Katarina (Doctor Who)

Doctorwhocharacter


name=Katarina
series=Doctor Who
affiliation=First Doctor
race=Human
planet=Earth
era=Ancient Greece
start= The Myth Makers
finish= The Daleks' Master Plan
portrayed=Adrienne Hill

Katarina is a fictional character played by Adrienne Hill in the long-running British science fiction television series "Doctor Who". An inhabitant of ancient Troy, she was a companion of the First Doctor, and was the first companion in the series to die. Katarina appeared in the programme from November to December, 1965, appearing in just five episodes.

Character history

Katarina is introduced in the serial "The Myth Makers", which takes place during the siege of Troy. She is a handmaiden of the prophetess Cassandra, and helps the TARDIS crew survive the events of the siege. When Steven is wounded, she helps him into the TARDIS as Vicki decides to stay behind in Troy with the warrior Troilus.

A sweet, simple young woman who cannot really cope with the concept that the universe has suddenly opened up to her, Katarina believes that she is dead, and that the Doctor is a god transporting her to the next life. She refers to the TARDIS as a "temple", and literally worships the Doctor, referring to him as "Lord" (much to his annoyance) and having absolute faith in him.

During "The Daleks' Master Plan", Katarina is taken hostage by the escaped prisoner Kirksen, who demands that the Doctor take him to Kembel, a planet taken over by the Daleks. To prevent the Doctor giving in to Kirksen's demands, she chooses to trigger the controls to the airlock she is being held in, propelling both herself and her captor into the vacuum of space.

Despite her brief tenure on the series, Katarina is significant for being the first of the Doctor's companions to die on-screen. However, she would not be the last. In some of the tie-in fiction, her death (and later that of Adric) is portrayed as weighing heavily on the Doctor's mind. Katarina also appears in the "" short story "Katarina in the Underworld" by Steve Lyons, describing the efforts of Katarina's spirit to pass into Elysium.

List of appearances

Television

;Season 3
*"The Myth Makers"
*"The Daleks' Master Plan"

hort stories

*"Katarina in the Underworld" by Steve Lyons ("")
*"Scribbles in Chalk" by Gareth Wigmore ("")

Comics

*"Planet of the Dead" by Lee Sullivan and John Freeman ("Doctor Who Magazine 141-142") (imposter)

External links

* [http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Katarina Katarina] at [http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/ "The TARDIS Index File" website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/companions/page6.shtml Katarina on the BBC's "Doctor Who" website]