I'm dealing with fifty years of programming... something is bound to get lost along the way.

The other night I was reading reviews of Star Trek: Into the Darkness when I had the passing thought... Simon Pegg would make a great addition to Doctor Who.

In one of the numerous duh moments of my life, I turned on Doctor Who this morning and the BBCA was showing The Long Game ... 

... And sometimes it's nice to play with the grown-ups

I actually just finished The Mutants, story number 63 and the fourth story of season 9, but I wanted to take a moment and reflect upon the some of my highlights of the previous seasons of the the third Doctor. After the Time Lords left us hanging at the end of The War Games, I entered  unknown territory. I had never seen a complete story with the Doctor's assistant/companion Liz Shaw, and this season proved to be a treat.

My introduction to the Doctor came toward the end of the 10th season, so for me, my first real companion was Sarah Jane Smith. And, as a woman I could identify with her... smart, liberated, brave, outspoken... Liz Shaw has those qualities too. 

What makes Liz Shaw unique is that she, more than any other person at U.N.I.T is the Doctor's equal. As the science adviser of U.N.I.T, Liz Shaw holds the post which will eventually become the Doctor's. She actually grasps what the Doctor is working on, even when he is dismissive. Of course, these qualities are also her downfall, as her character was seen as being too smart for the audience to relate to. 

Shame on you Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks... you set a whole new standard for ditsy companions in your creation of Jo Grant! But more on that later...

Liz Shaw's final appearance came in my favorite story of that season, Inferno.  The icy Section Leader Elizabeth Shaw, alternate universe Liz Shaw, is so well played by Caroline John. Just as smart as her alt-universe counterpart, this Elizabeth Shaw channels that intelligence into a calculating and determined officer of the fascist regime of her world. She is the true hero of the story, recognizing that the Doctor's plan is the correct thing to do, and will give meaning to the death she is facing on her Earth. 

In Caroline John's obituary, Toby Hadoke recognizes the unique qualities that John's character embodied in a Doctor Who companion. "As Dr Elizabeth Shaw, she provided brains, cool-headed intelligence and maturity where once the Doctor's female companions had screamed and asked questions."  These are qualities, that as a female fan of the show I can relate to, and unfortunately find lacking to a certain extent in New Who. 

When the marathons are over I would like to learn more about the Liz Shaw and her further experiences with the Doctor found in the novels and audios.