A Word on Jon Pertwee
So ends a remarkable period of Doctor Who history. For all that Hartnell and Troughton defined the role of the Doctor, neither ever inhabited the role in the same way that Jon Pertwee did. Allegedly, he was directed to "just play himself" when the question of how to characterize his version of the Doctor was brought up. And if that's true, then this man surely was the Doctor, unparalleled.
There are undoubtedly aspects of this Doctor (like his penchant for Venusian karate) that wouldn't hold up in present incarnations. But despite this, others, like his strong sense of moral outrage, his "citizen of the universe" attitude, and his love-hate relationship with humankind, are all still obvious today. He's a real hero, and it's been a joy watching his time on the show.
It's been an era of contradictions; a down-to-earth setting with unearthly characters, military orthodoxy with Buddhist mysticism, feminism and political activism with some misjudged moments. So too is this Doctor a man of contradictions, a gentleman in old-fashioned dress who is nevertheless just as much of a rebel as a scholar, establishment and dis-establishment wrapped up into one. Accordingly, it's one of the most fascinating portrayals of Doctor Who that's ever been given.
By all accounts, Jon was temperamental too, but a brilliant guy just the same, and a steadfast friend to his fellow cast members. He loved the role and served as an ambassador for the show for the rest of his life, and I'll always admire him for that.
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Jamie seems to have set some kind of precedent, because like him, several characters have remained a part of the Doctor's extended family for rather a long time during this era. Accordingly, it feels more stable than, for example, the revolving door of the Hartnell years. They are a part of the glue that held these five seasons together, and I found all of them highly likable. Here's how my top ten companions are looking as of 1974.
- Barbara Wright
- Jo Grant
- Jamie McCrimmon
- Steven Taylor
- Liz Shaw
- Vicki Pallister
- Ian Chesterton
- Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart
- Sarah Jane Smith
- Zoe Heriot
Polly, Ben, Victoria and Susan all fall out of view, the poor things. I loved these new characters so much, though! Sacrifices must be made.
Liz Shaw made a strong impression despite her short stay. I thought her more mature outlook and her world-weary cynicism was a great fit for this proud and fussy Doctor. I'm going to need to hunt down more of Caroline John's Companion Chronicles appearances!
Jo Grant was a bit of a dark horse. First impressions in Terror of the Autons didn't fill me with a great deal of hope, but despite the tut-worthy way that she's written into Season Eight, the lovely Katy Manning elevated the role into one of the most likable characters the show has ever had. Over the course of her three seasons, Jo visibly developed and matured as a person, something that I can't take for granted this early in the show's history. She's undoubtedly one of the very best assistants this Time Lord could hope for.
The Brigadier has proved to be an able sidekick for the Doctor, a capable fellow who serves as the comic straight man to all the science fiction that follows our title character around. I confess a preference to those times where he wasn't actually fulfilling the role of a companion, however, namely his more antagonistic relationship with the Doctor in Season Seven. But regardless of the inconsistency of that particular thread, he'll always be a welcome presence on my screen.
Benton doesn't quite make the cut, but remains a thoroughly enjoyable character, while Yates likewise remains below the top ten, if indeed he can be considered a companion. Either way you slice of it, both of these UNIT boys likewise found a place in my heart.
Lastly, Sarah Jane, who's only just got here! I'm already charmed by her, but I don't feel that I'll have much else to say until she's had a couple seasons with Tom to develop some more.
Pertwee's era wouldn't have been the same without this family of characters. I think this is the sort of thing Chris Chibnall aims for with his large ensemble casts, but the closest thing to this in the New Series which actually succeeds is the RTD era. Since I whetted my Who appetite on those years of the post-2005 program, this feels rather familiar and welcoming to me. Although some of the UNIT guys will be around for a little while yet, this marks the point where that family becomes divided, and it's sad to see it go.
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Here are five of my favorite moments from Jon Pertwee's tenure as Doctor Who:
"What are you a doctor of, by the way?" "Practically everything, my dear." (Spearhead from Space)
"Hello! Are you a Silurian?" (Doctor Who and the Silurians)
"Then why do you need so many people to keep them under control? Don't they like being happy and prosperous?" (Day of the Daleks)
"Courage isn't just a matter of not being frightened, you know." (Planet of the Daleks)
"Save me a piece of wedding cake." (The Green Death)
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I hope I'll travel with you again someday, Jon. Until then, it's on to Season Twelve and Robot.
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