10 Doctor Who Episodes We Were WAY Too Harsh On

Most people’s memories of It Takes You Away tend to be focused on a single moment at the end: the bit where the Doctor has a heartfelt conversation with a sentient universe posing as a frog.

Admittedly it’s a very surreal image, and compared with the rest of the episode’s fairly low-key visuals we’re not hugely surprised it’s the bit that has stuck in most fans' minds. However, its enduring reputation as “the one with the talking frog” has led to a lot of people forgetting just how good the rest of the episode is.

Rewatch it again with fresh eyes, and It Takes You Away is actually one of the most heartfelt stories of the Whittaker era, cleverly exploring themes of loss, abandonment, and grief. Not only that, it’s one of the few episodes from Series 11 & 12 that uses the four-person TARDIS team to its advantage, with Graham, Ryan, and Yaz all having their own unique perspectives on what’s happened, influenced by their own life experiences.

Even the Doctor’s final conversation with the Solitract-frog can be heart-wrenching if you can look past the inherent absurdity of the visuals. Saving the day in a way other than simply “defeating the baddie” is always a nice change, and Jodie Whittaker really sells that the Doctor genuinely does consider the Solitract a friend, and is sad to see them go.