Why Martha Jones is the Most Underrated Doctor Who Companion (Video Essay)

[@HarboWholmes]

You there, about to comment. Stop, wait, and check 0:07 again. Notice I say 'series', not 'episodes.' So stop writing "But there are episodes where these don't appear" because I never said that there weren't

[@blueskyla7978]

I got used to ‘series’ being used. If I want to understand this show, I need to understand the language. It’s much easier to understand the language than the show honestly. But rewatching the series is quite interesting and so is this show. I finally just started watching 13. I think going into it somewhat expecting rubbish will allow me to enjoy them maybe? I’ve gone too long from watching Doctor Who.

[@Requiemslove]

She's definately a case of missing potential. That Russel T Davis pretty much admits that he's got regrets over the Martha character, is all the proof that is needed. That being said, for me the best companions on Dr who were the Ponds, and I think series 5 to series 7 episode 5, will attest to that. I do however think Martha could have been so much more had they just got her writing right, but they didn't, so at best, she was too easily forgetable. On the positive she's not been zapped into another dimension, yoinked back in time by over 100 years or killed outright, so thats in her favour.

[@Warlock3417]

She was my favourite. To be honest, I feel like it was because out of all the companions she was the only one who acted like a real life human!

[@HuntingViolets]

@@Warlock3417 My favorite too.

[@HuntingViolets]

@@Requiemslove This is trivial, but I see a lot of people leaving out Russell T Davies's second L of late.

[@baders087]

Martha was the most human companion. Rose was the Bad Wolf, Jack was an immortal space agent, Donna became the DoctorDonna, Amy gave birth to a half-Time Lord, Clara was the impossible girl, and Bill flew into space. But Martha was quintessentially HUMAN. She had no superpowers or gimmicks. She even turned down the doctor to stay at home and help her family, and continued fighting with UNIT, Torchwood, and as a freelancer.

[@brianl8481]

Martha walked around the world in a single year.

[@Lucifronz]

@@brianl8481 Still pretty human, but I agree she had her own incredible feats.

[@eliquialz1841]

@@brianl8481 Around the world in 80 days - By Jules Verne

[@brianl8481]

@@eliquialz1841 Sure, if Martha did it in a hot air balloon or other flying vehicle like in Around the World in 80 Days. Martha did it on foot, and didn't go in a straight line, she stopped to visit all peoples around the world in every country.

[@cosmic24wizard84]

If they were to have them make-up (Martha and the current doctor) I don’t think they should have Chibnall write it.

[@DoorwaySniffer]

Finally someone gives Martha/Freema the recognition she deserves

[@nilssimmert6420]

Is that Wilhelm II. in your Picture? 😂

[@DoorwaySniffer]

@@nilssimmert6420 yes

[@BronyEd]

A queen

[@user-jh7nq9hx7f]

I adore Martha! She's so underrated. She's educated and thinks on her feet. She felt more human and connected to the earth that the other companions. I would even say she's a better doctor than the Doctor!

[@HarboWholmes]

Definitely!

[@xenon8117]

If she didn't have that annoying infatuation story she would be the best, as it is she is merely amazing. She was the smartest companion from nuwho, confident and can work on her own (HN/FOB, SOD/TLOTTL).

[@mikeyt3012]

shes fucking shit

[@MelissaBlue]

@@xenon8117 For anyone who gives her crap about being in love with the Doctor, he was David effing Tennant. It's more unbelievable that Donna said he *wasn't* her type.

[@Lia-uf1ir]

@@HarboWholmes I would like to know what you have in store for Doctor Who stories! And especially what you'd plan to do with Martha! :D I would absolutely love to travel with her! And Captain Jack! ;) That would be my Dream Team: The Doctor, Martha and Jack! I've started writing fanfiction stories on where/when I'd like to see the Doctor go (and, of Course, where/when I'd like to travel with the Doctor if they'd be real! :D ). Personally, I'd like to see some pure historicals again, like in the classic series, especially periods/cultures we haven't seen that much, like Pre-history (since the 60s, science has made great discoveries in finding out how humanity like before they settled). Also, as someone from Germany, I'd like to see a historical time period other than Nazi Germany. And if you Show that, don't just randomly pick it, like in "Let's Kill Hitler" but DO something with it! But there are other periods in German history that are really interesting. :D

[@felidaefatalis]

I loved Martha's run and she was my favorite, with Donna just behind her (Rose just came off so,,,meh,,,to me) Her unrequited affectionate for the Doctor was something that kind of endeared her to me and made her sympathetic and it in my eyes was a really humanizing and realistic flaw. Cause yeah, Martha was this kickass, intelligent, and resourceful med student but she still had her hang ups. Her departure to me read less like "I love you too much to stay" but "I know better than to chase this." Idk. The fact she was able to leave him in my eyes shows that she knew herself well enough not to stay in a situation that was going to hurt her.

[@enyawilliams759]

And then at the end where she acknowledges that she can't stay and be sane, that she has people to care for who care for her For me, the fact that she was in love with the Doctor, then left of her own accord made Martha a much stronger character

[@byMidnyt]

I always thought Rose had better chemistry with 9 than 10, and that Martha had better chemistry with 10 than Rose did. While I didn't mind the initial infatuation that Martha had with him, it did get old very fast, especially with his moping about Rose. It's one of the reasons that Donna was such a breath of fresh air. I also love the fact that she was able to walk away. I think its a great example of strength of character and set a great example for women. It's OK to love and to leave if that love isn't returned. Love isn't the only thing that matters, and its not the end of the world if someone doesn't love you back.

[@SunflowerLilypad]

Rose felt really...just infatuated with the doctor. And it turned into a romance and that really bugged me. I kept rolling my eyes at their romance. Donna and martha were my faves for 10. Amy and rory my faves for 11. They had so much more character.

[@olived9560]

Yeah, she’s my favourite, too.

[@thehorrorcounselors4747]

If I’m honest I low key hated rose...I just really don’t like her, the doctors companions need to be strong minded and not get lost in the lust Of the doctor

[@jcksparrowfan]

Martha and Mickey, people seem to forget what a virtual badass Mickey became after he decided to stay in the alternate universe of his own accord.

[@STOTTINMAD]

Mickey's arc is one of my personal favourites. We need him and Martha in a spin off

[@MelissaBlue]

This is precisely why I don't mind her eventual pairing with Mickey, a smart dude who was also treated like crap by Rose and the Doctor.

[@LadyAltaria]

I rewatched all of NuWho (thanks Covid quarantine) and I hadn’t noticed how great a character Mickey is til now. He goes through a great arc, it’s just in the background of the series so some people don’t notice it, but it’s there and it’s great.

[@SunflowerLilypad]

I really hated how they treated mickey. Especially the 9th. Like damn. I felt it was kind of racist. >.> But then later, *^* mickey was amazing. So glad he grew up.

[@BDaMonkey]

Mickey is wonderful. The scene where he visits his grandma in the alternate universe is a real heartbreaker.

[@CoopDVille-rx3hp]

I'd always noticed a lot of the Doctor's poor treatment of Martha. I wasn't aware that she's so often overlooked by so many fans of the show. Martha has always been one of my favorite companions,if not my very favorite. Admittedly, it's partially due to how hot Freema Agyeman is. Still, that's not the only reason.

[@HarboWholmes]

Yeah she's almost non-existant whenever I see discussions or fan art etc, it's such a shame. She was the best RTD companion

[@tasha7726]

Freema Ayeman is gorgeous. I remember when I first saw her series 3 promo pictures. I thought the Doctor's new companion was going to be a princess from another world😅

[@elliotcrossan6290]

Martha is my favourite companion. She's easily the most qualified and skilled lead companion who's travelled with the Doctor in the revived series. And she went through so much stuff in Human Nature/The Family of Blood and The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords that I don't think any other new Who companion could've handled.

[@HarboWholmes]

Definitely, she has an important and valuable skillset that actually comes into play many times and isn't just there to scream or come up with the common sense answer The Doctor is overlooking. I really wish she got the recognition she deserves

[@elliotcrossan6290]

@@HarboWholmes Justice 4 Martha!!!

[@HarboWholmes]

Wahay, throwback!

[@murdermcmurderface]

Exactly!

[@tomnorton4277]

Rose would have done exactly the same things Martha did for the Doctor's sake. So would Clara and she would have done them a million times over. Martha doesn't do anything that another companion wouldn't do. The only thing special about her is that she chose to leave the Doctor of her own accord and even that was only because he didn't fancy her.

[@hunterkiller1440]

Weird enough, I have the unpopular opinion of preferring Martha over Rose. It felt like she is more competent.

[@EVERBEE_SEWING_BEE]

It's OK, you're not the only one. Rose was so over rated, while Martha was criminally under rated.

[@julieeverett7442]

agreed

[@MasterWalrus]

If I was going on some kind of adventure, Martha would be the clear choice.

[@MDPI]

I love Rose but the fact that she was just there in season 2 except for the season finale just really made me tired of her. I very much prefer Martha but hate her love plot with the Doctor. She’s just so much more competent.

[@frde2190]

So be fair, I’m pretty sure that Rose is younger than Martha. Also Rose had the doctor, Micky and Jacky all looking out for her where Martha was more independent.

[@clayprent8753]

YES. Martha is so underrated. She is part of some of the best stories in NuWho imo (Human Nature, Family of Blood, Blink, the Sontaran two-parter). Donna is my fav but Martha is 2nd (irony, but at least she isn't 2nd to Rose like in the show). Thank you for appreciating her.

[@HarboWholmes]

She's my second favourite NuWho companion, only behind Clara!

[@Temptation666]

@@HarboWholmes She is my second too but after Donna. Clara is my most hated companion. Closely followed by Rose

[@jubjub2331]

Renee Lmao I hate Rose but she’s definitely not hated by most of the fandom

[@sydneychislett]

Totally agree. My list is:1.Donna 2. Martha 3.Rose 4.Clara 5. Amy (Haven’t seen series 10,11 or 12 yet, so I can’t judge graham, bill, or any of the others.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Martha is my number one. Imho Clara sucked and so did Bill.

[@wetwingnut]

Martha takes #1 in my book. She was not only the smartest, but she was also the most honestly self-aware and the least needy of all of the companions.

[@kirkdarling4120]

That's so true it was even noted in the show itself by Jack Harkness, a rather meta way of pointing out that the Doctor is sometimes a dunce. Jones: He'll just get bored with us one day and just disappear. Harkness: Not if you're blonde.

[@lonewolf9578]

Kirk Darling “oh she was blonde! Oh what a surprise”

[@cherblairbear]

@@lonewolf9578 I remember that !! Man, I feel so bad for Martha

[@keren.b_9642]

@@lonewolf9578 what is it with blondes why do they get special treatment

[@full-timelesbian1075]

@@keren.b_9642 Rose Tyler, a blondie that was 9 and 10's companion.

[@keren.b_9642]

I’m talking about every single blondes SMH🤦‍♀️ 😤

[@misssupercookie2011]

3:14 that "Rose would know" line always makes me laugh so hard because no Rose would not know. She was a human (and I don't have a very high opinion of her anyways) so why would she know the answer? Martha deserved so much better.

[@모모-k1x6t]

Ace Nerd that line never fails to make me mad! For gods sake, you'd think that with living so long, the doctor would at least learn -basic courtesy-

[@Lior353]

especially since, if everyone remembers, rose worked in a shop, and martha was a medial student and joined unit later on. “rose would know.” is complete bullshit, since martha is clearly much more intelligent that rose would ever be.

[@MotRekrab1347]

I know, right? 'Ah yes, medical student, I'm sure this 19-year-old shop worker would know exactly what to do here!'

[@jntl06]

It was martha's first adventure, of course she wouldn't know i loathed the doctor this season

[@robinlillian9471]

@@Lior353 Education and intelligence are NOT necessarily the same thing. Rose was working class, and Martha was upper middle class. Martha had more opportunity and more encouragement to study.

[@nightowl8477]

You can see the effect Rose had on the Doctor in Dalek and The Parting of the Ways, you can see the effect Donna had on the Doctor in The Fires of Pompeï and The Waters of Mars. Lessons the Doctor learns from his companions stick with him. But not Martha. It is a shame.

[@HarboWholmes]

It really is. It's like he just skipped Series 3, despite Martha teaching him a lot of important lessons

[@thehorrorcounselors4747]

Agreed !

[@JOCoStudio1]

To be fair, Donna does say that Martha was good for him, in the fact that he didn't just mindlessly slaughter the Adipose like he did the racknoss.

[@AL-do2km]

martha and the doctor didn’t have a bad parting though, that’s why it didn’t effect him as much. donna and rose HAD to leave the doctor which hurt him since he had no choice but to not see either of them ever again as a companion, unlike martha who came back as a companion now and then

[@10thdoctor15]

After Rose helped the Doctor in stories like Dalek, I can understand why he liked her, but you have to move on. I thought he did in The Lazarus Experiment, when he changed from asking her for one more trip to being a companion, and giving her a key and improving her phone (something that only the RTD companions had).

[@chrisandersen5635]

Martha Jones! Voice of a nightingale! At least Jack appreciated her.

[@purplegemcrazyroyal5247]

Chris Andersen Definitely agree with you on that! Jack showed far more respect to Martha than the Dr ever did! The Dr should have been called out on his bullshit!

[@jvblhc]

Martha Jones has always been my favorite companion. Her pining for The Doctor never bothered me, especially because it would pop up once or twice in each episode and then she would go about her business of saving the world and The Doctor. I always thought that the complete Rose - Martha - Donna arc was purposely done by Davies to show how The Doctor should not fall in love with *anybody*. He obviously loved Rose Tyler and lost her. He obviously scoped out Martha ahead of time as a possible new companion and was going to make her the new full-time companion, but his love for Rose kept getting in the way. He couldn't let go of the memory of Rose, which is why only halfway through the third series did he finally give Martha her own key to the TARDIS. I also believe he truly loved Martha as a friend, and admired her skills and resourcefulness but --- well, yeah, he was a d*ck. Donna Noble was the third piece of the puzzle which rounded out The Doctor's romantic story arc - Donna was a friend, a pal, a buddy, with nothing but platonic love between her and The Doctor, and even then, Donna's story ended in bittersweet sadness with no memory of The Doctor at all. Meanwhile, Martha Jones was so much more than just a young woman with a crush. She was the smartest and most useful of all the companions. I don't think any other character at that time would have so easily able to jump out of The Doctor's life, jump back in when she thought it was necessary, go around to Torchwood to help things out there, and also have a family life. By the time of the Sontaran two-parter, when Martha came back for the first time, she was pretty much over The Doctor. Anyway, I believe there are many Martha Jones fans out there who think she is the best of the bunch and I am one of them. I would love to see her come back for at least one episode.

[@MelissaBlue]

For anyone who gives Martha crap about being in love with the Doctor, he was David effing Tennant. It's more unbelievable that Donna said he *wasn't* her type.

[@ankaplanka]

@@MelissaBlue Not everyone have the same type you know. That would be pretty unrealistic lmao

[@sevensevenseven9351]

Martha is esentaly the middle child of female companions from RTD Era

[@Dandidoodles]

This is so true though! Rose is definitely oldest child vibes.

[@wordart_guian]

@@Dandidoodles ironically, in age terms, rose was the youngest and donna the oldest

[@muskaan3711]

Martha is my favorite companion. She was her own person and always thought about her family first. What we see with Rose and Amy is that they put the doctor before everything. Martha left the doctor because she needed to support her family and complete her degree. I feel that the love arc between teh doctor and rose was completely unnecessary when she already had Mickey.

[@catherineellen4063]

I love Martha! I think maybe she’s overlooked because she didn’t have a tragic end? (Also love your channel, you should have more subscribers!!)

[@HarboWholmes]

Maybe! Like I said, a lot of people consider her 'boring' so maybe the lack of a dramatic, heroic sacrifice means they overlook her

[@christopherbennett5858]

Now here's an interesting connection. Martha and Bill are probably the most down to Earth companions and it's rather nice to see Martha, who knows she's in a bad relationship with the Doctor, decide to leave on her own accord. It's what I like about her. She's wiser than most of the other companions and has been allowed to thrive outside of the Doctor instead of being "Put in the fridge".

[@MstEli]

I've said for years that Martha was basically the Doctor's rebound. She had the misfortune of having to follow up Rose, and then (in my opinion) being overshadowed by Donna, which really is too bad because, Martha, like Rose and Donna before and after her, really brought something valuable to the table. She was intelligent, competent, and tenacious, and without her, the Master would've won. Full stop. It's just too bad that Martha (and Mickey) couldn't have joined Torchwood full time. They would've made a great fit. At least Jack and the Torchwood writing team recognized a good thing when they had it.

[@보모]

I’d pay to see Miracle Day redux with Martha & Mickey

[@stevekillgore9272]

Martha was great, and seeing her heart broken over her Doctor playing house with an Earth-lady pre-WW1 was wrenching. Maybe that Space Titanic was a nod to how the Doctor was an iceberg to Martha ... You are spot on that Martha Jones is an outstanding human being.

[@ibazulic]

One comment though: Doctor is behaving like a human, literary. When we fall in love with someone and that love is rejected or breaks down, we do not see anyone else for a period of time. We do not percieve our actions as bad or wrong, even though they are bad and wrong at the same time. We do not think about the consequences of our actions or inactions. In that sense, Doctor's pain about losing Rose was perfectly shown and one does sympathise with him on that basis. I'm just sad that Martha was the one getting the abuse, because she didn't deserve it in any way. I've been a "Martha" many, many times, and I do feel sorry for her. The difference between us, I didn't know when to stop.

[@stu1701E]

That's a valid perspective. Martha was not treated well but she wasn't entitled to be the Doctor's girlfriend just because she travelled with him. In fact, it's all to her credit that she was able to overcome that and still perform countless acts of heroism in aid of the Doctor and humanity.

[@mesCheerios]

Part of the reason i used to watch Doctor Who was because he didn't act like a human. It was fun escapism

[@stu1701E]

@@mesCheerios The absence of romantic plotlines involving the main character was part of what made the classic series so distinctive. So yes, the NuWho stuff with Rose was a bit jarring.

[@hollyrosewood1038]

I actually really do agree with your point here, thanks you for commenting this.

[@matthewduncan8523]

Century22 yes and that’s what made Donna so popular (apart from the part basically being Catherine Tate anyway) it wasn’t any stupid love build up over time. Just two mates messing around while saving the world

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

I agree completely. Martha made for a terrific companion because she was so intelligent ( _she was literally a doctor_ ). Unlike most of his companions, she could actually keep up with him and have provided him with a lot of great conversation. But maybe that's just me, I prefer a partner that I can communicate with rather than one I can "rescue". ¬_¬ It's as if either the Doctor was obsessed with Rose (which as you said, was irritating), or he just prefers the company of inferiors to make himself feel superior. It's all the more frustrating since it was doc10, widely considered to be one of the best, on par with 4. 🤦 Martha got the happy ending because she was smart. 👍 It was the same with Sarah Jane. I wonder if they'll do any sort of companion-falling-for-the-doctor-and-getting-treated-like-a-pet stuff with 13, would that fly with a female Doctor? 🤔 Davies shouldn't regret the way he wrote Martha, he should regret the way he wrote Rose. It was always irritating that Rose and the Doctor had a seemingly romantic thing going on, because the Doctor isn't supposed to be sexual, he can't keep companions for too long and so any relationship is doomed from the start, and because Rose was already with Mickey, so it felt like a real dick-move to dump a nice guy for some random time-traveling alien (and yet keep Mickey hanging on, just in case). ¬_¬ Martha wasn't the only companion that got short-shrift from the Doctor; he was also very dismissive of all of the New Who male companions. Mickey always felt like a lackey, a sidekick to a sidekick, and Rory still didn't feel equal to Amy even after he became an official, full-time companion. 😒 The Doctor obviously keeps companions not for the actual companionship, but just to have a pretty girl hanging around (as fan-service). I can't help but notice that this seems to be the pattern in New Who whereas Old Who had plenty of male companions, and dual companions. It wasn't until 13 that we got an ensemble in New Who, but that isn't going well either, she always seems to be either ignoring them while she runs around or overly involved in their feelings. 🤦 I still like the show, but the sheen is gone. It's just not as appealing once you see it for what it actually is. 🤷 My favorite companions are Amy and Clara tied for first (because they're so freaking twee), Martha in second because she's smart and engaging, then in third and fourth, it's a toss-up between Sarah Jones and Zoe Heriot. I did also like Rory and Mickey, but it was more a feeling of empathy for their status and rooting for them. I don't really remember any others from Old Who; that was just too long ago.

[@eastenders4k251]

You said Sarah Jones 😂 it's Sarah Jane, Martha is Jones 😛

[@abbyj.7413]

I always defend Martha as a great companion because she is so incredibly underrated! Rose always overshadowed Martha's season which I think is so unfair because Martha deserves so much more and is way more capable than Rose was.

[@robinlillian9471]

Rose did some pretty amazing things, herself. The Doctor sent her home to save her life, and she actually took the TARDIS back to save HIM. It was true that he ended up regenerating, but the Daleks would have destroyed him utterly. Then there was making it back from a parallel universe to find him. I would say finding a way to do things the Doctor thought were impossible is pretty amazing.

[@Codestud]

I’ve watched all NuWho, and I certainly haven’t forgotten Martha because she is still my favourite of the NuWho companions. I agree with a lot of what you say on the vid. I liked Martha because she had a real authenticity about her. She was someone whom the Doctor could genuinely depend on with her intelligence and stoicism and didn’t need any fancy plot device to make her “special”. Sometimes less is more!

[@chelsea1062]

Martha is the only companion who is extremely extraordinary just by being ordinary.

[@nightowl8477]

I wish Martha had another series. Maybe Rose should have left in Series 1? I did like her in Series 2, but I'd prefer Martha. I guess I'll just have to read the novels.

[@HarboWholmes]

I recommend Forever Autumn and The Pirate Loop. Great little NDAs!

[@DravenGal]

I love "The Last Dodo" with Martha. She seems to have the most books with the Doctor. Perhaps someone was trying to make up for her shoddy treatment in the show.

[@matthewparker9276]

I think it was important for rose to continue over from season 1 to season 2. So soon after the reboot it wouldn't of been good to introduce an entirely new tardis team. Having said that, I'm not a fan of the ten/rose dynamic, especially the way it continued to dominate season 3.

[@julieeverett7442]

@@DravenGal there are audio of the novels, for the Martha ones its actually HER reading them, for me they are a part of her year around the world, and very enjoyable!!!

[@DravenGal]

@@julieeverett7442 Very fantastic!

[@The482075]

Matha Jones never needed The Doctor to be awesome. A strong character like her works better if she is the main character calling the shots and saving the day. She has way too much agency to be a sidekick. She works better front and centre.

[@toukoenriaze9870]

Watch out ... U might get a UNIT spinnoff Actually im lowkey surprised they didnt do it They made one off jack and torchwood And then sarah jane one

[@abracadaverous]

Thank you, a million times, thank you! I loved Martha Jones and I positively adore Freema Agyeman.

[@beetlejuice4893]

If Martha comes back we need a full episode breakdown lol

[@MelissaBlue]

YES!!!! Martha has ALWAYS been my favorite companion. She's intelligent and incredibly capable and competent. (And I don't mind her eventual pairing with Mickey, a smart dude who was also treated like crap by Rose and the Doctor.) For anyone who gives her crap about being in love with the Doctor, he was David effing Tennant. It's more unbelievable that Donna said he *wasn't* her type.

[@markbechtold7372]

Martha Jones is my favorite companion. She went through so much malarkey (from everyone), yet she retained her smart, sexy, sassiness.

[@BDaMonkey]

She went through the worst shit ever. Talking about the 3 parter at the end of S3. She's wonderful.

[@danbongle]

Martha is my favourite companion she also has the best episodes

[@bloodmorel]

I agree, Martha was a great companion. Very under-rated.

[@FaultyTARDIS]

Agree 100% I've always said this about Martha, I've always seen her as the most underrated. Along with everything you said, I feel it was a sort of audience tribalism that forms: similarly to people who wrote off matt smith because of being used to Tennant, or people who wrote off Capaldi because of being used to Smith. Rose was the first companion on NuWho and she was therefore "better" in the eyes of the audience because RTD was also so in love with her character that he made her the central companion of his era. But i wish people appreciated Martha for the great character and companion she is! :)

[@stayforthepeelpronpls4774]

11:10 **cough** **cough** Yaz the police officer who’s skills are never used

[@Mysterytour7]

Oh my god #Yaz deserves better

[@kanishka8416]

and Ryan whose character personality is being disabled🤦‍♀️

[@wetwingnut]

I've never forgotten Martha. In my mind she was the only modern companion who was always The Doctor's equal. From the outset, she is a "doctor" in her own right. She has a full, goal directed, personal and professional life, and when she decides to accompany the doctor it isn't because she is bored or unfullfilled.

[@LuxDeLune]

I've always held Martha up as on of my fav' companions. I actually wasn't put off at all by her being in Rose's shadow, I think it really said a lot about her resilience in the face of The Doctors dismissals. It was also a good way to keep Rose in the overall 9/10 story arc for her final departure in Journeys End. On re watching Nuwho I was surprised when I saw that she was only the companion for one series, she was such a strong character that in my memory she was there for a lot longer, probably helped by her appearances in S4 but I think it speaks volumes for Agyeman's performance. I too would like to see a return of Martha for an episode or two.

[@snazzyquizzes2336]

I agree that Martha is underrated. She was great. The first 2 series were very focused on Rose, which was good, but one of the main strengths of Martha was that she didn't 'steal the limelight' quite as much as the companions that came before and after her, and this was a refreshing difference she brought to the show. Rose, Martha and Donna were all excellent in their own ways.

[@vickycastillo9214]

I feel like, ironically, due to the way Martha’s character was wrote. For people who were able to see over what the series wanted us to see. The way her character is so bad ass gets highlighted and truly, the fact that the Doctor didn’t quite care about her that much in risky situations makes her extra bad ass (cause she made her own path out). She became the “useful one” more than once, rather than be another companion who pleas for the Doctor to turn things right. I do agree that an episode of the Doctor acknowledging her good deeds, despite the way his obsession with Rose overshadow her would be great. But in general, I don’t think Martha’s character is the flow in the whole ordeal of her being underestimated as a companion. The problem is the lack of acknowledgement from the Doctor towards Martha.

[@user-vz2ey4we1m]

Long ramble incoming. I agree with so much of this video. I've always thought Martha was one of the best companions, ever. I always chalked the Doctor's behaviour up to the fact that he knew very early on that she had a crush on him so he put her down all the time to try and put her off. Given what happened to Rose, he had adopted a cold exterior; you can see that in the differences between The Runaway Bride and Partners in Crime when Donna says that she must have done him some good given his empathy toward the Adipose in contrast to the Racnoss. Unfortunately, Martha bore the brunt of that and her romantic interest only made him more callous in order to protect her. Not to mention, this coincided with the Torchwood theme of being companions left behind Davies was exploring with Jack. Martha was a bad expression of the neglected companion struggling to identify themselves outside of life with the Doctor. However, this doesn't quite work as a character arc for Martha as she was far more capable than any other Davies’ (and Moffat) companion. Matha’s greatest weakness was she had so few weaknesses. Davies' companions were written to act as a foil to the Doctor in a specific way. The were designed to always challenge the Doctor on a moral level, providing a virtue framework and making sure he adhered to it by way of emotional pleas - e.g. Rose in Dalek, Donna in the Fires of Pompeii. But Martha was the only one who came on par with logical thinking. She worked well without the Doctor, using her initiative when they were apart, as in Gridlock and Daleks in Manhatten and later The Doctor's Daughter. I think this formula worked better with Martha because, even though she also brought that trademark empathy of a Davies' companion, she was always at her best when she was allowed to act independently from him and think on her feet. Compare that to Rose in Bad Wolf who is cast as a damsel in distress. Ultimately her love and moral decisiveness overcome the threat of the Daleks, via one heart of the Tardis, but the success of her actions are driven completely on moral determination rather than any technical skillset. That is because, in theory, if there were a logical way out of a given situation, the Doctor would be able to see it. Rose acts in contradiction to the rational ‘laws’ of the universe, acting emotionally. By contrast, Martha’s given opportunity to save the world is by travelling the globe and channels that essence into her skills as a rhetorician. Her "a gun in four parts" speech sounds so much like something Tennant's Doctor would say, summarising the inherent problem of Martha as being too independent to work as a companion because she displaces the role of the Doctor. Even Donna, who proves herself to be the most important person in the universe, is only so beloved by the Doctor because he initially believes her to be nothing but ordinary, but caring Thus, the Doctor/companion relationship works because the companion provides the moral boundaries for the Doctor to act within. Martha both creates her own moral frameworks and executes them herself. The Family of Blood serial demonstrates exactly this. This minimises the Doctor as the supreme authority and destabilises his character's foundations. This relationship dynamic is so quintessential to Davies’ era because of two core motif that underpin his writing for Doctor Who. The first is that the Doctor cannot save everyone and, therefore, the safety of the companion should never be taken for granted. Nonetheless, this is explored only through it’s failure, i.e. The Doctor’s loss of companions, necessitating the companion to be recognised as inherently inferior to the Doctor in some way to justify the need to be saved. Having a companion on par with the Doctor shatters this illusion too quickly; if a human is as capable as the Doctor, then the Doctor is no more capable of protecting that person than they are of protecting themselves. As a result, Davies needed to show Martha to be reliant on the Doctor and he uses the notion of her unrequited love to do so. Martha’s parting speech makes sense in this light, her affection for the Doctor is the only way in which Martha is portrayed as vulnerable as a companion. Unfortunately, this creates a self-fulfilling cycle whereby the more she seeks the Doctor’s validation through his affection she comes up short to Rose. This is probably why the romantic narrative is pushed so hard as, otherwise, Martha is not reliant on the Doctor in any other way. Other than needing him to drive her around the universe, she is perfectly capable as an individual. Consequently, Davies tries to reestablish the convention of the necessary but lesser companion by implementing this unrequited love storyline to a ridiculous point. I think Martha would have served much better if The Family of Blood happened halfway through the season and, as a result, Martha began to outgrow her feelings for the Doctor. This would have allowed for their relationship to evolve to a point where he could be warmer to her without fear she's falling in love with him. Episodes like the Lazarus Experiment and 42, both of which see Martha put in her most vulnerable situations, would lend themselves to them developing a more trusting relationship as equals, showing they can both rely on each other, but still underpinning the idea that life with the Doctor lends itself to a tragic fate. The season finale would have had heightened emotional stakes if the Doctor revealed his trauma as a consequence of losing Rose, breaking down and confessing he doesn't want to lose another companion but is ultimately unable to protect them indefinitely, before Martha is left on her own to fight the Master. The ending could also be tweaked to give more credit to Martha - perhaps instead of thinking of the Doctor, a man they've never met, they call out Martha's name instead given that she's the one meeting and talking to these people. I know this wouldn’t work that simply as the Doctor is somehow able to wire himself into the Archangel network? but again it could be tweaked. I think this would also make the ending more satisfying as an exit for her as she partly leaves to take care of her family and so it could play up the Martha as a pseudo Doctor angle and foreshadow her involvement with UNIT and Torchwood more obviously. Overall, this would redress the balance between the Doctor/companion as being more equal, in preparation for Donna’s era. This would help address the Doctor’s guilt over Rose as he realises that his companions are ultimately responsible for their own lives and can act of their own accord, not merely function as a foil to his own actions and as such reside in his care. Obviously, there’s a lot more to be said here and more nuance to be applied but this was just a few thoughts I had and tried to tie together. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[@jntl06]

What bothered me the most is when the doctor and donna talked about martha, all he could say was "She fancied me". I'm sorry sir, she watched you become a human and fall in love with a woman who wans't her, she had to deal with being a black maid in 1913, she travelled the world for a whole year and saved it with her own two feet, and all you can say is "she fancied me"?! This is what made me decide I liked the 11th doctor more than the 10th.

[@impossiblesoul]

Martha was the cleverest companion of them all. She WAS underrated, I think she deserved another season or just better episodes

[@julieeverett7442]

modern era yes, classic era I'd like to see how she reacted to Romana, a new graduate Time Lady!!!

[@mtaimry]

Loved the video as usual and loved hearing your take on the subject. Here are some of my thoughts about some of the things you said, if you're interested (kind of long because the video was good!)- 1. I don't think her exit could\should have been done differently. I don't really want Martha's final moments as a companion to be her being angry and shouty. I think her little story about her friend and the whole "GET OUT" thing wasn't a "you're too hot I love you too much" thing, it was a subtle way for her to call him out on his shitty behaviour. "I love you but you're kind of a dick to me so I'm leaving" is what I got from it. 2. I don't hate her crushing on the Doctor, but I guess it could've been handled better. I like that she is so smart and so capable and such a good sport but he just can't see it, that contrast should've actually made me like her even more but for some reason it kind of didn't, not at first viewing anyway. Also, I agree with you that his appalling behaviour towards her should have been adressed more seriously, and I think it could have come from like a guest character or like Tish or something, someone that views the relationship from the outside and cares for Martha, but Martha is so caught up in it that she won't really see it until the finale. Maybe if her mum cared more about how her daughter is being treated than about the Doctor being a wierdo than she would have been more likable, too! 3. I completely agree about what you said, that the Doctor learned nothing from this and it's like this arc was useless. I never really thought about it but you're absolutely right. Even after, with Donna when he told her "With Martha.. it got complicated", it's like he didn't even really know WHY it got comlicated, he just knows that something happened. I would totally be down for an episode like you said where she comes back and calls him out on it, properly this time. I think that's it. Much appreciated if you read all that!

[@HarboWholmes]

Wow, that definitely is a lot! 🤣 I'll try and respond as best I can 1. That's a good point. If Martha had been antagonist towards The Doctor when she left it would have been a trainwreck and she'd be even worse off in regards to fan reception. Perhaps Davies made it just a bit TOO subtle though. He could have written that same exchange with just a little bit more edge to make us understand Martha's plight more, rather than making her look week. 2. Having an outside character would be the perfect way to address The Doctor's treatment of Martha. For other companions we've had Jackie and Sylvia as the cautious, apprehensive mothers judging The Doctor, but Francine was a bit TOO abrasive and her genuine concern was made to look like a bad thing despite her being in the right as Martha never told her anything about The Doctor but Saxon's people did. It's not her fault. Tish would have been the perfect person to point out the problematic relationship between Martha and The Doctor because we're shown how close they are. 3. Definitely. The Doctor just swans off and forgets why Martha actually left, he's completely ignorant of it despite having learned lessons from Rose and Donna. It makes him look more disrespectful when he should have realised that's why Martha left

[@julieeverett7442]

can you pleas explain his "appaling behaviour" towards her? He didnt see her in a romantic light, she was a freind to hang around, how is this so horrible? Did I miss something?

[@WithADashOfPazazz]

@@julieeverett7442 a friend to hang around with? he barely gave her that, martha even said in the dalek two parter that she wasn't sure if they were friends. one of the things that really stands out, even said by actors on the commentary is that the doctor is quite cruel to martha. like when martha asked if the face of boe meant her and he says no, or when he hugs martha then immediately after says never waste time on a hug. in the second episode he dismisses her valid worries about her safety in regard to her race, calls her a novice, and dismisses her yet again in utopia when she asks what happens post him. he is not kind to her at all and that's why she left.

[@xhotelcortez9815]

I remember as a kid HATING Martha because she wasn’t Rose, how her falling in love with The Doctor was pathetic, etc. Watching it now as an adult, I LOVE Martha and absolutely despise how The Doctor treated her. Like some other comments have said, Martha is just human. Everything she did, she did with no extra powers and no praise from The Doctor quite frankly. Martha is by far the most strong companion. I still wish they didn’t write the unrequited-love portion of her story and just kept The Doctor not respecting her the same without the love story. In The Family of Blood, The Doctor straight up asks Joan to come travel with him at the end BEFORE even just THANKING Martha for everything she did for him. Then at the end of the finale, he only says “Thanks.” to her. That’s his acknowledgment of EVERYTHING she did in the finale. LITERALLY SAVING not just the entire planet, but the entire Universe. I love Ten and adore David Tennant but my God, watching this as an adult made me so angry at him. Martha is by far the smartest, strongest and bravest companion and deserved soooooooooooo much better by both The Doctor and the fans of the show. Glad to see in more recent years, she’s been getting more of the praise she deserves.

[@gravityfails4628]

I admit that that when I was younger I was rather ignorant of Martha’s character... But even as a dumb teen I still felt it was rather weird if not at least sad that Mickey and Martha got together... The Doctor’s two (POC+) most underrated companions married each other Meanwhile the human Doctor and Rose: a white couple get to live together in the bubble of a separate universe. [This was all before Capaldi was the Doctor] I felt happy for both couples and I wanted them to be happy but it overall made me feel like something was off...

[@alexpotts6520]

Yeah, Mickey + Martha is wrong on so many levels: 1) they had previously had zero time together on-screen 2) Martha moans about being the Doctor's rebound after Rose and ends up happily married as... Mickey's rebound after Rose (albeit with a few years' gap) 3) the insinuation that a character's arc isn't complete if they're not coupled up 4) the airbrushing of Tom Milligan 5) the exposition working their marriage into the middle of a battle against the Sontarans was incredibly clunky - I think if they'd had Mickey call Martha "Mrs Smith" we could have worked out the rest for ourselves 6) the unfortunate implications of racial segregation My headcanon is that Mickey briefly became a priest, and the line "you shouldn't have married me then" refers to him officiating the ceremony at her wedding with Tom.

[@weirdwolf5032]

Series 3 was the first series of Doctor Who i was old enough to remember watching every episode as it came out and stories that impacted me so greatly i still think about them to this day, from the master, family of blood and the weeping angels. The love story was never what mattered to me, as a kid and even now; i just felt inspired by Martha as young girl because i liked to see her as the hero in her own way who was inspired to do more from her time with the doctor. Donna is my personal favourite due to Catherine Tate's charisma (or lack thereof) and better writing, but it doesn't change the fact that Martha was the first companion i truly cared about and still do

[@Vol-Tear]

Now I look back, yikes the doctor was a bit of a jerk sometimes, and that's a bitter pill to swallow as he is one of my favourite incarnation :/ Martha Jones was one of my preferred companions, she had no mystery around her, she was not some anomaly in time and space, she was just was a doctor in training. Martha Jones was a healer who I thought was going to have some Doctor parallels going with her becoming a doctor in her own right, be it inspired by the doctor or just because it was what she was doing before they met and their travels have given her experience. Marta even looked after THE Doctor, family of blood, parasite sun, blink "working in a shop supporting him", and some others I cannot remember off the top of me head.

[@Lucifronz]

This is why I think Donna works so well. She didn't wind up being a love interest, possibly because she was written in for a Christmas Special and then _later_ fully utilized as a companion, so she was already established as this brash person who didn't see the Doctor as her "type". Whatever the reason behind it, after Rose's tragic love story departure and Martha's weird unrequited love story, it was refreshing to see a companion who just didn't like the Doctor that much. She was honestly kind of a dick to him, which on _any other character_ would have driven me nuts but for some reason I just loved it from her. They eventually became best buds and it was way more interesting of a dynamic than another puppy dog love story. You're right in every respect, though, Martha was sickeningly disregarded by the writers. She showed herself to be competent all the way through but for some reason they kept writing her to be desperately in love with the Doctor and to make him be irritatingly obsessed with Rose. Don't get me wrong, I am fine with him being hung up over her and even bringing her up a lot, but so much so that he treated Martha like a stepping stool? It was a little out of character. The writers should have eased back on the romance writing and just focused on the brilliance of the two doctors. She should have been recognized for her abilities. After the Lazarus Project, when she finally stands up for herself and tells him to stop treating her like a passenger, they should have reconciled and understood each other better, but it was kinda just more of the same. She gets neglected, feels bad, mom keeps harassing her about being with the Doctor, etc. I think the romance crap dies down a little by then, but I don't remember. Honestly it doesn't matter because there should have been a build-up towards him recognizing her as a great companion.

[@budd2nd]

Martha is definitely my most favourite companion, for more relatable to my life. More relatable to the working middle-class backbone of this country and I totally agree that the romantic element of her story was a mistake on Russells part. I usually love Russell’s writing in everything he does but this was a low point. I remember at the time pointing out to my kids and the doctor was not behaving well towards Martha, but the doctor is supposed to be still suffering from Roses’ departure. So maybe it is acceptable that he might want to talk about her.

[@alexevans9379]

I'm glad this was said! Martha will always have a special place in my heart. She was my first companion since series 3 was where I started watching the show! I'm torn between her and Amy.

[@rubybrigden2719]

You literally read my mind it’s crazy how you explained all of my opinions !

[@threecats8219]

Martha will always be my favourite of the new series.

[@lee-zp2mi]

martha is great. she was under Russell’s writing so she got the development by the end of s3. she really deserved another series

[@pwlpc]

A lot of what was said in the video fits also to Rory Williams, i think he made a better companion than his wife Amy. Especially as the series progressed and it was a damn shame that the 11th doctor cared so much about Amy while treating Rory more or less as a punching bag.

[@DaDunge]

He was an ass to Amy too, he constantly belittled her's and Rory's life choices.

[@pwlpc]

@@DaDunge Yeah but he respected her at least because she kind of worshipped him, while Rory increasingly questioned the doctor's motifs, although still following the doctor's orders

[@alexpotts6520]

Hmm, I must have been watching a different show to you. The Doctor really did care about the pair of them, both as a couple he was desperate to keep together, but also individually. If anything it was Amy who treated Rory as a punching bag at times. (Yes, she loved him, but not in the uncomplicated, wholesome way he loved her.) The way I see the Doctor's feelings about Rory is that he put so much effort into persuading Amy about how great Rory was, that he ended up believing it himself.

[@DaDunge]

@@pwlpc I really don't feel she did, not post Amy's choice. And if not earlier then at least with the pandorica opens the doctor starts treating Rory a lot better.

[@DaDunge]

@@alexpotts6520 Also kind of helped that Rory spent close to 2000 years watching over Amy.

[@alyxiavr7623]

Martha’s always been one of my favorite companions, mostly I think because she’s the most relatable to me.

[@pmiles363]

lol, when I first started watching doctor who I watched series 3 first therefore I compared Rose to Martha and honestly couldn't understand why Rose was so much better, this video really helps to highlight my thoughts exactly

[@thehorrorcounselors4747]

I agree with you on absolutely everything Martha was so underrated and I’m so disappointed with how she was handled I’m not blaming David (doctor) but I think if David had any say in her ending I think he would have written it to where Martha calls him out for not giving her the world when she risked absolutely everything and beyond that

[@Натал20]

I'm probably one of the very few people who likes Martha's story exactly the way it is. I think most people have been a Martha at some point in their lives. You can be the most amazing human being, but there will still be folks who just don't get it. Who don't see your worth no matter how hard you try to convince them. May it be a crush, a parent, a boss etc. Martha was greatly overlooked not only by the doctor, but also by the writers and by the audience. And yet that character is so strong, that years later we come to cherish her. In the end, she wins. She realizes her own worth is not dependent on what the Doctor thinks of her and she starts her own adventure. To me, one of the most inspirational characters ever.

[@the1nonlyani]

Martha's my favourite companion, I lover her, glad someones is finally recognising her value.

[@keren.b_9642]

I love that she was one of the companions who didn't say "I was gonna be with you forever"

[@RealBadGaming52]

You Mean Donna, oh Yeah

[@keren.b_9642]

@@RealBadGaming52 yeah Donna also rose and Clara said that and look how that ended

[@ashleymagdalene]

While I loved the romance between Ten and Rose, albeit frustrated and stalled, Martha was and has been the best newWho companion...

[@marshallhuffer4713]

Big Finish did a box set that goes over Martha's year of spreading hope. I hope they bring her back for new adventures with the Doctor.

[@enyawilliams759]

I loved Martha, she's always been a step above the rest for me. I never minded the unrequited love plotline because she was still intelligent and witty and quick-thinking and brave. Idk also I was like 10 maybe?

[@GregNumber]

Martha was by far my favorite companion of the New Series. She was never arrogant or self-centered, nor was she preachy.

[@333angeleyes]

Here is my hypothesis many fans saw her as weak and it made them feel uncomfortable because it was to real and reminded them of their own selves-once she became real she no longer allowed fans escapism. ALL... I repeat All (except for Donna & Bill) the companions of NuWho had crushes on the doctor. Martha was just the most open about it and therefore the most REJECTED! But she kept coming back/hanging around which many people saw in themselves and didn't like it. Better to imagine themselves as the hero that is desired than the person who isn't good enough for the person clearly out of their league... And don't be mistaken the Doctor is out of EVERY woman's league. Go watch the episode where River Song explains why she tries to spend as little time with the doctor as possible though she loved him since childhood, she didn't want him to see her flaws. This also caused conflicts in the fans because even though they hated seeing Martha being constantly hurt by the Doctor they also Loved the Doctor so many fans didn't know how to process this dichotomy. She was a mirror for EVERY man or woman who has "nicely" been rejected by someone out of their league and seeing her interact with the Doctor told them that He wasn't wrong, she was wrong for chasing someone who didn't want more than friends. BUT.. to admit that is to admit that "ALL OF US" who have been rejected aren't the victims and the person who didn't want us wasn't wrong or bad.

[@theultimatetvchannel]

FINALLY!! Thanks for your truthfull analysis. Martha was a brilliant companion and often overlooked because she represented the reality not the fantasy of traveling with the Doctor

[@greghawkins59]

Martha's practical skills, how she continued to be amazing after leaving the tardis, and the fact she didn't need to be universally important to save the day are exactly why she's easily the best companion. Glad rtd regrets how he wrote her, maybe he'll bring her back and do her justice when he starts back up as show runner.

[@ontos8534]

Martha is the most underrated and Rose is the most overrated

[@matthewduncan8523]

I used to love rose as a companion but as time went on and I watched more of the show I saw she really wasn’t that great at all. She’s ok but she’s no Amy or Donna

[@alangreig4261]

This is so true

[@user-jn1wm3tb8v]

Well if we're going New Who yes. In Classic there are more underrated companions like Dodo, Katarina, Polly, Ben and Harry.

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

@@user-jn1wm3tb8v I'm not really sure what there is that we aren't appreciating enough in dodo, she was a fairly shallow character and didsnt have much personality. Katarina was cool while she was there, but she diddnt get enough to do before she died to be that memorable. if more of her brief time in the show had been spent focusing on her (not giving her more episodes, just focusing more on her while she was there) I'd have more of an opinion on her.

[@user-jn1wm3tb8v]

@@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502 There are a few expanded media that help flesh out companions. Dodo has a lot of potential based off original concepts(a mancunian who keeps the doctor in check)but didn't get to work. Katarina too, great concepts that deserve some degree of recognition.

[@KnightsRealm98]

Martha was awesome. I really enjoyed her run. One thing I really liked was seeing a darker version of the Doctor. With Rose, the 10th Doctor was merciful and worked hard to be kind. When he lost Rose in Doomsday, it was like he lost part of himself. People say Martha didn't leave an impact on him, yet we see him change by series 4. He didn't need to be called out, he needed to heal. And Martha helped. It honestly would have been better if the love story was either nixed or lessened, but as is it still provides a very compelling story for the Doctor. She was loyal, and he did show he cared for her (end of Family of Blood, 42, Gridlock), just not in the way she wanted....because he couldn't. It took a whole other regeneration for him to truly move on from Rose.

[@thatsci-firogue]

Definitely an underappreciated companion, personally she's one of my favourite New Who companions.

[@rexsalisbury3646]

Martha was a good foil for the 10th Doctor..out of all the Doctors this series has had, the 10th is the best in my view by far as the roll suited him..

[@xLionsxxSmithyx]

Probably one of the most exciting companions tbh.. she is definitely my favourite.. she had so much going for her.. sad about her in universe cousin dying though.. she plays a huge role in the who verse if you ask me.

[@monikaciemiega3392]

I LOVED Martha, and I am so happy to see this video! Frankly, I was never particularly fond of Rose so to constantly see her existing only as the "worse wannabe" really took away from some amazing stories and in fact also damaged my opinion of the tenth doctor. It's good to see this and the comment section sharing this opinion, some vindication for all the times people have told me off for this opinion :D

[@harlandted]

Wow, I loved the way Jack H. would say her name: “Marrrrtha Jones”. She was definitely underrated and underwritten. That said: Royyyz Tyler But for me: one look at Sarah Jane Smith, Elizabeth Slater, and I miss her and burst into tears. Back to Martha Jones!!! She got to be back with her mum, stay safe yet saved the planet so many times. Now don’t get me started on how Torchwood was destroyed from season one.

[@iGotBulletproof-Insomnia]

Martha said, "this is me getting out." I took that more as "this is me getting out of a bad situation before i waste more of my time and lose more of my self-worth." I always admired that. She realised she was a badass and deserved better than someone who made her feel like rubbish. Yeah, she was in love with him, but literally anyone can learn from this message, for romance, friendship, family. Get out before you lose more of yourself than you already have. You're better than this.

[@Multiversal_Productions]

looking back in hindsight , i wished that martha called the doctor out like you said , then when she , she works with unit , lore plays out until the moment of Owen Harpers death instead of bringing him back to life , Martha couldve replaced Owen , Tosh survives series 2 and leaves due to the death of Owen hurting her then Children of earth wouldve been Jack , Ianto , Gwen and Martha trying to save the world , when the threat gets real she tries calling the doctor only to have no luck , ultimately having her and Jack step up to make the tough decisions that Jack was forced to , only this time jack would not be alone and when they saved the earth , Martha finds Mickey working for Unit again , Jack leaves earth to travel in space and Gwen and Rhys live a family life together

[@jenlea845]

People always complain about the KZbin algorithm but it always does right by me. This video was recommended to me and it confirms what I've always said. Martha gets overlooked all the time! She saved the day so many times! And just this morning, early morning I was falling asleep watching DW and ranking my fave companions. Martha is my fave and Adric was the worst. I'm now subscribed to this channel.

[@jenlea845]

And, Martha could've saved Torchwood.

[@HarboWholmes]

The algorithm works in mysterious ways, but I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 😄

[@Thalanox]

Easily my favourite companion. First impressions count for a lot in my books. She's there on her own terms rather than being bought along as a different companion's accessory (sorry Mickey and Rory), and she's thinking on her feet. Her fears about slavery for being black are based on lies she was told while growing up. There's a lot of ideologically tainted stuff in the media and what passes for the western education system in the last few decades. She's not in an islamic state, nor is she in Africa while her tribe is being captured by enemy tribes, so she's safe from slavery. She'd just be considered unusual, since travelling across the world was very rare before airplanes got common. As for her worries about stepping on a butterfly and changing history, I think the Doctor handled it well. A simple "Relax and take it easy" message with a little humour in it. The Doctor comparing Martha to Rose made me roll my eyes. Love triangle stories are not what I look for when I'm searching for shows to watch. At least this was a novel way to see the old plot play out. Martha is the kind of person you'd _want_ to have in your group if you're going on some kind of long adventure. Reliable, skilled, having several aspects to contribute that complements the Doctor's skillset. The other companions feel more like children he's escorting in comparison. Children who occasionally get lucky. Martha's exploits are her own competence and quick thinking coming to the fore. No fucks given on her living in early 1900s London. If she weren't there working as a maid, then she'd statistically be living in Africa with a much lower standard of living. Or maybe as a slave of the muslims in North Africa as part of the other (much larger) slave trade. It's still a much better standard of living than she'd be likely to have otherwise. What can I say? History sometimes sucks. Considering how reliable she is, Martha seems more like a partner to the doctor than most of his other companions. At least the ones that weren't arbitrarily magical, special, or otherwise had their lives inherently intertwined with him. She grew through her interacting with the Doctor. 10:30 "She was the only companion who never felt bigger or better than the doctor". Big statement. I agree.

[@ianfinnigan264]

I'd say Bill and Clara's endings were actually happy. Bill gets to explore the endlessly universe with her girlfriend as incredibly-powerful space ooze and Clara gets to live as long as she wants while also seeing the universe on her own terms

[@ThePhantomLK]

Claras ending was the least tragic. While we did see her die, she pretty much will have a basically infinte life of travelling around the universe before that.

[@bobbyfeet2240]

Bill got the same, as a matter of fact.

[@MstEli]

And Clara's initial death was sort of her own fault anyway.

[@matthewduncan8523]

He’s storyline should’ve been cut at face the raven as intended. Jenna Coleman changing her mind constantly about wether she wanted to leave or not ruined her character with all the stupid returns she did to the show. It got boring

[@Pur9leRain]

I'm so pleased you made this! I do not usually "pit" companions together, but every point you have made in "favour" of Martha and juxtaposing then subverting it with Rose, I am vigorously nodding my head. Also, I agree that companions should not be bigger or more important than DW - except Romana I as she got a triple first and actually finished her degree! (also, she did her eye shadow really nicely and I can never manage to copy it as I have asian skin and hazel eyes). You have inspired me to watch Torchwood now.

[@andrewquick4176]

They shouldn’t have had her fall for the Doctor And have her as a young Doctor rather than a student She should have been what Donna was. An human anchor that sees past the “spaceman” persona of the Doctor

[@Mark-fc7tu]

Very nice video! Even with the flaws of her tenure, I enjoyed Martha as a companion, and one thing that always stuck out to me was her reason for leaving the Tardis in Last of the Time Lords. After everything was said and done, she told the Doctor how she felt about him, then firmly explain why things weren't working out between them, and she left out over her own volition. I've always respected her for that choice.

[@randomericthings7506]

My favorite companion is Romana (second incarnation), the Doctor and her’s relationship was the most enjoyable part of the Fourth Doctor era. They sort of had a sibling, or depending on how you view it, father/daughter relationship that was really fun to watch. They should bring her back, I think it would be interesting for the Doctor and her to catch up after the Time War and the events of “Day of the Doctor”.

[@julieeverett7442]

Romana 2 still lives. Bringing her back is not impossible

[@bmvthemoviefanatic7282]

On the note that he never gets called out on it, I agree for the most part, and that's why I love how Martha's ending at the end of Series 3, cause that's when she FINALLY calls him out on it and solidifies her as her own character. Shame it was during her departure... Edit: Ok, you later talk about the ending. He does change a bit in Series 4 with the whole "I just want a mate" speech, but yep, I get yah. Martha deserved more.

[@Mrkalm007]

She was the fittest that was for sure

[@lizzlovesjesus]

She was definitely the smartest companion, stood up to the doctor and literally walked the entire world and saved everybody. Definitely underrated

[@oliviapanzica8833]

I liked Martha, I think I fell into the not over Rose category, but then I watched an episode of torchwood with her and I realized how amazing of a character she was. She really deserves better in series 3! I’m not a fan of her crush on the doctor since it was distracting but I do understand it. I’m thinking about buying some bbc novels with Martha, I want to see more of her!

[@HarboWholmes]

Some of the Martha NDAs are great. I grew up with The Pirate Loop, Forever Autumn and Wetworld, so those might be a good place to start!

[@ChristopherM720]

I'm in the "Clara is the best" camp (Series 7 Clara at least), but I love Martha. For me it's 7 Clara, Donna, Amy, then Martha and Series 8-9 Clara and then Rose. Jack is his own category. But Martha is great. She is something new...a forlorn love, a woman trying to break out on her own, and also quite salty. Her series has a few of my favourites - Gridlock/Being Human/ and Utopia. She even gets to marry Mickey and fight aliens. She's amazing...and makes me look back at Rose with a "she was okay."

[@lillimarq]

She's one of the best companions ever.

[@-haclong2366]

It's odd, while I often forget Martha as a companion, the episodes where she was in were some of the best of the era.

[@79lerxst]

DC..Martha was/is 1 of my faves..I love love LOVE FREEMA!!

[@HarboWholmes]

She's great!

[@79lerxst]

@@HarboWholmes yea tell me about it..I'm a whovian all the way,1963-infinity hahaha.when the revival started I was cool with it,but then pics of the 3rd series came up,the Dr is standing there and this BEAUTIFUL UK BLACK WOMAN IS HIS NEW COMPANION..I did EXACTLY what Donna did to Captain Jack,...'Whooooooo is that'... yeah, I love Martha/FREEMA..so vastly underrated for not being a scared screaming little girl...

[@NickySmartFLA]

Have you seen Sense8? it's... I have no words

[@HuntingViolets]

I don't think she was ever boring! I don't think her falling for the Doctor is necessarily a bad thing, but the show's refusal to have him move on from Rose (someone whom he was ready to send to the parallel universe anyway with no seeming qualms until she refused to go, someone he would have dumped for Mme. de Pompadour with no seeming qualms, and with whom he had done nothing more than flirt onscreen) was a problem. Even her being in love with him and his not being able to move on from Rose in that way yet would not have been a problem if he weren't so mean to her so much of the time. (And the whole Joan Redfern thing made me gag, but that's another discussion.) Anyway, good video, and I do want her to come back and get a proper apology (although who would she get it from, at this point? There are three men who have memories of having done this to her). She is the greatest companion to me.

[@teabags8844]

Be fantastic if u were the showrunner lad, Also have u seen spyfall part 1, I think it really highlights Chibs being a hack fraud.

[@HarboWholmes]

Haha thank you! Yeah I watched Spyfall and I wasn't impressed. The only thing more bland than a Chibnall episode is a Chibnall two-parter

[@teabags8844]

@@HarboWholmes *Spoilers* I dont understand where in the Masters timeline the episode takes place i guess it must be before the Yana and Harold saxon arcs. Hopefully chibs gives a competent answer but I doubt it. Missys redemption was one of the best bits of season 10 imo.

[@KurtVersaie321]

@@HarboWholmes I watched spyfall last night and watched this video just now and i'd just like to highlight a point made in this video about how part of Martha's intrigue as a companion is how she's the most grounded and normal companion the new series has had. I'll admit i'm not completely sold on the companions of the current era although i'd like to argue its refreshing to see companions in the new series that aren't necessarily special on a cosmic level. What are you're thoughts on the current companions if you don't mind?

[@therealeikichionizuka]

My brother, mom, and I have been huge Dr. Who fans ever since I watched Waters of Mars in pre school. We all absolutely love Martha, and is our favorite companion.

[@digipeeper]

Martha Jones is underrated but will never be forgotten thanks to Blu-Ray/DVD and it’s now 18 years ago since her first adventure. Freema’s luck as Martha began thanks to her appearance in Army of Ghost as Martha’s twin cousin. Rose Tyler overshadowed Martha and every other promising new and future companion. Yet for me and other fans, Rose is over rated and a under performed character. From Barbara Wright, Zoe Harriet,Sarah Jane Smith, Leela, Romana, Nyssa, and Ace. Rose just didn’t have the true Woman Warrior heroine. Martha Jones recapture all those companions. The 10th Doctor’s perfect companion has to be Martha. Martha was picked to be made into a line of Expensive Doll by Tonner.

[@nanip27]

I feel like the unrequited love plot line woul have been fine if it had some kind of resolution of the doctor dealing with how bad he treated her, like the fact that she fell in love with him wasn't unrealistic in itself or the fact that he wasn't ready to deal with that after Rose but he should have at some point (maybe after the whole family of blood ep) maybe express how thankful he was for her being there for him. Although I do think the doctor learns something from the experience with Martha because by the time Donna is the companion he doesn't have his guard up the same way he did before, but it would have been great to see that growth happen on screen.

[@xenon8117]

If she didn't have that annoying infatuation story she would be the best, as it is she is merely amazing. She was the smartest companion from nuwho, confident and can work on her own (HN/FOB, SOD/TLOTTL).

[@carolinemcgovern4488]

Don't forget that she played off her kidnappers really well in Gridlock. That was refreshing to see.

[@natasha8966]

Agree

[@wattsiswhat]

What Martha achieved in the last three episodes of Series 3 was incredible, iconic and surpasses even Clara. Well, Clara was amazin too, but Martha made herself a hero. I just finished rewatching Series 3 and really want more Martha.