10 Major Doctor Who Events That Changed Everything

9. The Introduction Of The Time Lords

Now in their second body, audiences of the 1960s had finally adjusted to the cosmic hobo of the Second Doctor and had followed them across daring new adventures with faithful Scottish Highlander Jamie McCrimmon and future astrophysicist Zoe Heriot. Things are looking peachy for our intergalactic wrong-righters, until they faced The War Lord in 1969's 'The War Games', and the secrets of The Doctor's people finally began to unravel.

The episode gives us many firsts for the series, with not only the first full appearance of The Doctor's species besides a few renegades like The Monk and The War Lord, but we are finally given a name: The Time Lords. As ethereal and omnipotent as the name suggests, The Time Lords intervention within the episode packs a heavy toll for The Doctor and companions that ensures that life for all of them may never truly be the same again. After a heart-wrenching goodbye, Jamie and Zoe are sent back to a time before they knew The Doctor and have all their memories of their adventures erased, whilst The Doctor's previous theft of the TARDIS and escape to the planet Earth are finally brought to question.

Fortunately, The Time Lords are merciful in granting them the right to live, under the strict condition that they remain exiled to Earth, with yet another new face. No TARDIS. No companions. A new start for a new Doctor in every sense of the word.