10 Best "Everything You Know Is A Lie" Moments In Doctor Who
7. It Came Like A Miracle (The Beast Below)
Matt Smith's second full episode as the Doctor took him to the UK - well, a version of it that was floating through space.
After the Earth fell victim to deadly solar flares, the United Kingdom packed up its people and put them on a giant spaceship. Kind of like that ship from WALL-E, except everyone isn't out of shape.
The Doctor and Amy Pond soon discover that the vessel isn't powered by engines, but rather a giant Star Whale carrying the entire country on its back. The government captured the creature and forced it to help them, sending shockwaves to its brain to essentially drive it through space. It's pretty appalling behaviour, but it was necessary in order for the nation to survive.
Or was it?
With Amy's help, the electrocution is stopped and the Star Whale... keeps on floating. It turns out that it wanted to help the entire time, and would've gladly carried the ship without being tortured.
It's a powerful reveal - particularly that final "lonely and kind" conversation between the Doctor and Amy, scored to perfection by the maestro Murray Gold - and it leaves everyone stunned. It's heartbreaking to think about the unnecessary pain the Star Whale endured, but this episode's message is ultimately a good one, restoring faith in the idea that the universe is full of selfless people.
Even if they are giant space fish.