Moffat On Why Doctor Who’s Companions Are Young, Attractive Females
If you didn’t know yet, Amy and Rory are leaving Doctor Who this season at Christmas. It’s rather hard to come to terms with, especially since like many I’ve come to have a major girl-crush on the feisty red-headed Amy. How will the next companion, recently announced as Jenna-Louise Coleman (best known for playing Jasmine Thomas on Emmerdale), ever measure up?
Who showrunner Steven Moffat has reassurances. He promises in Doctor Who Magazine that the new companion will certainly “shock,” but beneath the differences all companions are “the same.” Moffat explains…
What is the base group of people who would run away with the Doctor? They’re all going to be a bit mad. A bit dislocated. Not happy with where they are. Are they yearning for outer space? They’re going to be people who feel like they can take on the Doctor, who’s quite an intimidating sort of person. So, they’re going to be feisty – they’re going to be all those things. He sort of defines the people who are going to travel with him. The distinction comes very much from the various actors and actresses. So, you know, they’re the ones who create the differences between them. But you are always going to have the same sort of person, just because it’s the same man choosing them, and it’s the same person being chosen.
So why so many of the Doctor’s companions are young women? Moffat says, “I mean…who’s going to have a crush on the Doctor?”
Though they haven’t taken the whole romance thing very far, it’s true. Every female companion has most of the qualities he describes. Donna Noble, River Song, Sarah Jane, all are beautiful bold women whom to be inspired by and aspire to be (drop by with your TARDIS anytime, Doctor), cheesy as that sounds. But if Moffat did want to mix it up, I’m campaigning for Martin Freeman as the next companion. Crossover bromance? I think yes.
