Whether it’s the charismatic charm of Captain Jack Harkness or the adorable determination of Rory Williams, Doctor Who never fails to give its fans a wide range of beloved characters. Much of the time, these companions allow the show to feel more grounded and realistic, ensuring that the viewers can see an abundance of new worlds through a fresh pair of eyes. Although The Doctor is an enigma in himself, without his companions, he probably wouldn’t get very far.
Nardole is a particularly unusual companion, but he definitely adds a touch of humor to the 12th Doctor’s dark era. Although he first appeared as a side character in the 2015 Christmas Special, “The Husbands of River Song,” he grew to be a significant part of the show’s canon. Yet, this character seemed to disappear quite quickly and wasn’t given a chance to show off his humor in Jodie Whittaker’s era.
Nardole Was Keen to Reverse His Life of Crime
Nardole first appeared in “The Husbands of River Song” and was sent to help her extract the elusive Halassi Androvar from the head of the notorious King Hydroflax. Unfortunately, things quickly went awry when the King placed Nardole’s head on his body. Yet, once The Doctor and River spent their last 24 years together on the planet Darillium, the Time Lord found a way to make Nardole more human-like. Much like Donna Noble, Nardole was once a simple joke character in a Christmas special but quickly developed into a three-dimensional archetype that was involved in a ton of exciting storylines.
Despite his adorable exterior and bumbling personality, Nardole used to live a life of harsh crime. However, after spending the majority of his life as a con man and thief, he was keen to turn his life around. But, this unconventional companion still allowed the audience to see into his past every once in a while. For example, in Season 10, Episode 8, “The Life of the Land,” Nardole casually blurts out that he replaced his left hand with one that he won in a game. This is a fantastic example of the ironic humor sprinkled throughout this season, as the majority of the audience will be most aware of Nardole’s actor, Matt Lucas, for his more silly roles. As such, it seems quite bizarre to see this notable comedy star discussing his life of alien offenses.
But, the writers did a fantastic job of transforming Nardole into a moral compass and provided fans with some great examples of character development. In the 2016 Christmas Special, “The Return of Doctor Mysterio,” The Doctor is still dealing with being separated from his wife, River Song. As such, Nardole is determined to follow The Doctor’s every move so that he doesn’t feel too lonely at any point. Although The Doctor may not fully appreciate his constant presence, Nardole’s role in this episode is incredibly sweet. In turn, these cute moments just make his character even more off-beat, as many fans just cannot imagine this loyal and docile companion once being a ruthless criminal. Nardole’s redemption arc is incredibly fascinating and doesn’t take away from the character’s entire role. As such, even in just a few scenes, Nardole exponentially grew from a gag character to one of the most devoted companions The Doctor has ever traveled with.
Nardole’s Bond With River Was Incredibly Thrilling
River Song is a tremendously interesting companion in her own right, and fans still have a lot more to uncover about her past. Yet, her relationship with Nardole allowed audiences to learn more about her persona and resilience as she was forced to defeat King Hydroflax without much of The Doctor’s influence. In Capaldi’s best Christmas special, “The Husbands of River Song,” Nardole is determined to keep River’s plans a secret even when a giant robot is threatening to detach his head. Not only does this show that Nardole is willing to risk his life for her, but it also suggests that he admires her for allowing him to detach from his original life of crime. As such, Nardole is more than happy to lie in order to help River because he’s aware that if he exposes her plans, he will simply return back to his old ways.
Nardole’s relationship with River also impacts his relationship with The Doctor, allowing him to act more as a guide rather than a traditional friend. A prime example of this bond is shown in Season 10, Episode 6, “Extremis,” when Nardole traveled with The Doctor to Missy’s execution so that he could be there for moral support. Since he promised River that he would protect the Doctor, Nardole could be seen as The Doctor’s guardian, even if he doesn’t really fit the part. Admittedly, Nardole’s time with River was fairly short, and he actually spent a lot more time with The Doctor. Yet, the fact that River and Nardole created such a loving relationship in such a short span of time exemplifies how much they truly care for each other.
Nardole’s Fate Came to an Abrupt End
Nardole traveled alongside The Doctor and Bill throughout Season 10, but his departure from the TARDIS was incredibly underwhelming. In Season 10, Episode 12, “The Doctor Falls,” Nardole was tasked with helping a group of villagers escape the Cybermen by directing them to Floor 0502. Thus, it appears that Nardole was stuck on the colony ship while The Doctor continued to explore the galaxy without him. Yet, in the 2017 Christmas Special, “Twice Upon a Time,” he was reimagined as a glass avatar by the Testimony Foundation, an organization that allowed the dead to pass on information to future generations so that they could hopefully learn from their mistakes. As such, Nardole says his final goodbye to the 12th Doctor in this episode and promises him that he’s lived a very happy life with his six wives and died at the very old age of 728.
Yet, Nardole’s legacy didn’t stop on-screen. He’s been a signature part of many comics, books, and novelizations, proving that fans still want to experience adventures with their favorite hat-wearing alien. Nardole also appeared in a recent Webcast called The Best of Days. Here, Nardole rekindles his friendship with Bill Potts and explains how he broke his leg falling into a banana meadow. The pair also discuss their past journeys with The Doctor and how much they would like to see him again.
Matt Lucas is a well-renowned comedian, so many fans didn’t expect him to commit to such an extensive project for so long. Plus, he is also known for his racy humor, particularly seen in hit shows like Little Britain and Come Fly With Me. So, for some audiences, there was a slight discussion about whether this actor would be suitable for a family-friendly primetime show. However, due to his imaginative roles in popular children’s films like Alice in Wonderland and Gnomeo and Juliet, he quickly showcased that he had the experience to handle anything that this unique role would throw at him. Thus, his departure from the series wasn’t really a surprise. Yet, it seems that he was written out of the show, alongside Pearl Mackie, to make way for the new showrunner. Chris Chibnall was determined to start again when he took on the project from Season 11, so he swiftly removed any memory of the Twelfth Doctor from his new arc. So, although fans are less likely to see Nardole alongside Ncuti Gatwa and his new adventures, there’s no denying that he was a pivotal part in Peter Capaldi’s last season.