Doctor Who stars one of the most iconic characters in the history of science fiction. The titular Doctor has several distinct appearances and performers, but he remains a consistent fixture of the genre. Though everyone can identify at least a couple of iterations of the Doctor, there's so much about him that no one knows. Fans met his granddaughter, Susan, in the 1960s, but where is she from? What happened to her? Will she ever return?
Doctor Who was in something of a unique position when Russell T. Davies returned to the showrunner position. Fans loved his work in the 2000s, but the creators that replaced him became far less popular over the years. Davies returned to drag the series back into the fans' good graces. Part of that program involved packing in references and callbacks to the previous seasons. That started with bringing back David Tennant to herald in a new era, but the remaining season featured several obscure returning names.
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Who is Susan Foreman?
Full Name | Susan Campbell, née Foreman |
|---|---|
First Appearance | "An Unearthly Child" |
First Appearance Date | November 23, 1963 |
Portrayed by | Carole Ann Ford |
Susan is the Doctor's granddaughter. She first appeared in the very first Doctor Who story, "The Unearthly Child," in 1963. The original pitch behind the character was entirely alien to her eventual appearance. She was initially proposed as an alien princess who the Doctor previously rescued. She would be his constant companion, a stylish, competent, and self-sufficient young lady who could do what the Doctor could and more. The writers moved away from that idea and towards one that they believed would bring in younger viewers. They then treated her as a young companion, experiencing the universe from a new perspective to contrast with the wise old Doctor. This concept continued into several companions that would follow the Doctor over the decades. Writer Anthony Coburn didn't love the optics of a young lady traveling 24/7 with an old man, so he added a familial connection. The First Doctor would keep his intelligent, optimistic, psychic granddaughter as a close confidant for about a year.
Susan Foreman is a Time Lord child from Gallifrey. The books offer her at least three distinct backstories. Her parentage is the most significant concern. Varied works depict her as the biological granddaughter of the Doctor, the Other, or Rassilion. The Doctor's history is in constant flux, so there's no way to narrow down this mystery. In any case, Susan spent some portion of her childhood on Gallifrey. The Doctor spirited her away in a faulty TARDIS for a variety of potential reasons. They were clearly fleeing something, potentially some sort of brainwashing policy. Susan attended secondary school on Earth in the 1960s, drawing attention for her advanced knowledge of science and history. When a pair of teachers follow her home, they discover that Susan and the Doctor have been traveling time and space in the TARDIS. They join them for a few adventures over the following year. Susan was a bright teen who regularly brought the group into danger with her naïveté. Susan leaves the Doctor's side to pursue a life of her own. After a trip to the 22nd century, Susan witnesses the Dalek invasion of Earth and falls in love with a freedom fighter named David Campbell. Susan briefly returned for a couple of specials over the years, but she seems to live a normal life with her husband under the name Susan Campbell.
Does Susan appear in the new Doctor Who?
The short answer is no; Susan Campbell doesn't properly appear in Doctor Who, as far as anyone knows. Various Doctors briefly mention the idea of a family, children, or grandchildren. Almost every example notes his belief that he is the last member of his species. He believes that any children or grandchildren he once had are long dead. He tells Donna Noble that he remembers being a father, but that their absence leaves a considerable hole in him. "The Name of the Doctor" briefly features a body double as Susan for a momentary flashback. The tenth season debut depicts a photo of Susan on Peter Capaldi's Doctor's desk. Susan could still be out there. "The Day of the Doctor" and "The Time of the Doctor" reveal that the Time Lords are still alive, leaving Susan's fate ambiguous. The Doctor is subsequently still looking for Susan. The Fifteenth Doctor briefly believed he'd found her in the form of Susan Triad. Triad, a tech mogul living in the modern era, convinces the Doctor that she may be a regenerated version of Susan. The show later reveals that this was an intentional ruse by the evil alien god Sutekh. Susan Triad was an ordinary woman, and she returned to her life on Earth after the Doctor defeated Sutekh.
Susan Campbell might be an important presence in later seasons of Doctor Who. She was a critical character in the first season, but her presence has remained a tease throughout the past several years. The story of Susan Foreman is questionable from every angle. Countless written and audio stories offer various backstories for the Doctor's granddaughter. Her future is as open as her past. She might get that from her grandfather.
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