mulligan will join me as my companions.

That's all.

Now please excuse me whilst I write some fan fiction and, um, retire early this evening...

[Maus Magill]

Yeah, but just because somebody does a good David Tennant impression doesn't make him a great Doctor. I haven't seen the most recent season but I have never warmed to Smith.
If anything, it's more of an incredible Patrick Troughton imitation.
Nah, you have to travel in the TARDIS. Otherwise there are a billion "companions".
Which is why no one considers Liz Shaw a companion, and Jo Grant was not a companion for two years.

[Candyman74]

Which is why no one considers Liz Shaw a companion, and Jo Grant was not a companion for two years.

I'll agree with exceptions for Pertwee, since the premise of the show changed for a while there.

But when the TARDIS is functioning, you gotta travel in it. Moreso, I'd say you have to be in more than one episode, too.

[Maus Magill]

Both those points I'd agree with. The UNIT chaps (Liz and Jo excepted) really walked that fine line between recurring character and Companion.

[Mahaloth]

Here is the first promo for the new season, though no sign of the new girl in it. (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/54524)

[Candyman74]

Both those points I'd agree with. The UNIT chaps (Liz and Jo excepted) really walked that fine line between recurring character and Companion.

See, in my mind The Brigadier isn't a companion, nor was Kylie Minogue. They were guest stars, sure, and the former was a recurring character, but neither were companions.

[Broomstick]

The Brigadier, however, did travel in the TARDIS, even if he didn't do so regularly.

[Czarcasm]

The Brigadier, however, did travel in the TARDIS, even if he didn't do so regularly.As did Nixon.

[Candyman74]

Well, in that case the criteria for being a companion are even more restrictive than I suggested, not less.

[fiddlesticks]

And here I am, surprised that Amy Pond is back, even for a partial season. Since she seems to be tempting fate about continuing her companionship, I'm more than a little worried it will not end well for her.