Doctor Who: 10 Brilliant But Overlooked Moments In NuWho
With over 170 episodes of NuWho, some moments are naturally overlooked and cast into the shadows.
When considering the stand-out moments of NuWho, many of us might immediately picture that damned beach in Norway and a blubbering Rose Tyler or the grief-stricken Eleventh Doctor, head in hands, doubled over in the presence of a lone Weeping Angel. Some might mouth the immortalised line “I don’t want to go” or recall the airborne reveal of Sacha Dhawan’s Master incarnation.
But what about the moments which have forever been overshadowed by these bigger and bolder points in revived Doctor Who - the lesser recognised and appreciated scenes, which should be etched on all Whovian hearts (both of them) but, instead, are rather overlooked? Maybe they aren’t talked about because they’re lost in the midst of an epic, crowded story or, conversely, because they’re disregarded as part of an unpopular, divisive episode.
Whatever the reason, this list will uncover some of the overlooked gems of NuWho, pulling them out of the shadows and highlighting and celebrating their brilliance along the way…
10. Rory Is Erased From Time - Cold Blood
Rory Williams makes a habit of dying and coming back to life, so it’s no surprise that his original death and subsequent erasure from time is sometimes overlooked.
If this had been the end for Rory, it would’ve been a heartbreaking exit, with Rory sacrificing himself to save the Doctor, despite the Doctor repeatedly sending Amy and Rory’s relationship off course.
The Doctor is brilliant in this scene, having to be cold and logical when he sees the light from the crack touch Rory. Amy’s resistance to the Doctor physically dragging her into the TARDIS is uncomfortable to watch and unlike any Doctor-companion conflict seen before.
It’s criminal that this scene’s music is not on the series 5 soundtrack. Its repeated descending notes mirror how Rory’s memory is slipping from Amy’s grasp, and its building nature, coupled with flashbacks, adds to the scale and intensity of this moment.
The brief superimposition of Rory’s face over the shot of Amy and the Doctor illustrates how close Amy is to keeping hold of his memory and makes the sudden judder of the TARDIS, which interrupts her focus, all the more tragic.
This moment is a dark, unexpected twist in the fairytale that is series 5 and utilises the dynamic between the Doctor, Amy and Rory superbly. Plus, credit where credit’s due, erasing a companion from time, even if only temporarily, is a ballsy move!