Doctor Who Opinion: Why Petronella Osgood should be a companion
BBC, Doctor Who
In talking about companions on Doctor Who, there’s one who deserves it more than everyone.
The companion for season twelve is yet to be announced, and there’s one character who deserves it. Petronella Osgood, the character that echoed with the fans on a personal level since her appearance in the 50th Anniversary.
In the 50th Anniversary, we met the character Osgood, a dutiful helper to Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. She stood out as she wore the Fourth Doctor’s scarf, probably from an epic cosplay that she made herself in between saving the world. With a fantastic ability to do ‘science-y’ things, she aided the Doctor in helping figure out that it was Zygons trying to invade.
The point is: Osgood is a character that defies what most people portray women as. She’s into the STEM sciences, something that’s only just becoming big, even in the real world. While she was a fan of the Doctor, thinking largely of him and knowing that she would be saved by the Doctor, it doesn’t stop her from being in charge.
Why she’s better than other past guests
But even how she breaks down the stereotypes of women isn’t why she would be the perfect companion. Osgood would be the perfect companion because she is the perfect depiction of a Doctor Who fan. It hasn’t been said that it was the intention, but if you think about who Osgood is, and what she does, she’s a depiction of everything that Doctor Who fans are.
While it might not be exactly “cosplay”, we often see her in iconic Doctor clothing. Including the fourth Doctor’s scarf, the question mark collar, as well as trainers, a bowtie, and a cardigan. While belief in the Doctor may not be so out there when you work with him, we see her give faith in that he would save her from the Zygons. And above all, she doesn’t fit in and wishes she was her sister, the “prettier one”. This is all punctuated by a “fault” said by the second Osgood, of a need for an asthma inhaler.
Osgood is everything we are. We cosplay, and might be looked at weird for liking Doctor Who (depending on where we live), and we have some sort of faith in this man on the television. Giving this character a shot at the TARDIS, or even one adventure would be like giving the fans a chance.
Next: Which Doctor should have more television stories?
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