Companion reign – 1978 – 80

“I’m a traveler, I’m a Time Lord…. and I am not used to being assaulted by a collection of hairy, grubby little men!”

Romana

Following the warrior maiden Leela, the producers decided to go for a more cerebral companion for the Doctor.

Romana (or Romanadvoratrelundar to give her full title) was something of a hark back to the First Doctor’s companion; Susan.

Romana was a Time Lady of Gallifrey, she could pilot the Tardis, regenerate and could even be considered more educationally learned than the Doctor. Initially, she was “assigned” to the Doctor as a companion by the White Guardian, in the ‘Key-To-Time’ season – in 1978.

Romana viewed the Key-To-Time episode, simply as a task to be completed. Not taking to the Doctor’s eccentric nature – initially, Romana could be described as cold or stand-offish with the Time Lord.

She also viewed the Doctor as intellectually inferior – having held a better Gallifreyian Academic record. This was something of a new relationship dynamic for the Doctor, who – for once was not the intellectual centre of the show.

After having traveled with the Doctor for a while, Romana warmed to him a little more and once they had collected and reassembed the various segments of the Key-To-Time, Romana then regenerated. (This was due to actress Mary Tamm leaving the show and being replaced by Lalla Ward.

The new Romana or ‘Romana II’ seemed to have the ability to regenerate into whatever form she wished. Appearing to the Doctor in several differing forms before finally settling on the likeness of Princess Astra, (a character from the previous Key-To-Time season episode; The Armageddon Factor).

Romana II

Romana II was a less haughty character than her previous incarnation, she was softer and enjoyed probably the closest relationship with a Doctor to date (probably helped by Ward’s then romance – with Tom Baker). She (bizarrely) liked to dress as a schoolgirl and carried her own version of the sonic screwdriver.

When the Tardis fell into E-Space (an alternate universe) and they met Adric, (who stowed away aboard the Tardis) – Romana viewed him as something of a savage requiring lessons in etiquette. Always prompting him and correcting his more outlandish ways.

Romana eventually decided to remain in E-Space to carve out a new existence, when the Doctor was able to find a path back to N-Space (This reality). As a parting gift, the Doctor gave Romana the damaged K9 MK-II, as company.

Romana was briefly mentioned again in Arc Of Infinity – 1983, when the Fifth Doctor was being questioned by the Time Lord High Council, as to why he had left her in E-Space. The Doctor’s reply was that she had chose this.

She briefly appeared again in The Five Doctors – 1983, but this was reprised footage taken from Shada – 1979 which was never completed or broadcast, in its own right.

Appearances :

Season Sixteen – 1978-79

Key To Time :
The Ribos Operation (joins)🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
The Pirate Planet⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Stones of Blood🔵🔵🔵🔵⚪
The Androids of Tara🔵🔵⚪⚪⚪
The Power of Kroll🔵🔵⚪⚪⚪
The Armageddon Factor🔵🔵🔘⚪⚪

Season Seventeen – 1979-80

Destiny of the Daleks(Romana regenerates into Romana II)🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
City of Death⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Creature from the Pit🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
Nightmare of Eden🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
The Horns of Nimon🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
Shada🔵🔵🔵🔵⚪

Season Eighteen – 1980-81

The Leisure Hive🔴⚪⚪⚪⚪
Meglos🔵🔵🔵🔵⚪

The E-Space Trilogy :
Full Circle🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
State of Decay🔵🔵🔵⚪⚪
Warriors’ Gate(leaves)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Season Twenty – 1983

Five Doctor’s – 20th Anniversary Special (Archive footage from Shada)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐