I dont like Donna - because - I dont like the actress - never could - nothing to do with anything about age / looks / outlook to the Dr - I just never thought she could act or was funny.
My vote goes for Rory. His story arc is pretty much the best of any companion to date.
I really didn’t like their leaving episode.
- Martha. Hands down.
I never, ever liked Rose. I don’t know what Mickey saw in her, and I don’t know what the Doctor saw in her. All the others (including Donna) were just fine, and Amy-and-Rory are awesome. But still Martha.
Just goes to show how tastes vary! Martha to me is the weakest part of Doctor Who. Not that I didn’t like some of her episodes (Gridlock is probably one of my favorites) but Martha herself, too much.
Yeah, I’m with you on that. Martha just didn’t add much. Didn’t detract, mind you; but she was just sorta bland. Ironic that her eps were some of the best of Nu Who - “Human Nature/Family of Blood”, “Blink”, “The Doctor’s Daughter” - but that had more to do with David Tennant, Carey Milligan, and Georgina Moffatt, if you ask me.
- Rose
- Rory
- Amy
It was really tough to choose between the three, but I thought that Rose’s story was the best, so I gave it to her.
Me too.
And no more dissing River in the thread. “Spoilers” and “Hello Sweetie” and her just being plain badass. Not too many people can tell la Dalek to scan her, and when it does, and realizes who she is, beg for mercy from her.
Plus they did a not-bad job aging her backwards.
In my search for why people hate(d) Martha Jones, I found this excellent post comparing and contrasting her character and Rose’s, being fair to both. The important part starts with the paragraph beginning “Here’s the thing”
Which explains why, while I liked Rose, I respected Martha much more. She and I deal with problems the same way - seek out more information, don’t just rush in headstrong if you know that you don’t know what you’re doing. Whereas Rose was much more a “fly by the seat of your pants” girl.
Ranked from favorite to least…
Sally Sparrow: Never have so few given so much for so many for so short, or long, or something…she was dangerous casting, the kind that would overwhelm the Doctor’s prominence and take over the show. Writers were already licking their nibs in glee at penning her into taking the mantle of the first female doctor. Like an escaped polar bear falling into the penguin exhibit, the producers didn’t know the prize they had until she was suddenly gone.
Donna Noble: Wonderfully acted and written. I especially liked the interaction of the Doctor with a simple chum, instead of the constant relationship and crush overtones of other companions. Reminds me a lot of the Romana days.
Rose Tyler: The most convincing flirtatious love interest, but was most helped by Eccleston’s interplay. Once Eccleston left, the Rose magic just felt tired.
Amy Pond / Rory Williams: Solid characters and wonderfully acted. They left at the appropriate time though, as their character arc seemed to have hit a wall.
Captain Jack Harkness / Wilfredd Mott: Wonderfully fun characters, but too short of a run to really be crowned a leading companion
Martha Jones: She was in some great episodes, but can’t think of anything particularly notable about her character. The writers just didn’t seem to spend any effort on her.
Mickey Smith: A waste of screen time, failed at both the comic buffoonery and the badass redemption. He was simply a beta test for the future Rory character.
I voted Martha Jones. Not because her character was particularly memorable, or her episodes particularly well written. No, it wasn’t my big brain voting. Just my little one.
(Highly Commended Award goes to Amy Pond with her cough policewoman attire)
Now that Rory is gone I’m really going to miss him.
Oh yes, now there’s a thought 
I’ll be your second!
I hated Catherine Tate, pre Doctor Who. I was one of the ones swearing to anyone who’d listen that I’d never watch it again if they went ahead with her as Companion.
I loved Donna 
<clap on> No Adam? 
<clap off>
And really, no River? I would have voted River Song.
Jack is next up, as one of only two companions to get their own spin offs. And, well, a really cool character.
Then Amy and Rory, who count as a pair.
Then Mickey. They never ended up doing much with him, but he had a lot of potential, was mad sexy, and had a gay “twin”.
I voted for Rory (he punched Hitler!), but the Ponds have been my favorite companions so far.
I hated Rory in the beginning. Then he grew into almost my favorite. My favorite is Amy Pond due to the deep spiritual love I share with Karen Gillan.
Well I finally caught up and just finished watching the most recent episode. For Amy and Rory’s departure not a single tear did I shed. It was a bit sad, I’ll give it that… but compared to the end of Rose and Donna’s tenure, this was nothing. Martha’s was a bit sad too, about on par with Amy and Rory’s but I liked Martha more.
I did not cry as well, but I nearly did when the two of them jumped from the building. I have never shed a tear when a companion leaves, but the closest I’ve been is actually during the Doctor regeneration, especially David Tenant becoming Matt Smith.
My favorite goodbye line, though, was Eccletson. “You know what? So was I!” and he shined that big smile his Doctor had.