Doctor Who's 2024 Christmas special gave Ncuti Gatwa a new companion, but it wasn't Nicola Coughlan's character

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who's “Joy to the World”

Although Nicola Coughlan's character was expected to serve as a surrogate companion for Doctor WhoIn the 2024 Christmas special, an entirely different figure takes on this role. With Doctor WhoWith Christmas specials typically running between seasons, the Doctor has more than once found himself mourning the loss of a companion over the festive period. After Ruby Sunday's departure in Doctor Who 2024 season 14 is again one of those years where the Doctor regrets his nomadic existence by eating a plate of roast potatoes and Brussels sprouts.

Traditionally, Doctor Who will introduce a temporary companion to these lonely Christmas specials – Catherine Tate's Donna in “The Runaway Bride” and Kylie Minogue's Astrid in “Voyage of the Damned” being two of those characters. With Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan announced as the big new addition to appear alongside Ncuti Gatwa in the 2024 Christmas special “Joy to the World”, it was assumed that her character would fill the role of temporary companion before Varada Sethu became the next companion suitable in Doctor Who season 15. Instead, the job goes to someone who flew under the radar.

Doctor who made Anita the fifteenth doctor's new companion in “Joy To The World”

Anita is a joy in Doctor Who's 2024 Christmas special

Quite unexpectedly, it's Stephanie de Whalley's Anita who actually becomes the Fifteenth Doctor's new companion in the 2024 Christmas special. The Doctor and Anita spend a year together, during which she learns all about his mysterious nature and hears stories of fantastic monsters like the Weeping Angels. Most importantly, the Doctor and Anita each have a positive impact on each other's lives, which is arguably the hallmark of any good Doctor Who partner. Anita encourages the Doctor to find a new friend, while the Doctor gives Anita the opportunity for a more exciting life.

The Doctor is visibly upset to leave the Sandringham's concierge/cleaner/manager/ behind, so while the pair may not have traveled beyond the hotel's confines, their bond is evidently stronger than some doctor-companion friendships for years. previous ones. In fact, it's a wonder that Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor doesn't invite Anita to travel alongside him in the TARDIS for Doctor Who season 15. “Joy to the World” implies Fifteen is not yet ready to move on after Ruby Sundaybut spending time with Anita at least helps him open up to the possibility of a new companion in the future.

Joy never really becomes a surrogate companion in “Joy To The World”

Joy is great, but not a companion

In contrast, Nicola Coughlan's joy never takes the form of a Doctor Who partner during his brief encounter with the Time Lord. Joy has more screen time compared to Anita, although not by a huge margin, but barely spends an hour in-universe in the Doctor's presence. The pair's most significant moment comes when Fifteen verbally eviscerates Joy in order to arouse enough anger to break Villengard's conditioning, but they never share the kinship necessary for a relationship. Doctor Who partner. Anita, on the other hand, becomes the Doctor's close confidant in a deeply moving and moving montage.

Joy is less a companion figure and more someone the Doctor tries and fails to rescue. Coughlan's doomed heroine ultimately saves the world, but she doesn't help the Doctor in any obvious way. Understandably, Joy is more worried about being vaporized by Villengard's paste and relies on the Doctor to try and spare her life.

The rest of the time, Joy is brainwashed by Villengard's psychic programming, which further limits her ability to interact with the Doctor. Even in the final moments of “Joy to the World”, the Doctor goes alone and leaves Joy standing awkwardly in a crypt while trying to save the day using a rope, meaning there's never the sense of teamwork required for a doctor-companion dynamic.

It's true that Anita never helps the Doctor save the world. Their relationship and ability to bounce ideas off each other, however, is exactly what a double act of doctor and companion should be, and this is especially evident when the two chairmates break into a couple's honeymoon suite to investigate another door. from the Time Hotel. Joy is an excellent character and a worthy addition to the pantheon of unique characters. Doctor Who guest stars, but the only companionable vibes on “Joy to the World” come from behind the Sandringham Hotel reception.

Doctor who must reunite fifteen and Anita, right?

Please, Doctor Who, bring Anita back!

So compelling and touching is the camaraderie between the Fifteenth Doctor and Anita, Doctor Who I'd be remiss if I didn't bring Whalley's Stephanie back in a future episode. Anita's new job at the Time Hotel makes returning quite simple, and de Whalley's chemistry with Gatwa could easily sustain an entire adventure, should the Doctor find himself in a pint-sized situation in the TARDIS again.

Alternatively, Anita could follow the same path as Catherine Tate's Donna, who started out as a one-off Christmas companion but had such an enthusiastic response that she was later hired full-time. After an extremely positive first outing, it would be no surprise if Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor began Doctor Who Season 16 with a trip to the Time Hotel to pick up your old friend – for old times.