Quote from: Werekoala;354112Has the Doctor had male companions before? I think I vaugely remember something like that, but again, I never really watched the old series - I just know that for the most part they're there to provide a bit 'o skirt as it were (nudge, nudge). I think Wilf would have made one HELL of a good one, though, even though he's a bit slow. He clearly had all the right ingredients - brains, common sense, courage, life experience (a huge bonus over some 20-something dolly) and even a bit of wit.

He has had male companions, but far fewer than female companions and never ONLY male companions for any meaningful length of time (ie. more than the time between the end of episode A when Female Comapanion 1 leaves and the beginning of Episode B when Female Companion 2 joins up).

RPGPundit

Of all those noted, only Ian and Jamie were worth anything.

In the new series, you can add Captain Jack, who is awesome, and Mickey as well.

And technically not a companion in the conventional sense, but the Brigadier (along with Benton and Yates), who is the very definition of AWESOME (as in "I'm so awesome I would kick the also-awesome Captain Jack's ass").

Anyways, on the whole female companions are preferred. They had male companions throughout pretty much the entirety of the First and Second Doctors, however, where the formula was pretty much Doctor=Brains, Male Companion= Action!, and Female Companion(s)=giving the Doc a chance to show off his brains and the Male Companion a chance to show off his action, plus being "something for the dads".  
But Pertwee essentially changed that, as the Third Doctor became both "Brains" and "Action!" rolled into one. The action-oriented male companion would have been pretty much useless when the Doctor is running around all over the place, using Venusian Karate, flying helicopters, having car chase scenes, fencing, etc etc.

RPGPundit

Zoe (second doctor) actually out thinks the doctor on a number of occasions, and Jamie (also second doctor) was more belligerent than he was dangerous.
And, I liked Harry just fine.  
Earthshock, the episode wherein Adric gets snuffed is a favorite of mine- if only because of said snuffing.

Quote from: Aos;354137Zoe (second doctor) actually out thinks the doctor on a number of occasions, and Jamie (also second doctor) was more belligerent than he was dangerous.
And, I liked Harry just fine.  
Earthshock, the episode wherein Adric gets snuffed is a favorite of mine- if only because of said snuffing.

I think everyone likes that about Earthshock. Adric has to be one of the least-liked Companions of all time.

And yes, with Zoe they really started (at least for the first time since Barbara) to present female companions that were of a certain intellectual caliber. They followed that up with Liz Shaw, then took a detour into ditzy-land with Jo, but brought it back in a refreshing way with Sarah Jane.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;354208I think everyone likes that about Earthshock. Adric has to be one of the least-liked Companions of all time.

The sad thing is that "Earthshock" is the storyline where they finally let him stand up for himself.  Only then did they off him.  Maybe the actor got tired of being The Doctor's whipping boy.

!i!

Actually, I liked Jo because you could see her develop through her time in the series.

Quote from: Ian Absentia;354212The sad thing is that "Earthshock" is the storyline where they finally let him stand up for himself.  Only then did they off him.  Maybe the actor got tired of being The Doctor's whipping boy.

!i!

I don't think he was ever the doctor's whipping boy. He was a mathematical genius the equal of the doctor at least and as such a good role model for kids who valued intelligence at the time. Expecting him to be an action hero is unreasonable.

A good role model except for being an insufferable little twat.

RPGPundit

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;354275I don't think he was ever the doctor's whipping boy.

So why was The Doctor apologising for harshing Adric's buzz and agreeing to finally cut him some slack in that episode?

QuoteHe was a mathematical genius the equal of the doctor at least and as such a good role model for kids who valued intelligence at the time.

Yeah, a good role model to prepare them for the kind of abuse they'll face at the hands of classmates and middle management.  

I kid, though.  I think I actually sniffled a little when Adric took it upon himself to meet his maker.

!i!

Quote from: Ian Absentia;352878My real problem with the episode had to do with how it came together at the end.  Morrisey's "Next" Doctor, although not the true Doctor, has been cavorting about London, achieving all manner of impossible (or at least highly improbable) and heroic deeds.  For all intents and purposes, he really is The Doctor.  So, in the scene where he and the 10th Doctor release all the child laborers from their bonds, he discovers his lost son.  This is really his big moment, the point in the episode where he really ought to be the hero he didn't know he was before taking on the role of "The Doctor".  But what happens?  He freezes, and the 10th Doctor, who has plenty of other opportunities to play the hero before the episode is over, swings up like a swashbuckler to save the day, totally upstaging the boy's father.

I'll admit it, the culmination of this episode offended my sensibilities as a father, and I believe it underscored some flawed* notions RTD has about the father-child relationship.  That really was the moment where the father needed to be the hero to his own child, and Davies either didn't understand that, didn't care, or had disdain for the idea.  Not only do I think it would have been appropriate for Morrisey's character to play the hero in that scene, I think it would have had more significant impact on the viewers -- not only is The Doctor a hero himself, but he inspires others to deeds of great heroics.  It was a lost moment, and, worse than that, a badly fumbled one.

!i!

[Edit: Okay, if not flawed, at least found wanting.]

Ooops, missed this one Ian. I *think* I remember that bit and take your point. I admit to losing interest when it became apparent that we weren't looking at a successor, which I think would have been an interesting twist on the multiple doctor specials format.

Anyway, rather than trudge through it again on Youtube I decided to watch Resurrection of the Daleks on there instead and be reminded why Dr Who used to frighten me.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;353978Am i right? Is an american complaining about the mispronunciation of words?

Yep, absolutely.  We had a great time at work last week trying to teach the Brit how we pronounce 'oregano'.

...and in further Doctor related things, I came across this yesterday (and spent most of the morning reading the "10 Doctors," story; good stuff that).

http://comics.shipsinker.com/

I just watched it last night.

Some good parts, some cool ideas, some great acting, but there's something I was starting to dislike about the structure of the new Doctor Who adventures compared to the old ones. They're so... bombastic. I'm sort of glad they're switching up the writers even though I'm sorry to see David Tennant go. It'd be nice if they'd have some less over-the-top shows in the new season.

Interestingly i just watched Mawdryn Undead again on youtube where the dr confirms that he only has 12 regenerations in total.

One more to go.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;355794Interestingly i just watched Mawdryn Undead again on youtube where the dr confirms that he only has 12 regenerations in total.

One more to go.

Unless there's an overflow from the handwavium chamber in the TARDIS and it resets his dodecabios patterns. ;-)