The Time Lady who proved traveling with the Doctor was better done with brains, sass, and at least two regenerations of fabulousness.
Character Overview
Romana (short for Romanadvoratrelundar, which is a name that really only works if you’re a Time Lord or a Scrabble enthusiast) was assigned to accompany the Doctor during the Key to Time saga. Gallifrey basically sent her along to supervise the Doctor, since apparently he couldn’t be trusted not to lose bits of the universe down the sofa cushions.
Romana I (Mary Tamm, 1978–79)
Romana I was, in short, smarter than the Doctor — and she made sure he knew it. A fresh graduate from the Time Lord Academy, she was elegant, composed, and often visibly unimpressed with the Doctor’s rambling improvisations. While the Fourth Doctor flailed about with half-baked schemes, Romana I would raise an eyebrow, find the solution, and do it all without breaking a nail. Their dynamic was less “teacher and student” and more “exasperated valedictorian paired with a distracted class clown.”
Though sometimes criticized for being aloof, Romana I brought a unique spark to the show: she wasn’t there to scream, swoon, or be rescued — she was there to roll her eyes and save the day while the Doctor pretended it was all his idea. Sadly, she regenerated after just one season (perhaps tired of the Doctor’s scarf constantly getting underfoot).
Romana II (Lalla Ward, 1979–81)
Romana II was almost the opposite: playful, witty, and more in sync with the Doctor’s eccentricity. Where Romana I had been aloof and regal, Romana II was cheerful, sarcastic, and fully embraced the “madcap wanderer” vibe. She even regenerated into a form modeled after Princess Astra, because when you’re a Time Lady, why wouldn’t you borrow the face of an actual princess?
Romana II’s chemistry with the Doctor (both on-screen and off, as Ward and Tom Baker were briefly married) gave the TARDIS a lively, sparky energy. She was every bit his intellectual equal, but unlike her predecessor, she seemed to enjoy the chaos. Whether quipping at Daleks, commanding K-9, or generally being far more competent than anyone else in the room, Romana II was a shining example of how to be a Time Lord without all the pompous speeches.
After a run of adventures, Romana left the Doctor in Warriors’ Gate, choosing to stay behind in E-Space with K-9 to help free oppressed people. In other words: she quit working with the Doctor to go run her own hero empire. Respect.
Together, both Romanas form one of the most unique companion legacies in Doctor Who — a Time Lady who proved that you don’t have to be human, or even slightly in awe of the Doctor, to be unforgettable.