Doctor Who: 10 Best Companion Performances In NuWho

Companions. As the character the audience is meant to relate to (supposedly!), and the entry point to the Doctor's crazy, manic world, they often end up being the heart and soul of the programme. They end up loved by millions, despised by some, and generally becoming a key part of the show's rich history. 

The role of companion can often catapult an actor to another level. For example, Billie Piper and Arthur Darvill are now instantly recognisable television names and Karen Gillan has started a fledgling career in Hollywood.

They have to put in a lot of work, though. Being the audience's viewpoint means they often have to put in top notch performance after top notch performance. They have to make green screen seem like monolithic spaceships, costumes seem like threatening alien races and small streets seem like ancient cities by reacting to everything just right. And on top of that, they have to bear in mind the ambitious arcs and storylines the showrunners come up with for their characters.

It's time to celebrate that work and the number of talented performers who have travelled on the TARDIS with a countdown of the 10 best companion performances in NuWho. So buckle up and enjoy the show!

While The Girl Who Waited seems to be primarily about Amy (she is the character referred to in the title, after all!), Rory's role in proceedings is also important to how the storyline pans out, and Arthur Darvill does a compelling job showing just how the character reacts to events.

Rather than doing anything showy, he lends a steady hand to proceedings. He's understated in his actions and delivery, but he still gets across the sense of just how much Amy means to Rory.

Of course, that's part of his usual performance as Rory, but he does showcase some of his other talents here, too. Rory has to go through a wide range of emotions and Darvill capably captures them all. He shows his frustration and anger when he first encounters old Amy because the Doctor has messed up and his humour is on display too. His delivery of lines like "Good question. Bit sinister. What's the answer to not get us killed?" works to draw laughs whilst keeping the dialogue fresh and interesting.

However, the most defining moment of this episode for Rory comes at the end. It's the note of disgust upon challenging the Doctor when the Time Lord forces Rory to choose which Amy he wants to live with. It makes the ending  poignant and chilling, a testament to his ability.