Billie Piper, during 2005 and 2006, won the National Television Award each time she was still in Doctor Who, a vote casted by the public. There has not been any other companion who has won that many National Television Award during their screen time. Freema Agyeman, who portrayed Martha, and Catherine Tate, who portrayed Donna, did not win any National Television Award concerning Doctor Who. Even Karen Gillan, Doctor Who’s Amy Pond only won the award only once. So that itself shows Rose’s popularity. If my polls are not the proof then the poll conducted by Radio Times shows the proof. The poll by Radio Times was conducted in 2010, years after Billie Piper officially left Doctor Who, but still her character Rose reined the polls, with Sarah Jane and Donna not far behind. It is without a doubt that she is the most beloved and influential character in Who world. Peter Davidson, the actor who played the Fifth Doctor in Classic Doctor Who series, openly said that Rose was the most influential and important companion in the Doctor’s life. He said it without even thinking or even any hesitation. She is also the only former companion who has been invited to be in the 50th Anniversary, why? Because obviously she is the most popular and loved companion. If that did not show indication then I do not know what does.
Yet people still hesitate in saying that Rose is their favourite. Although she has fans, she has ‘haters’ who seem to despise Rose and find anything that is wrong with her. But why though? The other companions are fairly popular but no one hounds or picks on them. Rose seems to always get the brute of the non-fans and they always pick on her. Perhaps that might be mainly because she is the most popular. Most call her the over-rated companion and dislike the fact that she is always mentioned. I get the feeling that if she hadn’t been mentioned after series 2 then people would complain that they shoved Rose under the rug. You cannot seem to make anyone happy.
As for Rose being mentioned so many times, that I do not find surprising. If you call yourself a Whovian, and complain about Rose’s mention so much after her departure, then you do not know the Doctor. She helped him, she brought the Doctor from his darkest hour and brought out the humanity in him. He was reckless, ready to die and she put sense in him as well as the light in his world. If Rose wasn’t there, then the Doctor would have died in his Ninth incarnation. It is obvious that the Doctor fell for her badly. Although people say that he never said it out-loud, did it really need to be said? They held hands, they flirted, they acted like a couple on honeymoon around each other. Let’s not forget how he behaved during Runaway Bride and series 3. He was clearly missing her after losing her. He mentioned her in almost every episode of series 3. Not to mention if Donna hadn’t been there to snap Doctor out, he would have died in grief, as shown in Turn Left. So it is obvious that he would mention her because he loved her. You cannot be sick of that. You cannot just have a companion who becomes integral to the Doctor’s life, as Rose had become, then when she is gone, just shove her under a rug.
And people also criticise Rose, accusing her of being selfish for leaving Mickey and for events in Father’s Day. Of course she is selfish, she is a human , key word human. Rose is not a saint! She is a human girl who has her qualities, which includes the good and the bad. She wanted more in life, which Mickey couldn’t give so she went to the Doctor. Would you say no to that? If someone offers all of time and universe to you? She saw her dead father for the first time; of course she would react like that. Though she made mistakes, her goodness outweighed the bad fully. She saw the goodness in everyone, including the Doctor in his darkest time and even a Dalek. She risked her whole life just to save him. So yes, Rose can be selfish but that is to be expected. Rose isn’t a saint and neither is the Doctor. Besides if Russell had made Rose the perfect girl then that would have been sexist. He didn’t, he made Rose have flaws but the good qualities in her outweighed the bad. The Doctor had done some pretty selfish things but no one hounds his character. Even Amy Pond and River Song have done some selfish acts but, again, no one hounds them. People latch onto Rose and sing her flaws because she is the most popular companion. This is anything but right.
If you call yourself a Whovian, then you cannot simply disregard Rose’s importance or her role in the Doctor’s life. You may not necessarily love her as your favourite but you cannot slate her and criticise her when all she has ever done was normal and extraordinary things.
Everyone has their favourite, as I do but I find it unfair how everyone, when they get the chance, slate Rose, not any other companions.
