If there’s one factor Physician Who followers know, it’s that the Physician is nothing with out their companions – and the Physician themself would agree – although there’s one companion who’s arguably the best of all of them that Physician Who TV followers have by no means even met (even when they’ve heard of them): Shayde.
In Physician Who (2005) season 3, episode 9 “The Household of Blood”, Physician Who‘s Tenth Physician (performed by David Tenant) is pressured to make use of what is named the Chameleon Arch to vary his biology/anatomy to that of a human whereas eradicating his Time Lord essence and protecting it in a biodata module. The rationale he did this was that the Physician was on the run from the Household of Blood, who had been looking the Physician in an effort to steal his nearly immortal essence. So, the Tenth Physician determined the most effective plan of action was to lie low as a human for some time and primarily look forward to the Household of Blood to die. Nonetheless, that transition wasn’t simply organic, but additionally psychological. He didn’t do not forget that he was really a Time Lord, regardless of the lingering, fractured reminiscences that got here to him in desires. To be able to deal with these unusual visions, the Physician – who glided by his human title, John Smith – saved a journal the place he wrote down/drew the small print of those desires, and one factor that was included on this Journal of Inconceivable Issues was a companion he had when the Physician was the Fifth Physician and once more because the Eighth Physician, a companion referred to as Shayde.
That transient point out in season 3, episode 9 was probably the most TV followers obtained from the companion Shayde, whereas followers of the numerous Physician Who comedian e book collection obtained a lot, far more. Debuting in 1982’s Physician Who Month-to-month story titled “The Tides of Time” by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons, Shayde is finally revealed to be an instrument of the Matrix Lords – the disembodied collective consciousness of lifeless Time Lords – who was, themself, extra of a assemble than a completely natural being in their very own proper. Nonetheless, that didn’t imply Shayde was any much less of a companion, if something, the other was true. On this debut story, Shayde met the Fifth Physician after they assisted him in defeating the villainous Melanicus, and went on to help in quite a few different missions as properly, even teaming up with the Eighth Physician later of their profession.
Shayde stands out as a Physician Who companion for quite a few causes. Before everything, they’re a hyperlink to a nearly unexplored nook of Time Lord historical past by way of the Matrix Lords, which is in and of itself extremely fascinating to followers of the franchise. Shayde additionally brings a bit extra to the desk by way of aiding the Physician on missions. Normally, the Physician invitations folks to tag alongside on their adventures as a result of the Time Lord needs to witness the wonders of the universe by way of their eyes. Certain, they typically get into bother, however the purpose of the companion isn’t to be a soldier, however slightly simply that: a companion. Nonetheless, it might’t be ignored that wherever the Physician goes, bother follows, so having a companion like Shayde is solely extra sensible. Shayde can observe people by way of time and area, can retailer a vast variety of issues inside their ‘physique’ (which is definitely extra of a gateway to an interdimensional void), and has all of the weaponized talents of what’s generally known as a Solid, which had been mainly Time Sentinels designed for planetary protection.
From their significance to Time Lord historical past and tradition by way of the Matrix Lords to their unparalleled usefulness (particularly when in comparison with different companions), Shayde is well the best companion followers of the Physician Who TV collection have by no means met – and it is smart why the Tenth Physician would bear in mind them.