Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ncsu.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mcnc!ncsu!mauney From: mauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney) Newsgroups: net.tv.drwho Subject: (ineffectual) Companions Message-ID: <2702@ncsu.UUCP> Date: Wed, 17-Oct-84 20:58:49 EDT Article-I.D.: ncsu.2702 Posted: Wed Oct 17 20:58:49 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 19-Oct-84 06:22:57 EDT References: <397@uwmacc.UUCP> Organization: N.C. State University, Raleigh Lines: 34 > Why are the majority of women with the Doctor completely wimpy > useless humanoids? The only exceptions that come to mind > are Leela (she was great), Romana (although she seemed to do > her fair share of screeching), and (barely) Tegan. > Any thoughts about this? Yes. I thoroughly disagree. You have maligned my heartthrob, Sarah Jane Smith. Although Sarah Jane is one of the all-time champion screamers, still is still a strong character. Sarah is a normal human: above average intelligence, average athletic ability, average courage in the face of danger, incredibly cute when wearing striped overalls. She is also a very plucky character and refuses to admit her human limitations. Zum Beispiel: In her first adventure, she poses as a scientist to get a story, stows away on the TARDIS, and organizes a commando raid to snatch the Doctor out of a castle. In "Genesis of the Daleks" she organizes an escape attempt. In "The Hand of Fear" it is her wits that get her into the reactor room. Whenever the Doctor is about to do something dangerous, she insists on coming along to keep an eye on him. Naturally, Sarah Jane does not have the super-human abilities to extricate her from her predicaments, so the Doctor has to rescue her. That's what he's there for. But most of Sarah's big screams are due to acute surprise and danger -- falling off a cliff, being attacked by a cybermat -- not general wimpitude. Leela and Romana are ok, but Sarah is the best, and those who think like I do are invited to see Liz Sladen in person at Contrast, Nov 17-18 in Raleigh (slight ad). -- _Doctor_ Jon Mauney, mcnc!ncsu!mauney \__Mu__/ North Carolina State University