Nyssa's Character:Nyssa's first story is clearly one of her best. Not only is she portrayed as a highly intelligent and sensitive girl as shown in her conversations with Adric and the Doctor, she exhibits both strength and resourcefulness as she singlehandedly rescues the Doctor and Tremas from capture through bribing Proctor Nemin and turning the iron bonder into a stun ray. A very strong start to her character.

Nyssa's Character:Although Nyssa doesn't appear until the end of episode two, she comes on strong in episodes three and four. Her bond with Adric becomes more apparent as the two search for the Master together and then travel to Earth with the Watcher. Nyssa's encounter with the Master is chilling as she first believes him to be her father and then comes to realize that the Master has in fact killed Tremas to regenerate himself. Even more significant is Nyssa's excellent soliloquy as she watches the destruction of Traken from the TARDIS screen.

Nyssa's Character:Both Nyssa and Tegan get the opportunity to share the limelight as the Doctor falls prey to post-regeneration trauma. Both characters demonstrate their abilities to take the initiative as they face the problems of both finding Adric and helping the Doctor recover. Perhaps the best Nyssa moment in "Castrovalva" occurs in episode four when she lectures the Master on the properties of Zero technology when the Master fails to open the Doctor's Zero cabinet. It always reminds me of some liberated teenage girl telling her father off.

Nyssa's Character:Again Nyssa does very well in this story, staying true to her character. Her innocent purity really shines through in this story as she debates with the Monarch about the importance of love and tries to persuade Adric from being influenced by the Monarch's offer. Likewise, Nyssa's background in bioelectronics and cybernetics comes into play throughout the story as does her ingenuity when using the sonic screwdriver and a pencil to short circuit two androids.

Nyssa's Character:It was felt that since Kinda was a story that focused mainly on Tegan and her encounter with the Mara, having three companions in this story was just too much to deal with. Therefore, the writers had Nyssa faint at the end of "Four to Doomsday", causing the Doctor to recommend that Nyssa spend the next 48 hours in induced sleep. As a result, Nyssa doesn't reappear until the last 30 seconds of episode four (just in time to leave). Oh well, I guess even a Traken princess needs her beauty sleep.

Nyssa's Character:Nyssa's role in "The Visitation" easily makes up for her absence in "Kinda". Not only does she get a good share of the action due to Tegan and Adric being captured, but she also manages to take on a hostile android by constructing a sonic beam and using it to vibrate the android apart. Clearly, there is an excellent example of Nyssa adopting the role of peacemaker when Tegan and the Doctor lash out at each other in episode one. What is more obvious is the Doctor's (and Peter Davison's) growing treatment of Nyssa as his favorite companion. This is quite apparent when the Doctor is very deliberate about only taking Nyssa with him inside the house.

Nyssa's Character:A fantastic story for Nyssa as well as Sarah Sutton who gets to play the dual role of Anne. In this story we see some of Nyssa's naivete shine through as she is baffled by the game of cricket and quite innocently orders a screwdriver without realizing its alcoholic content. In addition, we see Nyssa let loose, so to speak, as she dances the Charleston and has fun deceiving people at the party by wearing the same costume as Anne. The humorous scenes at the buffet are also fun to watch and are so well-acted they almost seem improvised.

Nyssa's Character:Although Nyssa doesn't really do anything out of character in this story, she really doesn't break new ground either, mainly due to the fact that she is waiting in the TARDIS for most of the story. Nyssa does rather well in episode one as she once again becomes the voice of reason after the Doctor's argument with Adric. The action picks up for Nyssa again in episode four when the cybermen invade the TARDIS. It must be said, however, that the last scene of episode four is one of the best acted scenes ever filmed in Doctor Who. After watching the spaceship explode with Adric on board, Nyssa and Tegan turn to the Doctor, then to each other, crying. The Doctor turns around with a look of complete disbelief. The scene is simply heart-wrenching.

Nyssa's Character:Another story in which Nyssa, while never out of character, is confined to the background on several occasions. We do find out, however, that Sarah Sutton is a great screamer as Nyssa is frightened after stepping off the concord in episode one. One also gets the feeling that Nyssa's purity makes her very susceptible being controlled by aliens. From the Master in "Logopolis", to the Monarch in "Four to Doomsday" to the Xeraphin in this story, Nyssa just seems to be an easy target for mental possession.....poor thing.

Nyssa's Character:Nyssa clearly moves into the forefront with this story as she is the only remaining companion in the TARDIS until the Doctor reunites with Tegan at the end of episode four. As a result, this story is unique in that it is the only serial that would indicate what the series would have been like had Nyssa been the only companion. Nyssa has some great scenes as she pleads with the Time Lords to spare the Doctor's life, as well as her attempt to halt the execution by stunning several guards and threatening the High Council. This is Nyssa at her very best.

Nyssa's Character:Even though this story centers around Tegan and her struggle with the Mara, Nyssa gets more than her share of the action as she again steps into the role of the main companion. As Tegan is controlled by the Mara for much of the story, it is Nyssa who asks questions, solves problems, and gets captured with the Doctor. In addition, Nyssa begins to assert herself more as an adult in this story, both with her change of outfit and her mannerisms (such as the "Thank you, but it wasn't necessary," line in episode four when the Doctor lifts her down from the cave). Also look for one of Nyssa's best screams at the end of episode three.

Nyssa's Character:Although Nyssa has a good amount of screen time during this story, she doesn't really do that much, mainly because the story concentrates on introducing a new companion, Turlough. Nyssa does, however, does stay true to her character in the scenes in which she appears. Her best quip occurs when Tegan grows suspicious of Turlough's sudden appearance and Nyssa is quick to point out that Tegan herself wandered into the TARDIS by accident.

Nyssa's Character:Although this isn't the strongest Doctor Who script ever written, it is a wonderful swan song for Nyssa. The idea that Nyssa becomes a bioengineer to turn Terminus into a proper hospital fits her character very nicely. In addition there is a potential love interest for Nyssa in Olvir. Most importantly, however, is the realization that Nyssa has found a place in which to belong, bringing a nice sense of completion to her character. It should also be noted that episode two contains the most shamelessly contrived cleavage scene prior to Nicola Bryant joining the show when the Doctor and Nyssa stoop down to listen to the computer. Ironically, the camera pans around during the scene, blocking Peter Davison and leaving Nyssa, and her breasts, in full view.