8. The Girl In The Fireplace
The Doctor, Rose, and Mickey, arrive on a space ship in the future, which contains portals to 18th century France, but time travels at different speeds in each place - what is minutes in space is years in the past. Against logic and reason, across time and galaxies, the Doctor meets and falls for Madame de Pompadour, a rare woman of distinction and his equal; you can tell they connect on all levels. However, their timing is always off; ultimately, he saves her life and is almost stuck on the slow path with her, but her ingenuity changes their fate. He offers up the chance to explore the stars, but, stupidly - take her with you, I scream every time at the telly - gives her a few minutes to pack while he nips back to the spaceship. Upon his return, many years have passed on Earth and she is leaving Versailles for the last time - in a coffin. I was so mad; they should be together, they deserve to be together but...it was not to be. What if - it's a great question for fiction but awful for real life. This theme also comes into play in Human Nature/Family of Blood where, as a human, John Smith, so fun to watch, falls for the Matron.
The Questions: Who should have been a major player in your life but for timing and circumstances forcing you apart? What would your life look like now if they had stayed in it?