Obviously,
as easily the most badass classic Who
companion, Leela has no shortage of Big Damn Hero moments. The Sevateem warrior is handy with a dagger
(and a Janis thorn, despite the Doctor’s objections,) knows her way around
hand-to-hand combat, and is a quick study on guns. As with most of the Doctor’s more badass
companions, though, I’ve tried to put together a list that’s a little more
varied than “five times Leela kicked someone’s ass” (spoilers.)
Fighting Mister Sin (Series 14, Episode 23 –
“The Talons of Weng-Chiang: Episode 3”)
Leela is
prepared when Mister Sin arrives at Professor Litefoot’s house. Having already knocked out the professor,
Mister Sin creeps toward her, knife outstretched, and Leela returns like for
like, grabbing a steak knife off the table and expertly throwing it straight into his neck. Of course (because Who isn’t about to have Leela actually kill someone by knifing them
in the jugular,) it turns out Mister Sin don’t go down that way. When he’s unphased by the knife attack, Leela
does the smart thing: fall back and
regroup. She also does the cool thing,
vaulting over a chair, running across the table, and diving out the window –
Leela gets all the action moves!
Tailing Li H’sen (Series 14, Episode 23 – “The
Talons of Weng-Chiang: Episode 3”)
Brave and
smart! Leela follows Li H’sen back to
the theatre, taking cover while he puts his hypnotic mojo on an unsuspecting
woman. Then, when Li H’sen is out of the
room, Leela swaps clothes with the woman and hides her away, getting Li H’sen
to instead take her back to Greel’s
lair with him. Since Leela is only pretending
to be hypnotized, this gives her valuable intel on where to find the baddies and a primo opportunity for a first
skirmish with Greel; nicely done.
Killing the Rutan (Series 15, Episode 4 –
“Horror of Fang Rock: Episode 4”)
While the
particulars of this moment aren’t anything extraordinary – Leela fires a mortar
at the Rutan – it’s here for the swagger points. Leela seeks it out afterwards and finds the
Rutan dying in the stairwell, where she scoffs at its promise of revenge. “Enjoy your death as I enjoyed killing
you.” I know the Doctor doesn’t approve,
but seriously, how badass is that?
Fighting the Infected (Series 15, Episode 7 –
“The Invisible Enemy: Episode 3”)
While the
cloned Doctor and Leela are miniaturized and injected into the Doctor’s
bloodstream to locate the nucleus of the Virus (it’s Who, just go with it,) the Infected are keen to stop that
happening. With the Doctor himself
unconscious, it’s up to Leela (and K9) to hold them back. This is a fun example of how Leela adapts
over the course of her time on the show; while she fights as strategically as
ever, she also learns her way around weapons she would’ve never used as one of
the Sevateem, like blasters. Cool action
scene that shows off Leela’s boldness, as well as her smarts.
Keeping the Faith (Series 15, Episode 23 – “The
Invasion of Time: Episode 3”)
At this
point in the story, everything seems to suggest that the Doctor is in league
with the bad guys. He’s been shifty and
secretive, he lowered Gallifrey’s defenses to let the enemy in, and he appears
to have turned on Leela personally, banishing her from the Citadel. But Leela remains loyal, sure that it’s all
part of the Doctor’s plan, calm in the knowledge that she doesn’t have to
understand it to help him carry it out.
Rodan argues with her, insisting that “reason dictates” that the Doctor
is a traitor. Leela, fiercely, replies,
“Then reason is a liar!” This is maybe
an odd Big Damn Hero moment to include, especially for a companion who
regularly kicks so much ass, but this display of trust and devotion is brave
too, and I love that Leela is unflinching in her belief in the Doctor’s
character.
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