It usually starts with a pint or a heated Twitter thread. Someone brings up Rose Tyler, and suddenly, the room splits. You’ve got the fans who think she’s the emotional heart of the revival, and the ones who find her "Doctor-lite" obsession a bit grating by the end of Series 2. That’s the thing about a Doctor Who companion ranking. It’s never just about who was the smartest or who saved the most worlds. It’s about how they changed the Doctor. It's about that specific, weird chemistry that happens when a Time Lord meets a human from a council estate or a medical student from 2007.
Ranking these characters is basically impossible because the criteria shift every single decade. Do you value the "audience surrogate" role that defines the modern era? Or are you looking for the high-concept sci-fi foils of the 1970s?
The Impossible Task of Rating the Best Friends
Let’s be real. If you put Sarah Jane Smith anywhere other than the top three, most fans over the age of thirty will look at you like you’ve just suggested deleting the Fourth Doctor from history. She’s the blueprint. Elisabeth Sladen brought this investigative spark that proved the companion didn't just have to scream and twist their ankle. But then you look at Donna Noble. Catherine Tate took a character who could have been a one-note joke and turned her into the most tragic figure in the show’s history.
How do you even compare those two?
It’s about the narrative arc. A lot of the classic era companions—think Victoria Waterfield or Susan—were often relegated to "screamer" status. That’s just a product of the writing at the time. Modern companions like Amy Pond or Clara Oswald are basically the protagonists of their own shows. The Doctor is just a guest star in the "Clara Oswald Show" by the time we hit Series 9. That shift changes how we perceive a Doctor Who companion ranking entirely. We aren’t just looking at assistants anymore. We’re looking at co-leads.
The Nuance of the "Golden Age" Companions
Most people gravitate toward the 2005-2010 era when they start their lists. Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler is the obvious heavyweight here. She’s the reason the show survived the reboot. She grounded the high-concept alien stuff in a reality we understood: chips, laundry, and a mum who worried too much. But if we’re being honest, Martha Jones gets a raw deal in most rankings. Freema Agyeman had the impossible task of following Rose, and the writers did her dirty by making her pine for a Doctor who couldn't see her.
Yet, Martha is objectively one of the most capable people to ever step foot in the TARDIS. She walked the Earth for a year! She became a high-ranking officer in UNIT and a medical doctor. If we are ranking by sheer competence, Martha is top-tier.
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Then there’s the Jamie McCrimmon factor.
For the classic fans, Jamie (played by Frazer Hines) is the definitive partner. He stayed for 116 episodes. His chemistry with Patrick Troughton’s Second Doctor was basically the first "bromance" in sci-fi history. Jamie wasn't there to understand the science; he was there to provide the muscle and the heart. He’s a reminder that a companion doesn’t need to be from the 21st century to be relatable to us.
Why Clara Oswald and Amy Pond Divide the Fandom
You can’t talk about a Doctor Who companion ranking without a massive argument about the Steven Moffat era. This is where things get complicated.
Amy Pond was the "Girl Who Waited." Her entire life was defined by the Doctor. It was fairy-tale stuff, very stylized and very emotional. Karen Gillan brought this fiery energy that masked a deep-seated abandonment issue. It worked. People loved the Ponds. But then came Clara.
Clara Oswald is the most divisive companion in sixty years. Period.
- She started as a mystery (The Impossible Girl).
- She became a teacher.
- She eventually became a version of the Doctor herself.
Some fans hated that. They felt she took up too much oxygen. Others saw it as the ultimate evolution of the companion role. Jenna Coleman’s performance was undeniably brilliant, especially alongside Peter Capaldi’s grumpy Twelfth Doctor. Their relationship wasn't romantic; it was a co-dependent, dangerous, and beautiful mess. When you rank Clara, you're usually ranking your preference for "character-driven drama" versus "adventure of the week."
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The "One-Season Wonders" and the Underrated
We often forget the ones who didn't stay long. Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie, was a breath of fresh air. She was inquisitive in a way that felt natural. She asked the questions we actually wanted to know, like why the TARDIS has a steering wheel if it’s psychic. Her exit was heartbreaking, but her legacy is huge for representation and for bringing a sense of wonder back to the show after the heavy lore-dumping of the previous years.
And honestly? Wilfred Mott.
Technically a recurring character who became a companion for the Tenth Doctor’s finale, Wilf (Bernard Cribbins) is the soul of the show. If your Doctor Who companion ranking doesn't have Wilf near the top, we might need to talk. He represented the best of humanity—brave, kind, and humble. He didn't want to see the stars for glory; he just wanted to see his "space man" friend one more time.
The Modern Shift: Dan, Yaz, and Ruby Sunday
The Chibnall era gave us the "Fam." It was a different vibe. Having three companions (Yaz, Ryan, and Graham) changed the dynamic back to something resembling the 1960s TARDIS teams. Yaz Khan stayed the longest of the bunch, developing a slow-burn (and eventually explicit) romantic connection with Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor. While some felt the character development was spread too thin across three people, Graham O'Brien became an instant fan favorite. Bradley Walsh brought a "regular bloke" energy that the show desperately needed.
Now we’re in the Ncuti Gatwa era with Ruby Sunday. Millie Gibson’s Ruby represents another shift—the "mystery box" companion returned, but with a Gen Z sensibility. The way she interacts with the Doctor feels more like a chaotic duo of best friends than a mentor and student. It’s too early to see where she’ll land in the all-time greats, but the "Joy" she brings is a specific tonal choice that contrasts with the angst of the 2010s.
Measuring the "X-Factor"
What makes a companion stay in our heads for decades? It’s not the monsters they fought. It’s the goodbye.
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The best companions always have an ending that feels earned.
- Jo Grant leaving the Third Doctor for a scientist she loved.
- Donna’s memory being wiped.
- Rory and Amy being taken by the Weeping Angels.
- Sarah Jane being dropped off in Aberdeen (instead of Croydon).
These moments define the legacy. A companion who just fades away rarely makes the top of any Doctor Who companion ranking. We want the tragedy. We want to see the Doctor’s hearts break, because that’s when we see how much these "apes" (as Nine used to call us) actually matter to an immortal being.
Stop Looking for a "Correct" List
The truth is, your favorite companion says more about you than it does about the show. If you like Rose, you probably value emotional stakes and the "New Who" romanticism. If you like Romana, you probably prefer the intellectual sparring and the high-concept Gallifreyan lore. If you like Ace, you’re here for the character growth and the boom-box-wielding rebellion.
Ace is actually a fascinating case study. Sophie Aldred played her as a traumatized teenager who found a father figure in the Seventh Doctor—only for him to manipulate her for "the greater good." It was dark. It was ahead of its time. It paved the way for everything we see in modern television.
Actionable Insights for the Curious Fan
If you’re trying to build your own Doctor Who companion ranking or just want to dive deeper into the lore, don't just stick to the TV show. The depth of these characters often lives in the peripheral media.
- Listen to Big Finish audios: Characters like Charlotte Pollard or Evelyn Smythe are legendary companions who never appeared on TV. They have some of the best arcs in the entire franchise.
- Watch the "Key to Time" season: To understand how a companion can be an intellectual equal to the Doctor, watch Mary Tamm’s Romana I.
- Revisit the Sarah Jane Adventures: If you want to see why Sarah Jane is the GOAT, her spin-off show proves she was the hero of her own story all along.
- Compare the "Intro" episodes: Watch "An Unearthly Child," "Rose," and "The Church on Ruby Road" back-to-back. Look at how the companion is introduced as our eyes into the world. It’s a masterclass in television evolution.
Ultimately, the companions are the ones who keep the Doctor human. Without them, the Doctor is just a lonely god in a blue box. With them, they're a traveler, a friend, and a hero. Whether they're from the 19th century, the 51st, or a modern-day flat in London, they are the heartbeat of the TARDIS.
Rank them however you want. Just make sure you appreciate the journey they took us on. Whether you're a "Pond" loyalist or a "Classic" purist, the beauty of the show is that there is room for everyone in that box. It's bigger on the inside, after all.