Freeman Agyeman, poised to unleash herself on a nation of sci-fi fans as Doctor Who assistant Martha Jones. Photograph: Graeme Robertson
With the Doctor's latest companion preparing to take her first trip in the Tardis this Saturday evening, the question buzzing around the blogosphere is will she be any good? Or as Behind the Sofa phrased it in their 24 questions to bear in mind tomorrow evening: "The new assistant makes her debut on Staurday - will Freema Agyeman bring a BAFTA home next year? Or will Martha Jones have us pining for Rose?"
The Doctor Who blog may have a rather unoriginal name, but they have high hope for Miss Jones: "She has the potential to be an excellent companion, and hopefully won't be another Rose. And that's good thing. Don't get me wrong, I loved Rose but change is good." Vive la difference then. Another commentator on this blog doesn't seem to be worried about the change at all. "I have no idea what kind of companion Martha will be. But I have faith as Russell Davies has brilliant casting in all his productions, Doctor Who included, and he's created some of my favourite characters on British TV. New companion? Easy!"
The positive thread continues on Unit News with comments such as: "[Freema] seems like a nice actress who I'm sure will do well as Martha Jones!" - very polite - and also one that touches on the issue of race. "If you look at it from a different perspective, Freema being the first black person (as far as I can remember) to be a Dr Who assistant is an incredibly big deal. The even bigger deal is that I had to work hard to think of reasons why it is an incredibly big deal. To me she's another assistant." A refreshingly un-fussed approach to something that caused, when casting was announced, quite a stir.
Some of the posters on Dr Who online are not convinced that the new girl will come up to the standards of the illustrious B Piper: "Freema Agyeman has a lot to follow after the legacy that Billie Piper has left. I'm not convinced. I think that Billie will be the best new companion." Of course there are others that are ready to leap to Martha's defence: "Not convinced Billie left anything, let's think about it? If Martha had been first some of us would be saying 'Billie will never replace Martha'. Anyway, all Billie did was cry all the time. Good riddance to Billie and come on Martha I say."
Some of the people writing on The Wizard of Duke Street an be rather, um, frank about their opinion of how Martha is going to work out: "Dammit, I want Rose, this new person is gonna be shit. I mean Rose and the Doctor belong together!" But of course there are those who take the sensible option of waiting to see the debut episode before they comment: "I'm not too sure about this new companion but I'll hold judgement until season 3".
All in all, young medical student Martha Jones will have a lot to contend with tonight - not only a mysterious alien doctor and the monstrous Judoon, but a whole legion of fans, young and old to win over.
