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When Doctor Who rebooted back in 2005, showrunner Russell T. Davies made sure that the new companions would have families. This meant they'd have stronger ties to Earth, something more to lose if their travels with the Doctor went awry, and greater depth of character. And it paid off audiences loved the new family storylines.

In many cases, the companion's family members grew into strong characters in their own right and had their own development. Other times, they were just fun side characters. Either way, their inclusion in Doctor Who enhances the show and makes it feel more real.

Sylvia Noble Became a Better Person Played by: Jacqueline King

First appearance

Last appearance

The Runaway Bride (2006)

The Giggle (2023)

Donna Noble had a difficult relationship with her mother, Sylvia. Sylvia was always talking down to Donna and treating her like she was useless. Although she didn't seem to be doing this on purpose,...

Kore-eda Hirokazu returns to Japan for his latest film “Monster,” which poses this question to audiences: “Who really is the monster?” While location scouting, the filmmaker was looking down at a lake, dark and almost black, and “I thought of Sakamoto Ryuichi music. He was the only person who could do the music for this film.”

It would mark the first time in years that the legendary composer behind “The Last Emperor” and “The Revenant” had worked on a Japanese title

The film opens with Minato, played by Kurokawa Soya, an 11-year-old fifth grader who watches a burning building from afar. Kore-eda returns to this sequence three times, each from a different perspective. Is young Minato the monster? Or is it Mr. Hori (Nahayama Eita), the schoolteacher, or Minato’s mother, Saori (Ando Sakura)? The plot twists and turns in each retelling, as it’s revealed Minato has feelings for...

Hirokazu Kore-Eda is back in Cannes Competition after winning the Palme d’Or for Shoplifters in 2018 and last year presenting Korean-language Broker, which won best actor for Song Kang-ho. His new title, Monster, reteams him with Shoplifters actress Sakura Ando and is the last film to be scored by Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who died in March at 71 following a battle with cancer.

Scripted by Yuji Sakamoto (We Made a Beautiful Bouquet), Monster revolves around a single mother (Ando) who suspects there is something wrong at her son’s school when he starts behaving strangely. She storms into the school and accuses a teacher of bullying her son, only to have the teacher claim the boy is bullying another pupil, an eccentric child who appears to be having problems at home.

The cast also includes Eita Nagayama (Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai) as the teacher and veteran actress Yuko Tanaka...