Please DO NOT add to this discussion.
I know there are out-of-universe reasons why The Doctor has mainly human companions and travels to Earth but he always boasts The Tardis can go anywhere in time and space. So why does it feel sometimes like the only places he goes is Earth in the 20th/21st centuries or Earth in particular. If he is going to stick with humans as companions for whatever reason, then at least go to another point in Earth's timeline, e.g. 14th century England or Earth in the 94th century. It just seems a simple and very easy contradiction to make and very easy to notice. I'm just a bit bored now of every companion (main companion) being from the same year in which they are introduced. That's why I like the comics as they can use aliens that are obviously not human like e.g. ice warriors or 12 feet robots. Although for some reason even alien companions are taken to Earth a lot. Think of Torlough. He was a Trion but went to Earth or was involved with humans quite a few times in his travels. It just seems stupid to think one species-humanity-is so important and influential when others seem to come and go as if they're nothing.
- The simple answer is that he HAS gone to other centuries and planets for Companions, at least in the Classic series (and I'm guessing some novels, too). The new series has featured 21st century Companions but the DWU is much bigger than that. And as far as his travels, he travels widely through time and space from Pompeii until the end of universe. Badwolff ☎ 21:59, May 22, 2013 (UTC)
- One possible rationale for the Earth bit, though not the 20th-21st century bit, & for the difference between the companions of the classic series & those of the revived series is the destruction of Gallifrey. In the classic series, the Doctor still had a home planet, even if he tended to stay away from it as much as possible. In the revived series, he no longer has a home planet & the Earth had become (over the course of the classic series) something of a second home. This rationale hasn't been made explicit but there have been a few hints at it.
- In the classic series, there were also several companions with anomalous origins. For example, on 20th-century Earth, he gained an alien companion (Vislor Turlough, a Trion); on 13th-century Earth, he gained a shapeshifting robot as a companion (Kamelion); on Svartos in the far future, he gained a 20th-century human companion (Ace).
- To some extent, it also depends on who is counted as a companion. Astrid Peth, who wasn't human or from Earth, died before she could travel in the TARDIS but she had been invited to do so & had accepted the invitation. The Doctor met Jack Harkness on 20th-century Earth but Jack wasn't a local. River Song is... well, she's not a 20th-21st-century Earth human, even though her parents were.
- The Paternoster Gang probably don't count as companions -- in most people's opinions, anyway -- but they're certainly close associates of the Doctor. One's a Silurian from about 65 million years ago (but, admittedly, she's from Earth & he met her in the 19th century). One's a 19th-century human, who's the Silurian's wife. And one's a Sontaran.
- I agree that the range of main companions ought to be more adventurous. To give him due credit, however, Moffat has broadened the selection of the Doctor's associates more than RTD did. What's more, Jack & River, although they were introduced in the RTD era, are both Moffat characters. --2.96.16.178talk to me 23:21, May 22, 2013 (UTC)
- Badwolff, "he HAS gone to other centuries and planets for Companions, ... (and I'm guessing some novels, too)": I've not ready many of the novels but I've read enough to know your guess is correct. --2.96.17.223talk to me 08:53, May 23, 2013 (UTC)
Why Earth: The Doctor expessed his fondness for this planet much times before, in both classic series AND new series. He sees the development of planet Earth as a personal thing and keeps a close eye on it, he CHOOSE our planet to be his protected one. Why 21st century: It's never really explicit on the series, but the Doctor said that travelling to the past is far more difficult than travelling to the . So, we can assume: Travelling to the past is like going trough stone, travelling to the future is like going trough wood and there's a tiny little gap between stone and wood, which we can call present-day; Not carved in stone neither closed by wood. This time is probably THE present-day... You can also take the individual new series companion. ROse was saved by the Doctor ad later invited to travel. Martha also met the DOctor in an alie situation. Donna was a special case, her timeline was manipulated by Dalek Caan to CONSTANTLY meet the Doctor. The TARDIS landed into Amy's house, probably by accident, and the Doctor picked up Clara because of Dalek Clara (Oswin) and Victorian Clara having died for him. Resuming: There are LOTS of reasons on why the Doctor constantly picks up companions from Earth 21st century, but we are sure that: A) He considers himself personaly responsible for Earth's development B) The 21st century is the Doctor's time, and possibly even universal present-day.– The preceding unsigned comment was added by 201.75.127.204 (talk).
Madame de Pompadour was chosen and she was 18th century French.
But to answer your question... I'd say its because 1) these centuries are before the enlightenment of alien life and 2) we are mature enough to deal with it. For the first point, I think he enjoys the wide-eyed expressions and interactions they have. To open the door to something completely new. For the second point, How weird would it be if he picked up a racist companion?--The Messenger John Tyler ☎ 18:20, September 29, 2013 (UTC)
Sorry but none of these answers really helps to answer my question. Yes you mention astrid and madame de pompadour but they died before they got to go with the doctor? Why? No offence to these companions but why didn't Martha or rose die instead? They were in dangerous situations as well but somehow they survived? I would just like now that we are 8 years into the revived series to see an obviously alien looking companion from an alien world and that they are found on that world. Not on earth in any point in its history. --Coop3 ☎ 22:28, October 20, 2013 (UTC)
Because that's the story. First you've got to understand that the Doctor doesn't "go looking" for companions he acquires them during the course of his adventuring. Remember also that the story doesn't being with the Doctor, it begins with Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright. They end up going with the Doctor and then he ends up stuck with them. In that time he gained an affinity with them and a growth in his affection for humanity. Humans are easy, the jobs already been done. The story is supposed to be a human story from a human position, that's why it begins with Ian and Barbara that's why they discover him first. It the story of the human relationship with this spectacular, enigmatic character who is far greater than them and they no absolutely nothing about. Only very rarely do they stray from that plot.DCT ☎ 12:49, October 21, 2013 (UTC)