Origin : Unknown Jungle Planet
Companion reign : 1977 – 78
“You touch me again! …….and I’ll FILLET YOU!” Leela – The Sunmakers.
Savage warrior princess undergoes Pygmalion transformation
Leela (Louise Jamieson) was a warrior-maiden of the Tribe – ‘The Sevateem’, whom the Doctor took as a companion in The Face Of Evil – 1977 – as Leela had been banished, under threat of death for helping him.
Leela was something of a savage and the Fourth Doctor spent much of their time together, attempting to civilize her, in a Sci-Fi version of Pygmailion. Leela was quick to pull a knife when threatened – or permanently paralyze an opponent with a deadly piercing Janus thorn, (a toxic plant from her homeworld). This was not something the Doctor was happy with – being a pacifistl.
However, Leela’s savagery did occaisonally prove useful – and she became something of a personal bodyguard to the Doctor, especially when the Timelord – was under attack.
Leela was, (in terms of Doctor Who companion progression) another step up in (extremely) stronger feminism from previous companion – Sarah-Jane Smith. However, Leela was still forced to wear a rather skimpy costumes, which left little to the imagination. It did however, prove popular with young viewer’s dads.
In her time with the Doctor, Leela was to become slightly less rough around the edges, the Doctor even persuaded Leela to wear ‘civilised’ period costume, such as in The Talons Of Wing Cheng – 1977. When the Doctor took Leela to the theatre, in Victorian London.
Her eyes even changed colour from brown to blue in Horror Of Fang Rock – 1977, which was attributed to Leela witnessing the explosion of the Rutan ship (behind the scenes, Louise Jamieson was struggling with wearing contact lenses, week-in week-out).
Leela travelled with the Doctor, until the Doctor returned to Gallifrey in Invasion Of Time – 1978 where she met and fell in love with Andred – a Gallifreyan guard.
Leela decided to stay behind on Gallifrey with Andred and K9 Mk-I, as a companion.
Appearances :
Season Fourteen – 1976-77
The Face of Evil (joins)🔵🔵🔵🔵⚪
The Robots of Death⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Talons of Weng-Chiang⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Season Fifteen – 1977-78
Horror of Fang Rock⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Invisible Enemy🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
Image of the Fendahl🔵🔵🔵🔵⚪
The Sun Makers🔵🔵⚪⚪⚪
Underworld🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
The Invasion of Time (leaves)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐