Comments on: More Doctor Who geekery

By: Barbara B

Barbara B — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:10:30 +0000

Here’s the info on male companions from a true Whovian:
Ian Chesterton (William Russell — 1st Doctor), Steven Taylor (Peter Purves — 1st Doctor), Ben (Michael Craze — 1st Doctor & 2nd Doctors), Jamie McKrimmon (Frazer Hines — 2nd Doctor), Dr. Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter — 4th Doctor), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse — 4th & 5th Doctors), Turlough (Mark Strickson — 5th Doctor), Chang Lee (Yee Jee Tso — 8th Doctor), Mickey (9th & 10th Doctors), Captain Jack (John Barrowman — 9th & 10th Doctors).

Let’s not forget those brave men from UNIT: Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart (Nicholas Courtney — Several Doctors), Captain Yates (Richard Franklin — Several Doctors), Sergeant Benton (John Levene — Several Doctors.)

Then we can’t entirely forget the two robots voiced by men: K-9 and Kamilion.

By: RobertB

RobertB — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 16:23:20 +0000

The Sarah Jane Adventures were better than I thought they would be. The first couple of stories are the most kid-show of the lot.

The one with the evil nuns was ok. The final two (two part) stories were the best of the lot. One with Sarah being removed from the time line and the final story with Luc (Sarah’s adopted son) being taken away were quite good.

The only thing they really need to get rid of is the music and steam when Sarah’s computer, Mr. Smith, make an appearance.

Oh, and K-9 makes a brief appearance in the final episode!

By: tacitus

tacitus — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 09:24:08 +0000

FYI: The Sarah-Jane Adventures is a kids’ show (so don’t expect the same themes as in Torchwood!) but the first series was very good and the stories (five 2-part 25 minute shows) were interesting and kept you guessing (well, me anyway!).

By: gar

gar — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 06:54:57 +0000

Thanks, Kimpatsu. I thought I had my wires crossed about Peter Purves. And I couldn’t think of the late Michael Craze’s or his character’s name to save my life. And of course Sarah Jane Smith is by far the best companion, largely for the reasons you’ve sited. She and Tom’s Doctor in particular had such a lovely rapport.

Oh, and the TARDIS did have an all male crew at least once: in Turlough’s last episode with Dr. 5, Tegan had just left and Peri hadn’t joined quite yet. So briefly anyway. Now Peri was probably the worst companion. Voice = grating.

I have enjoyed Capt. Too Sexy in Torchwood. However, I have to say that he does seem to at his best when he’s playing against the Doctor (either 9 or 10). Haven’t seen SJ Adventures. Should check it out.

By: tacitus

tacitus — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:41:51 +0000

I stuck with Torchwood through the first season, but it was pretty rough in parts. There were a couple of excellent episodes (the one with the people flying in from the past was a standout) but there were some stinkers too. Chasing cannibal yokels (in a highly melodramatic fashion) around the Welsh countryside was probably the nadir.

But the biggest let down was Cap’n Jack as the leading man. When he was the Doctor’s sidekick he was great, especially in this last season, but somehow he just doesn’t have the gravitas needed to anchor his own show. Dunno if it’s the actor (because we know from Dr. Who he can act) or just the way the part is written, but there is definitely something missing.

Still, the new season approaches (January) so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for an improvement. In the meantime, the first season of The Sarah Jane Adventures was a lot of fun (and better made than Torchwood IMHO).

By: Lugosi

Lugosi — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 04:08:11 +0000

By the way, BBC is also airing “Torchwood,” which has as its main character none other than Capt. Jack â€œtoo sexy to liveâ€ Harkness.

By: Kimpatsu

Kimpatsu — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:30:56 +0000

Gar, Peter Purves was the actor who played Steven Taylor, companion to the 1st Doctor, and who later presented Blue Peter.
The Doctor was always had female companions; the Tardis has never had an all-male crew. What made Sarah-Jane Smith special, however, was that she was the first female companion who actively joined in the fighting, rather than screaming and cowering and waiting to be rescued. This, of course, reflected the changing times. SJ was the first liberated companion.
FYI, the “sailor bloke” was Ben Jackson, played by Michael Craze.