The following is a synopsis of the characters currently on the show. Before
embarking on any serious writing project, be sure to check to see if these characters
will still be available at the time your story will be produced. We'd hate for
you to spend weeks writing a story only to find out that the companion has left
and the Doctor regenerated.
Doctor
Who (James K. Flynn) - The Doctor is about 1850 years old, but looks to be the Earth-equivalent
of being in his 50's. This new incarnation is not a re-visitation of the
Hartnell-era Doctor. This Doctor is a delicate balance of fiery passion
and sombre thoughtfulness. This Doctor is always at the centre of the
story, pushing things forward and not in over his head. (At least not
intentionally.) He's not omniscient or infallible; however, he has lived
a long time now and brings all of that wisdom and experience to the table.
The new Doctor realizes that there are more days behind him
than ahead. This latest regeneration was very traumatic, and it will echo in
this incarnation. He ponders why he thrusts himself into danger constantly,
trying to save the universe or worlds from various menaces. He has lost
loved ones and has lost lives of his own. This weariness has set in, wondering
why he continues to do it. But when faced with each new menace or tyrant,
this weariness can melt away with the strong sense of purpose. He refuses
to accept casualties, he refuses to accept that he cannot catch all of the proverbial
"juggling balls" that he has thrown in the air when they come down.
Each loss of life is felt with this incarnation. He realizes that
so much of the preciousness of life is in the little details, the minutiae that
people take for granted day to day. It is in this preciousness that his
fiery passion comes from.
It should not be construed in any sense that the Doctor becomes
mired in self-pity or continued depression, however. This incarnation
is very much at the centre of things, due to a renewed inquisitive mind, and
is willing to take charge. In fact, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Think of the "Sherlock Holmes" aspects of the Doctor's personality
being further emphasised. He enjoys a good mystery; in fact, subconsciously
he could be using every investigation to find out more about himself, to find
out why keeps doing what he does.
The Doctor can be loving in a grandfatherly way. He's
not overtly fluffy or lovable, but in the little ways. He could be stern
with the adults and then throw a wink a child's way when the adults aren't looking.
He could be consoling a companion and surprise them with a bowl of their
favourite ice cream. He takes the time to learn the little things about
them, because he knows it's critical to enriching their lives.
The Doctor is not above manipulating his enemies or being
involved in a master scheme against them. However, he adamantly refuses
to involve innocents. This Doctor would be appalled to have taken Ace,
one of his older companions, to confront her past without her knowledge. To
this incarnation, it was a juvenile trick, something he did in his "youth"
but is ashamed to admit now.
This Doctor is partial to reading Graham Greene. He
loves the theatre and has determined to try to catch the opening nights of the
most famous plays, in sequential order, if the TARDIS allows. He keeps
wanting to finish "that chess match with King Richard". The Doctor
considered revisiting some of his old companions, but things always keep coming
up. This Doctor attends the annual "John Smith" convention held
in Ohio…he figures that he ought to meet some of the genuine article. He
finds punk music "interesting" but still can't understand the interest
in electronic/techno
Moira Skye (Karen Holliday) - Moira Skye is a modern girl, in her mid-to-late twenties or early thirties. She has the soul of poet. That is not to say that she is wishy-washy or angst ridden because Moira is none of these things. Rather, she looks at the world (and subsequently, the universe) though different, delicate eyes. Moira attended university for literature, and goes on to work in a bookstore before while she
decides on a career, whether that be teaching high school or editing a newspaper. Moira has an open-mind about the world and is a dreamer, but at the same time is well grounded and very, very bright.
Moira is not to be the hapless screamer companion, constantly asking the Doctor what's going on, or always out of her depth. Moira strong willed, thirsting for the adventure that the Doctor offers, and being able to stand her ground with him. Moira should be an occasional challenge for the Doctor, not always agreeing with the way he handles things, but always having a deep respect for him and cultivating a friendship that she cherishes. Moira should also be the Doctor’s human compass. He is an alien, aloof
at times, and occasionally Moira will remind him of the human side of issues. This could, inevitably, lead to disagreements.
Moira keeps a journal during her adventures with the Doctor; and authors could use this occasionally as a device in stories. Moira is definitely be a modern woman, not afraid to take chances or speak her mind, but that doesn't mean that she's cold or considered a stereotypical feminist. Far from it, Moira is indeed a romantic and compassionate. She won’t be falling in love on every adventure, but a broken heart would not be out of the question during her travels with the Doctor.
Moira is keenly interested in the Doctor’s history, wanting to learn not only about his past foes but also people he’s known. This is not to open up a continuity love fest, but rather should she meet one of the Doctor’s old foes (the Daleks, let’s say), she may not necessarily be surprised at who they are (also defeating the cliché of the Doctor having to explain to every companion who these old foes are). There is no need to establish her asking questions in every story about the Doctor’s past; but rather,
the idea is for her to already be somewhat knowledgeable of what the Doctor has faced in the past.
Moira spends a lot of time in the Doctor’s vast library. It would not be out of character to be reading a book when the Doctor first approaches her during a story, or for her to be finishing one up. On the flip side, Moira is not a “geek.” She does not wear glasses, she has a hip sense of fashion, and her guilty pleasure is to secretly watch pro wrestling on TV when she gets a chance.
Moira has a bit of a sarcastic side, but this is tempered and should not be used excessively. At best, she likes to jab at the Doctor playfully, and can even find it within her to crack a joke during a high stress situation. Moira has a keen sense of 20th/21st century pop culture and can make the occasional reference. This can even become a bit of the game with the Doctor, seeing what references he picks up and which ones he does not.
Moira’s father was a navy man, and Moira spent part of her youth traveling with her parents across the world on her father’s naval assignments, which contributed later on to her love of travel and adventure. Her father, though a navy man, was very loving and nurturing. Her mother was not merely a “navy wife” and had a career as a dentist. Her parents have retired to San Diego, California. Moira has one older sister whom she keeps in touch with, and had a brother, Daniel, who drowned when he was four and she
was nine.
Moira plays the guitar badly; she only knows “two-and-a-half” chords. She was once booed out of a café when she was twenty-one, and Moira then realized that she was never meant to be a folk singer. She loves vanilla chai tea, though, oddly enough, she doesn’t care much for chocolate. Moira admires Victoria Claflin Woodhull but feels that Betty Friedan is “overrated.” While in college, she was pressured by several female friends to attend a feminist rally. Her dilemma
was that she had a date that night. Her solution was to bring her attractive date to the rally and use him as a prop while giving the impromptu presentation on “The Ills of Staying Home Alone on Friday Night.”
Charlie Hawkins (Lee Sands) - Charlie was a “child” convict – around 15 years of age when he was transported on the second fleet. He has lived in Sydney Town since arriving in the open prison system, surviving more on his wits than anything else. Born in London, his Father was a drunkard who drove the family to a sentence in the local workhouse. Once the family debts had been repaid his Father deserted and Charlie was sent by his Mother to live with his Uncle and Aunt in Teddington. They were cruel and treated him like a slave. He ran away and became a member of a pickpocket gang. Charlie was caught, arrested, tried and subsequently sentenced to be transported for life.
Although he has been apprenticed to the local brickmaker, Charlie makes a profit from selling information. He is very short (given the poor diet of the age and the lateness people achieved puberty) and looks much younger than he actually is, allowing him to spy and largely be ignored. He speaks in a cockney accent. One of his best customers is the manservant of the Governor, who uses him as a line of information to keep the Governor informed of what is going on in the colony.
Although Charlie has limited literacy, he is naturally quite intelligent. He also has many useful skills such as lock-picking, pick-pocketing and others generally relating to larceny. He would certainly be someone the Doctor could rely on to pull through in a scrape due to his natural resourcefulness. While brave, he would tend to rely on cunning rather than brawn (partly due to his small stature) to survive in difficult circumstances.
By the time Charlie encounters the Doctor he is 19 or 20. I would envisage that the Doctor becomes a sort of surrogate father/teacher figure in his life. The Doctor might earn his respect by picking Charlie’s pocket at some stage. I think that he would have a natural aversion to authority and a distrust of any one who appears to be part of the ‘establishment’. The Doctor would be the perfect type of iconoclastic figure to be his mentor.
Doctor
Who (James K. Flynn) - The Doctor is about 1850 years old, but looks to be the Earth-equivalent
of being in his 50's. This new incarnation is not a re-visitation of the
Hartnell-era Doctor. This Doctor is a delicate balance of fiery passion
and sombre thoughtfulness. This Doctor is always at the centre of the
story, pushing things forward and not in over his head. (At least not
intentionally.) He's not omniscient or infallible; however, he has lived
a long time now and brings all of that wisdom and experience to the table.
Moira Skye (Karen Holliday) - Moira Skye is a modern girl, in her mid-to-late twenties or early thirties. She has the soul of poet. That is not to say that she is wishy-washy or angst ridden because Moira is none of these things. Rather, she looks at the world (and subsequently, the universe) though different, delicate eyes. Moira attended university for literature, and goes on to work in a bookstore before while she
decides on a career, whether that be teaching high school or editing a newspaper. Moira has an open-mind about the world and is a dreamer, but at the same time is well grounded and very, very bright.
Charlie Hawkins (Lee Sands) - Charlie was a “child” convict – around 15 years of age when he was transported on the second fleet. He has lived in Sydney Town since arriving in the open prison system, surviving more on his wits than anything else. Born in London, his Father was a drunkard who drove the family to a sentence in the local workhouse. Once the family debts had been repaid his Father deserted and Charlie was sent by his Mother to live with his Uncle and Aunt in Teddington. They were cruel and treated him like a slave. He ran away and became a member of a pickpocket gang. Charlie was caught, arrested, tried and subsequently sentenced to be transported for life. 