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From: wbpesch@ihuxp.UUCP (Walt Pesch)
Newsgroups: net.tv.drwho
Subject: Re: Nyssia
Message-ID: <908@ihuxp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 16:39:06 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxp.908
Posted: Fri Dec 14 16:39:06 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 05:47:37 EST
References: <556@uwmacc.UUCP> <2044@nsc.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 60


 First a breif recap (save the jokes about "brief", i.e.  "scanty")
>>  
>>  >I really, honestly, do not understand all this preoccupation
>>  >with Sarah Sutton! (Nyssia) I don't mean to offend anyone, but I've
>>  >been over this again and again with people (in person)...all she
>>  >is is a cute bod who screams alot and perpetuates the "females are
>>  >bubbles" stereotype.    - unknown commentator
>>  
>>  I think the key words here are 'cute bod' but at the same time I really
>>  disagree-- she wasn't a bubble. She was mis-scripted a fair amount, but she
>>  was the strongest female companion since Romana. I think she's much better,
>>  overall, than a Leela or a Teegan (or a romana II, for that matter). Don't
>>  shoot nyssa, shoot the scriptwriters (while you're at it, shoot them for
>>  the way they misused Adrick, too).        - Cheshire Chuqui
>>  

First, I was rather surprised at Terminus.  There really wasn't any
reason for Nyssa to go through her gradual disrobement (or was JN-T
proving that he is human also:-).  It was rather gratuitous.  But she
does get the award for best looking companion in a slip.

BTW, it was rather enjoyable.  Certainly more than Teagan hoofing
around in Arc of Infinity in those shorts.  And certainly better than
the scrawny Romana II.  But enough of the negative - just think of
THE Romana in Armageddon Factor, with that white outfit and the white
boots, that probably gets my vote for best looking companion in an
episode.

But to go to where I will pick bones with Chuq, I think that Leela was
the best companion since Jo Grant in terms of independance and being
able to think.  Her character was such that the technology was not
familiar, but she had a quick grasp of it once it was explained.  And
she is the first companion in the Baker and Davisson eras that was not
just a shadow to the Doctor.  She had integral conflicts of character
between her and Baker.  For example, Invisible Enemy where she keeps
differing as to whther violence is necessary or not.  Or Robots of
Death, where for most of the show she is seperate from the doctor, but
is still able to accomplish and not sit there and whimper or scream.
I can't think of an example of any other companion to Baker or
Davison that shows the independance from the Doctor that she shows.

Of course if we want to flame, we can talk about her costuming -
although it was resonable realistic, I think the top was just a little
too baggy, I would like to see something a little more
close-fitting...

And how can you say that her character portrayed intelligence.
Because she would spout a technical term every once in a while.  Name
a place where she actual came up with an original idea that wasn't a
suggestion of the doctors.

And the only script-writer that deserves to live from the Adric era
was the one that wrote Earthshock.



Walt Pesch
AT&T Technologies
ihnp4!ihuxp!wbpesch