Ranking Doctor Who’s modern day companions
By Lacy Baugher
Nardole
Nardole was originally introduced as River Song’s assistant/sidekick in “The Husbands of River Song.” We all sort of assumed we probably wouldn’t see him again, given that he literally lost his head to the robotic King Hydroflax in the same episode. But he was eventually reassembled by the Doctor following River’s final trip to the library, as Twelve feared being alone.
Nardole generally served as the comedic relief to Twelve’s straight man, full of quips, funny one-liners and a certain exasperated vibe that just played well off of Peter Capaldi’s generally more dour tone. But he also helped keep the Doctor right, showing up in time to remind him that River would want him to save his longtime frenemy Missy from the executioners block, and helping him watch over the Vault in which she was imprisoned for decades afterward. Once he gives up on trying to keep the Doctor and the Vault on Earth, Nardole ends up traveling for a bit alongside Twelve and Bill and the three make a rather charming trio.
Yet, Nardole only rates as a so-so companion, largely because Doctor Who had a difficult time really committing to consistent character traits for him, let alone an overall arc or history. (Anyone else want to know why he literally changed his face? Nardole could have had a lot more depth as a character, is all I’m saying.) Furthermore, his ending is kind of weak, as he leads a group of children and colonists to safety on another floor of the Mondasian colony ship in the season 10 finale and is never seen again.
Best episode: The 2016 Christmas special “The Return of Doctor Mysterio.” While Doctor Who didn’t bother to explain at all how Nardole still existed (and wouldn’t until season 10’s “Extremis”) his presence in this episode is a welcome one. Matt Lucas and Peter Capaldi have a tentative, charming initial chemistry, and the explanation of his presence – that he’s there to make sure the Doctor stays true to himself in the wake of River’s “death” – is beautifully bittersweet.