Doctor Who IV, The Tin Dog Options

[Sostie]

Personally I'd quite like to see the Doctor without a companion for a bit.

I don't think it would work (at least over a series). You'd have the Doctor thinking aloud for whole episodes or establishing new temporary relationships as he did with Kylie at Christmas. The "assistant " has always been used partly as an exposition tool and in recent years, a reason to travel the universe. It's also good to have someone he can "bounce off" and develop a relationship with. To have him as a loner would also be somewhat out of character.

[Serafina_Pekkala]

What about a sexy Viking called Thorvald Hotlegs or a man made entirely from lettuce? They could also get a magic child who won't eat his greens and becomes an ethical companion to Lettuce Man.

Okay - I'll stop now.

[Raven]

The Doctor doesn't necessarily need a regular companion, Donna didn't really feature in Midnight after all, and the last two Christmas specials have worked - to varying degrees - with "guest" companions.

For next years specials I think they will be able to get away with not having one, but for a regular series I'd agree with Sostie that they really need someone there for the Doctor to play off.

As for who the next regular companion should be, I must admit that I would like to see Sally Sparrow return, but really they do need to keep moving forwards and not keep revisiting old ground.

I'd like to see a small group join the Doctor, a couple perhaps, or possibly just the Doctor and a male companion for a while (provided he isn't a) gay and mooning over the Doctor all the time, and b) Adric Mark II).

I agree with Zoe that they really need to get away from the single girl from London template for a while.

[Sostie]

I'll go for my stock answer on such subjects. Team him up with an orangutan.

Has the Doctor ever had a lone male assistant? Has he ever been without the company of a female humanoid?

[Zoe]

As I recall they male companions have always been teamed with a female companion, but I may be wrong.

When the Doctor was an old man they needed someone to get in punch ups and kick down doors. Girls weren't allowed to do that in the sixties.

[Sostie]

When the Doctor was an old man they needed someone to get in punch ups and kick down doors. Girls weren't allowed to do that in the sixties.

Unless they were Emma Peel. And then it was still burly men in bad wigs.


They should try out a male assistant perhaps. Either Brian Blessed or the cartoon cat from the Paula Abdul video.

[Serafina_Pekkala]

Unless they were Emma Peel.

Or Cathy Gale.

I think there have been examples of companions to play the 'Mike Gambit' role of door-kicker for a more mature gent or the Wesley Crusher-style Adric, as Raven mentions. I haven't seen enough classic series stuff to tell. Maybe a lone young boy would give the wrong signals nowadays.

Girly companions spring to mind from my youthful watching of the show - like Peri. It seems to be the most common form.

This post has been edited by Serafina_Pekkala: Sep 2 2008, 01:19 PM

[NiteFall]

Actually, on second thoughts, bring back Ace.

[Serafina_Pekkala]

Ace was one of my favs.

[Baz]

As I recall they male companions have always been teamed with a female companion, but I may be wrong.

Didn't Colin Bakers Doctor have a male companion and that was it? I'm pretty sure he did, at least for the Two Doctors story with Thornton.

[Raven]

As I recall they male companions have always been teamed with a female companion, but I may be wrong.

You are indeed. Jamie travelled with the second Doctor by himself, Adric with Doctor number four and Turlough with Doctor Five.

Maybe a lone young boy would give the wrong signals nowadays.

It would certainly give fans of slash fiction something to get their teeth into.

I think a single male companion could work though.

ETA:

Didn't Colin Bakers Doctor have a male companion and that was it? I'm pretty sure he did, at least for the Two Doctors story with Thornton.

Troughton!

Yes and No, Colin Baker was teamed with Peri and Troughton was teamed with Jamie (as above!).

[Baz]

You are indeed.  Jamie travelled with the second Doctor by himself, Adric with Doctor number four and Turlough with Doctor Five.
It would certainly give fans of slash fiction something to get their teeth into. 

I think a single male companion could work though.

ETA:
Troughton!

Yes and No, Colin Baker was teamed with Peri and Troughton was teamed with Jamie (as above!).

I really should read through the threads before posting, I blame work.

[Raven]

I really should read through the threads before posting, I blame work.

We posted at the same time, my post wouldn't have been there when you started yours!

[Zoe]

It was a half-remembered guess, I have memories of Jamie mooning after female companions.

I've far from seen every episode though, I'm no geek.

I've met Frazer Hines many times. He was hanging around Lincoln for most of my childhood.

[Raven]

I've met Frazer Hines many times. He was hanging around Lincoln for most of my childhood.

I was stalked by Frazer Hines . . .

Jamie was in the TARDIS at the same time as both Victoria and Zoe (apt), but there were change over periods around the two when he was with the Doctor by himself.