I love
both Romanas so much. Romana II isn’t quite as chilly as Romana I, but she’s no
less self-assured and capable in a crisis. Here are my favorite instances of
her using her smarts and cool nerve to save the day (spoilers.)
Escaping the Daleks (Series 17, Episode 2 –
“Destiny of the Daleks: Episode 2”)
A big
part of any companion’s function on the show is to get captured, and what they
do in these situations is a major signifier of who they are. Romana, newly
regenerated, almost immediately finds herself imprisoned by the Daleks. After
getting through a terrifying interrogation, she’s put to work with other
humanoids in hard labor. She’s determined to escape, but her fellow prisoners
warn that, even if someone successfully gets away, five remaining captives are
killed in retribution. So, instead of running, Romana plays a smart game that
gets her out without endangering anyone else – she pretends to have died from
the exertion of the labor and the planet’s radiation, using a trick of her Gallifreyan
physiology to temporarily stop her hearts. The Daleks order her “corpse”
carried away from the work site, and she’s home free!
Escaping the Huntsmen (Series 17, Episode 9 –
“The Creature from the Pit: Episode 1”)
Another
capture bit – pound for pound, Romana’s “cool under pressure” attitude when
captured is as impeccable as Liz Shaw’s. Here, she’s kidnapped by huntsmen and
held for ransom. She quickly takes complete control of the situation, to the
point where they sit and stand at her order, and she even makes them the
instrument of her rescue – literally. She produces K9’s dog whistle, and when
they puzzle over the object and Romana explains that “you blow into it,” they
do just that, summoning the robot dog to come free his mistress. As Romana and
K9 leave, she breezily tosses the exit line, “I hope we don’t meet again. I
can’t honestly say it’s been a pleasure.”
Throwing the Switch (Series 17, Episode 15 –
“Nightmare of Eden: Episode 3”)
The
Doctor is in the power room, readying to separate the two fused ships, and he
needs Romana to operate the drive for him from the control room. As she
prepares to do her bit, she’s first attacked by Rigg and then held at gunpoint
by Fisk, but no threat or danger will keep her from doing what the Doctor needs
her to do. She’s steely as she faces off against Fisk, calmly calling his bluff
and throwing the power switch, then escaping in the resulting commotion. That’s
my girl!
Communicating with the Professor (Series 17,
Episode 22 – “Shada: Episode 2”)
Clever
Romana for the win (although, really, is there any other kind?) When Skagra
leaves Professor Cronotis in a coma, Romana uses a Gallifreyan med kit to
technologically take over his autonomic functioning, freeing up his autonomic
brain for conscious thought. Despite being repeatedly told that the professor
still won’t be able to communicate with them, Romana recognizes a way. She gets
K9 to amplify the sound of the professor’s heartbeats and realizes he’s beating
his hearts in Gallifreyan Morse. This allows them to receive the professor’s
warning.
Escaping Her Captors (Series 18, Episode 7 –
“Meglos: Episode 3”)
The
Gazteks nab Romana and demand that she lead them back to the TARDIS. After
giving them quite the run-around and in general low-key acting like she has the
run of the place, Romana sics some carnivorous flora on them and hightails it
out of there. Nice way to see her use her own dangerous run-in with the plants
earlier in the story to her advantage, and I love it when the Doctor and/or a
companion is captured and still act like they’re the one holding all the cards.
Both Romanas are basically the queens of this attitude, and I am here for it.
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