DW 10th Anniversary: Favorite Character

[shivver]

This would not be an interesting meme if I was completely truthful, because the answer would be the Doctor, especially in his Ninth and Tenth incarnations. (This is only the modern show, so I can't include the Fifth and Eighth...) But then, I'd have to go with Donna Noble, but that's also boring, since everyone knows I love Donna. Not that I can't wax poetic about her for hours, but let's go for more interesting. I'm going to go with who is my favorite non-Doctor, non-companion, non-major-recurring character (so, no Jack or River, and no Master in any incarnation).


I think the characters I like the most are the ones that we get to know and get to see grow throughout the time that they appear on the show. As an example, I really like both versions of Pete Tyler, but I prefer the one from "Father's Day" because of his character development and growth; the Pete's World version started strong and stayed strong - he didn't have much to learn and didn't. (Other examples: Donna and Rory.) A few of the characters that I really like are Luke Rattigan, Blon Fel-Fotch Passameer Day Slitheen (who grows and develops but does not suddenly become good, staying true to herself), Quintus Caecilius, and especially Mickey Smith.

The one I love the most, though, is Harriet Jones. She appears first in "Aliens of London" as an MP from a nowhere area in England and while she's strong enough to try to bull her way through the PM's office to get what she needs, she knows she's a nobody and is appropriately deferential. When she first encounters the Slitheen, she begins to panic. Once the Doctor has established his war room, though, she takes charge, making decisions on behalf of the people.

She appears again once she's become the Prime Minister, demonstrating her devotion to her people ("Never off duty.") and taking charge of the Sycorax situation. She makes the decision to destroy the Sycorax ship, even though she obviously doesn't want to kill them, and opposed the Doctor, maintaining that what she did was right for her planet.

She appears again when the planet is under attack from the Daleks, showing that she's spent her retirement developing the network to contact all of the important people during crises. She continues to advocate the idea that the Earth must learn to defend itself, while also attempting to contact the Doctor because she knows the planet needs his help. And finally, she sacrifices herself for the rest of the team.

This is a brilliantly-designed, strong character, and she is my very favorite of all of the people the Doctor has encountered in the modern show.

Comments

[dm12.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I agree. She consistently did what she felt was best for her country and the Earth. Even if she had to go up against the Doctor.

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Yes! And I love the moral gray area she's in with respect to the Doctor. The story is usually constructed so that whatever the Doctor does is the right thing, but here, there are two sides. The Doctor doesn't just protect the Earth; he sees both the human and the Sycorax sides of the story and protects both sides to the best of his ability. Harriet sees things only from the human viewpoint and in her way and for her purposes, she's also right. She did an evil thing for a good reason - and she knows it (it's very obvious she doesn't want to give the command), and that's gorgeous character development, the woman who will sacrifice her own morality for what she believes is the greater good.

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Absolutely... she clearly did not want to give that command, but she has to be prepared to defend the Earth when the Doctor's not around. You can't depend on one being to do it, sometimes you have to do it yourself, even if it is distasteful. Doing it yourself forces you to face the reality of the choice and its aftermath.

Same quandary with UNIT; they are there to defend the planet when the Doctor can't.

Lastly, as you said, the Doctor views things from a more universal point of view. Sometimes, you have to look after your own interests first before worrying about what everyone else thinks. I see that all the time just here on Earth. One country needs to defend its very survival, does what it has to, often reluctantly, without asking anyone else to do it for them... and everyone else squawks about it.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I did love Harriet...she was a gem!

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

I was so pleased when she reappeared in "The Stolen Earth" - I think I squeeed - and THEN she went on to be a further studmuffin. :)

[arcanetrivia]

Good choice! (I do enjoy the "We know who you are" running gag, too.)

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Me too! I especially love that she never really gets that people recognize her, even when she's the PM.

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

Oh, Harriet is EXCELLENT ♥ I'm currently rewatching The Christmas Invasion, and I'm enjoying her so much. She is an epic lady, for all the reasons you stated.

Highly approving of your other mentions besides :)

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I just happened to watch Father's Day last night, and Pete Tyler is just fantastic in it. He's really sharp, figuring out that Rose is his baby daughter and realizing that she was lying when she said he was an attentive father. And then his strength at the end, making the sacrifice. Just awesome.

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

Oh god, yes! I rewatched it two months back, too, and it was just so emotionally overwhelming. Pete had great writing and acting, I just adored his character. Wonderful.