I’ve seen some people saying that Ryan hasn’t had anything to do this season (lol) ironically coming from the same people who wanted to see more of Yaz after admitting the arc last series was all about Ryan and Graham…
But fuck that negativity!
LET’S GIVE IT UP FOR RYAN FIFA FUCKING LEGEND SINCLAIR
After Resolution, he has finally been able to be more open about his feelings:
1. His frustration with his dyspraxia isn’t controlling his emotions as much, partly because Graham has seen him struggling and realised that it isn’t something to get attention or blame his clumsiness on (TWWFTE). In series 11 the encouragement of Yaz (even straight from that first ladder scene when she says it’s ok if he doesn’t think he can manage it) since he actually put into practice Grace’s encouragement of “keep on trying”, knowing that it is ok to be a bit behind everyone else (Ghost Monument ladder scenes, Kerblam! conveyer scene, Resolution rescuing his dad scene).
In the Spyfall basketball scene you can imagine he’s picturing Grace, The Doctor, Yaz and Graham cheering him on. NEVER GIVE UP, WE’RE FAMILY, WE’RE A TEAM. Basically everything at the end of Fugitive Of The Judoon. He jumps between fucking train carriages in the Tesla ep. If that scene had been last series, it would have played like Carl jumping to the next crane. All Ryan needed was a bit of encouragement and he did it, sometime he will succeed and that’s good enough for him, for now. In Praxeus he’s slow as hell when they are running away from the birds but he makes it, JUST.
In AOTC he falls behind as they run away from the cybermen, he has the energy and mental strength to try and hide instead of screaming or turning and pancing, screaming for Yaz, Graham or The Doctor. He believes in her, because he has to - he’s as strong as the others. He can be Logan the photographer if he needs to be but he doesn’t need to be Hugh Jackman. That just isn’t him. He’s a video gamer, not an action hero. Can’t ride a bike but he can fly a plane…with his phone.
2. I believe series 12 has really showcased his friendly, teasing and sibling-mentoring relationship with Yaz. It’s very ironic that he’s been able to open up with her since 11x05 but she hasn’t disclosed her history of mental illness, but that’s a very sensitive issue. I think she identifies a lot with Ryan’s frustration of feeling different - even if it’s just because of their shared experience of racial discrimination. He’s helped Yaz without even realising it, giving her someone to bounce her confidence off of, resulting in them being able to help each other (Barton interview scene in Spyfall).
3. In Orphan 55 he opened up to a COMPLETE STRANGER. He wouldn’t have done that in series 11 in a million years. The closest he came was with Hanne in It Takes You Away - which was a brilliant episode to showcase his abandonment issues and the fact that even this far into the series he was snappy, defensive and making assumptions based on projecting his own experiences of pain onto other people. I don’t mean that he was a horrible person, just that he had a clouded sense of judgement - hence Yaz’s “Ryan!” protest.
Yes, he lies to Bella at first but beyond knowing they “both have dead parents” and fancying her a bit he has zero reason to tell her his life story (flashback to 11x05 Ryan saying “Why am I even telling you this?” to Yaz after discussing his mother’s death). Reconnecting with his father and Graham did wonders for his trust and self esteem.
4. In Can You hear Me we see how scared he is of leaving Earth behind, but also how strong he has become. Ryan talking to his friend about mental illness. This is the same guy who avidly avoided talking to Graham about Grace and said he talked too much about “that stuff”. He might not have had enough emotional stuff with his grandad this season but he could definitely handle it better. The maturity of the scene with Yaz where they talk about having to leave people behind is mindblowing. In Praxeus he’s on his own on a mission and he collects a dead bird that saves the universe. He’s fantastic with Gabreila, having learnt from Hanne.
5. Ryan & The Doctor. Personally this is what I could do with more of, but Yaz and Graham are his mentors he doesn’t really need another one. But if anyone can inspire it’s The Doctor and both the comic duo moments (Orphan 55) and the moments she’s snapped at him have been amazing. It’s never been his fault, he doesn’t know any better (ie proposing to sacrifice Shelly). There’s an innocence to Ryan that has always been there and makes him vulnerable in moments when The Doctor’s true age and experience come to light.
6. He’s adorable, hilarious and relatable just like in series 11 (any episode).
“Ryan’s had nothing to do all series.”
Ok but he’s the most i’ve ever related to a companion and i’m annoying so I guess that’s valid.
“Ryan’s facial expressions never change and he talks weirdly, but Tosin is the opposite?”
It’s called acting lol and all of the above are disadvantages of having dyspraxia. It’s much harder to express your emotions, words and to fucking move at all tbh.
Sorry i’m tired and emotional and I love Ryan.
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