Introduction to the Myth of Companion Continuity

When someone mentions Doctor Who, the regeneration of the Doctor into a new body usually comes to mind. However, a popular belief is that when a companion leaves Doctor Who, the new incarnation of the Doctor always regenerates with a different body and retains the memories of the old one. This article aims to examine this belief by analyzing the companions of each Doctor and how they changed with each regeneration.

When a Companion Leaves: The Case of the Third Doctor

At first glance, the idea that a new Doctor always regenerates with a different body and retains the memories of the old one seems true. In fact, the opposite used to be the case in the classic series. The usual formula was for the same companions who were traveling with the Doctor before regeneration to continue to travel with the new Doctor after the regeneration. However, this was not always the case.

During the classic series, the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee, did not continue to travel with any of the Second Doctor's companions, a significant exception to the rule. The original plan was for Zoe, a companion of the Second Doctor, to continue with the Third Doctor. However, when Zoe decided to leave the show at the end of Season 6, this continuity was lost. This necessitated a change, and the characters of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT were introduced. This was a new setup for the show, with the Brigadier receiving a promotion and Benton joining the main cast.

The Exceptions and the Norm

Despite the Third Doctor's unique situation, it is important to recognize that even when the same companion continued to travel with the new Doctor, they did not always retain the memories of the old Doctor. In the case of the Third Doctor, the Time Lords wiped much of his knowledge of time travel, leaving him stranded on Earth with a disabled TARDIS. This means that even though the regeneration from the Second Doctor to the Third might meet one criterion of the question (continuity of companions, in a way), it does not meet the other criterion (retention of memories).

Companion Continuity in Classic Series

While the Third Doctor is the exception, every other Doctor during the classic era shared a companion or companions with their predecessor. Here are some examples:

Ben, Polly, and the First and Second Doctors: Michael Craze and Anneke Wills traveled with the First Doctor, William Hartnell, and the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton. Sarah Jane and the Third and Fourth Doctors: Elisabeth Sladen traveled with the Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee, and the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker. Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan with the Fourth and Fifth Doctors: Matthew Waterhouse, Sarah Sutton, and Janet Fielding traveled with the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, and the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison. Peri and the Fifth and Sixth Doctors: Nicola Bryant traveled with the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison, and the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker. Mel and the Sixth and Seventh Doctors: Bonnie Langford traveled with the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker, and the Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.

Continuity in the New Series

The companions in the Doctor Who revival, called the "NuWho" era, also followed similar patterns. For example:

Rose and Billie with the Ninth and Tenth Doctors: Billie Piper traveled with the Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, and the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant. Clara and Jenna-Louise with the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors: Jenna-Louise Coleman traveled with the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, and the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi.

Furthermore, numerous companions over the years have left the Doctor without the Doctor regenerating. For instance, in the most recent episode of Doctor Who, the following companions left their respective Doctors and were replaced by new companions:

From the Tenth Doctor to the Eleventh Doctor: Ian, Jo, and Mel were replaced by Steven, Sarah Jane, and Ace. From the Eleventh Doctor to the Twelfth Doctor: River (from Season 10) and Rory were replaced by Clara. From the Eleventh Doctor to the Twelfth Doctor: The Ponds (Rory, Amy, and Rory's father) were replaced by Capassword: Clara and then by Luke.

Conclusion

While the belief that a new Doctor always regenerates with a different body and retains the memories of the old one may seem true, it is not always the case. The Doctor Who series has shown exceptions and variations, making the continuity of companions and retention of memories a more complex topic than initially believed. This analysis provides a deeper understanding of how companions transition between Doctors in the long-running series.