Doctor Who has introduced fans to a wide catalog of admirable companions. Whether it’s Rory Williams’ adorable sense of courage or Martha Jones’ incredible intellect, all of these people help to make this long-running sci-fi drama a unique hit. Plus, these characters help to make the show more enticing, as they give the audience something familiar to relate to.
When the show was rebooted in 2005, fans had the privilege of meeting Rose Tyler, a passionate young woman with a dream of exploring what lies beyond planet Earth. But by the time Rose started traveling with the 10th Doctor, her character changed remarkably. As such, it could be argued that Tyler lost her spark when she began living alongside fans’ favorite Time Lord.
Rose Tyler Transformed Into a Codependent Mess
As the daughter of Pete and Jackie, Rose seemed like a very typical teenage girl. She lived in a small flat on the Powell Estate and worked as a sales assistant in an attempt to make her own money. As such, even though Rose didn’t seem like much on the surface, fans could see themselves in her, which is vital for a show like Doctor Who. Although the role is now synonymous with Billie Piper, critics were against her part in the series. Piper had previously worked as a teenage pop star and has very little credited acting experience. However, audiences fell in love with her instantly, mainly because the actress was able to relate to the character on a very deep level. In an interview with the BBC, Piper explains:
I was very similar at 19. I wanted something to happen in life; I wanted a bit more. I wanted to find someone who could challenge my ideas. So I definitely tapped into that.
Doctor Who has seen its titular Time Lord face off against the Daleks and Cybermen across time and space, but it’s not without some inconsistencies.
Despite not living a life of luxury, in Season 1, Episode 1, “Rose,” the teenager had a lot going for her. She was working in a vast store in London and spent most of her time hanging out with her boyfriend, Mickey. Tyler also had a handful of friends, like Shareen, who she would go out with and revel in the joys of teenage freedom. Although she wasn’t entirely independent because she was still living at home with her mother and didn’t seem keen on doing her own housework, Rose was building a normal life that was filled with opportunities and love.
Yet, in Season 2, Rose Tyler’s zest for life and motivation appeared to dwindle. In Season 2, Episode 2, “Tooth and Claw,” she seems quite content hanging off the 10th Doctor’s arm but seems to have lost her entire identity. She hangs off his every word, and judging by the way she looks at her Time Lord; she doesn’t think about Mickey very much anymore. Tyler also appears quite immature at this point in the show’s canon. She refuses to stand up for herself when Queen Victoria mocks her and rarely does anything without The Doctor’s permission. Although fans argue that Rose doesn’t need anything else when traveling with The Doctor, it’s hard to ignore how lonely she appears in Season 2. She no longer embodies a fun-loving teenager but more like a child who is afraid to let go of her parent’s hand in case she gets in trouble.
A lot of fans appreciate Rose’s relationship with the 10th Doctor and enjoy the unspoken adoration between them. However, when the audience compares her from Season 1 to Season 2, her independence has been watered down. The problem may not be with The Doctor himself but more to do with the situation. Whilst living with the 9th Doctor, the pair remained on Earth quite a lot so Rose could race home and continue living her life as normal. But, in Season 2, Rose and 10 ventured further than ever before, ensuring that they could only ever depend on each other for company and support.
Fans Learn Less and Less About Her
Doctor Who has a lot of lore, and fans often have to focus really hard on every detail to keep up with the frequent twists and turns. But when the show returned to screens in the mid-2000s, audiences were graced with a clean slate and could enjoy a brand-new Doctor and companion. Thus, a lot of Season 1 was devoted to reintroducing the Time Lord and his new friend. But, unlike her predecessors, audiences learned quite a lot about her character. Season 1, Episode 8, “Father’s Day,” spends a lot of time exploring Rose’s relationship with her deceased father and even goes as far enough to devote an episode to him. Previously, Doctor Who focused pretty much on the protagonist and only revealed nuggets of information about a companion every so often. “Father’s Day” not only gives the audience more information about Rose’s father, but it also explores how the family dealt with such a crushing sense of grief.
Season 2 places the characters in a parallel universe where Peter Tyler is still alive and is living quite a prestigious life. However, whatever information the audience gains about Rose in this situation doesn’t matter because it all occurs outside her universe. For example, in Season 2, Episode 5, “Rise of the Cybermen,” The Doctor and Rose travel to the parallel universe and discover that she doesn’t even exist; she’s been replaced by a yappy dog. Plus, the world seems to carry on just fine without her, so it’s almost as if she isn’t needed in this new world. Although the introduction of a different universe helps to give this show an essential sci-fi aspect, it also rewrites everything fans learned about Rose in the first place. So, once again, Rose is transformed into a traditional companion and slowly loses every aspect of her personal life and legacy.
Rose’s Character Has Developed a Lot More Through Other Content
Though Rose had a bit of a downgrade in Season 2, she certainly made up for it during her brief cameo in Season 4. In “Journey’s End,” Tyler emerges back into the real world with a bang after spending months trying to reunite with her Doctor. She was no longer a naive teenager with a lot to learn but a woman who was set on making things right. Not to mention, in her new life, she has a purpose and a long list of responsibilities. Sure, this isn’t ideal for anyone, but it gives her the chance of a normal life. Admittedly, fans were a tad disappointed with the actual end of her arc, but she still gets to live on via spin-off content.
In 2019, Big Finish released a set of audio dramas, all of which focused on Rose’s life while she was trapped in a parallel universe with her family. Since this medium can only showcase one story at a time, it’s a fantastic resource for fans who want to learn about her arc. She also appeared in the 50th anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor” as the infamous Bad Wolf. This was an interesting way to reintroduce her character and make sure that Billie Piper could still extend her legacy without overwriting Rose Tyler’s expansive canon. Of course, she also makes an appearance in various Doctor Who comics and novels, giving her the chance to enjoy some more alien adventures.
Despite playing Bad Wolf in “Day of the Doctor,” Billie Piper is still credited as Rose.
While it’s interesting to discuss the differences in Tyler’s characters throughout her time on the show, it’s also important to mention her popularity. Rose Tyler did well to reflect the views and styles of contemporary Britain and fans appreciated her lower-class status. She wasn’t like Perri, who spent her life with her nose in a book, or like Turlough, who seemed to explore all of time and space before he was old enough to drink. Rose Tyler was a moody young woman who just wanted someone to get a headstart in life. Perhaps her relationship with the Tenth Doctor in Season 2 was supposed to mirror a development in her emotional maturity, but it got a bit out of hand. Yet, the stark difference between Rose in Season 1 and Season 2 is quite startling, and fans often have to look outside of the show to discover more about this beloved companion.
