Christopher Eccleston is so many people's Doctor, despite being so unDoctorly. It's in those final episodes of his reign though, after everybody living in 'The Doctor Dances' and giving Margaret Blaine another chance in 'Boom Town', that he really starts to come into his own. The Doctor seems to run around with an invigorated passion for life later on in Series 1, and when he comes up with an ingenious plan in 'The Parting of the Ways', it feels like he's saved the day. He tells Rose to "hold that there, and keep the position," pointing to a lever on the TARDIS console, before running out to "power the gamestation". But then the smile drops. There is no big plan. He's sending her home, and saving her life. It's a terrifying moment for Rose, who realises what's happening, but can't stop it. It's then that the holographic face of Nine appears explaining what he's just done. The truly heart-tearing moment comes when the hologram turns to face Rose, telling her, "Have a fantastic life." A tear rolls down his ghostly, blue cheek, and it feels like he's a guardian angel, speaking to her from the afterlife.
