Rabbits! Tegan Jovanka has to be up there in the pantheon of iconic companions. She blundered aboard the TARDIS in the Fourth Doctor’s dying days and stayed for most of the following incarnation’s tenure. Well, I say blundered – but was she part of the Watcher’s plan? As the events of Logopolis swirled and coalesced, she became instrumental in the Doctor’s recovery and well-being.
Much is said of Tegan being “a mouth on legs”, but from a 21st century perspective, she was a woman who knew her own mind and stood up to the Doctor – and his enemies – calling them out on their bullshit. She was also very resourceful and loyal, and when she’d had enough, she had the agency to call time. I was over the moon when she returned in The Power of the Doctor, and was not in the least bit surprised she had a great friendship with Ace – another strong woman. There was a point in this story where her and Ace are on the UNIT HQ rooftop fleeing the Cybermen. That moment gave me joy – of course she would go back inside and of course Ace would jump off the edge with a parachute! So here’s to you, Tegan Jovanka – Australia’s best! – Code Nine x
