Doctor Who, the
sci-fi television show which started broadcasting in the 1960s, will see the
introduction of a new companion in next year’s Doctor Who 60th
Anniversary Special. The 2023 special will see the character of Rose, portrayed
by Heartstopper fame Yasmin Finney as a new companion for the Doctor. Rose is speculated to
have a deep meaning, rather than just a name in the show.

In 1963’s An
Unearthly Child, Carole Ann Ford played the role of Susan Foreman, the granddaughter
of Doctor Who. She was his first companion. The real name of Susan was
Arkytior, which means Rose in Gallifreyan. In the 2005 revival of the show as
well, Rose Tyler served as the companion for the ninth Doctor. The first
episode was named ‘Rose’ after her.  

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Both series started
with a companion named Rose, marking the name as a symbol for the beginning of
a new era. In both cases, the character was closely related to Doctor
Who, being his granddaughter in the first one, and the love of his life in the
latter.

In the new Doctor Who
series as well, the term ‘Rose’ holds considerable weight. The episode, The
Shakespeare Code which saw witches unsuccessfully trying to name The Doctor,
they choose to weaken him with the name Rose, however, it is revealed that the
name actually encourages The Doctor to keep fighting.

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In a later episode titled Human Nature, The Doctor disguises himself as a human and although he does
not remember who he is or his species’ name, he still remembers Rose’s name and
even draws her from his dreams.

Even when a man wrongly thinks he is The Doctor
in the special The New Doctor, he seeks out a companion named Rosita.

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The
importance of the name Rose has also been tied to Rose’s persona as the Bad Wolf which she uses to
either save or warn The Doctor of any upcoming danger. Rose’s Bad Wolf was even
particularly chosen to guide the War Doctor in the 50th Anniversary Special.

Each Rose has started
a new era of Doctor
Who in her own way. All of them have represented a new
beginning and a change of time, marking a new change in a new time.