The companion who could save the galaxy, but still couldn’t ride a bike.
Character Overview
Ryan Sinclair joined the Doctor’s world in The Woman Who Fell to Earth (2018), immediately making an impression by falling off his bike and muttering about how unfair life was. To be fair, Ryan had a neurological condition called dyspraxia, which affected his coordination and made certain everyday tasks difficult. And because this is Doctor Who, instead of letting him quietly work through it with some physical therapy, the show decided, “You know what’ll help? Toss him into a war with intergalactic aliens.”
Raised by his grandmother Grace (and more reluctantly, step-granddad Graham), Ryan lost Grace in the same alien encounter that brought him to the Thirteenth Doctor. That grief set the tone for his time in the TARDIS, as he juggled saving planets, blowing up Daleks, and trying very hard not to get eaten by giant alien spiders — all while figuring out how to deal with family, loss, and a Time Lord who sometimes forgot humans needed sleep.
Ryan’s dynamic with Graham was one of the highlights of his run. At first, he bristled at Graham’s attempts to be a step-grandfather, but over time, he grew to accept (and even love) Graham as real family. Their “lad” exchanges became some of the most heartfelt — and unintentionally hilarious — moments of the Chibnall era.
As a companion, Ryan was brave, kind, and frequently thrown into situations that made no sense whatsoever. (Let’s be honest: half the time, Ryan looked just as confused as the audience.) But he also had a sense of justice and empathy that made him a perfect fit for the Doctor. When others froze, Ryan was often the first to step up — awkwardly, maybe, but always with determination.
Eventually, Ryan chose to leave the TARDIS in Revolution of the Daleks, deciding that Earth needed him more than space did. Plus, there are only so many times you can nearly die before the lure of Sheffield starts sounding really appealing. His goodbye with Graham — the two deciding to carry on Grace’s spirit together — was one of the most touching exits in modern Doctor Who.