Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who Nailed the Companion Dynamic - No Whittaker-like Mistakes!
Gatwa's Doctor Who opts for a single companion, effectively addressing the challenges faced by Whittaker's Doctor Embracing the modern era, this move highlights the benefits of a streamlined approach while delivering an engaging storyline
Summary
Doctor Who success relies on casting the right Doctor and developing a strong dynamic with their companion.
A solitary companion setup fosters a deeper connection with the Doctor and provides ample room for the companion's character to flourish, allowing for greater emotional depth, growth, and complexity in modern Doctor Who companions.
Ncuti Gatwa's tenure as Doctor Who will begin in season 14, and although details about the upcoming Doctor are still uncertain, Gatwa's companion is already addressing a persistent issue that plagued Jodie Whittaker's era. Alongside casting the right Doctor and honing a personality that is both distinct and rooted in past performances, establishing a compelling dynamic between the Doctor and their companion is crucial for the success of Doctor Who. Some of the show's most beloved eras are characterized by strong Doctor-companion relationships, such as Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith, David Tennant's Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler, or Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor with Amy Pond.
The companion for Doctor Who season 14 has already been confirmed as Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday, who will be joining Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor in the TARDIS. The exact circumstances and timing of the Doctor and Ruby's meeting are currently unknown, but Doctor Who has released several images showcasing Gatwa and Gibson in intriguing costumes from their adventures in season 14. However, unbeknownst to others, Ruby Sunday is already actively avoiding one of the major issues that emerged during Jodie Whittaker's tenure as the Doctor.
Doctor Who Is Returning To A Single Companion - And That's Good
During the Thirteenth Doctor's two full seasons, she was accompanied by three TARDIS companions - Yaz, Ryan, and Graham. This often resulted in one character being sidelined in each episode. Bradley Walsh's immense charisma typically ensured that Graham remained prominent, but the presence of four main protagonists required Doctor Who to often diminish the roles of Yaz or Ryan to mere button-pressing inquiries. Season 14, with its return to a single companion setup featuring Ruby Sunday, serves to alleviate the burden on the characters significantly.
The situation partially improved when Graham and Ryan were replaced by John Bishop's Dan. However, as evidenced by Dan's hasty departure in Doctor Who's 2023 New Year's special, even having two companions proved to be cumbersome. Generally, the Doctor's relationship with companions grows more personal, and the depth of their characters becomes more apparent when traveling with fewer companions. Additionally, each Doctor Who episode typically introduces essential one-off or recurring characters, such as Vinder and Rosa Parks, during Jodie Whittaker's era. Limiting the number of companions onboard the TARDIS allows these side characters to shine, enhancing the impact of every script.
Doctor Who Companion Groups Don't Work In The Modern Era
Chris Chibnall did not introduce the three-companion format to Doctor Who. In fact, the concept of having four companions can be traced back to the show's origins in the 1960s. The First Doctor initially traveled with Susan, Ian, and Barbara, while the Fifth Doctor later had various combinations of Tegan, Nyssa, Adric, and Turlough. Despite the abundance of companions sharing the TARDIS bathroom, both eras thrived. However, there is an important distinction between the classic and modern eras of Doctor Who. Generally speaking, classic companions were more one-dimensional, serving a narrative purpose and typically lacking significant character development.
In order to cater to a modern audience that expects more complexity and sophistication in television, current Doctor Who companions must possess more layers, emotional depth, and character growth compared to their predecessors. Merely watching a companion scream and flee, as Deborah Watling's character often did, is no longer sufficient. The Doctor's friends now require well-defined motivations, desires, and personalities that evolve over time. Accomplishing this becomes challenging when there are multiple permanent companions constantly present.
Steven Moffat's era successfully incorporated secondary companions such as Rory Pond and Nardole without overshadowing the main companion. However, Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who season 14 takes a distinct approach, with the Time Lord now accompanied by three equally important companions. While Ncuti Gatwa may eventually find a balanced role in the series, introducing Ruby Sunday as the main companion shows promise for her chemistry with the Doctor's latest incarnation.
