Every companion has to start somewhere, but what was the best debut adventure?
I’m gonna throw my selection into the ring and say ‘The Marian Conspiracy’.
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The Eye of the Scorpion is a great introduction story for Erimem.
The Time Warrior is a brilliant intro to Sarah Jane.
Spearhead from Space is a good one for Liz and Terror of the Autons is great for Jo.
Terror of the Vervoids is a great intro to Mel.
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Bill Potts. I adooooore The Pilot. Also Amy in The Eleventh Hour is wonderful.
And seconding @deltaandthebannermen, all of Three’s companions get great first episodes
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Storm Warning for Charley and The Harvest for Hex. I also second The Marian Conspiracy and Eye of the Scorpion.
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The Face of Evil is a great introduction story for Leela.
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For me it depends on if you’re just judging it as a story or as a companion introduction specifically, but either way Full Circle and Mawdryn Undead have to be up there for Adric and Turlough respectively. Two all timers that give you an immediate sense of what these companions are all about.
The Rescue for Vicki is an early success too, lovely little story where her characterisation feels at the forefront. As for expanded media, I’m not too big on any of the companion introduction stories I’ve heard so far unfortunately.
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Generally speaking companion debut stories are much better than companion departure stories!
I love Clara’s ‘sort-of’ introdution in The Snowmen (and actually her other introduction in Asylum of the Daleks is pretty good too). Ironically, The Bells of St John pales in comparison.
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The Inheritance is brilliant and made me fall in love with the character of Valarie Lockwood almost immediately (Safiyya Ingar kills it right off the bat).
Terror of the Autons and Spearhead from Space are both classics.
Smith and Jones is incredibly underrated.
The Time Warrior is not only one of the best Third Doctor episodes but also an utterly fantastic introduction for Sarah Jane.
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For me, it’s gotta be Sarah Jane.
For the nu Who, I choose Donna. That one was INSANE 
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Definitely The Red Lady for me. I re-listened this one for countless times!
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Smith and Jones is incredibly underrated and I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so. That scene where the Judoon first uses a sharpie to mark a patient is still hilarious to me.
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My favourites would definitely be either:
Harry Sullivan in ‘Robot’
or
The Brigadier/Colonel in ‘The Web of Fear’ for sure!
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Harry is vastly underrated when in comes to companions. While he didn’t have the most thrilling narrative, he definitely pulled what little weight he was given.
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Honestly he is one of my all time favourites and as you say often underrated and overlooked due to his short tenure. But I love love love Harry!
(Plus the TARDIS team of him, 4 and Sarah is magnificent)
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I still wish we had more time with Victorian Clara. I love Clara, but we were this close to finally having a companion that isn’t from our time again.
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I love Rose’s first story. I know it is not perfect but I love it anyway.
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I am also highlighting Smith and Jones. I have always loved this story and love Martha as a companion, and this is a perfect intro story. The Judoon are fun and I was so glad they came back for series 12 at least and I love that Big Finish has got some use out of them too, hope to see them return to the screen sometime.
While I’m not the biggest Sarah Jane fan, The Time Warrior is an excellent introduction too.
Love and War is an incredible story and blesses us with Bernice Summerfield.
Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead gives the most tragic, intriguing and hopeful introduction ever?
And of course An Unearthly Child. Pure perfection.
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Relistened to this for the first time in like four years this morning, so I’m adding ‘Criss-Cross’ to this list.
I know Constance technically appeared in ‘The Last Adventure’ first, but I’m talking about companion’s full chronological debut.
Genuinely a phenomenal story - and considering Matt Fitton is very much a meat and potatoes writer, I’m shocked at how good this was.
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Yeah, I really enjoyed this and Constance - sorry Mrs Clark - is great
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Without saying anything Six-related: the Runaway Bride.
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