Doctor Who: 10 Brilliant But Overlooked Moments In NuWho
5. Bill Enters The TARDIS For The First Time - The Pilot
It was always going to be hard to beat the reveal of the TARDIS interior in episode one of NuWho, Rose. However, director Lawrence Gough does a respectable job, with the camera zooming out from the TARDIS doors and revealing the rest of the console room once the lights gradually flicker on. It’s both artistic and humorous as Bill Potts stares through the windows, unaware of the life-changing sight behind her.
Bill’s hilarious conclusion that the TARDIS is a “knock-through” and resembles “a really posh kitchen” is refreshing, compared to other companions who’ve been in awe of the place and quicker to understand its sci-fi nature.
Her comments mocking the TARDIS’ wooden doors and asking to use the toilet because she’s “had a fright”, amusingly interrupt the Doctor’s speech and the majestic tone he’s trying to create.
The return of his red velvet coat emphasises how he is deciding to be the Doctor again, after the heartache of losing Clara and River Song, and his promise to Bill that she’s “safe in here and [she] always will be” suggests that he sees her as companion material and is declaring his duty of care to her.
Moments like this are charming as they strip the Doctor back to his simple identity - a madman who stole a TARDIS to see the stars, sharing this joy with a new companion.