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James Robert Macrimmon
We all know I'm crazy. For the past half year, I've been going back and watching the earliest episodes of Doctor Who in all their rubber mask and black and white glory. While there are obvious differences between the mentality of the show and of the Doctor himself between the original series and Russel T. Davies' revival of the show, there are some things that never change.
Namely, the Doctor's need to have people travel with him. Anyone who's studied Who-lore knows that the Doctor first started traveling with his granddaughter and his first human companions come aboard because of Susan's influence. After the Doctor leaves Susan behind after she falls in love, he continues to bring people aboard because he no longer has any family. He has to make new families with the stragglers he finds on his adventures.
Everyone has their favourite Doctor's companion. Most of the people I know have favourites from the latest series-- Martha or Donna or Jack. It helps that a lot of people's favourite Doctors are either Number Nine or Number Ten.
But I think I've found my favourite Doctor's companion from all the way back in 1966.
Well, actually, from a bit further back from that. 1746.
James Robert Macrimmon was a young piper from the Clan McLaren in 18th Century Scotland. The Doctor, Polly, and Ben first encountered him in a series of episodes called The Highlanders and, by the end of the episodes, Polly convinces the Doctor to take young Jamie along with them to travel through time and space.
Although Jamie is the most disadvantaged of the three (having grown up without space ships, or any modern technology at all), he's got a big heart and is probably the most courageous of the companions. He often doesn't understand what's going on, but forces the smarter people around him to explain so that he can help, and he always finds a way to help, even when no one believes in him. When Ben and Polly decide to leave, he stays on because he recognizes that the Doctor needs someone to look after him.
Probably one of the most charming aspects of Jamie's character is that he comes from an age where chivalry is still prevalent. He is constantly looking after the women who travel with them (Polly, then the Victorian Victoria, and then the future-genius Zoe)and who they encounter on their travels, even though they are often more capable in the situation than himself.
Now, because of how many lost episodes of Doctor Who there are in the early days of the Second Doctor, I haven't really gotten to know Jamie when he first shows up, but along the way he encounters both the Cybermen and the Daleks (rarer in those days), as well as the Ice Warriors, Yeti, the Destructors, and the Quarks. He appears in more episodes than any other Doctor's companion to date and it's easy to see why.
Even though I've only seen the latest episodes of his stay aboard the TARDIS, he's beating out Sarah Jane (who I haven't watched yet, but I love her dearly) and Jack Harkness for favourite companions right now.
In fact, here's some of my favourite Jamie moments from the last story he was in (The War Games).
Oh Jamie, I shall miss you on this show.
FUN FACT: In the Doctor Who episode "Tooth and Claw" when David Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor meets Queen Victoria's traveling party, he introduces himself as Doctor James Macrimmon.
Namely, the Doctor's need to have people travel with him. Anyone who's studied Who-lore knows that the Doctor first started traveling with his granddaughter and his first human companions come aboard because of Susan's influence. After the Doctor leaves Susan behind after she falls in love, he continues to bring people aboard because he no longer has any family. He has to make new families with the stragglers he finds on his adventures.
Everyone has their favourite Doctor's companion. Most of the people I know have favourites from the latest series-- Martha or Donna or Jack. It helps that a lot of people's favourite Doctors are either Number Nine or Number Ten.
But I think I've found my favourite Doctor's companion from all the way back in 1966.
Well, actually, from a bit further back from that. 1746.
James Robert Macrimmon was a young piper from the Clan McLaren in 18th Century Scotland. The Doctor, Polly, and Ben first encountered him in a series of episodes called The Highlanders and, by the end of the episodes, Polly convinces the Doctor to take young Jamie along with them to travel through time and space.
Although Jamie is the most disadvantaged of the three (having grown up without space ships, or any modern technology at all), he's got a big heart and is probably the most courageous of the companions. He often doesn't understand what's going on, but forces the smarter people around him to explain so that he can help, and he always finds a way to help, even when no one believes in him. When Ben and Polly decide to leave, he stays on because he recognizes that the Doctor needs someone to look after him.
Probably one of the most charming aspects of Jamie's character is that he comes from an age where chivalry is still prevalent. He is constantly looking after the women who travel with them (Polly, then the Victorian Victoria, and then the future-genius Zoe)and who they encounter on their travels, even though they are often more capable in the situation than himself.
Now, because of how many lost episodes of Doctor Who there are in the early days of the Second Doctor, I haven't really gotten to know Jamie when he first shows up, but along the way he encounters both the Cybermen and the Daleks (rarer in those days), as well as the Ice Warriors, Yeti, the Destructors, and the Quarks. He appears in more episodes than any other Doctor's companion to date and it's easy to see why.
Even though I've only seen the latest episodes of his stay aboard the TARDIS, he's beating out Sarah Jane (who I haven't watched yet, but I love her dearly) and Jack Harkness for favourite companions right now.
In fact, here's some of my favourite Jamie moments from the last story he was in (The War Games).
Oh Jamie, I shall miss you on this show.
FUN FACT: In the Doctor Who episode "Tooth and Claw" when David Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor meets Queen Victoria's traveling party, he introduces himself as Doctor James Macrimmon.
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