The Girl Who Waited

There's been a lot of internet complaining going on about the way Steven Moffat treats women in the show. Something about how they only exist as part of the Doctor's life and are totally dependent on him. Without getting into a whole debate on the subject, um hi, have you watched the show for the last 50 years? Some companions were more interesting or more independent than others but it's only lately that the companions have had a life beyond their time with the Doctor. The actresses who played those companions have said as much too if you watch the interviews they've given during some of this 50th anniversary hoopla.

All that to say, I believe that Steven Moffat's first full-time companion, Amy Pond, is one of the more developed ones. Here's her story:

STAGE ONE: When she first meets the Doctor she is 7 years old and is immediately taken with the idea, as any child would, of a mad man in a box who can travel through time and space. Eager to leave her unfulfilling home life, she asks to be taken away on an adventure. He tells her he will return in 5 minutes, and so she waits...  Little Amy's theme sounds like a tiny lullaby:

But it soon morphs into a cascade of trickling tear-like notes, each hoping to be be whisked away by the Doctor and his magic blue box. I think Amy's music is some of the saddest. Here's what plays as the Doctor leaves 7 year old Amelia:

Blerg! So sad!!

STAGE TWO: This brief first meeting is followed by 12 years of silence from the Doctor, due to some timey wimey error. When he returns, Amy is all grown up and has a life of her own. But she never forgot the Doctor. 

Grown-up Amy's theme is still lullaby-esque, very dreamy and has those big intervalic leaps that the Doctor's old theme (and the Doctor Who theme song) are full of. Amy's theme is also a bit like River's; The melodic patterns are similar, although the mood is completely different. Smart motif writing! Love it. Here's grown up Amy's music:

STAGE THREE: Amy is constantly challenging the Doctor. Although she trusts him completely, she will tell him he's wrong, she will outsmart him, and eventually, she puts her own life before his. Something that always bothered me about Rose (and Rose is my favourite!) is that she readily put the Doctor before her friends and family. Amy doesn't do that. She is a grown up and an independent woman. I think this also explains why she has the most developed music. Gold plays around with her theme, expands it, condenses it, morphs it to suit the drama she faces (Watch the season 6 episode The Girl Who Waited. Great example and a great episode!).

Next up! the Music of River Song :)