Doctor Who: 7 Supportive Women Seared Onto Our Hearts

1. Idris

Episode: The Doctor€™s Wife (series 6) Only writer Neil Gaiman could come up with a character as brilliant as this. Idris is the Tardis personified €“ her essence trapped in a humanoid body €“ and for a few brief moments the Doctor and the love of his life finally get to have a conversation. It€™s a little rocky at first €“ resentments are bound to build up after the first few hundred years €“ but that soon gives way to mutual delight at this unexpected opportunity to communicate freely and openly. They bicker and make up and work together to build a junkyard Tardis and never once is there any doubt that Idris is a vital, sentient being whether she has a body or a box. This is an idea that could go horribly awry with the wrong actress, but Suranne Jones plays Idris with a curious mix of wacky pathos that makes her seem utterly alien and amazingly relatable all at the same time. We gain great insight into the heart of the Tardis and why the Doctor loves her so much €“ two free spirits sailing off to see the universe. Who could resist that? Would this episode be quite so moving if the Tardis were portrayed as a man? I think yes, depending on how it was played. There€™s no reason the Doctor couldn€™t share just as much chemistry with another male. In this case I€™m not sure gender mattered as much as being human(ish). It was the Tardis€™ sudden ability to talk with the Doctor that made the character so memorable, and the loss of that ability that made the ending so heart breaking. The fact that so many of Doctor Who€™s supporting players become legends in their own right is a testament to the care that goes into crafting each episode. There is a depth of characterization here that goes way beyond the leads and it€™s one of the main reasons that no matter how improbable the story gets we still feel grounded and are able to relate to whatever crazy thing is happening. Let's face it, you can spend all your time and money building the most beautiful house in the universe, but if the support structure isn€™t there it€™s still going to come tumbling down around you.

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Mary Ogle is the author and illustrator of “Orangeroof Zoo” a whimsical tale of magical realism told through the pages of a coloring book for adults. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book cover design, illustration and book layout. Find more of Mary’s work at www.maryogle.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.