This thread contains open SPOILERS for all the TV companion departures.
For most of the classic era companion departures were straightforward: the companion(s) left and we never saw them again. That changed with John Nathan Turner, who started to play with viewers’ expectations. First, he had Tegan left behind in Time-Flight before having her rejoin the TARDIS in the next story, Arc of Infinity. Next it was Peri, who was killed in Mindwarp, which was then retconned in The Ultimate Foe when it was revealed that she was alive and married to King Yrcanos[1]. However, companion departures really became timey-wimey in NuWho, as companions left and came back regularly.
For this tournament I’ve used what I consider is each companion’s first/real/proper departure. I’ve also linked to their departure scenes either on YouTube or clips I’ve uploaded. For some they had more than one scene leading to their departure and I’ve tried to link to what I’ve found online. Furthermore, companions without a departure scene are not included in this tournament, so no Liz or Ace. Finally, I’ve included several characters that some don’t consider companions, but I do[2].
Since I’ve linked to each departure scene each match will be open for voting for one day. There will be two per day through the semifinals, then one day each for the third-place game and the final.
With that, the first two first round matches are:
Polly and Ben (The Faceless Ones)
After not being seen for several episodes they reappear to say goodbye as it’s the day they first entered the TARDIS
@SweetAIBelle, I agree that Terror of the Zygons could be considered Harry’s on-screen depature, but it’s really only a bit better:
Philip Hitchcliffe even mentioned in one of the documentaries[1] that Harry’s bending over the android was a poor exit and in hindsight they should have written him an exit scene.
It was also the Brig’s exit scene for many years, but I’m going with his exit in Battlefield.
I do feel like at least in that one, he got the line about sticking to InterCity this time, basically declining to keep traveling with the Doctor, though it would have been nice to have gotten more…
See, I prefer Ben and Polly’s departure scene, but I think Vicki’s is slightly more memorable. (Part of what I like about Polly and Ben’s is how understated it is.)
I’m the other way. Vicki’s is the second straight leaving for love depature, which unfortunately becomes far too common. At least it’s completely her decision, unlike Susan’s depature.
I’ve talked about it somewhere before, but I find Vicki’s departure really meaningful (along with all of Myth Makers episode 4, which I think is such a fascinating genre shift from the light hearted comedy of season 2 to the bleak drama of season 3).
I love how the Doctor is so focused on Steven and whether or not he’ll survive; I love how that’s paralleled with Vicki going to find Troilus. People forget that when she leaves the TARDIS she doesn’t even know he’s alive!! Her primary motivation isn’t romance but the simply prospect of finding Troilus alive or dead in the carnage of Troy (and possibly saving his life). And the understanding between Vicki and the Doctor is so understated and beautiful.
I genuinely think it’s one of the most powerfully dramatic companion exits and I won’t be drawn on this!
@taraoftraken, an excellent defense of Vicki’s depature. Your comment on the understanding between the Doctor and Vicki is interesting. He cared for her like a granddaughter and like Susan he lets her leave as she’s becoming a woman and capable of making her own decisions[1]. However, I’m not changing my vote because Polly’s depature is more memorable for me[2].
At least Ben and Polly’s (rushed) departure was better and more ceremonious than Dodo’s. I love the War Machines but every time that final scene comes where Polly just rattles off Dodo’s feelings/wishes I just crack up at because of how rushed it is - I get it it probably had something to do with contracts and not being able to have her for another episode or what not.
But between how she comes to be part of the TARDIS crew and leaves Dodo definitely has the oddest start/end - not to mention is she the only companion who ever started a plague ? (The Ark)
Yeah, just suddenly leaving is not more memorable than a companion leaving for love in a way that was set up over the course of the story. Even if I don’t care for Vicki’s exit much (though I defend Susan’s, as I’ll probably get into when we get there), it’s certainly a more memorable moment.
If it was Zygons, when Harry actually chose to leave (what I’d say is his real exit, the Doctor just kinda runs into him again in Android Invasion, he’s not a companion anymore in that story) it would be a lot closer. But if we’re going with Android Invasion, that’s a nothing of an exit, so it’s no competition. Nyssa’s exit clearly the more memorable.
I was originally thinking that the Translation circuit just sticks with the person but then again why wouldn’t Rose understand in Christmas Invasion UNLESS it had something to do with the regeneration and that’s why Rose wasn’t speaking Sycorax (ian/ite)
I would like to think the TARDIS is clever enough to leave a little bit of its latent telepathy with departing companions. In the Christmas Invasion, the TARDIS is setting up the Doctor’s dramatic reveal moment. She’s always loved a bit of drama.
I forgot to mention that there will be 18 first round matches as 14 companion departures received byes into the round of 32.
In the first match Vicki defeats Ben and Polly, 21-10, while in the second match Nyssa advances against Harry, 29-2.
The next two first round matches have two controversial companions: Anita Benn and Grace O’Brien.
Anita never travelled with the Doctor, but she did spend an entire year with him and according the Oxford Languages a companion is: 1. a person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels. So, she’s a companion in my opinion and for this tournament.
Grace is the person I really wanted to travel with Thirteen. I think that subconsciously her death is likely part of the reason I didn’t embrace Jodi’s Doctor at first. In any event I included her in the tournament. I just wish I had found a longer clip which included her fall.
