Vislor Turlough

[The Doc]

Vislor Turlough — more commonly just "Turlough" — was a companion of the Fifth Doctor who principally traveled alongside Tegan Jovanka, but also had a few adventures with Nyssa and Kamelion. He also briefly met and saved the life of Peri Brown before departing the Doctor's company.

Turlough was a complex individual, whose motivations were often unclear to those around him. He was for a time — by his own choice — under the influence of the Black Guardian. During this period he was actively trying to kill the Doctor. Later, after overcoming the Black Guardian, he was mostly a trusted member of the TARDIS crew, but there remained instances where his actions were questioned. It was only at the end of his time on the TARDIS that the Doctor finally discovered the truth about how Turlough ended up on Earth, and why he was susceptible to the Black Guardian in the first place.

Turlough acted selfishly, always preventing himself from blame. He could lie convincingly to most though some, such as Tegan and the Brigadier, were not taken in by him.

Tegan did not like Turlough, finding him untrustworthy. She did not approve of the Doctor letting Turlough consider the Black Guardian's offer, believing that Turlough would choose the crystal. However, the Doctor was confident in Turlough's morals.

Despite this, he recognised the Doctor's good intentions; he tried to make the Black Guardian reconsider his order to kill the Time Lord. He understood the TARDIS systems well enough to be able to run a diagnostic in The Five Doctors and programmed the TARDIS to rescue the Doctor and Peri in Planet of Fire.

Turlough was the last male companion to travel with the Doctor on-screen until Adam Mitchell, who joined in Dalek in 2005

[TheDoctorDonna]

I generally don't mind him too much, but he just came across as dead simple in this story. It was like every sentence was an opportunity to state the obvious

[Saber]

I generally don't mind him too much, but he just came across as dead simple in this story. It was like every sentence was an opportunity to state the obvious

I think that is pretty much his purpose in most stories

[Peri-Peri]

I think on the most part they really just didn't know how to write for this character. His personality was all over the place and changed all the time. Sometimes he was likeable, other times he really wasn't. He was a bit of a spare part here, but no more than most other serials

[Nyki]

He was introduced to the show as a brilliant idea for the Black Guardian Trilogy, but no-one seemed to have much idea what to do with him after that.  And it gets to me the way everyone keeps referring to him as "the boy" when he so obviously isn't.

[Tardis-Console]

His age is something that confuses me. I thought he was meant to be in his teens or early twenties, but he looks mid thirties, easily

[Nyki]

When he first appeared, he was at a public school, probably intended to be something like 17.  He's an alien, so he might not be that age at all, but at least he was intended to blend in with the other pupils, which he never really did.

[Exterminate]

My main issue with Turlough, age aside, is that I never feel that I can trust him. Even when he is being fine and nice, I always sort of expect him to pull a knife out of something. It puts me on edge whenever I watch him, even in stories I have already seen and know the outcome of

[Aneurin]

I think he was a potentially interesting character, but I agree with what Ex said about feeling wary of the character and his motivations. They never really felt clear and he always seemed like he could turn at any second

[Roranicus]

I don't mind Turlough. He isn't the greatest companion, but I think he is inoffensive enough and easy to watch. There are far more annoying companions out there