Rose Tyler

 Rose Tyler



Rose Tyler  is a fictional character portrayed by  Billie Piper  in the long-running British   series  Doctor Who, and was created by series producer  Russell T Davies. With the revival of  Doctor Who  in 2005, Rose was introduced as a new  travelling companion  of series protagonist  the Doctor, in his  ninth  and  tenth  incarnations. The companion character, intended to act as an  audience surrogate, was key in the first series more so than any other to introduce new viewers to the mythos of  Doctor Who , which had not aired regularly since 1989. Piper received top billing alongside  Christopher Eccleston  and  David Tennant  for the duration of her time as a regular cast member. A regular for all of  series one  (2005) and  series two  (2006), Piper later returned for three episodes of the programme's  fourth series  (2008) and appeared in feature length specials in both 2010 and 2013.

In the series' narrative, Rose is introduced in the eponymous series one premiere as a 19-year-old working class shop assistant from London, alongside her own supporting cast in the form of her mother Jackie Tyler (Camille Coduri) and her boyfriend Mickey Smith(Noel Clarke). Over the course of the first series Rose's human actions and responses contrast with the Doctor's alien perspectives. He comes to value and depend on her and sacrifices his Ninth incarnation for her. Rose grows increasingly trusting of the new Doctor and comes to realise she has fallen in love with him. The two appear to be forever separated in the series two finale, although Rose's temporary return in the fourth series gives her relationship with the Doctor a resolution.

In promoting the series, both Piper and Eccleston stressed Rose's heroic characteristics whilst Davies highlighted her down to earth qualities and quintessential Britishness. Critical reaction noted that the character was more developed, independent and equal to the Doctor than previous companions had been, whilst the character's overall role in the narrative of the first two series was praised. However, reaction to the character's 2008 return was more mixed. Piper won numerous awards for her portrayal of Rose —including twoNational Television Awards —and since her initial role in the series has ranked highly in numerous 'best companion' polls. After leaving as a series regular, Piper experienced success in other high profile roles as an actress which has been partly attributed to her performances in Doctor Who.



Casting
Lead writer and executive producer Russell T Davies chose the name Rose because he considered it a "good luck charm" after he used it for Lesley Sharp's character in Bob & Rose. His desire to make the show "essentially British" was another justification: he considered Rose to be "the most British name in the world" and feminine enough to subvert a recent trend of female companions having "boyish" names, such as Benny, Charley, and Ace.[40]  Davies also frequently uses the surname "Tyler" in his work —previous characters he created with the surname include Ruth Tyler in Revelations (1994), Vince Tyler inQueer as Folk (1999), and Johnny Tyler in The Second Coming (2003) —due to his affection for how the surname is spelled and pronounced.[41]  The casting of Piper as Rose was announced on by the BBC on 24 May 2004.[42]  Head of Drama for BBC Wales Julie Gardner commented that the former pop star "fits the bill perfectly" as a "unique, dynamic partner for Christopher Eccleston".[42]  Whilst some fans —including a representative of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society —were enthusiastic about the announcement, others felt it was "publicity stunt" casting and questioned Piper's acting credentials.[43]  One of the factors that influenced Piper's acceptance of the role was the fact she was able to relate the character of Rose to her own experiences as a teenager.[44]

 The British media had regularly released conflicting reports about how long Piper would be staying with the programme. In March 2006, she claimed that she would continue on  Doctor Who  into its third series in 2007. [45]  The BBC announced on 15 June 2006 that Piper was to depart in the final episode of the second series, " Doomsday ". [46]  Piper's decision to leave had been taken a year previously but remained a secret until news of her departure became public. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[47]  Following "Doomsday", Piper as Rose was greenlit to be the star of the spin-off series  Rose Tyler: Earth Defence, set in her parallel universe and to air as a  bank holiday  special, but Davies deemed the concept "a spin-off too far" after  Torchwood  and  The Sarah Jane Adventures. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[48]  Piper's eventual return during series four was planned during filming of the  second series ; in January 2006, she made a pact promising to return to film several more episodes. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Confidential_49-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[49] Davies and Piper cited her commitment to other projects—specifically, her roles as  Belle de Jour  in  Secret Diary of a Call Girl, the lead character in the BBC adaptations of  Philip Pullman 's  Sally Lockhart  quartet, and  Fanny Price  in the  ITV adaptation of Mansfield Park —as explanations behind her departure appearing permanent. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-companion_50-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[50]

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Characterisation
<p style="line-height:1.5em;">"I was very similar at 19. I wanted something to happen in life, I wanted a bit more. I wanted to find someone who could challenge my ideas. So I definitely tapped into that."

—Billie Piper on how her personal experience influenced her approach to the character. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-takeoff_44-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[44] <p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Rose is used by Davies as an introduction to the shows mythos and fantasy elements. He later underlined similarities between Rose and Gwen Cooper —the leading lady he created for Torchwood — describing both as "the ordinary person who stumbles into something extraordinary and finds herself their equal."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Who_dares_wins_51-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[51]  Like her successor Martha, Rose is from London; Brett Mills from the University of East Anglia makes the assumption that this is because characters from the capital of the country are "relatable to all British people" because they are seen as "neutral".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[52]  Rose is introduced alongside a supporting cast in the form of her boyfriend Mickey and mother Jackie which James Chapman cites as "evidence of Davies' attempt to create a social context for the companion".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[53]  Davies states that the inclusion of these two characters was part of his desire to "make her real" and to "give her a life".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kickoutofyou_54-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54]  He later stated that in giving Rose a mother, a boyfriend and a "sad story with her father" the character has "her own mythology, to match the Doctor."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TimeTrouble_55-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[55]  Lindy A. Orthia observes that Rose, like the other companions in Davies' era of Doctor Who, is "drawn from a cosmopolitan vision" in her case because of her class background. Orthia contends that whilst working-class companions had featured previously in the show "none were unskilled workers nor chronically under- or unemployed like Rose, Jackie and Donna".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AbsentPostcolonial_56-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[56]  Looking back at the two characters, Davies felt Jackie to be someone who is "holding Rose back" right from the first episode due to her suggestions her daughter be content with menial employment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[57]  Piper states that this causes Rose to resent her mum somewhat, although she loves her.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kickoutofyou_54-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54]

Christopher Eccleston felt that Rose was the Ninth Doctor's equal in the first series.<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Kay McFadden of The Seattle Times felt Rose to resemble "the Bridget Jones type of Englishwoman, albeit a few pegs down the socioeconomic scale" waiting to be awakened "not by some Mark Darcy …  but by adventure incarnate."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[58]  Piper stated that at the start of the series Rose is "looking for something to happen" and that once the Doctor arrives she becomes "ruthless" in her decision to "completely drop her life as she knows it."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[59]  At a media preview of the series she characterised Rose as being "positive, ambitious and full of conviction and confidence." She felt additionally that Rose is "a good character to relate to or aspire to."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GuardianLaunch_60-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]  In a 2013 retrospective on her time on Doctor Who Piper stated Rose's feminine characteristics contributed to her being a balanced representation of a female character. She felt that Rose as a character could be both "strong-willed and vulnerable" and ventured that her emotional response made her more interesting than "a female character endlessly striving towards perfection".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[61]  Eccleston, who played the Ninth Doctor described the character as a "heroine" who "teaches [the Doctor] huge emotional lessons".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GuardianLaunch_60-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]  In an episode of Doctor Who Confidential he expanded on this, describing her as "the Doctor's equal in every way" except for the fact she lacks his scientific knowledge.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kickoutofyou_54-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54]  He felt that the relationship between the two characters was "love at first sight" although in a more mysterious fashion than a conventional love affair.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GuardianLaunch_60-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]  Davies summarised the relationship between the two characters as "soul mates" who "understand and complement each other".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mainPRs1_62-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[62]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Lynette Porter, in her book Tarnished Heroes, Charming Villains and Modern Monsters: Science Fiction in Shades of Gray on 21st Century Television observed that Rose's role "humanizes the Doctor and makes him less alien, not only to other characters, but to the audience".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[63] Rose's narrative role in series one was later compared to that of Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) in the 2012 Doctor Who Christmas special "The Snowmen". Jon Cooper of The Mirror observed that both characters provide "a great foil for a Doctor who’s given up on the universe".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[64]  In the first series finale, Rose takes on deadly energies to save the Doctor and planet Earth. Script editor Helen Raynor felt the episode gave Rose a chance to “again be the Doctor’s equal” and “to finally match him with a gesture that is so noble, and strong, and heroic, and clever”. Davies describes Rose in the context of this scene, and the whole of the first series, as being “braver than brave and more loyal than anyone else in the universe”. The Doctor repays her loyalty by sacrificing his ninth incarnation in turn to save her; Davies states unequivocally that "he gives his life for her".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TheLastBattle_65-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[65]  Elements of Rose's characterisation in the first series were originally different. Paul Abbott was scheduled to write an episode which would have revealed that Rose's entire life had been manipulated by the Doctor in order to mould her into an ideal companion. Davies wrote the episode "Boom Town" to replace it when Abbott realised he was too busy to work on the script.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[66] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[67]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Many fans and critics noticed similarities between Rose and her successor Jenna Coleman's Clara Oswald, whom she appeared alongside with in The Day of the Doctor. For example she helped the Doctor out of a dark place in his life, albeit Rose helping with a much darker time, both companions losing a parent and having a more close relationship with the Doctor and seeing part of their childhood.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LBC_Akhaten_68-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[68] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LBC_Akhaten_68-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[68]  <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[69]  The Doctor does the same thing to Clara as he does to Rose in The Parting of the Ways in The Time of the Doctor by sending her back home to keep her safe.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[70]

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With the Tenth Doctor
The second series explored new elements of the relationship between Rose and David Tennant's Doctor.<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In an interview with SFX producer Phil Collinson stated that after the Doctor regenerates the "initial dynamic changes because [Rose] has to learn to trust him again".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Collinson_71-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[71]  Piper added that as the Doctor is incapacitated Rose consequently feels "unloved", "isolated" and "like she's lost her best friend". In the Doctor's absence Rose relies on her observations of him and tries to mimic his actions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[72]  Collinson felt it was important to resolve any mistrust between the pair by the end of the Christmas Special, as the public had responded well to Rose and the Doctor's friendship previously.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Collinson_71-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[71]  Davies had scripted dialogue in "The Christmas Invasion" explaining the newly regenerated Doctor's estuary English accent by stating he had imprinted on Rose and adopted her way of speaking. However, due to time constraints this sequence was not filmed. Discussing how Rose had developed by the second series, Piper described her as having "come on in leaps and bounds" and stated she is now "a lot more proactive." She felt that there is a "different kind of energy" between Rose and the Tenth Doctor, whilst Tennant remarked that the audience would get to see the Doctor-companion relationship "developing and becoming something that it maybe hasn't before."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DaveBillie_73-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[73]  Piper stated that with the Tenth Doctor, Rose is "more tetchy and more possessive" over him as "she feels like she's lost him once and doesn't want to lose him again". She cited Rose's "catfight" with former companion Sarah Jane Smith in "School Reunion" as evidence of this.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CBBC2_74-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[74]  Discussing the possibility of Rose and the Tenth Doctor becoming more romantically involved Piper stated "You want it to happen, but at the same time you don't want it to happen". Tennant likened the dynamic between the pair to that of Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) in The X-Files. Both Tennant and Piper agreed that the expectation of the relationship is more exciting than having it realised.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DaveBillie_73-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[73]  To add to the tragedy of their separation, Davies scripted the series two story arc so that Rose and the Doctor would be indirectly responsible for their separation. "It's deliberate when that happens [the Doctor and Rose's arrogance]", said Davies, "and they do pay the price. In "Tooth and Claw", they set up the very thing — Torchwood — that separates them in the end. It's sort of their own fault."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[75]  Though Davies left the Doctor's response to Rose's declaration of love in "Doomsday" unstated, Gardner felt strongly that the character reciprocated her feelings. On the commentary for the episode she stated that she would "confirm to the world" that he was going to "say it back."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pod_76-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[76]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Davies created the expectation of Rose's return in the fourth series by mentioning her in dialogue and featuring Piper in cameo appearances in "Partners in Crime", "The Poison Sky", and "Midnight".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Confidential_49-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[49]  Speaking on how Rose's character had changed between her appearances, Davies described the fourth series Rose as "tougher, more independent, and [she] might, at times, seem a little harder".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[77]  Piper stated she rewatched her earlier episodes to remember how the character spoke and acted as she felt she had "been playing posh birds" since she left the programme and by contrast "Rose is a bit of a chav".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-telegraph_return_78-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[78]  Rose is re-united with the Doctor near the climax of "The Stolen Earth". Director Graeme Harper insisted that the scene appear "mystical" because the characters' reunion was "the most magical moment" in the entire episode and Ernie Vincze, the Director of Photography for the show, compared the scene's feeling to the 1980s science-fiction film Blade Runner.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billie_79-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[79]  Davies characterised the reunion between Rose and the Doctor as "the biggest romance [the viewer] has ever seen" and joked that seminal films such as Gone with the Wind should have ended with a Dalek shooting the male lead.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DWCTSE_80-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[80]  He had difficulty splitting up the characters for a second time for the necessity of the plot. He felt that "Rose has to be stupid to fall in love with Doctor #2" because "she's doing what the plot demands, not what she'd demand".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-81" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[81]  At one stage he considered giving an explanation that Rose's dimension hopping and the Dalek's meddling with reality had contaminated her with "voidstuff" and that she would die if she stayed in her original universe.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-82" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[82]  In the final episode it is enough for her to stay that the human Doctor needs her and is able to reciprocate her love. Porter felt that the climax of "Journey's End" indicated that "Rose's role as a sidekick has been completed" as she has a second Doctor to humanise, one who she can be equals with.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-83" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[83]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Piper's 2010 appearance in The End of Time, Tennant's final story as a series regular, was leaked by the press in May 2009 when Piper was seen photographed on location with Coduri and Tennant.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-84" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[84]  Though Davies had intended the serial to end with the Tenth Doctor visiting his former companions, he struggled with how to include Rose. An initial idea was for Rose to appear with her part-human Doctor in the parallel universe, where both would sense the original Tenth Doctor regenerating. However, Davies felt this would raise too many questions about their lives in the parallel universe.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[85]  Davies' successor as executive producer, Steven Moffat, felt that Davies ended Rose's story in the perfect way by choosing to take it back to the beginning of her acquaintance with the Doctor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[86] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Anglophenia_87-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[87]  Piper's return for Doctor Who ' s 50th anniversary episode was confirmed in March 2013.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-88" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[88]  Moffat wished to include Piper in the episode because he felt that she symbolised the rebirth of Doctor Who. As he did not feel comfortable adding to Davies' story arc, he chose instead to re-introduce her Bad Wolf persona.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Anglophenia_87-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[87]  During the episode Piper's character has dialogue solely with John Hurt's War Doctor, and is unseen by the other characters, including the Tenth Doctor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Anglophenia_87-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[87]  Reviewers noted similarities between the characterisation of Bad Wolf Rose and that of a plot device used by Charles Dickens in his 1843 novella A Christmas Carol.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-89" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[89] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AtlanticDickens_90-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[90]  Ted B. Kissell, a journalist for The Atlantic likened the War Doctor to Ebenezer Scrooge and dubbed Rose the "Ghost of Doctors Yet to Come".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AtlanticDickens_90-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[90]