Adric – Doctor Who

Sure, Adric was not the first companion on Doctor Who to die. He was, however, one of only three companions to officially die on the show in its entire fifty year history, so it’s fair to call his shocking death scene something of an aberration. What’s more, he was a young teenager who died alone, trapped on an exploding spaceship while the Doctor watched helplessly safe aboard the TARDIS with Nyssa and Tegan. If that kind of character can die, who can’t?
Adric was annoying and whiny, and maybe in hindsight it might have been better to bring his older brother onto the TARDIS instead, with his rough around the edges demeanour far more appealing than Adric’s genius schoolboy routine. But it was still incredibly traumatizing to watch the little guy realize exactly what was happening, and to be stuck on board with no way of escape.
Fans didn’t see it coming at all, either, and many watched the following serial expecting him to somehow return. But Adric was really and truly gone. Having the courage to do that on Doctor Who reminded everyone that the Doctor was not infallible, and it was devastating to watch him lose one of the people that he felt responsible for.
