100 Greatest Doctor Who Moments Ever
45. The Satan Pit - The Doctor Faces Satan
Doctor Who has always tried to be based on science, but every now and again we get a foray into the absolutely bizarre, but 'The Satan Pit' is somewhere between the two, just being plausible, having a planet orbit a black hole with a beast from before time chained beneath its surface, which turns out to be the Devil. Its only because its so bold that it works. But it works in a way that the Doctor refuses to accept it. Taking a leap of faith into an abyss, the Doctor regains consciousness in a cavern coming face to face with the lord of darkness. It doesnt get much bigger than that. The Beast claims to be all of the images of the Devil in history. It is the first from which all others are derivative. This is the definite article from outside the Doctors understanding. At the end of the day, the Doctor isnt superstitious or religious. Hes a scientist. So he really struggles to rationalise this voiceless creature. He has to work out what he believes in if he is to prevent the creatures mind escaping. His conclusion, he believes in Rose. Sentimental perhaps, but its enough to make him take the risk and destroy the creature once and for all, plunging the planet into the black hole. 44. Enlightenment - Ships in Space
The 80s was an age of bad taste, bright colours and garish visuals. However 'Enlightenment' bucks the trend and gives us a mostly sophisticated adventure set aboard an Edwardian racing yacht. It all seems a rather classy affair compared to sterile, gleaming spaceships. But the crew arent all what they seem. They appear distant; when the Doctor comes aboard the wheelhouse he spots a map of their route, marked out with not marker buoys but Planets. As the Captain activates a view screen, the Doctor and companions see a variety of sailing ships from Earths history, travelling through space and they are aboard one of them. Its this moment that gives us one of the most striking and memorable images from Doctor Who history.
43. Army of Ghosts The Cliffhanger
It was rather predictable to say the least that Series 2 of the revived series would mimic the format of the first bringing back the famous enemy from the past for the season finale. Which isnt a complaint, because it certainly delivered. The Cybermen crossed dimensions in the guise of ghosts, subtly invading our society. But after that, the second barrel fired. The object known only as The Sphere was opening, the Doctor confidently tells the Cyberleader to reveal whats inside, only the Cyberleader has no idea what it is either, they only followed in its path. So what was inside? Daleks! Next week is going to be fun. 42. Doomsday The Ending
And it was fun. Although it did in some ways it did pretty much put the Cybermen in second place to the Daleks. But the real talking point of the episode was Roses departure, which does all but tears out your heart. Regardless of your opinion of Rose, you cant fail to feel the emotion in the scene. For once you feel as much for the Doctor having lost the person in his life that saved him. Hes alone again and they can never see each other. They are universes apart. The shots of The Doctor and Rose on opposite sides of the wall are strangely beautiful, before they both give up and walk away. But the Doctor burns up a sun to send a message to Norway just to say goodbye. Puts it into perspective when people dont return your calls. As we saw with Jo Grants departure and many others, the Doctor hates goodbyes, but he makes the effort this time. Its too bad that Series 4 would pretty much spoil everything that happens in this scene.
41. The Girl in the Fireplace - The Doctor Crashes Through the Mirror
The Doctor, crashing through a mirror on a horse in pre revolutionary France to save Madame de Pompadour. I could quite easily follow this by saying 'Your argument is invalid'. Because it is. Its a brilliant scene in its own right and something so ridiculous that only Doctor Who could do it and make it an amazing moment. It actually represents so much more than the Doctor crashing through a mirror on a horse, because hes actually making a huge sacrifice and he knows it. For having broken the mirror, which was actually a portal, hes trapped himself. The TARDIS is on the space ship on the other side. Madame de Pompadour clearly meant a lot to him to do that, as hes prepared to wait for time to catch up with him. He imposes his own exile. But he does it heroically