Doctor Who’s Companions Are No Longer Called “Companions”

Summary

• Donna Noble’s line in “The Giggle” suggests that the term “companion” for Doctor Who’s allies is changing.
• The term “companion” has always implied a lesser role, so it’s time for a more meaningful and respectful title.
• Audiences must come up with a new name for companions, with “friend” or “partner” being potential options.

In the most recent episode of Doctor Who, “The Giggle,” there is a line that implies that the Doctor’s allies, long called companions, are getting a new and improved name, but unfortunately, the episode doesn’t quite specify what to call them now. Doctor Who has just finished premiering its 60th anniversary special. Made up of three episodes, the special saw David Tennant return to Doctor Who as the Fourteenth Doctor with Catherine Tate alongside him, reprising her role as Donna Noble. Though they only depict a brief time within the Doctor Who universe, these special episodes saw major changes to the franchise as a whole.

Since Doctor Who first began in 1963, the Doctor has always had his companions. In Doctor Who, a “companion” is typically a human character that accompanies the Doctor on his adventures. Over the years, the Doctor’s companions have changed constantly, and at times, the Doctor will have several companions at once or just one for an extended stretch. Oftentimes, the companion serves as something of a sidekick to the Doctor, but their role is much more important than that. Doctor Who’s companions are essentially stand-ins for the audience. They ask important questions, challenge the Doctor, and give their unique perspective.

One Line From Donna Means Doctor Who Companions Are No Longer “Companions”

Although Doctor Who’s companions are as long-lasting as the Doctor himself, the series may finally be making a change to them. In Doctor Who’s third 60th anniversary episode, “The Giggle,” the Fourteenth Doctor’s companion, Donna Noble, says a line that implies that the term “companion” is on the verge of changing. After entering the UNIT building, Donna says, “Don’t say companion. – that sounds like we park him on the seafront at Weston-super-Mere.” What this line is saying is that Donna dislikes the term “companion” because of what the word insinuates. This is definitely something of a first for Doctor Who, which has always stuck by its “companion” title.

David Tennant, who portrayed the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010, and the Fourteenth Doctor in 2023, has had a total of 13 companions. Donna Noble was both the Tenth Doctor’s companion, and the Fourteenth.

However, Donna is right. Although “companion” isn’t as demeaning as “worker” or foreign as “acquaintance”, the word does hint that the companion character is lesser to the Doctor. The word “companion” feels more like a helper or someone who is spending time with another person, because there is a sort of benefit to the relationship. And while there is a sense that the companion aids the Doctor in getting out of scrapes and vice versa, the bond between a Doctor and his companion is much more akin to friendship, or even romance in some cases. Overall, “companion” isn’t the worst word, but it seems to have reached its natural end.

So, What Do We Call Doctor Who Companions Now?

The biggest problem with this Donna Noble line is that it doesn’t clarify what the companions should be called now. Donna isn’t shy about what she thinks about the term “companion,” but she fails to offer any alternatives that the show could now use. Therefore, for now at least, audiences have to figure out a better name for the companions. The most obvious choice would likely be “friends.” Although it may seem overly sweet, the term “friend” is a better summation of the relationship that grows between the Doctor and those who accompany him. A term that bridges the gap between personal and professional could be “partner.”

No matter what audiences decide to call companions after Donna’s line from “The Giggle,” at some point Doctor Who will have to step up and change the companion title themselves. Though it is acceptable for the series to leave something of a blank for now in order to focus on greater problems, Doctor Who will have to eventually finish what it started. This could easily be done by Doctor Who season 14’s cast when Ncuti Gatwa takes the role of the Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson becomes his companion, Ruby Sunday. Right from the first episode, this new pairing can set the foundations for this new Doctor/companion relationship.

Why Doctor Who’s “Companion” Change Has Been A Long Time Coming

Although Donna Noble’s recent statement may seem like a surprise, the “companion” change has actually been a long time coming. The term “companion” has been used for 60 years now, and though it has become a staple of Doctor Who lore, it hasn’t always been easy on the ears. In fact, from the beginning, “companion” was ultimately used as an alternative for “assistant,” which is even more patronizing. So, despite the fact that “companion” has been with Doctor Who for decades, it is good that the series is acknowledging the hierarchy that “companion” implies, and is changing it to, hopefully, something more meaningful and respectful.