Taking a ‘Journey’ Into the Future: The Next Companion
Connor Johnston proposes a choice for the next full time companion in the form of Zawe Ashton – aka Journey Blue.
Whether it be next week, next month, at Christmas or at the end of Series 9, the unfortunate truth is that Clara Oswald will eventually depart the TARDIS doors for the last time, and a new companion will in turn replace her. Regardless of when this occurs, the ongoing and never ending speculation and conversations have only been fuelled extensively by the recent rumours
As a Character
As an individual character that has only had a brief amount of screen time, we surprisingly have a substantial and explored idea of who Journey is, what she stands for, and a fair idea how life on the TARDIS may treat her – something that can only be attributed by the flawless marriage of Ford’s/Moffat’s brilliant writing and Ashton’s invested portrayal. A character that triggers memories of “Ace McShane”, Journey meets the mission of venturing inside one of the most evil and dangerous creatures in the universe with bravery, an eagerness to adhere to her duty and without hesitation or reservation. Throughout the episode, Journey exhibited her tough, warrior like approach to life, proved that she was quick to act and determined to complete her mission regardless of the cost and displayed a discipline and control in situations that might send others screaming thanks to her training and experience.
Now this isn’t to say that Journey is an emotionless robot that can do nothing but follow orders – quite the opposite. In moments of heat we see this strength emerge from the character, easily able to make her own decisions even when they may not concur to her orders or the Doctor’s wishes, and even became prone to putting the Doctor back in his place by doing so more than once. Journey is a character that refuses to be pushed around. As with most characters that hold hard, tough exteriors; we also get a glimpse of Journey’s insecurities and fears in the scenes including her brother’s death and her rejection at the hand of the Doctor when asking to join him in his travels. These moments add a level of reality to her character, proving to make her come across as more genuine in her portrayal. Driven, angry, and committed to the cause, despite a warmer sensitivity of her own that she’s had to bury, she’s without doubt the emotional centre of the episode.
We also get an insight to how much of an influence having the Doctor in her life for just a small amount of hours has had on Journey – with his message of how violence not being the best way to win a war contributing to her decision to not blow up the Dalek and support the Doctor and Clara in their efforts to let Rusty see the light once more, not to mention her final onscreen moments through the Doctor’s denial of her due to her being a soldier possibly triggering a re-evaluation of her own self, or in the very least appearing to have a weighty impact on how she would live her life from that point on.
As a Companion
As with the casting of a new Doctor, the casting and characterisation of a new companion HAS to offer a clear contrast to that of his or her predecessor. Without doubt, the character of Journey could not be further from a rehash of Clara Oswald. Not only avoiding similarities with Clara – Journey (from what we’ve seen so far) has the potential to be vastly different from any major companion since the 2005 revival of the series. It’s my firm belief that the role of the Doctor’s companion has always been drafted to be exactly what he Doctor needs at each particular moment in time. Rose Tyler saved his war-hardened soul, Martha Jones saved him from heartbreak, Donna Noble and Amelia Pond saved him from loneliness and seclusion, Clara Oswald saved him from his enemies as well as ensuring he didn’t stray off path – Perhaps it will take a character like Journey Blue to save the Doctor from himself…
So what would Journey bring to the role of the companion? Well due to her training and experience fighting as a rebel in a war against the Daleks, two things that would be absolutely guaranteed would be an unbelievable thirst for adventure and escape, as well as a 100% no-wincing approach to the dangers life in the TARDIS ensures. There was a scene during “Into the Dalek” where Clara and Journey were whisked up on the grappling hook rope travelling up to the Cortex vault and the camera focused first on Clara eyes shut tight failing to control a terrified yelp from escaping (Bless her cotton socks) and then secondly focused on Journey – totally unfazed by the current happenings, too cool for school and flying up in style. This was the defining moment that I, in hysterics, stood up and screamed – “YOU, YOU NEXT!” and lead to me praying the Doctor accepted her plea to join him at the conclusion of the episode. Besides from her unique approach to life in the TARDIS, Journey as a companion could also offer an extremely interesting dynamic with the Doctor filled with a sensational amount of opportunity for character development, given her history as a Soldier.
As a Soldier
The Doctor has never really been known to condone let alone endorse soldiers and their fondness of guns – but it’s especially in “Into the Dalek” that we can gather in his latest incarnation his reservations have almost turned into an active hatred. In my mind there is only one striking reason that could have led the Doctor to hold such a harsh opinion; the siege of Trenzalore. There is no doubt that the hundreds of years on the battle front has had a profound impact on the hardening of the Time Lord’s new deminar. The Doctor’s original rejection of Journey has been attributed to a number of various factors, including mainly his own self-hatred, but I’d like to suggest that perhaps this incarnation’s public, brutal and possibly unfair position on soldiers is as not to face being reminded of having to live as one himself for almost half his life. He’s a man that’s watched civilian after civilian die under the over-generous pretence that the Doctor, their sheriff, their soldier, would save them. How much death must the Doctor hold himself and his actions as a soldier accountable for from the Great War of Trenzalore alone?
Earlier this year I penned an article that posed the question: “Is the Doctor a Good Man”, and mentioned that the death toll during “The Time of the Doctor” suggested possibly that the Doctor’s decision to stay and protect the people of Trenzalore was the right one to make, or one that brought them only more death and suffering. Now imagine the dynamic between this new Doctor and a companion that mirrors exactly the part of him that he is trying to escape! What overflowing potential! Hopefully this potential is also utilised with the story of Danny Pink this series, preceding (in an ideal world) an expansion in themes through a relationship between the Doctor and Journey.
If not, then who?
The possibilities of characters that have the potential to become The Doctor’s companion make up on endless and diverse list of descriptions; even more diverse then the vast array of companions we’ve already had including everything from school teachers to flight attendants, mathematical pre-pubescent geniuses to hairy-legged, kilt wearing highlanders! There is really hardly any pattern in the personalities of the Doctor’s adopted strays.
Of course there is every chance the next full time companion will be a completely new character – and let’s be honest; it most probably will be, but in saying that I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone in feeling a little “blue” (pun intended) if Zawe’s talent, and the potential and opportunity that is attached to Journey’s character, was not taken advantage of. As the reign of Clara Oswald slowly but indefinitely makes its way into its conclusion and we take a “Journey” into the future, let’s hope that the Doctor just might do the same…
