Across almost 60 years of television, comics, and other expanded media, Doctor Who has had dozens of companions assist the Doctor in his adventures across space and time. Many of them have gone on to be revered by the show's fans and held in as high regard as the Doctor while others have been forgotten.
Given the show's upcoming 60th anniversary, now is an appropriate time to shed some light on those companions who have been influential in the evolution of the program yet overlooked due to several factors. Here are ten Doctor Who companions that Reddit users have deemed the most underrated and overlooked across the show's history.
Martha Jones
While virtually everyone in the Doctor Who fandom loves Martha in 2022, this was not always the case. Many have noted how she was initially disliked back in 2007 because she wasn't Rose, and though this hate has largely subsided over time, she still gets overlooked in favor of Ten's relationship with Rose and Donna.
Even beyond the fanbase's initial disregard for Martha, Redditor abacus_porkrind notes that "the show didn't do her character any justice" given how they "unnecessarily steered her towards [being] Rose II instead of digging into the qualities that made [Martha] unique." It's easy to see where they're coming from given Martha's treatment as the rebound companion.
Ian & Barbara
Two of the Doctor's very first companions, Ian & Barbara served as co-leads during the nascent sci-fi program's early seasons. Reddit user MonrealEstate goes a step further by claiming "they are the archetype and I feel like you can make a pretty decent case that every companion after the original 3 was basically fulfilling one of their roles."
Despite the clear influence the two characters have had on companions such as Harry Sullivan and Martha Jones, they've largely been forgotten by the fandom. Still, there's no denying the importance these two laid for the groundwork of the show by asserting the companion as the main character in some of Doctor Who's best historicals.
Romana I
Often overlooked due to her close proximity to K-9 and Romana II, Mary Tamm's portrayal of the Time Lady still deserves plaudit for how she played off against Tom Baker. Redditor sun_lmao in particular notes that "Romana I is completely unflappable and perhaps even smarter than the Doctor but treats him as an equal."
While the dynamic between Romana I and the 4th Doctor might come across as dry due to her unflappability, Tamm sells the intelligence and poise of a time traveler who is book smart but lacks any hands-on experience. This quality is the inverse of the role most modern Doctor Who companions play, and it's sorely missed.
Liz Shaw
Despite only starring in one season of classic Doctor Who, Liz Shaw is an important companion whose qualities are often forgotten about. She was arguably the first companion to match the Doctor's level of scientific knowledge and moved the program away from portraying female characters as damsels in distress.
Despite these important characteristics and accomplishments, Redditor Creme-Brulee_ felt Liz "was underappreciated by the Letts/Dicks [writing team] and they seemed to want a more naive character who the Doctor could explain things to." While this is undoubtedly what viewers got in the form of Jo Grant, Liz Shaw still solidified the idea of the companion as a more free-thinking and independent figure.
Turlough
One of several companions to travel with the Fifth Doctor and his uninspired outfit, Turlough stands out among the other personalities because of his alien origins. He was tasked with killing the Doctor, yet couldn't force himself to do it and ended up sticking around after the Doctor forgave him.
While often overlooked given how few stories he appeared in, Turlough undoubtedly deserves recognition for the unique dynamic he brought to the TARDIS. As a deleted Reddit user put it "He's a coward, he's angry, he's laughably bad at assassination - but he's essentially good and can stand up when needed. Quite complex."
Bill Potts
The Twelfth Doctor's second companion, Bill Potts was a stark contrast to the bland malleability of Clara Oswald. Taking cues from the character of Ace, Bill was a quick-witted student who, in the words of Redditor jphamlore, "was allowed to stand up to the Doctor and even was able to clobber the Doctor in the back of the head to stop him from sacrificing his life, yet remain his companion."
Despite the strong student-teacher dynamic, she shared with the Twelfth Doctor, Bill was only granted one season with him due to Steven Moffat and Peter Capaldi's departure from the program. It's for this reason along with the show's sagging viewing figures that put Bill in a position where she was overlooked by the fandom, even though she is the Twelfth Doctor's best companion.
Steven Taylor
A space pilot from Earth's future, Steven Taylor was a companion to the First Doctor from 1965 to 1966. During that time, he starred in 10 stories, only three of which survive in their entirety in the BBC archive.
Despite how little of Steven's time is preserved on screen, he still left an impact on the show, being the first male companion to come after Ian. Perhaps his most important trait, in the eyes of Redditor HopeAuq101 is his willingness to "call the doctor out and not blindly follow him." This trait has proven important to the show's survival.
Vicki
Another companion from the First Doctor's era, Vicki was the first person to replace a departing cast member and in the words of Redditor assorted_gayness, "was the first to manage a role previously done in the show but still feel fresh and unique."
Building off on the archetype Susan established, Vicki managed to go beyond being a simple youngster who screamed a lot. She was a proactive character who brought levity to many of the situations the TARDIS team wound up in, and these qualities have been present in just about every companion since Doctor Who's revival in 2005.
Harry Sullivan
Something of a himbo, Harry Sullivan was envisioned as an action hero type when Doctor Who's producers planned to cast an older actor in the role of the Fourth Doctor. When Tom Baker obtained the role, however, Harry Sullivan's role was made obsolete and he was written out after just one season.
Despite his brief tenure on the program, some such as Reddit User OursIsTheFury67 felt that Harry was "a very British loveable idiot" who had great chemistry with the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith. Given his contributions to some of classic Doctor Who's best stories, he might have cemented himself as one of Doctor Who's most popular companions had he stuck around for longer.
Leela
Introduced after Elisabeth Sladen left Doctor Who as Sarah Jane Smith, Leela was the most drastic departure for the show since 1970 when it went to color. As noted by Redditor appleswitch, nearly "every woman in the past is so weak, even the independent ones still just scream when confronted, but not Leela. If she got attacked when the Doctor wasn't around, somebody was about to get stabbed."
While the character has largely been forgotten in favor of more nuanced portrayals of strong female characters, Leela still deserves recognition for moving the female assistant away from the damsel in distress archetype. With her, audiences wouldn't have beloved companions like Ace and Donna.