The Doctor In The TARDIS

Ok, so I think the cat is pretty much out of the bag that the companions, or at the very least Rory, will be packing up and heading out of the TARDIS, so what do we want from the next TARDIS occupants?

I'd still really like to have just a male companion with the Doctor - we haven't had that since the show returned & I think it would make a nice change.

Canton would be good  :)

I want River full time, for half a series at least. I wouldnt mind a M/M dynamic in the TARDIS but I don't think they would do it as I think they need a female there. I remember an interview a few years back about how important it is to have a woman in a regular role on the show as a way to draw in more female viewers or something. It might not be the right thing to do but I figure they will stick to that formula

River would be good too.

I'm personally not of the opinion that they need a woman in it to get women to watch (do they actually ask us ladies what we want?!) - just good & interesting stories & characters is all I ask for. Maybe that's just me though - we've already established elsewhere that I'm odd!  :P

I don't think they need a woman, but I do think its good to have that difference. But thats also why I like having two like Amy and Rory, because then you get to see the difference between how they tackle each adventure from a fresh perspective as the Doctor is probably a little jaded by it all now so doesnt really count

AK full time would make me all sorts of happy!!

Other than her I want someone either from the past or another planet

And preferably female. I dont think the M/M dynamic would work very well

Just me for that then  :P

It would have to be the right male companion for it to work anyway.

I guess I'm just irked that someone behind the scenes thinks that you need females to get females to watch. I have nothing against female companions I just hate the assumption - not directed at anyone here at all. And it's probably just a hang over from my annoyance with something Matthew Vaughn said about women & the new X-Men film yesterday - I'm slightly sensitive. Apologies  :)

Someone from the past would be great too. Would make a nice change from 21st century Earth  :)

I read the same thing that Exterminate is talking about. It might have been in The Writers Tale or something. I seem to remember RTD saying it anyway. I don't think it was his opinion though, I think it was one of the early stipulations from the BBC. Whether they still feel the same now though is anyones guess.

If they went with a guy only companion it could work I guess. Right now it's not something I want but if it worked I'm sure it would be great, but like you said it needs to be exactly right and if they mess it up then it won't go down well. They would have to try and do it without any of the sort of 'typical blokey' stereotypes attached.

I kind of suspected it would have come from the BBC rather than the actual DW team. Can't say I'm surprised in all honesty  ::)

The BBC are still a bit backwards in their ways I think.

What was the X-Men comment about?

He said he asked Take That to do the music as his strategy to get women to go and see it  ::)

Again probably just me who finds that a smidge insulting cause I was going to go & see it anyway. And if I'm honest, the fact that Take That are doing the music has the opposite effect for me - not what I would have picked for a superhero movie & I'm not keen on the song either.

Still I guess there will be women out there who do go & see it for that reason. And men too I suspect.

That does sound like some sort of "received media wisdom" thing (is "media wisdom" an oxymoron?) and it's just possible it might have an effect on casual viewers, but I don't think people are nearly as much "men or women" as they seem to assume.

There's never really been just a male companion long term, just a story or so between females (Stephen, Jamie, Adric, Turlough).  I'd be fine with that, if it's the right companion.  I do like the dynamic of having a male and female, though generally I'd rather they were unconnected (I'm fine with Amy and Rory, but I don't want them to repeat it any time soon).  I'd like a non-21st-century-human companion too.  Someone genuinely alien (ie not human-looking) would be interesting, but I'm not sure they'd go for that.  A historical figure would be great too.

Canton ♥ :D

I for one, don't want River full time, I love River, completely and utterly, just prefer her, lack of order and alt timeline and think she works better staying wibbly wobbly not constant, by all means, have her in more Eps, but not whole series constant :)

I want an alien. I do, I want an alien, I've said it for a long time, I think, even a basic humaniodal alien, with a little difference would do, I mean, it adds a whole new dimension, failing that the classic companion from the past would be fun... Get to play on technology, get someone from, what 1960-70's? Technology is growing, but boom to the future... Reluctant on future kind, could work, but then you'll be working with spoilers half the time, no, they'd stay clear of that...

I do rather hope that they don't stay on track and try and keep the modern link of having a family/background based in Modern England and keep returning to that location, yeah it adds depth and allows an easier connection, but it gets boring!

I think a male companion would be wonderful, be so different and refreshing, doesn't need to be all series, but some of it, very interesting, we are always testing writers abilities with female characters, but I think at the same time, a new angle of man would be interesting...

Completely agree with this. I understand entirely why all the companions since the show came back have been from modern-day Earth, but now that it's been back for a while, and Steven Moffat is getting braver and more ambitious in taking it to new and interesting places, I think it's time to branch out a bit. Have an alien companion, or a human one from an entirely different time. I think the show is sufficiently well-established now for people to not need to see things through the eyes of a companion from the same background as themselves, they're ready for all the main characters to be from somewhere entirely different.
In many ways to do this would would be the bravest decision Moffat (and the BBC bosses, who could presumably veto him if they thought he was going too far) has yet taken, and I hope he goes for it!

I think the idea of River full time would be good but it does look like they only meet every so often, like popping up now and then so having someone completely different in the TARDIS would be my preference. A male companion would be good to see, just to see how their relationship went, like two best mates having a laugh :) would certainly be interesting to watch

I'd like someone from the past, but perhaps not too far back, the 60's say. Perhaps something draws the Doctor back to Coal Hill School in 1963 and he ends up taking one of her classmates with him or something :P

I think a companion from the 60's would be great. Just the fact that when the show began airing that was contemporary and now we are seeing it as 'historical' I think is great. It would probably be a bit too fanwanky to have a companion from Coal Hill School though :P

I completely agree with this.  River's great as a recurring character (like the Master, though on the other side - presumably) but it would destroy the mystery to have her around all the time.

Someone from the past would be awesome. Also, a genuine looking alien would also be great. Would probably limit Earth stories, but I don't mind that. Someone/thing like Chan Tho or something would be cool

I was sure there was a thread for this already, but I couldn't find it so here we go.

What are your hopes and expectations for the new companion? Matt Smith said this week he would like a full time male companion (guess he forgot about Rory), but what about you?

I've said this before but I would prefer a female or two (I wouldn't mind a male in there as long as its all platonic), but most importantly I want someone who isn't contemporary. I would be happy with anything before, say, 1990 ish. That is if they are human and from Earth though. I'd also be really happy to have someone from another planet or race. I wouldn't mind if they are humanoid as long as they are written 'alien', if that makes sense.

There is a thread about this or at least pretty similar because I remember discussing it before. If I find it I'll merge them (EDIT - I found it so I've merged them now)

I'm with Matt - I would like to see a man. I suspect he probably means just a man rather than a couple. I'd just like to see that dynamic played out more - we got to see flashes of it sometimes with Rory, but I'd like to see it explored. Just my preference, though I'd be surprised if it happened.

As for other stuff - if they have to be human I'd like to see someone from the past. I would like to see an alien though.

I'd like to see a platonic male/female pair - something like Jamie/Zoe or Sarah/Harry.  And I completely agree with the historic or alien.  Perhaps one of each.  I'd actually love to see someone from way-back trying to cope with the TARDIS and everything.  A bit like Katarina should have been.

Cheers PRG. I knew there was another thread around here somewhere.

I think I would ideally like a single, female companion - it works well (in my opinion) when the TARDIS isn't too crowded. I loved the way Rose and the Doctor started off and think that was a magical formula (Jo Grant, SJS, Leela, Mel, Ace etc) I think it lends itself to one companion (otherwise the plots either look a bit busy or have one companion not doing a lot).

I like Nyki's idea about the "Intelligent but uneducated.." companion - that might work really well.

I like having two companions, but I think they should be on equal footing. With Amy and Rory it always felt like Rory was her companion and there was a sort of gap between him and the Doctor. It probably stemmed from them being married and he only being there because of her.

As for the whens and wheres, I would be happy with a contemporary companion but only if we have one that isn't, at the same time. Although not my favourite companion, someone like Polly from the 'swinging sixties' I think could go over well. Modern enough to not be completely oblivious to technology but from a time far enough back to not feel like all the other companions we've had since the show returned.

I'm not bothered about an alien or futuristic companion as much as I want someone from the past. Another Victorian companion would be good. Or perhaps even further back. 16th or 15th century, maybe.

Era of the companion aside though, I think it's important that the show stays away from love stories. They never work for me. Rose and Mickey, Rose and the Doctor, Martha and the Doctor, Amy and Rory. It makes the show too 'soapy'. Especially when it involves the Doctor, unrequited or not. I thought having a married couple in the TARDIS would be interesting, and it worked at times, but for the most part I think the domestic issues got in the way of the adventures. I don't want to be distracted by silly love stories and personal dramas. I've got Hollyoaks for that. I want good old adventures in space.

I'd like to see a female companion from the 20's, with all the period dress and personality. Its a fashion era I'm very keen on so that's my main reason behind this. Anyone from before 1990 will do for me though.

I am with you on this. I don't like love stories. They complicate things and take the focus off the adventures. The best pairing we have had since the show returned is Donna and the Doctor because it was all about the adventure and wasn't bogged down with personal feelings.

I don't mind the relationship aspect too much. Amy and Rory for example have a lot of focus on them at the moment, but not because they are in a relationship. Well, I suppose that's the big cause of most of it, especially the baby side of things, but if you just look at their general travels their marriage doesn't get in the way of the stories. If anything it does at times strengthen it. They work as a team and have some great banter with each other. They could just as easily be friends but it doesn't make that huge a difference when you take Moffs big arc out of it. I don't think it is worth worrying over though, I can't see Moff doing it twice in a row.

As for the new companion I think we really need to break from the mould. One thing that can be said about the classics is that they mixed it up. The companions didn't always have a lot to do and were usually there for scream value, but each one was different from the last. Each companion since the show returned has been basically the same with a few difference. Martha was Rose only black. Donna was Rose and Martha only older and not attracted to the Doctor. Amy was Martha Rose and Donna, only from a village and not a city. I know their personalities set them apart and perhaps I was being a bit unfairly general there, but why not give us a male lead companion, or someone from space, or the past, or another country. Just something to mix it up and take it away from 'fiesty' modern day English woman.

Rumour has it, and this might be a load of rubbish, that the new companion is being lined up to be revealed at the Cardiff Doctor Who Convention, three weeks from today.

It would be cool if this is true. Something to look forward to.

I'm still bitter I'm not going to that. If they reveal the companion there I will be even more so. I imagine we won't miss out though. If that is when they are due to reveal there will probably be a press release at the same time or something. Moff will want a lot of publicity around this and while the fans attending will get it into the forums and whatnot, they won't get it to the wider audience and if the press take the news from forums and news sites then they won't be giving out whatever specific info Moff would want them to let out, if that makes sense. Actually, the more I think on this the more I think it's more likely he will just do it through a press release. Maybe unleashing 2000 fans on them at a convention before they've even been on screen would be a bit unfair. It would also give people too much opportunity to pre-judge.

He seems more the type to do a big press reveal rather than to a room of fans and I can't imagine there will be much press at the convention. I could be wrong though. Either way I think something of interest will come from the convention, whether it be a companion or a story title or the numbers of episodes etc. I'm sure something will come out.

I think they could pull off a male companion... bet they'd have to be very careful about it. Pull him from the sixties, like someone farther up mentioned, and you could get some very fun episodes.

Also, I miss the way they would bring in companions in the old DW. Not just a sudden, "I've lost a companion, I need a new one, oh, hey, they should do," but where the Doctor picked them up along with his current companions, then a couple of episode later the old companions end up leaving. It felt like it had more flow to me.

60's would be cool. Maybe he could pick them up in 1963 near Foremans junk yard as a nod to the first episode. How about when the companion decides to accept the offer for travelling (I'm assuming the Doctor will invite them and evisaging this taking place at the end of an episode) they have the Doctor and him/her outside the junk yard on Totters lane and in the background they could play the AUC soundtrack of Barbara, Ian and the Doctor on the other side of the wall discussing the 'strange humming', like all along there was another incarnation just the other side of the wall, the Doctor knowingly grins, ushers his new companion into the TARDIS and we see/hear both TARDIS's simultaneously taking off, cut to credits, trailer for next ep, etc etc. :)

That may well be one of the greatest things I have ever heard.

*sweeps hat off in a bow*

Kudos to you.

I might tap Moffat up for a job :P

And that could fit in with the "last place he expected", too  O0

I love that idea. Good going, PP. Picturing it in my head it seems great. It would be a nice nod to AUC without having a whole story focus on it.

That's exactly the sort of in reference I think Moff would go for. It's 'timey-wimey' and ties in with an old story but you wouldn't need to be totally clued in to the classics to know what was going on. I like it.