March 22, 2024
The Doctor would be lost without their friends. But what are the crucial stages to becoming a companion of the iconic Time Lord?
There seems to be no end to the Doctor’s companions – from schoolteachers to robot dogs! And apart from bringing something unique to the Doctor’s life from the outset, each companion also learns and grows throughout their travels in time and space.
What can you expect if you travel with the Doctor? Here are the key experiences to look forward to.
Meeting the Time Lord
Meeting the Doctor is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (unless you happen to be a Time Lord with several lifetimes). Sometimes it's sparked by simple curiosity in a junkyard, bumping into a curious stranger, seeing them dancing in a nightclub… or even being rescued from a deadly alien threat! In any case, that first encounter usually captivates the human traveller, drawing them in for the adventure of a lifetime.
First time in the TARDIS
You’ve met the alien in question, now meet the motor! As ethereal and quirky as the Doctor themselves, the TARDIS – that marvellous machine that can travel anywhere in time and space – often provides a jaw-dropping moment for companions. It defies physics, all known laws of space travel and even the Fourth Dimension itself! Repeat after us: “It’s bigger on the inside than the outside…”
First trip back in time
If you could travel anywhere in time and space, why not start with a journey into history? Meet your heroes, the people who've shaped humankind, try on a vintage outfit or two… or just soak up the sights of a bygone era. Of course, when you travel in time, you might also encounter time-travelling threats, including the Doctor’s enemies.
First time forward
Of course, people want to see the future! What progress does humanity make in the far reaches of time? Where do they go? What do they accomplish? And how do they communicate (like… with emojis?). But progress doesn’t come without change, and change can be scary – or even deadly! Good thing you’re travelling with the Doctor.
Seeing the darker corners
Traversing time and space isn't without its costs – and the universe can be an unkind place. The Doctor has faced some daunting decisions in their countless years of travelling. Occasionally a companion is needed to metaphorically – and sometimes literally – ground them, bringing them back down to Earth.
Saving the universe by yourself
Or consider that the worst happens… and the Doctor isn’t there. Those who journey in time and space don’t just rub shoulders with legends – they learn, they grow, they make a stand. They become legends in their own right.
Discovering there’s plenty inside yourself to explore
Although you’re seeing all the universe, all this jumping through time and space can be an introspective experience. Sometimes all the wonders of the universe can be found in a simple gesture, like in a hand to hold…
Making your own path
Every so often, the adventure concludes and the time comes to part ways. Whether it’s because of family, a desire to help others, or even if the wonders of the universe are holding you back from your true purpose, you’ve got to know when it’s time to pack up your belongings from the TARDIS and start anew. As the Doctor once said “there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.” Just don’t break our heart(s) when you go!
But with a time machine, all of time and space can be reached. So, never say never…
