10 Fixes For Doctor Who's Future

Doctor Who lives or dies on the strength of its companions. And companions only feel real if their world does too.

Belinda really suffered in this regard. Part of this was unavoidable, due to the Reality War reshoots. But even in the episodes that weren’t reworked, her arc pretty much disappears after The Well.

Additionally, because of the reshoots, and the decision to cut a flashback at the start of The Robot Revolution, most of her mum’s scenes are set in an alternate reality and we don’t get to meet her dad at all (leaving the Doctor’s comment about wanting to make him laugh left unresolved).

Ruby was better in this regard, getting a strong family unit from the off and whole episodes to herself. But it’s a shame Carla and Cherry didn’t get more to do beyond The Church on Ruby Road.

Take the Season 1 finale, which sees Carla get to the heart of the action in the UNIT Tower… only to be sent home and turned to dust.

Contrast this with the Series 1 finale, where Jackie and Mickey have a vital role to play, despite the story being set in the year 200,100. Or the scenes between Jackie and Pete in Doomsday. When was the last time a companion’s family member got material that good?

Basically the companion, and their family, need to be the priority again. Simple as.