Doctor Who: 10 Moments Of Mind-Blowing Unexpected Cruelty From The Doctor

9. "Love And Monsters"

The Doctor appears in this episode for maybe five minutes total. In that time, we see him as an enigmatic and ageless man who leaves quite an impression on the episode's main character Elton, both when Elton met him as a bright-eyed little boy and again when he was much older. After Elton gets himself into all sorts of trouble with the abzorbaloff, the tenth Doctor, at a critical moment, refuses to help him on account of the character's having romantically led companion Rose Tyler's mother on. The episode plays the Doctor's apathy off as, a few seconds later, he gives a nod to the other victims of the abzorbaloff, who, in turn, help Elton save the day. But had it not been for the creature's hesitation, which the Doctor could not have foreseen, Elton may well have died. It's very likely the Doctor could have watched Elton get absorbed before taking any action against the creature. This account seems to go unremembered or shrugged off of fans' shoulders. Whether that's because of the episode's low approval ratings or because audiences felt Elton deserved the Doctor's neglect, it's hard to tell. Still, leaving Elton to die and letting the abzorbaloff roam free seemed like a bit of a shallow way for the Doctor to impress his girlfriend. Or maybe it's indicative of the Doctor's inherent yet subtle indifference toward humans.