The Doctor's Favourite Companions! (Davison/ C. Baker/ McCoy eras)

Turlough - Like Leela, Turlough is an odd case. After a striking & memorable debut in the Black Guardian trilogy, he became less interesting as the character progressed. After 'Enlightenment', it felt as if writers were not really sure where to take him. The character had a great exit in 'Planet Of Fire', but it felt like Turlough was treading water & making up the numbers as a generic companion from 'King's Demons' through to 'ROTD'. Although Strickson is energetic & does have a pleasing, 'itchy in his own skin' quality (even after he escapes the Black Guardian's control) Turlough feels like a promising but ultimately fumbled opportunity to do something really different...7.5/10

Perpugilliam Brown - Initially quite likeable in her brief time with Peter (& also briefly forming the foxiest of all Dr/ companion couplings - Pat/Frazer aside of course), the lame 'mouthy American' stereotype was wound up several notches by the writers during Colin's reign & the constant bickering was painful & embarrassing. Just as the character was finally showing potential & Nicola was able to show some subtlety & depth in 'Mysterious Planet', along came the ghastly 'Mindwarp' & that was that. I really like Nicola & I was starting to like Peri again for the first time since 'COA'. Unlike her bosoms, Nicola herself was constricted by bad scripts & poor characterisation & never had the chance to really impress, but then again, look at the shizen season 24 had in store for her had she stayed!...7/10

Melanie Bush - Rather than retread all the usual criticisms of the most maligned companion in the history of the show, I will try to find something to praise. I thought she was quite sweet in the scenes with Tabby & Tilda in 'Paradise Towers'. I did feel sorry for her. She had a couple of ok bits in the awful 'Delta & The Bannermen' too. The character was so poorly written & uninspired that Bonnie had buckleys!. I think she's probably a somewhat better actress than the part ever allowed, I mean, come on!...Carrot juice quoffing, fattie-troubling, computer-programming bundle of sickly sweet in frilly polka dots. You try & work with that! Not really any worse than Jo or Susan for mine & with a far more wretched character brief...5/10

Ace - The thing that annoys me about Ace is that after years of companions being very definitely 'also rans' with little back story or character exploration, these things were laid on really thick with Ace & I didn't find her that interesting. The 'Ace Who' bent of season 26 was not a good move, even though the story quality was generally pretty good. Aldred played her well though & made her sympathetic & highly watchable. A vast improvement on Mel, & though her popularity may have been aided by such severe relativity, Aldred & McCoy were probabaly the best team since Tom & Lalla by the end of season 26...8/10


Next up....the McGann moment, the Eccleston months & the Tennant (hallelujah) ERA....

Love minus zero, The Lucozer...

Catherine Tate for Doctor Who Season 4 - Why Russell? Why???

I have never before been so shocked & appalled by news from the Doctor Whoniverse that I felt the need to blog immediately. My brain is rushing faster than my fingers can keep up.

Why Russell?? 'Runaway Bride' was best forgotten d-grade drivel & Donna was an excruciatingly painful (yet seemingly temporary) abberation. She was self absorbed, repetetive, hysterical & horrendously un-funny.

Martha was warm, sympathetic, stylish & sexy & Freema has played her with energy & subtlety. Why sideline her for the neurotic train-wreck that is Donna, just as she & Tennant are building the best Doctor/companion relationship since Tom & Lis Sladen (big call I know)?

Look, I enjoyed the Comic Relief sketch & Tate has her moments as a comedienne, but Donna is NOT right for Doctor Who. The character I saw in Runaway Bride was utterly awful & unless the writers are to give her a credibility crushing complete about turn, it won't work. There's no way I could stand 13 episodes of her 'humour' & histrionics.

It's not as if I am not giving someone a chance before I've even seen them. I've seen plenty of her comedy & we've already seen her actually IN THE SHOW, with the leading guest role in a 1hr special. My considered opinion, not based on hearsay or panic without evidence, is that this is a very poor choice for the new companion.

Unfortunately Russell, 'fabulous' is very rarely truly fabulous & superficiality seems to have been the victor.

The Co-Pilot just texted me his thoughts on the news...he summed this decision up better than I have in several paragraphs..."Three words...Bonnie &*^&%$% Langford"

This is a sad day for Doctor Who. I plod to next season with a heavy heart & grave fears....

Lucozer.

The Doctor's Favourite Companions! (Pertwee/ Tom Baker Eras)

Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart - Despite the character wavering from a thoughtful & perceptive army man to a bumbling militaristic buffoon depending on the writers, consistently well played & a great foil for Troughton, Pertwee & Baker. The character at its best provided a great counterpoint for the Doctor...8.5/10

Liz Shaw - She was intelligent, quick witted, stylish & played superbly from her first word by Caroline John...So of course they gave her the push & got Katy Manning. The dumbing down & 'cosying up' of the show meant that the more textured & adult Liz wouldn't fit. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Liz is tops...9/10

Sgt Benton - Hugely likeable & steadily played by Mr Levene. Benton is loyal, genuine & dependable. He's also not afraid of a bit of fun or averse to a cup of tea & a girly gossip. No meat head with masculinity issues, he's my kind of soldier. We could have done with some more of Benton...8/10

Jo Grant - Katy's a kooky sweetie, but she overacts & over-emphasises every gesture, hence tainting every scene she's in & damaging the credibililty of 3 seasons worth of Pertwee stories. Despite being 'likeable' as a person & as companion, probably the most poorly realised long term companion since Susan...6/10

Capt. Mike Yates - A bit wet & not entirely convincing as a ranking military man, but he came into his own in a way in his 'troubled self-discovery' period late in the Pertwee era...7/10

Sarah Jane Smith - This is more like it! Letts & Dicks got it just right; a perfect mix of the independance & intelligence of Liz Shaw & the warmth & 'girl next door qualities' of Jo Grant. No wonder she was a smashing success. She was perfect for both Pertwee & Baker. A rare creature indeed. Congratulations & well played!...9.5/10

Dr Harry Sullivan - Probably with little more than the briefest of character sketches such as 'slightly stiff naval Doctor', Marter invested the part with energy, subtelty & humour. Although the part as it was didn't fit with 'Tom Baker in outer space' in the long term, I wish they had kept Harry on & attempted to develop him more...8/10

Leela - Initial character development degenerated into inconsistency & charicature due to some poor writing & uncertainty of direction. Louise's charm though was such that the character was always sympathetic even after dishing out a hearty Janus Thorn-ing. An ideologically muddy character that can't be considered a complete success even though she was exceedingly popular & iconic...8/10

K9 - Silly idea for a regular. Some funny moments with Tom though. Leeson was pleasin', Brierly...not really...6.5/10

Romana 1 - I have already gone on record about Romana 1 & her brilliant 'inhabitor' Mary Tamm; Elegant, dead sexy & sharp as a tack. She held her own against Tom Baker & truly rattled the lazy giant in his big blue time travelling cage. Marvellous. She probably would have been fired for the character being too clever & self assured & for being too good an actress, but she quit. On ya Mary! Especially considering you had 'DOTD', 'CFTP', NOE' & 'HON' awaiting your talents...9.5/10

Romana 2 - Usually seen as the warmer & more accesible of the two Romana's, I actually find the opposite true. I feel she has a greater air of superiority about her & more contempt for fools. She is warmer with The Doctor, but not really with anyone else. A crapoola run of stories to start with (City aside) she still did a great job & thankfully had a good run home including 'LH', 'SOD' & 'WG' ...8.5/10

Adric - Competently realised at best & better with Tom than Peter for some reason. He did have a vaguely enigmatic quality in his first few stories, but once Tegan came along, it was all over; she was his Kryptonite. Varsh should have joined the Doctor. Better actor, less of a damp squib...6/10

Nyssa - Not exactly wooden, but rarely memorable. Tegan's scene chewing grabbed all the spotlight & Nyssa's innocent sweetness & quiet intelligence almost went unnoticed. Likeable but certainly not essential...7/10

Tegan Jovanka - Initially the most grating charicature in the history of the show (see 'Logopolis' episode 1), she was softened over time & became more tolerable. Janet Fielding is hilarious in the DVD commentaries. I wish more of her natural charm & humour had been allowed to escape from this stifling & poorly developed character ...7/10


Stay tuned for the next episode...the Davison, Baker & McCoy eras...

Love me do...Lucozer...