10 Darkest Endings In Doctor Who

The new series may have its twists and turns, but this was the first serial to shock Doctor Who fans to the core when it was broadcast. Not only did it feature the surprise return of the Cybermen, who hadn’t been seen onscreen in seven years, it was the first to feature the death of a companion since 1965.

The Cybermen plan to destroy the Earth in 2526 by slamming a space freighter into the planet, which will wipe out a conference of delegates about to sign an agreement uniting their military forces against them. At the story’s climax, the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, and Tegan are separated from Adric and the rest of the crew by the Cyber Leader, leaving Adric trapped on the ship’s bridge as it hurtles towards Earth. He manages to alter the controls to send it back in time 65 million years, where it will annihilate the dinosaurs, but not the planet. Adric stays behind while the rest of the crew escape to make sure that the ship is destroyed safely, sacrificing his life. All the TARDIS crew can do is look on in despair as they watch the ship break up.

The credits roll silently over the haunting image of Adric’s shattered gold star.