Stuart and I are having a little discussion over on his blog. We basically disagree on the nature of the companion’s role, particularly in the case of a female companion, on Doctor Who.
I argued that “It’s sexist to assume that the companion should not be shown to have other skills that may be as valuable as the Doctor’s and in some areas superior – or if she doesn’t, to fail to address her feelings on the subject.”
Stuart argues that “the companion is wholly subsidiary to the Doctor and need only exist to be a mouthpiece for the audience. I personally have no interest at all in the companion much beyond that.”
What do you think? Let’s throw it open to y’all with a question of the week:
What is the point of Doctor Who‘s companion? Should time be spent developing the role and showing his or her strengths? Or is that just a waste of time when all we really want is a cracking adventure and the Doctor saving the day? If so, is that sexist or simply the nature of a format in which there’s a 900-year-old male genius at the centre of it all? And are you even interested in the companions as characters?
As always, leave a comment with your answer, a link to your answer on your own blog or even leave it on Stuart’s blog for a change
