 In the simplest possible terms, Adam Mitchell
has been described by Russell T Davies as ‘the Companion that
Couldn’t’, having been created to demonstrate why some
people are simply not equipped to travel in the TARDIS no
matter how skilled they might be otherwise. A short-term companion,
Adam
joined The Doctor after forming a bond with the Ninth
Doctor’s
current companion Rose Tyler when the TARDIS materialised in the
alien artefacts collection of multi-billionaire Henry Van Statten,
Adam being one of the employees studying alien artefacts Van Statten
had salvaged over the years. With the facility facing closure after
a Dalek broke
free of confinement and killed most of Van Statten’s
men, Rose suggested to The Doctor that Adam accompany them in the
TARDIS, The Doctor agreeing despite his evident scepticism (And possible
slight jealousy) of Adam’s abilities as a companion.
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| The Long Game |
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Described as a computer genius, Adam claims that he successfully
hacked into the United States Department of Defense computers when
he was eight years old, nearly causing World War III and subsequently
attracting a great deal of attention from various intelligence agencies.
His attitude was reflected in an essay he wrote when he was fourteen
where he stated that he would like to meet aliens to talk with them
about advanced technology, regarding it as merely a ‘short-cut’ rather
than actually ‘cheating’. Although he never realised
it, defending his actions as simply fascination with advanced technology,
Adam’s main goal was always to look out for himself, lacking
even the essential basic nobility or desire to improve that had been
displayed by the Fifth
Doctor’s old companion Turlough. As
a result his time in the TARDIS didn’t last long, The Doctor
apparently taking him on just one trip to the year 200 000 ("The
Long Game"), arriving on board the space station Satellite Five,
the central hub of information for the Fourth Great and Bountiful
Human Empire. Swiftly becoming overwhelmed by the wealth of information
and technology available to him, Adam didn’t take long to give
in to temptation, not thinking about his actions beyond what was
necessary to achieve his main goal.
To this end, Adam had an advanced computer interface port inserted
into his head, the port being activated by a snap of his fingers
that caused it to open to allow information to be downloaded directly
into his brain. Adam subsequently attempted to use this to transmit
information back to 21st century Earth using Rose's modified ‘Superphone’ to
call his family’s answering machine, an action that not only
put the Web of Time at risk but also allowed the station’s
masters - a massive slug-like being called the Mighty Jagrafess of
the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe (Apparently nicknamed ‘Max’ by
its human servant, although he may have been being facetious) that
had been manipulating the Empire from behind the scenes (Later revealed
to be working for the Daleks) - to gain access to information about
the TARDIS... as well as Adam’s newly-acquired TARDIS key,
thus allowing the Jagrafess to erase humanity from existence.
Fortunately, Adam’s actions were cut short when Cathica, another
employee at the space station, managed to hack into the station’s
computers and heat the Jagrafess to death, but The Doctor, outraged
at this breach of his trust, The Doctor returns Adam to his home
despite Adam's apologetic pleading, leaving him there after destroying
the answering machine which had received the information. Coldly
informing Adam that he would have to live a quiet life from now on
to prevent the implant being discovered and his brain subsequently
dissected to uncover its secrets, The Doctor departed with Rose,
leaving Adam to explain the implant’s existence to his shocked
mother when she returned home and snapped her fingers. |
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| Bruno Langley was born in March 1983 and grew up
in Buxton, Derbyshire. From 2001 to 2004, he played the character
of Todd Grimshaw in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.
Prior to this
he played the part of Philip 'Fizz' Green in 6 episodes of
Linda Green between
2001 and 2002. Shortly after leaving Coronation Street he played
the part of Adam Mitchell in the 2005 season of Doctor Who,
appearing in just
two stories. After Doctor Who, he filmed a small role in
the feature film The League of Gentlemen's "Apocalypse",
released in June 2005 and two episodes of Dalziel and Pascoe in
2006. Bruno Langley has also had several
roles in theatre including; the acclaimed run of Romeo and
Juliet, A Taste of
Honey (which toured the UK extensively in 2006) and the world
premier of Flash Dance The Musical. He also returned to Coronation
Street for
a twelve episode guest stint in 2007. |
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