Doctor Who: Fifty-One Favourites (Part 2)
K-Ci Williams continues the series picking out 51 Doctor Who faves.
Doctor Who teaches us many vital lessons that help us to become more well rounded people; an ability that is sorely missing from many television shows that exist merely to entertain. Join me as we continue the journey to examine fifty one of my favourite stories from the history of the series. Please also note that these are merely my opinions and hence you are within your rights to share your own thoughts on your personal favourites. I do not seek to present a list that you will agree with, because it is all about sharing the love for Doctor Who – in whatever form this may take. Additionally, because the story count is so large for this series, I have decided to make this part entirely modern stories that made the list – the classics will come later. For now though… onwards.
The Girl Who Waited
“You know when sometimes you meet someone so beautiful and then you actually talk to them and five minutes later they’re as dull as a brick? Then there’s other people, when you meet them you think, “Not bad. They’re okay.” And then you get to know them and… and their face just sort of becomes them. Like their personality’s written all over it. And they just turn into something so beautiful. Rory’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever met.”
This was really a character story; driven by the virtues at the core of the companions and how these interact with each other. I think I’ve emphasised that the Doctor teaches us a lot, but Amy and Rory really do teach us something essential. Not only the importance of love, but the power of love. Love can get you through the tough times. It really lends perspective to their divorce later on (although handled rather badly) that it is love that always wins. How heartbreaking it must have been for Rory then, when he had to leave behind the Older Amy. Just think for a moment though, Rory recognised the exact same qualities in Older Amy that he did in his Amy. They were the same person, but one was embittered by time. I think this is where Doctor Who soars – in emotional stories that use characters to develop the series itself. This gave cause for one of the most sentimental stories from the Pond era; an episode I unknowingly neglected in one of my original articles for this community back in 2012. Always love those that are closest to you, because on the day that they exit your life, it won’t be easy to get through the pain. It was so painful for Older Amy to live all those years without her husband by her side, and it turned her into something she shouldn’t have become. But again, her love for Rory allowed her to sacrifice herself for the younger Amy.
The Name of the Doctor
“My name, my real name, that is not the point. The name I chose is the Doctor. The name you choose, it’s like, it’s like a promise you make. He’s the one who broke the promise.”
This was a groundbreaking, suspenseful finale. In recent years I’ve grown fond of the singular episode finales (although I’m glad to have the two parters back), and this one exceeds my expectations for what a single finale can do. The lesson I feel was emphasised by this Steven Moffat tale is the idea of sacrifice. Clara Oswald has become one of my favourite companions of the modern side of the show. The admiration I have for her character originated from her early appearances, but was solidified when she jumped into the Doctor’s time stream to save him. To save those we love, sacrifices have to be made sometimes. Clara is a prime example of how sacrifice can save others. While life doesn’t romanticise sacrifice quite in the way Doctor Who does, this teaches us that (all cliffhangers and anniversary moments aside) it is the things that is our actions that mean the most to those we care about. Words don’t mean a thing, whereas how we make those words a reality can mean everything.
The Rings of Akhaten
“I walked away from the last great Time War. I marked the passing of the Time Lords. I saw the birth of the universe and watched as time ran out, moment by moment, until nothing remained. No time, no space. Just me! I walked in universes where the laws of physics were devised by the mind of a madman! And I watched universes freeze and creation burn! I have seen things you wouldn’t believe! I have lost things you will never understand! And I know things, secrets that must never be told, knowledge that must never be spoken! Knowledge that will make parasite gods blaze! So come on then! Take it! Take it all, baby! Have it! You have it all!”
The appealing factor of this underrated gem is the exploration of a different culture. We very rarely have the opportunity to examine cultures on a large scale. But I think where this story excels is in the beautiful score by Murray Gold. The Long Song is a bundle of emotions and Matt Smith’s speech is a love letter to the past of Doctor Who, but also a look into the future. I learned that it takes courage to stand up for what you believe in. It was exceptionally clever that the infinite potential of Ellie Oswald that never came to pass could defeat the parasitic god. That’s an interesting way to view death, especially the passing of a loved one. It reminds me of something Russell T Davies said when the great Elisabeth Sladen passed away. While people will never get to do anything else after they’re gone, what they did do was so amazing and special that this is how they should be remembered. Alternatively we have this story, that says while Ellie did amazing things while she was alive, there was an infinity of possibilities that never became a reality. Creations never invented. Cures never produced. Lives never loved. Infinite potential – it’s really a message for us as the audience, to make sure the infinity is on the other side of the spectrum. Make every moment count, because we have just as much potential when we are living. So take hold of your potential.
Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead
“Some days are special. Some days are so so blessed. Some days nobody dies at all. Now and then, every once in a very long while—every day in a million days when the wind stands fair and the Doctor comes to call —everybody lives.”
Steven Moffat uses the fear factor to completely shock us and ensure our undivided attention. At the core of this story is something I have valued since I first saw the two parter. It’s a matter of imagination, it’s a little silly and it’s an idea I always think about. Of course sections of this story entail CAL dreaming of the Library, but I believe that my enjoyment comes from a further explanation of dreams. More than once in my life I have dreamed something happening to me, but then it becomes a reality and I relive the moment. It is incredibly scary for a moment, because I genuinely feel that I knew about these situations before they occurred. It’s a surreal prospect that can never be proven, something that will surely go unnoticed. It’s an unconventional idea, unlike the other more obvious ideas in Doctor Who – my own personal interpretation.
The God Complex
“Praise him.”
With all the larger god complex themes presented and religious overtones aside, I must focus on the character driven development that is when Amy abandons her faith in the Doctor. I identified this as a major moment from the Ponds’ time on the show, while an excellent birthday article for Karen Gillan recently also pinned it as magnificent. There is a deeper theme at work. To an extent, we place our faith in the Doctor just as much as Amy did. It was incredibly moving when the Doctor forces Amy to lose her faith. What a whacking kick up the backside for the Doctor – what he thought was fear luring the beast, was instead the strength of faith. It is important to place our faith in people we can count on, because fear and faith can both get us hurt. It calls into question our moral alignment with the Doctor, especially the incumbent incarnation. How much can we really trust the Capaldi Doctor? An excellent idea for an episode, and an excellent execution of the script. We are forced to watch as the story places heavy emphasis on praise, and what this means. I have found on more than one occasion that I praise others more than myself – to the extent where I run the risk of completely derailing my chances of personal growth and success. But then again, success is measured in happiness, and placing faith in the right people can make us all happy.
Army of Ghosts/Doomsday
Rose: “Am I ever going to see you again?”
The Doctor: “You can’t.”
Since I have vowed to share something a little different in these articles I will provide you with some personal feelings about this episode. For years I have read threads about people and their love or hate towards this particular two part finale. I have nothing but abounding joy when I watch it. I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to see the dynamic between Jackie and the Doctor. It’s always been something that has caught my eye during the early modern runs of Doctor Who. Something I truly miss about the Davies era is the focus on family and how they would react when they meet the Doctor. And then there’s obviously that sad and poignant ending. Rose has seen many different developments, and if I am to truly judge this story in itself – I was left distraught and pained. In a directorial sense, the shots of the Doctor and Rose on either side of the wall sent me into a kind of depressed frenzy. I then spiralled into an acute sense of nausea and dehydration because tears were leaking from my eyes. Murray Gold’s score is something to really be commended; I’d say it’s one of my favourites of his. No huge message here, just an abundance of character driven moments and a (not so) conclusion to a companion that seemed (and was thusly proven as not) complete.
The Time of the Doctor
“I will always remember when the Doctor was me.”
What can I say except that just under a year ago, on Boxing Day morning (New Zealand time zones meant I had to wake up early to stream) after a Christmas Day wrought with stress and worry, about how Matt Smith would leave the show, I was once again moved to sadness. I have already shared how much I adored the Tenth Doctor’s regeneration story, but this took it to a whole other level. It proved that Clara was more than a one dimensional mysterious enigma, that she was in fact a fierce friend. Although I must confess the role of Tasha Lem could have been filled by River Song by some miraculous throwaway explanation, it would have given the story more depth. But I digress, because I felt the presence of River and her endless love through the Doctor’s recognition of her place in his life. The Doctor is in his element in Time. As is usually the case for me when watching swan songs, I found Matt Smith proving why he would’ve been a great Doctor for years to come.
Blink
“Don’t blink”
How could this story not make the list, it’s a no brainer! However let me preface this by saying it doesn’t even make my top ten. Don’t get me wrong through I love Blink. It taught me the valuable message that Doctor Who really does send us behind our couch, it renders us afraid of the oncoming terror. Steven Moffat is I think, as a writer, at his most powerful when he writes scary tales. Whatever goes on inside that man’s head – I hate to think. It’s a prime example of how successful a Doctor-lite episode can be. Somehow, due to plot circumstances, the Doctor is not present in the crisis and appears in a small capacity – yet he is essential to the plot. This has to be what makes this episode so great. Well, apart from the Weeping Angels and stellar acting talent from Carey Mulligan. I swear there are times when I am afraid to go near statues. My city has no shortage of them. It’s also a heritage area, known for its unique Art Deco and Spanish Mission style buildings. Everything just screams Weeping Angels. I can just imagine those villains appearing. I shudder to think.
The Eleventh Hour
“Who da man?”
The beginning of an era. An era that defined the way I perceive the world. The beginning of acting careers for my favourite TARDIS team in the history of the show. For the record this story provides a lot to be examined, but something I have learned is to always delete my internet history. Just kidding, I’m a devious soul and I use incognito. I was stunned by the fairy tale nature of it, but something special is the intricacy that went into making this. While I was shovelling through the Doctor Who TV archives recently I found that Jeff’s laptop in the episode had the symbol for Pandora’s box on it – something that gained relevance later. It’s nice to come back to an episode years later and pick up on this. It just goes to show how much thought has been out into the show in the past. My love for this story has been covered in previous Five Favourites, so I’ll just state what I wrote again. The speech to the Atraxi is that character defining moment. The aptly titled I am the Doctor plays, and orchestrates exactly what we know: Matt Smith is the Doctor (and he always will be).
Night of the Doctor
“Physician, heal thyself”
This story gave something unique to all of us, the loyal fans of the show: the surprise of a Doctor return. It wasn’t merely the return of Paul McGann, but the fact that it was a surprise. Sadly, my experience involved opening the Doctor Who TV page and seeing articles after the video was released that elaborated on McGann’s return – but that did not take away at all from the specialness of the minisode. Moffat packed so much into so little time. Fans have often debated that Moffat should have had McGann in the 50th instead of John Hurt. While I agree wholeheartedly, I also agree with Moffat’s reasoning for not including him. I could not imagine the McGann Doctor doing the heinous acts the War Doctor does. While this does give depth to the character and prove we don’t always know everything about him, I don’t know if I could have coped with McGann fighting in the Time War. All in all it was such a special occasion it made me smile for the rest of the day.
That is it for another week. Please share more of your favourite episodes below in the comments. However please remember that these are merely my opinions and do not reflect at all how you should feel. I did not seek to compile a list of stories that everyone agrees with, so let me say that it is not a matter of if you agree or disagree with my list, but more so my personal ramblings of why I love Doctor Who. It is my gift from me to you, so share your favourites with me.
Join us again next week for Part 3.
