10 Best Doctor Who Time Travel Stories
2. Fires Of Pompeii
In the first Russell T Davies era (still feels weird writing that!), each series had a fairly rigid structure - one contemporary Earth story, a historical adventure and a space one. It's a structure that outlines to new viewers exactly what Doctor Who can do.
Whereas the previous series' trips back in time were romps involving zombies, werewolves and witches, The Fires of Pompeii addresses one of the show's fundamental tenets - the Timelord policy of non-intervention.
James Moran's story is a 2008 update of the themes of 1964's The Aztecs, with the Doctor once more unable to avert a historical catastrophe to the horror of his companion. Whilst the alien Pyrovile plot muddies the waters, it's still an affecting insight into the burden of gallivanting through time and space. It can't all be flirting with Shakespeare or solving murders with Agatha Christie!
Much like The Aztecs, the Doctor and his companion do manage to save someone. Here it's the family of the familiar looking Caecillius, who for reasons of people not understanding how television casting works, goes on to have a very influential effect on the Doctor's future.