Though reviewers generally reacted negatively to the character, Adam's role as a foil to the stock companion figure has been praised alongside the moral lessons of his departure.

Adam first appears in the first series episode "Dalek" as a young researcher under the employ of Henry van Statten (Corey Johnson), who is the owner of a museum of extraterrestrial artefacts in an underground bunker in Utah.

He attempts to transmit information back to 21st-century Earth using Rose's modified mobile phone to leave the data on his parents' answering machine.

When Adam's mother (Judy Holt) returns home, she reacts with shock and horror after inadvertently activating the implant installed in his forehead.

Adam's winning essay on "Why I Want To Meet An Alien" mentions a desire to acquire advanced knowledge from them with the explanation "I don't think it's cheating, really.

[15] Dek Hogan of Digital Spy reacted negatively to Adam's introduction in "Dalek", stating that he "didn't really see the point of Todd Grimshaw out of Corrie popping up".

[18] Marc Edward DiPaulo of the University of Oklahoma notes that Adam's role in "The Long Game" is to provide satire on the media and to function as "a condemnation of those who cannot stop immersing themselves in television, the Internet, iPods, and other nonstop broadcasters of what the Doctor calls 'useless information.

'"[19] Fraser McAlpine, reviewing Adam's appearances as companion for BBC America's Anglophenia blog, describes him as a "craven meddler" and a "social climber".

[22] Burk referred to him in "The Long Game" as "arrogant and narcissistic", which made Rose appear shallow for insisting he travel with them, but felt that Langley did "a superb job" conveying the character's flaws.

[25] Radio Times reviewer Patrick Mulkern gave a positive overview of Adam, describing the character as "bumptious yet likeable" and his departure as "literary precision".

He commented that Adam "adds an interesting dynamic, subtly different" from Mickey Smith and Captain Jack Harkness, who also worked with Rose and the Ninth Doctor.

[26] In 2010, Mark Harrison of Den of Geek listed the character's exit from the TARDIS as the tenth greatest companion farewell scene stating that it was "great to get a glimpse of the Doctor outright booting someone out."

[21] Charlie Jane Anders also praised the concept of Adam's story arc, positioning his departure as the seventh most depressing exit for a companion in Doctor Who's history.

She felt that to have "a companion who flunks out" was one of Davies's "cleverest ideas" as executive producer of the series and that Adam's human flaws made him relatable.