6. Sally Sparrow
With such a huge fan base, most things about Doctor Who are heavily debated. 'Blink' seems to be an exception. The introduction of the most popular monsters the show has created since its return, the Weeping Angels, came in an episode that sits at a critical high watermark. In my experience of trying to get friends into the show, 'Blink' is the episode that seems to get their attention. Monsters aside, a large part of that achievement has to be credited to the character of Sally Sparrow, a young woman who acts as a guide for the audience, especially first timers and the uninitiated, who follow her journey from normal life into a world of monsters and time travel. She is intelligent enough to ask questions and brave enough to act when needed. So much so that the Doctor has minimal screen time in the episode and is hardly missed. The outstanding performance of a pre- Hollywood Carey Mulligan is warm enough to immediately earn the trust and support of the viewers. 'Blink' first aired in 2007 but Sally Sparrow's name is still on the lips of many fans today.