I've not seen the line drawn there before

[john_amend_all]

Ever since the 2005 revival, and probably before, there's been a fairly standard template for an article about Doctor Who which goes: "Introducing the new companion, who's completely different from all the helpless screamers who came before her." Or, retrospectively, "X was a radical introduction as companion, so different from all the helpless screamers etc."

I think today's the first time I've seen the division between 'helpless screamer' and 'competent companion' placed as late as between Rose and Martha. I mean, say what you like about Rose (and I have) I'm finding it very difficult to picture her as 'hysterically screaming at every threat'.

(And another demerit to the article's author for capitalising the Doctor's "The" like it's a royal pronoun).

Comments

[purplecat]

When B. and I watched all of old Doctor Who (admittedly in random order), I was struck by how much I disagreed with received fan wisdom about a lot of the companions. Vicki, Polly and Jo, in particular, were much much stronger and had a lot more agency than I'd expected - even Dodo was really good in The Savages.

[liadt]

I read the article and wondered if AI was used in the writing.

[john_amend_all]

I wondered that too — it has that faintly sleazy air of self-confidence combined with a cavalier disregard for actual facts.

[thisbluespirit]

Ha, you can tell we're getting older, the line between screamers and new competent companions is moving! /o\

I mean, Martha is more competent in the specific sense that she's nearly completed some professional training that can be of practical use, but, yeah. Rose. That screamer, lol.