As filming begins on the 2012 Christmas special, in which we will be introduced to the as-yet-publicly-unnamed new Companion being played by Jenna-Louise Coleman, the first official photos of Jenna and Matt on set are being released. And excited as I am for a change-up in the TARDIS team, I have to say I’m disappointed in what I’m seeing.
Sure she’s cute, and based on early reports, the chemistry will be great, but the new Companion (according to someone who was supposedly on set, her name is “Clara”; I’ll withhold judgment on the veracity of that designation until something official comes down the pike, but for ease of reference, I’ll use it as her name here) appears to be another run-of-the-mill, modern Earth human. Clad in a short-skirted dress, jacket and bright red shoulder bag, Clara strikes me as this decade’s answer to Jo Grant: fashionista pixie.
Since Doctor Who returned to our screens in 2005, we’ve been treated to an endless parade of Companions designed specifically to be the point of reference for the audience. Almost to a one, they’ve come from 21st Century England: Rose, Mickey, Jackie, Martha, Donna, Wilf, Amy, Rory – even Sarah Jane. Adam (if we can count the idiot who had a door put in his forehead as a Companion) was also modern, though he was American. Jack and River – multi-story Companions, though not strictly “regulars” – both hailed from the 51st Century, and off-world, but are still quite human (even if 51st C. sexuality is not of a variety that’s currently considered “mainstream”). You have to get into The Specials from 2009 before you get Companions from either the past or the future (Astrid Peth, Jackson Lake, Adelaide Brooke) – and they’re all still human – British ones, at that (OK, Astrid was meant to be an off-worlder, and I can’t remember whether or not she Britted up her Aussie accent – but my point stands).
