12 Moments That Have Defined The Last Decade Of Doctor Who

8. Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith (School Reunion)

School Reunion is often cited as one of NuWho's greatest achievements owing to the fact that it featured the return of Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith. The character had last been seen on screens (in Doctor Who, at least - let's not talk about K-9 & Company!) in the 1976 Fourth Doctor serial The Hand of Fear and here she was again, 30 years later, back in the TARDIS where she belonged. It was short but sweet, of course, as she bid adieu with her old friend once more at the end of the same episode, but it was a much needed contour of closure for the character, widely regarded as the greatest Doctor Who companion of all time, who had never truly been able to adjust back to the mundanity of ordinary life on Earth. It was also the first time NuWho paid "proper" homage to its past and it encouraged its younger viewers to explore the timeless wonders that the Classic Series has to offer. Because if there's one thing Sarah Jane Smith was, it's extraordinary. The farewell scene between her and the Tenth Doctor is perhaps even more poignant now, since Elisabeth passed away in 2011. Fans can take comfort in the fact that she was able to return to the show and, while it was an honour for Elisabeth to be given the chance to introduce her character to a whole new generation, it was even more of an honour for us to watch her do it. Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith.