10 Reasons Why Rose Tyler Was the Tenth Doctor's Ultimate Companion

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Donna Noble's attitude and vocalness set her apart as the best companion of the Tenth Doctor, never hesitating to argue back and challenge his decisions.

Donna's significance and influence in the Doctor's life became apparent through her remarkable attributes and fixed timeline, enabling her to alter the course of events and safeguard the entire universe. In contrast to other companions, Donna placed her family first and regarded the Doctor as a close friend rather than a romantic pursuit, granting her a more grounded and autonomous viewpoint of him.

Donna Noble, a character from Doctor Who, stands out as one of the most well-known companions of the Tenth Doctor. Throughout the show's long history, numerous companions have joined the Doctor on his adventures through time and space. However, Donna's impact on the Doctor is unmatched by any other companion.

Donna Noble, portrayed by Catherine Tate, first encountered the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, in the Christmas special "The Runaway Bride" in 2006. She later became a regular companion in Doctor Who season 4. The chemistry between Tennant and Tate was so successful that they collaborated on various other projects, including a rendition of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Additionally, they will be reuniting for the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary special in November 2023. The excitement surrounding their return only further validates Donna's status as the Tenth Doctor's best companion.

10. Donna Had A Bite

9. Donna Wasn't Afraid To Stop The Doctor

Donna's characterization was heavily influenced by her attitude, fearlessly standing up to the universe when she believed it was necessary. Despite often expressing her doubts about why the Doctor chose her and downplaying her own significance, Donna never hesitated to voice her dissent when she felt her opinions were being dismissed. She passionately challenged the Doctor's Time Lord perspective, adamantly asserting that his species should not hold the power to make grand, universe-altering decisions.

In addition to having strong opinions about the Doctor's decision-making skills, Donna also had no qualms about challenging him and suggesting alternative paths. This is evident in the Doctor Who season 4 episode "The Fires Of Pompeii". Despite the fact that Pompeii was a fixed moment in time, Donna quickly pointed out to the Doctor that not everyone had to perish and that his assertion that they couldn't intervene wasn't necessarily accurate. Her arguments compelled the Doctor to save Caecilius (Peter Capaldi) and his family, a decision that had a lasting impact on the Doctor across multiple regenerations.

8. The Most Important Woman In The Whole Of Creation

Doctor Who season 4 introduced a compelling storyline centered around Donna Noble, affirming the Doctor's belief in her extraordinary nature. In the episode "Turn Left," Donna's seemingly inconsequential decision dramatically altered not only her own life but also the Doctor's. By missing their meeting on her wedding day, the events of Earth unfolded without the intervention of the Time Lord, resulting in the gradual destruction of the planet during Doctor Who seasons 3 and 4. Furthermore, Donna's unique timeline allowed her to become the Doctor Donna Metacrisis, enabling her to assimilate the Doctor's knowledge and play a crucial role in saving the universe.

7. Donna Noble Wanted To Dress For Practicality, Rather Than Fashion

Donna had a strong preference for practical fashion choices when she traveled with the Doctor. She made sure to pack clothing suitable for all types of weather and even carried a hat box. This aspect of Donna's character was evident from her first episode, and it was often joked about that her wedding dress had pockets.

It is logical that Donna, after the events of "The Runaway Bride," took precautions in case she encountered the Doctor again. This is evident in the season 4 episode "Planet of the Ood," where Donna disembarks from the TARDIS onto a stunning yet chilly alien planet. Despite her enthusiasm for exploring a new world, her primary concern was securing a substantial fur coat to combat the cold.

6. Donna's Priority Was Her Family

Throughout Season 4 of Doctor Who, Donna demonstrated her unwavering commitment to protecting her family. After the loss of her father Geoff (Howard Attfield) between "The Runaway Bride" and "Partners In Crime", Donna grew even closer to her mother Sylvia (Jacqueline King) and grandfather Wilf (Bernard Cribbins). Donna consistently tried to persuade the Doctor to adopt her perspective, and in "The Doctor's Daughter", she embraced Jenny's presence, inspiring the Doctor to open his heart to his newfound child.

5. Donna Wasn't Romanced By The Doctor

Unlike the previous two companions of the Tenth Doctor, Donna was not romantically charmed by the Time Lord. She often expressed her disgust at the idea of her and the Doctor being together, citing their different species as a major barrier. Donna was adamant that she saw the Doctor only as her best friend and had no romantic interest in him. Her strong opinions on the Doctor being an alien led to some hilarious comments and memorable quotes from Donna Noble, such as: "You're just a long stick of nothing."

4. Why Donna Was A Better Companion Than Martha

Donna eagerly awaited her meeting with Martha (Freema Aygeman) when their paths finally crossed. Despite being well aware of her past feelings for the Time Lord, Donna consciously diverted the conversation away from that topic. Instead, she enthusiastically chatted with Martha about her upcoming wedding, doing her best to alleviate any potential awkwardness. Donna also lightened the atmosphere by cracking jokes about her own experiences with the Doctor, something Martha found refreshing. Unlike Martha, Donna was able to separate herself from the idolization of the Doctor. While she would go to great lengths to protect him, she saw him as he truly was.

3. Why Donna Was A Better Companion Than Rose

Donna, being partly aware of the Doctor's past involvement with Rose (played by Billie Piper), always approached the topic delicately whenever their conversation touched upon Rose. Unlike Rose, who drew much of her motivation from her romantic feelings for the Doctor, Donna had a different kind of relationship with the Time Lord. Her lack of romantic attraction towards him allowed her to perceive him in a more realistic manner.

2. Donna Missed The Bigger Picture, But Always Saw The Small Details

In comparison to the rest of the world, Donna had a unique perspective when it came to alien life due to her meticulous attention to detail. While she was adept at overlooking prominent occurrences around her, like the multitude of Daleks and Cybermen in the sky during the "Doomsday" episode of Doctor Who season 2, it astonished the Doctor to learn this about her. When questioned, Donna attributed her unawareness to being on a scuba diving vacation in Spain.

Although Donna lacked awareness of the broader events unfolding around her, she possessed a remarkable ability to discern the minutiae, surpassing all other companions. Whenever facing perilous circumstances, Donna demonstrated a keen eye for peculiar details that eluded others. This included astutely observing the absence of bees on Earth in 2008, as well as deciphering the intricate time-space references scattered throughout Messaline in "The Doctor's Daughter."

1. Donna Was The Doctor's Funniest Companions

Donna's humor was unparalleled among all previous Doctor Who companions, often making the Time Lord burst into laughter with her witty remarks. Despite not intentionally aiming to be funny most of the time, Donna's comedic background always managed to put her in amusing situations. Her tendency to overlook the bigger picture often resulted in such moments, as seen in "The Forest of the Dead", where she grew frustrated over her failed dieting attempts rather than being concerned about being trapped inside a computer system on an alien planet.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Donna Noble as the Tenth Doctor's companion. While I appreciate her outspokenness and independence, I find her attitude towards the Doctor to be disrespectful and condescending at times. I think she could have been a great companion if she had been more respectful of the Doctor's authority and experience.

Overall, I think Donna Noble was a good companion for the Tenth Doctor. She was funny, intelligent, and brave. She challenged the Doctor and helped him to grow as a character. I would have liked to see more of her in the series.