Doctor Who: Pond Life, For the Cable-Free

As I mentioned in my previous "Doctor Who" blog post, I don't have cable or satellite, and I don't plan to subscribe now.

However, lacking cable does not mean that I must forgo the prequels to the 7th Season of "Doctor Who," which are airing on BBC America nightly this week. Thanks to the generosity of the BBC YouTube channel (official, so I don't feel guilty at all), I can enjoy the interludes from my cable-free home.

The short interludes are meant to fill us in on what happens when Amy Pond and Rory Williams are not traveling on the TARDIS. The episodes so far appear to set us up for the season.

Amy and Rory have become my favorite companions of all time, including the classic series companions, with Rory slightly edging Amy. Rory is selfless, brave and calm under pressure, and we know from "The God Complex" from season 6 that (minor spoiler follows) Rory is so awesome that possessed hotels politely invite him to leave.

The dynamic of multiple companions traveling with the Doctor is so very classic series -- think of the second Doctor's Jamie and Victoria,  the first Doctor's Ian and Barbara, and the fifth Doctor's Nyssa and Tegan. Not only do they have a relationship with the Doctor, but they have a real ongoing relationship with another human being (at least most of the time it's been a human being).

I'm going to be sad to see the Ponds go, but I'll try not to hold it against the new companion.