8. Girl In The Fireplace
I have an admission to make; I am in love with Ten. (My husband is okay with it.) He is my favorite Doctor. I watched classic Doctor Who so that fact that he's bumped Tom Baker is huge for me. The Girl in the Fireplace is the episode that made me fall in love with him. The TARDIS materializes on a ship with several time windows and each of these is linked to the life of Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of King Louis XV. They encounter her as a child where she has a clockwork creature under her bed. It's always scary to have something hiding in what is supposed to be your safe place. It's one of the things that Doctor Who does so well; they play on fears that are intrinsic. Reinette (Madame de Pompadour) is able to give orders to the clockwork creatures and they obey. They find out that the creatures are androids left trying to repair the ship that they have materialized on and since the androids have used all scrap parts they are now using human parts. The last part they need is Reinette's brain, but she isn't ready yet. What I loved about this episode was the chemistry between Tennant and Myles (the actress who portrays Reinette.) You know that they can't last as a couple because she is someone famous in historical events, so you're braced for a tragedy. The fact that the Doctor comes back for her; but, that she has already passed away is heartbreaking. Tennant's performance is spot on and I've loved him ever since. No one can convey emotions with his eyes like this man. But I digress....