In a thread where lovely and beautiful actresses are called Uruk and Horseface, I didn’t feel the need to be particularly charitable to the actors. Christopher Eccleston does less for my nether bits than either Alex Kingston or Catherine Tate. I do find Tennant rather breathtaking, though.
So what does define a companion? I’d say they have to travel in the TARDIS at least once, not just to escape danger, and start and finish an adventure by choice. The Brig getting swept off with the second Doctor in “The Five Doctors” wouldn’t count because he didn’t choose. Nor would Adele Brooks because she was only in the TARDIS to escape (also not by choice). Mickey would count. Sarah Jane wouldn’t count in “School Reunion”, nor Donna in “The Runaway Bride.”
I’d like to know how everyone else defines a companion.
The “by choice” qualification would seem to eliminate the very first companions of all: Ian and Barbara. The First Doctor straight-up kidnaps them in “An Unearthly Child.” Also Tegan, who wanders into the TARDIS by accident.
With all respect to everyone (and I realize I risk stepping on some toes by saying this–I’m honestly not trying to), I’ve never cared a whole lot about questions like “who counts as a companion?” Or more particularly, “Does the Brigadier count as a companion?” It strikes me as a very, for want of a better word, “fanboyish” question. Unless we’re trying to compile some sort of Grand List of Companions, does it really matter what word we use to describe a character?
Nicholas Courtney was a regular or recurring character on the show from 1970 to 1974. He was, for all intents and purposes, the second male lead. In terms of stories, he fulfilled much the same function that earlier male characters like Ian or Steven had. And unlike anyone else, he was brought back for guest appearances multiple times. If we must classify supporting characters as Companion or Not-Companion, I would unhesitatingly put him in the former category. But as I say, that’s not really a question that I’ve ever found particularly interesting.
I think any person who had gone on more than one consecutive journey (not a there-and-back, like Lawrence Scarman in “Pyramids of Mars”) qualifies as a companion. Sara Kingdom in “The Daleks Master Plan” qualifies, as that takes place over several TARDIS trips, even though she dies in the same story she is introduced. Adam might not qualify as Nine took him to the Platform in “The Long Game” and back again when he was found trying to exploit future tech and Nine took him right back home.
BTW, the Brig has been in the TARDIS: in “The Three Doctors” he finally goes in (so does Sgt. Benton). He rather stiffly mutters that “it’s all done with mirrors”. I don’t think I’d qualify him as a companion as much as I’d qualify him as a dear friend of the Doctor’s … ALL of them.
