Katy Manning
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Jo Grant Katy Manning |
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A Review by David Barnes Updated 16/11/04 (originally 14/5/02)
I always used to like Jo Grant, and to some degree still do. She always struck me as a terribly fun type, a bit dim, but likeable. I probably had a crush on her when I was 8, I don't know. Still, I liked her. It's probably because my tastes have changed now - Tom Baker always used to be my favourite Doctor for about nine years, but then suddenly I switched to Hartnell - I'm now a huge supporter of 60's Who. Most of my favourite companions come from that era, even if I retain my huge fondness for the K9, Kamelion (stop laughing), Lalla Ward and the Brigadier (though, come to think of it, even he started off in the 60s!) . I've just decided that Steven was probably one of the best companions ever, and I've always rather liked Ian and Barbara. They somehow seem more interesting and... bizarrely, more fun than Jo. I'm not entirely sure why.
I've never really been the hugest Pertwee era fan either - I like Jon Pertwee in the part, and generally enjoy watching one of his stories. But when it comes to thinking of what my favourite stories from the series are, about two of his pop up (The Ambassadors of Death and The Curse of Peladon) and that's about it; my mind gets swamped with happy episodes of Hartnell giggling like a lunatic, Troughton blustering with worry and Tom going googly-eyed. The Pertwee stories get left behind.
Jo served her purpose well, as the typical companion type. It's just now I view her as rather unremarkable. She never really does anything that strikes me as particularly interesting, and I'm not hugely in favour of the "thick as sixteen short planks" approach either. She's sweet and vaguely loveable, and Katy Manning brings a bubbly energy to the role. But when I think of Pertwee, most of my favourite companion scenes with him feature the Brig or Benton. There's something somehow cosier about him patronising Alastair than Jo - witness The Dæmons. He has a pop at the Brigadier, Jo does the same, only for the Doctor to turn round and have a go at her for doing it!
The 3rd Doctor and Jo do have a good relationship for the most part, yes, just as the two actors did offscreen. But it's more of a terribly serious authority type travelling with a comedy bungling sidekick who keeps getting them involved in another comedy caper. He never looked up to her. He had affection for her, but never regarded her as an equal, in the same way that he did for Liz, or the other Doctors could do for their companions (even the first Doctor has grudging respect for his companions, despite his occasional outbursts along the lines of "Oh you foolish boy!" - he even respected Katarina, for goodness sake!) And the whole set-up just doesn't gel for me.
Most of this isn't Katy Manning's fault; as I said before, she gives it as good as she can, and you're always rooting for Jo to get out of the next scrape with doom. And then there's The Green Death, which I also used to hail as one of the classics of the series. I now only have a certain liking for the story as a whole, and have come to realise that it includes both the best and worst of Jo. I find Jo's character totally embarrassing in episode 1. That entire "No, no they can't!... Criminal, absolutely criminal... Don't they know how much pollution it'll cause?" scene in the Doctor's lab is one of the worst scenes of the series, even if it does have Jon's rather nicely delivered "flies the coop" line. It's just so one dimensional, and poorly written. Her early rapport with Jones is a bit edgy too, like Katy's rather fake laughter at his "I couldn't stand the silence any longer!" I don't really mind the experiment-ruining bits, just the fact that the dialogue is all so badly staged.
The romance later on is fantastic, though if the viewer actually thinks about it is a bit improbable - they've only known each other for a matter of days before Jones does the ol' "Well, you will marry me won't you?" bit. It's all wonderfully happy, and the ending to the story has the desired emotional impact - Jo becomes a three dimensional character at last, and, furthermore, seems to have finally become a young woman rather than a young girl. I'd actually have far preferred this Jo than the one we got for most of the show. A Jo who could stand on her own feet without falling over, who the Doctor could have admired in some respects rather than just adore her in a "Isn't she so cute!" sort of way. A Jo he could have been proud of.
But we didn't.
Sorry Jo.
"How about curses, foiled again?" by Terrence Keenan 29/9/03
Everybody knows that after Season 7 went on the air, Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks decided to rethink the companion role for their Doctor. (Rumors have been bandied about that Pertwee wanted a different companion as well.) They thought Liz Shaw was too smart, too independent.
Enter Jo Grant.
From her bumbling introduction to the Doctor in Terror of the Autons, it was obvious that things had changed in Who. Jo was far more a traditional companion figure: screaming, crying, perkiness, earnestness, determination, an ability to screw things up while meaning well, and (sadly) less smart.
In terms of the character, Jo Grant was remarkably consistent. In fact, the only story where she seems capable and plausible as a member of UNIT is in The Mind of Evil. I always cheer when our Jo helps stop the first prison riot. It's Jo who kicks the gun out of Mailer's hand. Jo also takes on a paternal role in her relationship with Barnham, the last victim of the Kellar Process. However, what is most important is that Jo is treated as an adult for the only time in the series until The Green Death.
Alas, this upswing to competency would be brief, as she returns to her screamer/questioner role for the rest of the season. And there would be little character development for Jo....
...except for the simple fact that she's in love with the Doctor. It's not the best friend/comrades love of the 4th Doc and Sarah, or the familial love between Ace and the 7th Doc. It's true love. It's the only plausible explanations for Jo's reactions to the Doctor's near death trips, or when the Doctor has her leave Omega's world and she's desperate to stay. I don't know if this was intentional at the beginning of Jo's time, but by season 10, the creative forces felt it worthy of serious exploring, culminating in The Green Death, where the Doctor finally is willing to admit his feelings, but Jo has met someone else, a Doctor substitute who will love her back as directly. (And if you don't buy this, watch Jo's leaving scene in The Green Death again and check out how Pertwee plays it.)
Katy Manning is all right. There's not much to the character, and she does give it her all each time.
I'm not the biggest Jo fan. She's bracketed by Mighty Liz Shaw on one end and The Uber-Companion, Sarah Jane Smith on the other. I don't hate her either, and I like the whole love story line they gave her. But the potential was there to make Jo great. You can see it in her best serials: The Mind of Evil, Carnival of Monsters and The Green Death. And like Pertwee after Season 7, I find it disappointing that they didn't let Jo become something more than the flibbertigibbet she was on the screen.
A Review by Stuart Gutteridge 19/11/03
Much of the appeal of Jo Grant lies firmly at the feet of Katy Manning, who makes her firmly endearing, a bit dizzy and fiercely loyal to the Doctor. In short she was there to ask questions and look pretty;both of which she succeeds at admirably. Indeed this is probably what sums up Jo Grant best, true her heart ruled her head, where the Doctor and other would-be suitors were concerned, but this is just part of her charm.
GREATEST MOMENT: The Sea Devils, she escapes from captivity, takes on two guards and attempts to rescue the Doctor. Not bad going!
"I'm your new assistant!" by Joe Ford 6/5/05
Terrance Keenan wrote a very interesting piece recently on how the Doctor was in love with Jo, it was certainly a thoughtful piece of writing and he went into some considerable detail to put his point across. It is a theory I have heard before in a discussion over on Outpost Gallifrey along with some other, much more ludicrous theories (was the Doctor in love with Sarah/Jamie/Ace?). It is a shame though that such ideas leave such a bitter aftertaste in the mouth. I have never bought into the theories that the Doctor could be 'in' love with anybody, not on a sexual level (and please this has nothing to do with the much-lauded theory that is put about that goes fans of the show hate to see the Doctor bonking around because they cannot achieve that glorious activity themselves, such an accusation is childish and insulting and am pleased to add, knowing many Doctor Who fans, far from true!) and not because he is frigid or incapable but because he is an alien and these sweatier goings on just are not relevant. What does this have to with Jo Grant? What Terrance points out quite thoughtfully is that the Doctor appears to have much more affection for her than any of his previous companions and treats her a lot more intimately. BUT this is all still platonic love, a cuddle here, some banter there, two people who get on very well and complete each other's lives. Hell Jo still has dates and romances whilst she's with the Doctor! But was Jo in love with the Doctor? Now there is a different matter altogether...
I have to say I am not too sure where Jo stands in the companion rankings because I have heard such a variety of opinions about her. My own take is that the Pertwee era would not be the same without her and certain of the 'classics' of the era would not even be considered without her presence (The Daemons, The Curse of Peladon, The Green Death). She was such an odd girl, both dippy and useless and brave and capable depending who was writing for her and Katy Manning managed to switch between the two with surprising believability.
She was the perfect companion for the third Doctor because she was far too impulsive and rushing headlong into danger, which gave him lots of chances to rescue her using lots of gadgets, which kept Pertwee very happy. At times he could be quite harsh on her too, one his regular phrases to Jo was simply "Jo, do as I say!" and verbal lashings like the one he gives to her in The Daemons ("Jo, the Brigadier is trying his best to cope with an almost impossible situation and since he is your superior you could treat him with a bit more respect") is painfully unnecessary considering his insults to old Lethbridge-Stewart in practically every story.
Jo blundered into the third Doctor's life in a series of hysterical scenes. "I'm your new assistant!" she cries enthusiastically, "Oh no!" he replies, crestfallen. I can still remember when Simon first watched Terror of the Autons episode one and his laughter as these two began their friendship. The Doctor is a sucker for a helpless female and despite his threats to the Brigadier ("I'll have a properly qualified scientist!") he weakens to her infectious smile and clumsy ineptitude. Although Jo does spend the story screaming and getting knocked out (her hysterics at the end of episode one are dangerously funny) she still makes quite and impression, immediately she has more ability to surprise (her combat skills in the next story) and drive a story than Liz Shaw. This is Doctor Who heading out of adult territory and back into comic book adventuring and dippy Jo Grant is perfect in such circumstances.
And yet there were occasion when Jo would entirely subvert her character outline and proved to be extremely clever and talented. Go and watch her in The Mind of Evil where she helps overcome a prison riot and proves effective in knocking out hardened criminals. Or her similar expert escape tactics in The Sea Devils, bribing people and freeing the Doctor on more than one occasion. She even has a set of skeleton keys in Carnival of Monsters; the Doctor's escape gadgets rubbing of on his companion. In Frontier in Space she manages to avoid being hypnotised by the Master simply by filling her head with nonsense (hmm, not much work required there then). There is no doubt about it, Jo was quite useful to have around in a scrape (she investigates the Ice Warriors' quarters in Curse of Peladon too!).
So what about these so-called intimate moments with the third Doctor? Ahem, well there are quite a few scenes where they are very close. Curse of Peladon sees them discussing their new roles as Chairman Delegate and Princess in a suggestive manner. The Time Monster has one celebrates scene where, locked up, the Doctor tells Jo and extremely personal story from his past on Gallifrey, it is a beautiful scene between the two friends. Let's not forget the two of them dancing a celebration at the end of The Daemons, suggesting for once that he is quite happy to remain on Earth so long as Jo is there with him. Their chemistry is soaring throughout their last year together, particularly in Carnival of Monsters where they muck about dissing each other's theories as to where they have landed and Frontier in Space, constantly locked up and comforting each other with amusing stories. There is no doubt that Pertwee and Manning's off screen relationship spilled on screen (as is often the case with these things) and there is a feeling of warmth and 'family' that is absent from practically any other era. It is easy to slip on a Pertwee and let the familiarity and comfort of the regulars wash over you; indeed Simon cites this era as his favourite because he finds the characters much more believable and likable.
I think what people leap on as proof that the Doctor loves Jo is his terrified reactions to her falling for guys during their travels and admittedly this is open to interpretation. There is something wonderfully vulnerable about Pertwee's performance when it appears Jo is being seduced away, he is usually so arrogant and authoritive that seeing his genuine feelings leap to the surface is quite upsetting. Whilst he was trapped on Earth Jo was his friend, his confidant, someone he could protect from the dangers that were thrown their way as a result he starts to depend upon their friendship and cannot bear to see anyone threaten to end it. His silent reaction at the end of Curse of Peladon when she decides to leave with him speaks wonders about their friendship, he is silently happy but wondering if he has influenced her decision, she is desperately unsure about leaving Peladon but cannot imagine leaving the Doctor. Similar scenes crop up in Planet of the Daleks where Latep proposes a relationship. This time the Doctor wants to make sure she wants to come, learning from his mistakes on Peladon.
But of course it is The Green Death that everybody remembers. This is where Jo genuinely finds somebody to replace the Doctor ("He sort of reminds me of a younger you" she says) and where he actively tries to stop her for a while. In a touching prelude to their upcoming split the Doctor offers Jo the entire universe, one hell of gift but she has far more important earthly concerns to worry about. He sulks off to Metebelies III for a while but soon joins her in Wales to say a proper goodbye. During the story it is obvious Jo is becoming closer and closer to Cliff and in a very revealing scene both the Doc and Cliff try to comfort her and it is Cliff she clings too, as a result he distracts Cliff from spending the evening with her. Jo is aware of the conflict that is brewing and doesn't seem to be able to cope with it, after all how can you admit to somebody that you wish to leave their company especially when they have given you so much?
The last handful of scenes of this story are the most emotional in the entire show (for me), Jo and Cliff announce their engagement and Jo has to say goodbye to her best friend. She can barely hold back the tears and neither can the audience. It is a superb reminder of how far these two have come in three years, how inseparable. The Doctor quietly leaves whilst the celebrations are roaring, Jo notices his absence and clings to Cliff in emotional pain as the Doctor drives off into the sunset quite alone...
I think that is Jo's best asset, through her we get to see much of the third Doctor's real character. That might not sound fair to Jo's character but it is a testament of genuine sweetness that she can crack a personality as tough as Pertwee's Doctor. He was officious and conservative but she wore him down with her smile and her mindless observations and in the end he could not imagine existing without her.
In reality Jo got as close to the Doctor as she could without all the icky sex stuff getting in the way. Given his complete inability to love in that way, she did the only natural thing and left him for another man who could give her that but one who reminded her of him. I genuinely believe that Jo was 'in' love with the Doctor, maybe she didn't realise how much and that in the end is a destructive relationship. For three years she was happy to be the best friend in the world but there comes a time to move on.
Jo was a window into a grey area of the Doctor's life that perhaps should never be explored. It was and it produced some of the most personal scenes in the show and some of the most poignant. That is her strength; she made the seventies a rather interesting place to be and that was a bloody miracle.
She was probably the best friend the Doctor ever had.