Every Doctor Who fan dreams of traveling with their favorite Doctor, mostly because their companions make it look like so much fun. Although these sidekicks often put their lives on the line to fight off aliens from other planets, they help to make the show a more cohesive piece of science fiction. From Susan Foreman to Ruby Sunday, all of these characters work to shape Doctor Who’s extensive lore.
Ryan Sinclair is best recognized for traveling with the Thirteenth Doctor alongside his step-grandfather, Graham, and his old school friend, Yaz. Many fans were quickly drawn to Ryan and appreciated his influence on the formidable Team TARDIS. So, why did actor Tosin Cole decide to depart from the role after just two years?
Ryan Never Let His Hardships Hold Him Back in Life
Complete with a dashing smile and a charming swagger, Ryan Sinclair had his entire life turned upside down when he met the Doctor back in 2018. Before traveling in the TARDIS, Sinclair was working on his NVQ so that he could drive a HGV, even though it wasn’t exactly his dream job. But, after meeting The Doctor, he rekindled his friendship with Yasmin Khan and grew to appreciate his step-grandfather, Graham O’Brien. His adventures with The Doctor were far from relaxing, and many fans enjoyed watching this admirable character overcome his biggest fears.
An interesting part of Ryan’s character arc is his struggles with Dyspraxia, a disorder that inhibits a person’s sense of movement and coordination. In Season 11, Episode 7, “Kerblam!,” Sinclair delves deeper into his struggles with the conditions and how it impacts his ability to package deliveries at work. He also notes that his peers helped him to get the hang of it in the end, but he still feels embarrassed that his condition doesn’t allow him to do everything he wants to do. This scene was a huge moment in Doctor Who because it was the first time a companion spoke openly about their disability. Not only does this make Sinclair a pioneer, but it also works to highlight how one of the longest-running sci-fi shows in the world handles an invisible disability. So, although Ryan doesn’t ignore the fact that his disability has been a stumbling block throughout his life, it doesn’t stop him from achieving key goals such as making friends or holding down a respectable job.
Aside from his disability, Ryan’s family life causes him to hold on to a lot of anger and resentment. In Season 11, Episode 5, “The Tsuranga Conundrum,” Ryan reconnects with his estranged father, Aaron, and deeply criticizes him for his absent parenting style. He also expresses the grief he felt after losing both his mother and grandmother at quite a young age.
Though this is a reasonably short scene, it gives audiences the chance to see Ryan from a new perspective. Fans no longer saw him as a gentleman with youth on his side but as a sad boy who just needed a spot of guidance to help him along. Yet, despite all of these issues, Ryan never ran away like his father did. He stood up against some of the most gruesome aliens and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in order to save his friends. It should be mentioned that Ryan’s dysfunctional family dynamic is not new, particularly as it had been shown before in characters like Martha Jones and Donna Noble, but his character worked to deconstruct the surrounding shame. Thus, not only is he a good example of disability representation in Doctor Who, but he’s also a resource for highlighting a modern blended family.
While Traveling With The Doctor, Ryan Finally Made It in the World
At first glance, Ryan Sinclair seems like a perfectly normal young man. He enjoys playing basketball with his friends and is building a career in the logistics sector. Although none of these things are to be ashamed of, it’s evident that he wants more out of life but just doesn’t know where to start. Yet, his adventures with the Thirteenth Doctor allowed him to take life by the horns and finally take center stage in his own story. Take, for example, in Season 11, Episode 3, “Rosa,” when he attends a meeting with a handful of Civil Rights leaders, including his idol, Martin Luther King Jr. Here, Ryan feels a sense of pride in his race and is determined to make his mark on history, even though he’s time traveled all the way back to the 1950s.
Sinclair was born in Sheffield, a city filled with diversity, so it’s likely that he felt like he was lost in the background. But in the 1950s, Montgomery, Ryan finally had the chance to stand proud and rub shoulders with some of the most influential men in history.
It’s also clear that The Doctor trusts Ryan, sees through his flaws, and tends to focus entirely on his strengths. In Season 12, Episode 2, “Spyfall: Part 2,” The Doctor sends Ryan an app that teaches him how to land a plane. This is a remarkable moment for him because he exclaims that although he cannot ride a bike, he managed to land a plane successfully.
Admittedly, some fans felt that this was a tad too unrealistic, even for Doctor Who. However, it could be argued that Ryan’s achievements, no matter how obscure, help to shape him into an even more likable character. In comparison to his predecessors like Rory and Clara, Ryan is nowhere near as aloof or shy at times. His jovial attitude to life made him a refreshing addition to the cast, and a lot of fans were happy to see a more positive side to Doctor Whoafter the Twelfth Doctor’s gloomy era. Overall, life may knock Ryan down at times, but he never fails to get back up, ensuring that he can continue to work alongside The Doctor no matter what.
Ryan’s Departure Gave the Character a Sense of Closure
Though The Doctor, Ryan, Yaz, and Graham seemed like an unruly bunch at times, fans enjoyed their shared dynamic and how every character had the chance to shine. But, after countless adventures on the TARDIS, it was time to say goodbye to Ryan Sinclair. In Revolution of the Daleks, Ryan informs The Doctor that he no longer wants to zoom across the galaxy and would rather keep his feet on solid ground and work on the relationships he has back home. Due to their newfound relationship, Graham decides to tag along with him and finally teaches his grandson how to ride a bike.
But, it’s clear that the pair’s adventure was not over just yet. Before they went back to Earth, The Doctor handed them two sheets of Psychic Paper so that they could explore the world’s biggest secrets on their own. These stories have been expanded by Big Finish in a series of intriguing audio dramas, giving fans the chance to relive this loving bond all over again.
Tosin Cole hasn’t given an explicit reason as to why he decided to leave Doctor Who so early, but it’s assumed that he wanted to move on to other roles. As such, it seems that the writers were happy to give Ryan’s character a sense of closure and ensure that Graham O’Brien’s actor, Bradley Walsh, could return to his usual role as a game show host without messing up the show’s canon too much. Since leaving the TARDIS behind, Cole has worked on a ton of exciting projects, including Netflix’s Supacell and a production of Shifters at The Duke of York Theater.
As Doctor Who celebrates over 60 years on air, it seems that some companions come and go without leaving any sort of impact on the audience. Yet, Ryan Sinclair changed the norm for male companions and proved that traveling with The Doctor is no easy feat. Alongside his own struggles, Sinclair highlighted the importance of empathy and strove to protect those around him. With the franchise preparing for the second season of the Disney+ reboot, many fans hope that the next companion will have as much heart and soul as Ryan Sinclair.