Doctor Who: Fifty-One Favourites (Part 1)
K-Ci Williams begins a new series picking out 51 Doctor Who faves.
Doctor Who is an international phenomenon; Sydney Newman and Verity Lambert created the most influential character in the lives of many. We are defined by our morals; this is how we are perceived, how we serve judgment on others. The Doctor is the man who tells us to love life. Life embroiders the mark of morality in our hearts, but it is Doctor Who that emblazons the mark of love. Themes behind every episode teach us vital lessons; companions teach us compassion, selflessness and sometimes how to have a good scream. But the Doctor seeks to show us the wonders of the world; the beauty in everything.
Doctor Who is more than a television show. It is a landmark; an emotional landmark. Sure we possess beautiful physical remnants of times long ago; the Eiffel Tower, the Angel of Liberty – but Doctor Who leads us into the light. Nothing has given me greater pleasure than sharing my favourite stories from all the Doctors over this past year. It has quite honestly solidified my love for the show; emphasised why I love this community.
In order to truly end the Five Favourites series in style, I have a proposition. Come on one last trip with me, one last time examining my favourite episodes from the last fifty one years of Doctor Who. I realise that many of my choices will be similar to the past favourites from this year – but I have changed my mind so many times I cannot remember if I agree with my initial decisions. But to make this more of a celebration, I want to focus on sharing something special, something a little different from previous articles. Either my personal experience with the story, a prevalent theme or a stunning performance that tells me constantly: why I love this show. Just in time after fifty-one years of Doctor Who, I present to you – Doctor Who: Fifty-One Favourites.
Note: Since I change my mind constantly, there will be no order for these favourites. It is simply too difficult for me to put numbers on episodes that I love.
An Unearthly Child
“If you could touch the alien sand and hear the cry of strange birds and watch them wheel in another sky, would that satisfy you?”
I was quite honestly struggling to narrow my favourites down to a short list; when I had decided officially there was something missing, something of major significance. This was one of the early Classic episodes I saw; it lured me in right from the beginning – something about that junkyard. The standout factor was the concept of travelling through time and space. It’s so relatable; a young girl far too advanced for typical academic capabilities, two teachers curious to find the truth and a grumpy man with all the eccentricities of someone we would grow to love. If I’m honest I’m not too fond of the caveman plot, it takes second place to the character dynamics at play. In the fifty-one year history of Doctor Who, this will always have a special place in my heart. Who wouldn’t want to travel to other planets? As the Doctor so eloquently puts it, the wonders of our imagination are beautiful. We should do one better – love the world around us, touch the sand of a local beach, listen as gorgeous birds sing their song. The wonders are so special in the TARDIS, but we have already got them right here on Earth.
Voyage of the Damned
“I’m the man that’s gonna save your lives and all six billion people on the planet below.”
All I am going to say is Kylie Minogue! What a treat for Doctor Who fans and I guess Australian fans who got to see one of their own in Doctor Who. The allure of brilliance in this festive special is the wonderful Astrid Peth; a well written character who we know would have made an amazing companion. Russell T. Davies invested us in her character, made us love her. Then he crushed our dreams as she died sacrificing herself to save the Doctor and the Earth. It really strengthens my idealism that we have to take everything in life as it is, make the most of our experiences and the people we love. While life doesn’t so much as ‘write in’ a character death, there are chance events that take away our loved ones. We see the Doctor in pain as yet another person dies to save him, he has no control over what happens because of the laws of time. But we can control our experiences. Appreciate your loved ones; any person you come into contact with, it will change your life.
The End of Time
“I don’t want to go.”
What an absolutely horrifying kick to the stomach. I don’t think any line has been as prominent as this is in any series I’ve seen – unless you count the fairy tale ‘you found me…did you ever doubt I would?’ scenario in Once Upon A Time. Contextually, this story tells of loss, fear and sacrifice. In the end the Master sacrificed himself to stop the Time Lords, while the Doctor said farewell to all his companions. This is the most affecting sequence for me. I had loved those characters over their individual appearances, their development was intriguing, their sacrifices unparalleled – but each of them earned a place in my heart. Never mind the rest of the two parter (as magnificently written as it was), it broke my heart when David’s Doctor said goodbye. I will never forget how he made me feel, how happy I have been rewatching his stories.
Dark Water/Death in Heaven
“Love is not an emotion. Love is a promise.”
This is one of the many 10/10 scores I gave for the Series 8 run. Moffat is incredibly gripping in this two parter; his concept is heart-wrenching – it’s a chilling thought that my loved ones are being disturbed from beyond the grave. Something special that came from this was not the Mistress reveal but the incredible character driven storytelling – although I have always been on board with the Master gender change. It’s been a refreshing change having the lead actors perform with a solid script. The Doctor’s realisation that he’s an idiot, passing through helping out and always learning was touching and following a series of exposition it paid off significantly. And of course the touching moments with Cyber-Brig, it was executed just right for me. Moffat really knows how to stun an audience with the concept of lying and deceit taking centre stage as Clara and the Doctor both lied to keep each other happy. A truly significant story.
The Five Doctors
“To lose is to win and he who wins shall lose.”
Following my increasing interest in Doctor Who I decided to get into the Classic serials. My friend who loves the show, who I was introduced to by a friend, and isn’t a regular Whovian told me to watch The Five Doctors. A quick note; while Clara claims that fear can bring people together, so can Doctor Who. I have a great friend by my side thanks to Doctor Who! Continuing with this story, it was such as shame that there were really only three Doctors present played by their original actors. Tom Baker didn’t return (have you seen the 25th Anniversary photo shoot? He’s a wax model!) and the great William Hartnell had passed on. But with these sorts of occasions I say “be gone” with my criticisms about too much fan service and not enough plot. I knew I would complain so I told myself not to. This is a major staple in Doctor Who history, and when the Doctors all unite it’s one of the most touching and surreal things. It’s one thing to be taught compassion and love by one Doctor, but all of them at once? The fans deserved it for keeping the show going that long.
The Unicorn and the Wasp
“Agatha Christie didn’t walk around surrounded by murders. Not really. I mean that’s like meeting Charles Dickens and he’s surrounded by ghosts. At Christmas.”
You know how in Doctor Who we usually have historical episodes, and some of them don’t quite turn out as well as hoped? I love every moment of this story because it is endlessly inventive and uses the technique of a typical historical setting where the Doctor Who universe barges its way in. Please give a round of applause for every soul that worked on this episode, it was one of my highlights of Series Four. What a tribute to a wonderful writer – as wonderful as a crazy Doctor Who episode can give. I was amazed by the reveal of “malaria mishap” and the Reverend being behind it all. But what really stood out to me was the humour (as always with Donna) in the face of death. The quote above is the pinnacle of the episode for me – the callback in this was perfect and always puts a smile on my face. Some stories have a message to share, some are there to make us smile. The tale of the unicorn and the wasp never fails to leave me beaming.
The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon
“One whacking great kick up the backside for the Silence. You just raised an army against yourself. And now, for a thousand generations, you’re going to be ordering them to destroy you every day.”
What can I say except that Steven Moffat gives the story one whacking kick up the backside and produces an intriguing, perfectly sensical resolution that is so deeply rooted into human history that it has an long lasting effect. Of all his wicked and wacky creations and plots, this two part story will stand the test of time for me as probably my favourite resolution from the Moff. His characters are very well written; the death of the Doctor sets us off nicely and we even make it home for tea at the end of it; having endured the likable Canton Everett Delaware III, experienced River Song’s first/ last kiss with the Doctor. This two parter truly shocked me, but the resolution would definitely be that special factor that always gives it a spot as a favourite.
The Parting of the Ways/Bad Wolf
“Rose, before I go, I just want to tell you, you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And you know what? So was I.”
I believe the initial appearance of this story in The Ninth Doctor: Five Favourites focused on the regeneration side of things, but there is something even deeper at play. Something good old Chris could always translate to the screen was his care for his companion. It’s something we aren’t privy to nowadays – with Peter Capaldi deliberately not wanting us to like his Doctor – a truly caring Doctor. When the Daleks take Rose, the Doctor tells her that he will get her back. He says it with heart, and with gusto. With this being his last serial, knowing he would leave, I attempted to forget and focus on characters and plot. But nothing stood out to me more than the Doctor’s care for his companion. Alternatively, Russell T (the Davies) uses the separation of the Doctor and Rose for a juxtaposition; until they act instinctively and reciprocity becomes a factor. After all the Doctor has done for Rose she never stops trying to get him back, to get the TARDIS to work again. Two wonderfully written and performed characters who had some of the best TARDIS team chemistry in Modern Doctor Who (like Ten and Donna, Eleven with Amy AND Rory). What more could we ask for then, when Rose has consumed the energy of the Time Vortex that her Doctor makes her better and sacrifices himself. An astonishing finale to an impeccable first series and premiere season of the revived Doctor Who. Those BBC Executives from the Classics must be kicking themselves.
Father’s Day
“I’ve had all these extra hours. No one in the world’s ever had that. And on top of that, I get to see you. And you’re beautiful. How lucky am I, eh?”
If I could go back in time and see my grandfather before he died then I would. I would give anything to do it, because he passed away before I was born. I think of this story as lyrical and beautiful if only for the chances to see a loved one that has left us. Although I don’t care for the Reapers, their threat was certainly noticed. There was major character drama material here, and it certainly doesn’t go to waste. Billie Piper was amazing, as was Shaun Dingwall. It emphasises that it is best to leave things as they are, we can’t interfere with past events because it causes the collapse of order. If I had the means to travel in time, I wouldn’t want to go back to a time when my loved ones were alive. There would be an impossible choice; one I couldn’t bear to make. I guess it teaches us to make the most of what we have because in the blink of an eye, in the wrong place at the wrong time – it can all end.
Turn Left
“It just took the Doctor to show you that, simply by being with him. He did the same to me. To everyone he touches.”
It is the concept of this story that is so appealing. We spend so much of our viewing time on adventures with the Doctor that we forget how much he means to us. So in keeping with the concept of a world without the Doctor, I want to share why this would have a huge impact on me. Life is not without its ups and downs; arguably the way we react to these is what defines our character. But when we do get knocked down, of course as the cliche goes it’s how we get back up. Well Doctor Who has always been that one place where I can sit and watch and see a man fight baddies. I get to grow up watching someone defend a whole planet. It’s interesting because, as I’m sure is the case for many of us, it is the symbol of the Doctor that keeps us going. Symbolically he is the idea of something that can carry us through. Without this concept the world wouldn’t turn. So the Doctor is essentially a representation of us, usually in the best of times, sometimes in the worst. Here’s the truth: the Doctor is not physically with us. But in everything we do the Doctor achieves or fails vicariously through us, he gets back up and keeps on going vicariously through us. Skills the Doctor has taught us live on. So imagine if the events of this story were to happen, what would you do? It’s time for you to become your own Doctor now.
Comment below with ten of your own favourites and join again us next week for Part 2.
