Martha Jones and Bill Potts
It wasn't until series 3 in 2007 that a person of color travelled with the Doctor as a full-time companion. That companion was Martha Jones, played by the gorgeous Freema Agyeman (of African and Iranian descent.) Martha was smart, brave, beautiful, everything that one could want for a companion. She was from a middle class family and was training to be a doctor when she met the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant.) Ms. Jones only stayed for one full series, but after a three episode stint on the spin-off series Torchwood, she appeared in five episodes in the fourth series, before bowing out in a cameo in the 2010 New Year's Special, "The End of Time Part II."
Initiallly, I had a love/hate relationship with Martha only because she developed a crush on the Doctor (I am an avid 10/Rose shipper) and got angry at any mention of Rose's name. However, over the course of her starring series, I developed a deep affection for the character. She could handle herself, she wasn't afraid to put the Doctor in his place, and ultimately, she chose to leave him of her own volition; not because she got trapped in a parallel universe like Rose or fell in love with a one-off character like Jo, but because she realized that the Doctor could not love her the way she deserved to be loved, and was strong enough to walk away from a toxic relationship. She didn't leave full of anger like Tegan (Janet Fielding) did, but as a mature woman. I really respect what the writers did with her chatacter.
It wasn't until series 10 in 2017 that the Doctor travelled with another black companion: Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie). The writers were smart enough not to make her a carbon copy of Martha. Instead, they created a geeky young woman full of heart and humor. Bill was unique in a very special way. Not only was she black. She was also a lesbian. The first gay companion.
Gay characters were not featured in the classic series, but since the 2005 revival have been cropping up more frequently (Russell T. Davies, the man reaponsible for bringing the show back, is an openly gay man.) Captain Jack Harkness (played by John Barrowman) was an omnisexual Time Agent from the 51st Century who travelled with the Ninth and Tenth Doctors as well as headlining the spin-off Torchwood. Ths Doctor's allies Madame Vastra and Jenny were an inter-species (Vastra was a Silurian and Jenny was human) married lesbian couple from the Victorian times; the Doctor's wife River Song (AKA Melody Pond) was also omnisexual.) Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) was implied on more than one occassion to be bisexual.
Like Martha, Bill only starred in one series, but she made an impact that divided several fans. Some embraced that she was gay, while others criticized the storyline for being that the inclusion of an openly gay companion was not appropriate for a family program, feeling that her sexuality was brought up far too much
Bill left the series as a result of the Doctor's (apparent) death, but is slated to make a final appearance in the 2017 Christmas Special, "Twice Upon a Christmas."
Bill came from a different background than Martha. She was an orphan, who grew up in the care of her foster mum; she worked in the canteen at a university she couldn't afford to attend, yet sat in on the Doctor's lectures. Bill seemed less sure of herself than Martha, but was just as brave and independent.
I think it's great that the series is being more inclusive and that that ideal is continuing into the new era with a female Doctor, and two minority companions (one black and one of Indian descent.) I can only hope that with Jodie Whittacker's casting as the first female Doctor, other glass ceilings will be shattered. The Doctor doesn't have to be white, neither does the companion.
Thanks, Freema and Pearl, for bringing these fantastic characters to life. You were both wonderful.
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