Underrated "Doctor Who" Characters

[Big Orange]

In the last three seasons of Doctor Who which characters do you think are underrated, by generally being ignored or even lambasted? In my mind, the most underrated character in the relatively recent seasons of Doctor Who is Peter Tyler - since Jackie Tyler is not an especially good character, by association Peter Tyler gets bagged on as well even though the criticism is unwarranted and he is played very well by the underappreciated Shaun Dingwall.

Peter Tyler had an understatingly good character arch in the first two seasons where the "real" version died in "Father's Day" and Rose vainly tried to get him back at grave risk to the timeline. Then Peter Tyler turned up again later on in an alternative Earth, where he never died young and was an important businessman who was disconcertingly loyal to the megalomaniacal Chairman of Cybus Industries, yet played an integral role in "Doomsday" and helped to defeat the Cybus Cybermen.

Other underrated characters of this season is the creepy yet pathetic Lucy Saxon and the overbearing Francine Jones, a rather unlikable yet caring person who jumped to the wrong conclusions.

[The Guid]

I thought the Mickey character was an interesting one in the way in which he had to go on a journey from where most of us would probably be when we started - totally overwhelmed by this sudden opening up of the universe, to where we like to think we'd up - as a hero.

[General Zod]

I thought the Mickey character was an interesting one in the way in which he had to go on a journey from where most of us would probably be when we started - totally overwhelmed by this sudden opening up of the universe, to where we like to think we'd up - as a hero.

Mickey was very under-utilized imo. They had him tag along for just a couple of episodes and then disappear, though he could've been a good regular. Had a lot of interesting personality quirks going for him that they really could've done more with.

[B5B7]

The Rose-Mickey relationship was weird - he was supposed to be her boyfriend, yet she treated him like shit. He should have dumped her (after giving her a chance to prove she could treat him properly).

[Stark]

Orange, it's 'arc': a curve from one point to another, not an architectural device.

I liked many bit players, like Major Black Dude from UNIT and Rodrik from the Weakest Link. 'Professor Yana' was another great performance.

[Starglider]

Captain Jack was underused, if you ignore Torchwood, though hardly underrated.

Other than that though, no, not really. The secondary characters weren't particularly interesting and I'm glad they didn't get more screen time. We got more than enough annoying relatives as it is.

[Big Orange]

Orange, it's 'arc': a curve from one point to another, not an architectural device.

But they clearly seem to be related words...

I liked many bit players, like Major Black Dude from UNIT and Rodrik from the Weakest Link. 'Professor Yana' was another great performance.

I loved the bit when the Daleks casually sweeped in and killed Rodrik for simply being there.

Rodrick was also more recently seen in Steve Moffat's current series, Jekyll, with a Jesus-titty-fucking-Christ awful "American" accent (he was thankfully killed again by a machete' to the jugular)

[Stormbringer]

I thought the Mickey character was an interesting one in the way in which he had to go on a journey from where most of us would probably be when we started - totally overwhelmed by this sudden opening up of the universe, to where we like to think we'd up - as a hero.

Mickey was very under-utilized imo. They had him tag along for just a couple of episodes and then disappear, though he could've been a good regular. Had a lot of interesting personality quirks going for him that they really could've done more with.

Mickey was a decent character. But like Rose's mom, he only has so much shelf life. You can't really introduce him as a full time character with out taking time away from other things and sorting out his antagonistic relationship with Rose and the Doctor. He's a good character but like Jack, he's only got so much mileage.

The Rose-Mickey relationship was weird - he was supposed to be her boyfriend, yet she treated him like shit. He should have dumped her (after giving her a chance to prove she could treat him properly).

Rose definitely treated him badly. But on the other hand there were some instances in the first season were he was rather dickish and close minded himself. He kept trying to force her to give up the time travel and the Doctor and settle with him in a boring little life. Even when he was adventuring with them he was a bit whiny. Can you blame her for treating him like a bit of a schlub? At one point he ditched her and was with another woman as well.

A rocky relationship from both sides.

[Srynerson]

At one point he ditched her and was with another woman as well.

A rocky relationship from both sides.

In Mickey's defense, she had been missing for a year in the regular flow of time and he had been investigated by the police as a leading suspect in her disappearance. I think you're entitled to move on with your life in such a situation.

[Ford Prefect]

Adric. Ho ho ho.

I liked many bit players, like Major Black Dude from UNIT.

You know, I really liked him too. Maybe it's because he was a UNIT guy, and I think UNIT is tops.

[Big Orange]

, and I think UNIT is tops.

And the Torchwood Institute sucks...

[General Zod]

At one point he ditched her and was with another woman as well.

A rocky relationship from both sides.

In Mickey's defense, she had been missing for a year in the regular flow of time and he had been investigated by the police as a leading suspect in her disappearance. I think you're entitled to move on with your life in such a situation.

It'd also hurt the relationship when you're supposed to be involved with someone you've known for years but they're suddenly pining over someone who's effectively a complete stranger at every turn.

[Big Orange]

I thought Mickey was a bit of twit in the earlier episodes of the first season, but his character incresingly improved by the time of "Boom Town" (a vastly underrated episode) and "The Parting of the Ways". Come the second season Mikey went through a lot and he had surprisingly much to show for it (while Rose Tyler declined somewhat and got more annoyingly smug). And I also find Noel Clarke to be a more likable cast member than Billie Piper and he's a competent enough script writer in knocking out one of the less shitty Torchwood episodes, "Combat".

[Hillary]

Sorry if this is necroing, but I watched The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances last night. Nancy is a rather wonderful creation. A teenage single mother in the 30s who feeds the homeless children of London during the Blitz. Intelligent, strong and a born survivor.

I'd forgotten how good she was.

[Patrick Degan]

Sorry if this is necroing, but I watched The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances last night. Nancy is a rather wonderful creation. A teenage single mother in the 30s who feeds the homeless children of London during the Blitz. Intelligent, strong and a born survivor.

I'd forgotten how good she was.

There was also Dr. Constantine: "Before this war started, I was a father and a grandfather. Now I am neither. But I'm still a doctor and I do what I can."

[Hillary]

Sorry if this is necroing, but I watched The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances last night. Nancy is a rather wonderful creation. A teenage single mother in the 30s who feeds the homeless children of London during the Blitz. Intelligent, strong and a born survivor.

I'd forgotten how good she was.

There was also Dr. Constantine: "Before this war started, I was a father and a grandfather. Now I am neither. But I'm still a doctor and I do what I can."

Also from Dr. Constantine at the end when an old lady tells him that her leg had grown back "Well, there is a war on. Are you sure you weren't miscounting." He is an excellent actor, Victor Meldrew.

Margaret, the slythereen (sp?), was also a cracking character, especially in Boomtown, an otherwise poor episode.

Watched the whole of that series on DVD this week. It was pretty damn fine, it has to be said.

[Big Orange]

Margaret, the slythereen (sp?), was also a cracking character, especially in Boomtown, an otherwise poor episode.

I thought "Boomtown" was not a poor episode and was actually generally better than "Rose", "The Long Game", "New Earth", "Tooth & Claw", "Fear Her" and even comparable to "Father's Day". "Boomtown" was also certainly superior to it's Slatheen predecessors, "The Aliens of London" and "World War Three" - "Boomtown" was definitely a no thrills episode in terms of production values or special effects, but it was generally well written as a character driven story and pretty free of RTD's usual cheese...

The otherwise surprisingly shite Torchwood has it's own set of underrated characters as well (Gwen's put upon boyfriend, that 1950s businessman trapped in 2006 and of course the sinister Bilis Manger).

[Lord Woodlouse]

Margaret, the slythereen (sp?), was also a cracking character, especially in Boomtown, an otherwise poor episode.

I thought "Boomtown" was not a poor episode and was actually generally better than "Rose", "The Long Game", "New Earth", "Tooth & Claw", "Fear Her" and even comparable to "Father's Day". "Boomtown" was also certainly superior to it's Slatheen predecessors, "The Aliens of London" and "World War Three" - "Boomtown" was definitely a no thrills episode in terms of production values or special effects, but it was generally well written as a character driven story and pretty free of RTD's usual cheese...

The otherwise surprisingly shite Torchwood has it's own set of underrated characters as well (Gwen's put upon boyfriend, that 1950s businessman trapped in 2006 and of course the sinister Bilis Manger).

Dude, you think Boom Town would be cheap? The CGI storm probably cost a bob or two, as well as the effects of the storm devastated Cardiff.

I actually liked the episode, too, to my surprise at the time. The only thing annoying me being the ridiculous cosmic surfboard.

[Big Orange]

Dude, you think Boom Town would be cheap? The CGI storm probably cost a bob or two, as well as the effects of the storm devastated Cardiff.

I actually liked the episode, too, to my surprise at the time. The only thing annoying me being the ridiculous cosmic surfboard.

It was only a forty seconds or so special effects segment and modern CGI in the last seven to nine years is relatively inexpensive. I guess "Blink" had some expensive elements to it as well, in the way things were set dressed and filmed. And I also don't think that cosmic serfboard was particularly silly in the context of Doctor Who, but I disliked the implication that the TARDIS lost it's own shielding, when the Doctor needed the serfboard plugged into it's control console so that the TARDIS shield could work.

[Stark]

It didn't neccesarily: the extrapolator may have been used simply to provide an area shield outside the TARDIS. Probably not writers intent, but so what?

What *I* think was silly about it was the idea that blowing up Earth with the rift would somehow propel you FTL. I mean, surfboard that shields you from explosion so you can ride the shockwave, well that's fine: the shockwave AIN'T FTL, so it's not really very useful.

[Hillary]

Margaret, the slythereen (sp?), was also a cracking character, especially in Boomtown, an otherwise poor episode.

I thought "Boomtown" was not a poor episode and was actually generally better than "Rose", "The Long Game", "New Earth", "Tooth & Claw", "Fear Her" and even comparable to "Father's Day". "Boomtown" was also certainly superior to it's Slatheen predecessors, "The Aliens of London" and "World War Three" - "Boomtown" was definitely a no thrills episode in terms of production values or special effects, but it was generally well written as a character driven story and pretty free of RTD's usual cheese...

Boomtown had a job to do - cementing Jack's position as one of the crew, introducing the extrapolator for its use on the Dalek ship and showing the heart of the TARDIS as a living being with great power that could be released when a trap door opens (for Rose's use in Parting of the Ways). The story was written around it and was pretty thin, but it was rescued by the wonderful interplay between Margaret Slythereen and the Doctor, especially in the restaurant.

AoL and WWT were far superior in every way.

[Big Orange]

Boomtown had a job to do - cementing Jack's position as one of the crew, introducing the extrapolator for its use on the Dalek ship and showing the heart of the TARDIS as a living being with great power that could be released when a trap door opens (for Rose's use in Parting of the Ways). The story was written around it and was pretty thin, but it was rescued by the wonderful interplay between Margaret Slythereen and the Doctor, especially in the restaurant.

I agree with most of what you say, but I still thought "Boomtown" was a somewhat underrated episode.

AoL and WWT were far superior in every way.

I prefer "Boomtown" to the Slatheen two parter, even though those two episodes were more nuanced than their trashy exterior of flatulant aliens would suggest and not quite as risible as the almost disasterous Dalek two parter of this year (but the Cyberman two parter is better still).

And having watched "Bad Wolf" earlier this evening, Lynda is a much better character than I remembered and find it heartbreaking that she was exposed to hard vacuum by the Daleks.

[Hillary]

I prefer "Boomtown" to the Slatheen two parter, even though those two episodes were more nuanced than their trashy exterior of flatulant aliens would suggest and not quite as risible as the almost disasterous Dalek two parter of this year (but the Cyberman two parter is better still).

I refuse to have a "flatulent alien" discussion with you or I might end up sounding like Stark. Talking of which, Oupost Gallifrey were reporting rumours that Davros is making a comeback in the next series. Cue earthquake in Australia

And having watched "Bad Wolf" earlier this evening, Lynda is a much better character than I remembered and find it heartbreaking that she was exposed to hard vacuum by the Daleks.

Absolutely - sweet Lynda with a 'y'. That was one of the great scenes in the series when the Daleks got her. Heartbreaking is the word.

[Stark]

I refuse to have a "flatulent alien" discussion with you or I might end up sounding like Stark. Talking of which, Oupost Gallifrey were reporting rumours that Davros is making a comeback in the next series. Cue earthquake in Australia

'Davros' is in the dictionary under 'failure', but I really can't be surprised: the S3 Dalek story was made entirely of shit baked into bricks to build a shithouse which is then filled with shit. While Davros turns everything he touches into failure - both dramatically and in-universe - I'm not sure it gets worse than S3's low points. Hell, next year I might end up watching Torchwood more.

Absolutely - sweet Lynda with a 'y'. That was one of the great scenes in the series when the Daleks got her. Heartbreaking is the word.

While I'm sure nobody else even noticed, the buildup with Lynda and her death (along with some dialogue from Jack) is really what makes the theme of PotW so excellent. Can we say 'paths not travelled'? It was a dramatic microcosm of the themes expressed later in School Reunion. For once the writers didn't do it by accident, as it was played wonderfully.

[Hillary]

'Davros' is in the dictionary under 'failure', but I really can't be surprised: the S3 Dalek story was made entirely of shit baked into bricks to build a shithouse which is then filled with shit. While Davros turns everything he touches into failure - both dramatically and in-universe - I'm not sure it gets worse than S3's low points. Hell, next year I might end up watching Torchwood more.

Apparently played by Ben Kingsley - but it was The Sun, so take it with the proverbial pinch of salt. Perhaps Dalek Caan will turn up in Torchwood as another of Ianto's girlfriends.

While I'm sure nobody else even noticed, the buildup with Lynda and her death (along with some dialogue from Jack) is really what makes the theme of PotW so excellent. Can we say 'paths not travelled'? It was a dramatic microcosm of the themes expressed later in School Reunion. For once the writers didn't do it by accident, as it was played wonderfully.

And to some extent, Madame Pompidour (sp?). As I'm sure I've seen you say previously, it is the drama that makes Doctor Who, not the science fiction bits (which are often appallingly though out).

Ecclestone and, especially, Tennant were/are both fantastic at showing that "hollow"look, that says "I've experienced more hurt and loss than its possible for one person to bear".