Plot Driving Companions

My personal opinion is that Rose was the first companion to drive the overall plot of the Doctor Who arc she was involved in. While there were many previous companions who drove storylines, and even had their own arc’s, Rose was the first to drive the action for the entire duration. This, to me, signifies a shift from the companion as just a plot device, to the role of companion being a main character. How many truly memorable companions were there pre-Rose? A handful. How many of them actually were the driving force behind a Regeneration? Only two prior to Rose. And they were, honestly, forgettable companions. But Rose, she ranks consistently as one of the favorite companions throughout the entire series, old and new. Absolutely memorable. So, for this reason, Rose, and Billie Piper who portrayed her, is (short of the Doctor, themself) one of the most pivotal companions to ever board the TARDIS. 🌹