10 Shocking Classic Doctor Who Era Cliffhangers
1. Ascending The Stairs (Remembrance Of The Daleks)
Remembrance of the Daleks, along with the Sylvester McCoy era in general, wanted to breath new life into the show, and ultimately shock its audience with new, thrilling ideas. This resulted in the masterful cliff-hanger that had the Daleks levitate up the stairs for the very first time. I remember watching this moment as a kid and was utterly blown away by this momentous occasion.
No longer were the Daleks the laughing stock. There was nothing that could stop them now, and the Seventh Doctor's reaction said it all. It was already a suspenseful sequence, with a Dalek suddenly giving chase, forcing the Seventh Doctor and Ace to flee upstairs to safety. Naturally, you assume they'd both be safe, but then Ace is knocked unconscious by the headmaster of Coal Hill School (a secret Dalek agent), and locks the Time Lord in the basement.
Suddenly, the Dalek begins to follow the Doctor upstairs. You're left seeing the Dalek getting closer through its own vision, as the Seventh Doctor stares back in disbelief, defenceless against its approach. Hands down the most shocking cliff-hanger of Doctor Who!