10 Great Parts from 10 of the “Worst Episodes” (Part 2)

Guest contributor James Kirkland concludes his search for diamonds in the rough.

• See part one of the article here.

In celebration of Doctor Who’s 10 year anniversary since its revival, DWTV asked readers to give all the episodes a score. At the end of the voting, twenty stories sat at the very bottom of that list. But, every rough has a few diamonds in it. So, here are ten of those bottom twenty episodes that had truly great parts in them, for my money.

5. The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People – The Ganger Doctor

This was a a fascinating concept that allowed the episode to really move out of the typical “threat of the week” feel. From his first moments alive, struggling to cope with memories from all the other Doctors (including the tragic moment when Ten’s voice comes from his mouth and he screams “We’ve moved on!”, in pain), to his back and forth moments with Eleven and Amy, to his death at the end the Ganger Doctor provided the episode with a great shot of energy and allowed it to even better examine it’s matters of “real vs. replica”. His very presence even made for some introspection on Amy’s part as she constantly reminded him he was nothing like the “real” Doctor. The switch pulled by the two Doctors really helped sell the whole “not so different” message to both Amy and the audience as well.

4. Victory of the Daleks – The Dalek Threat

I think this episode, more than almost any Dalek episode in the revival, proved how much of a threat the Daleks truly are. Sure, they are shown exterminating things left and right in many other episodes, but this episode showed they are also dangerous intellectually as well. From them feigning harmlessness, which eventually causes the Doctor to explode in rage in a way rarely seen before, to their ultimatum that allows them to escape in the end they prove that they don’t need to shoot and destroy things to be a threat to the Doctor. They are in control almost the entire episode and manipulate everything and everyone to do what they need them to, when they need them to. It’s a pity the Paradigm Daleks weren’t used very much after this episode. Because it proved that what makes them the Doctor’s nemesis isn’t just brawn or numbers, it’s their brains as well.

3. In the Forest of the Night – “I don’t want to be the last of my kind.”

This moment, for me, is one of the defining moments of Clara’s time with the Doctor, along with being one of the truly great moments of Series 8. Because it swaps the traditional “Doctor tricks the companion to get them to safety” moment that has been done before. Clara telling him that she knew he’d never go back to the TARDIS unless he knew he was saving somebody showed how much she understands who he is. And her pained expression when she finally tells him she doesn’t want to be the last of her kind shows that she understands that for all his bluster and smiling, he is deeply alone and saddened by the fact he has no people left. And then the Doctor finally says aloud that Earth is his home. After all the conflict that had come between Clara and the Doctor this Series, this was the one moment when you can see that their bonds were strengthened because of the conflicts. But it’s Capaldi’s performance that really helps this moment shine. He is able to convey so much with just his expressions and tone of voice. From this moment on, you really did know that the Doctor, despite his inner turmoil, was a good man through and through.

2. The Next Doctor – “They break my heart.”

This is one of the finest moments of David Tennant’s time as the Doctor, for me. Because, is his simple conversation here with Jackson Lake, so much is conveyed through nothing more than facial expressions and the delivery of his lines. You can tell when he relates what has happened to his companions that he’s trying to convince himself that he doesn’t miss them, that they are better off living their own lives. And when he says “They forget me.”, you can see the pain in his eyes and hear it in his voice, knowing that his mind is wandering to Donna Noble. But, in the end, he finally admits why he no longer has companions with him. Because they break his heart (hearts?). Because he knows that it can’t last forever and that they will inevitably leave him, one way or the other. And it hurts him every time. This one scene offers so much insight to the Doctor/Companion relationship by showing that no matter how long he’s lived, or how many friends have come and gone over the centuries, that every time they say goodbye to the Doctor it doesn’t hurt him any less.

1. Boom Town – The Diner Scene

Easily one of Eccleston’s finest moments as the Doctor, along with being one of the best scenes in all New Who. It starts with the Doctor casually countering every one of Margaret’s attempts to take him out, showing that he is prepared for anything she attempts to do to him. But the real meat of this scene comes from the quiet moment when she recounts her sparing a woman’s life, insisting that it is proof she has changed from the monster he saw the first time they met. The Doctor believes her story, but thinks it means nothing. He tells her that people like her spare one life every now and then to help them live with their decision to kill millions. And she counters by pointing out only a killer would know that, citing her thoughts on his life. Knowing what has been revealed about the Doctor and the Time War since then gives this scene so much more weight and power. All those times the Doctor spared a villain, or was prepared to, now made you think that it was because he slaughtered all the Daleks and Time Lords. This one little scene in this one little episode offered such a fascinating look at the Doctor’s mind. And the performances sell every second of it. From Nine’s amused grin when Margaret says she stopped herself from killing the girl to his cold yet wounded glare as she tells him he might as well be a god for all the lives he plays with to her weak, pitiable “Let me go.”, everything in this scene worked perfectly and elevated it.